Buxton and High Peaks Art Society Demo

We are away at the moment, Ive been at Buxton High Peaks Art Society today doing a demo--its been booked for nearly 2 years after meeting one of their members on Ludlow market in 2011. We are staying at a lovely Premier Inn in Newcastle Under Lyme and are treating it as a little break, next door is a Taybarn restaurant--wow what an experience that is-- a good job there isn't one near to home or we would both be very very overweight! Pay a set price and eat what you want-choose from salad, soups, carvery, chip shop, Italian,,Chinese,,Indian and pudding section-there is even a Mr Whippy ice cream to help yourself to..also never ending soft drinks too...we would recommend it highly! Its also one of the cleanest restaurants we have been to--the tables are not 'sticky' and the staff  are continually cleaning up and clearing tables--

some stunning views on the way to the demo today..

loved the rocks up on the hills..

A mixed audience of artists-some have tried oils, many had not---

having a good look at the Waterfall painting that I did first..I always take the paintings round so the audience can have a close look--there is lots of detail in them that is hard to see when I'm actually doing the painting..

There were lots of 'ooohs' and 'ahhhhs' as they watched me...they couldn't believe the speed at which the paintings developed--and what was funny--was the fact I did them a lot slower than usual as I had over 2  hours in which to paint them instead of the usual 1 hour I get as a rule!

We were able to put up a display of some of the paintings I teach..

Winners of the raffle John with the Waterfall and David with his Summer Day painting.. I actually pulled out both of Johns tickets....but he kindly put the one back to give someone else the chance  . It sounds like we will be coming back here to do a workshop--there were many of the members interested in having a go..I will look forward to hearing from them again!

What a beautiful scene on the way home--will be painting this one for sure!

There was hell of a hail storm on the way up today--white over!

Oriental Dawn Workshop

We had a lot of laughs and fun last Saturday in the Oriental dawn class..John and Judith S were bought along for the first time by Judith M who had been once before...as they would be hanging their paintings in the same house they wanted to do something different-so it was decided they would do a diptych and the paintings would follow through the 2 canvas's..quite a feat for first timers--but it was lovely to watch the paintings develop and how well the pair of them worked together...

here is their painting about halfway through..

Tony did really well--he is waiting for an op on both knees bless him--and had a tens machine on for the workshop--that is dedication if ever I saw it!

Tracey and Maureen have been a few times before and I must check if they are due their artist brooches I give everyone who attends 6 workshops...here Tracey's painting is upside down as she is painting the reflections of the trees into the water-that seems to be the easiest way of getting them right!

Maureen is concentrating hard here--the fir trees are harder to do than they look and had everyone trying hard and holding their breath as they did them!

Judith M made a cracking job of picture--we had a bit of a problem with the canvas drying out a bit quick-a manufacturing fault as they have always been OK before--will be having a word with the suppliers about it..

Maureen tackling her reflections -again upside down is the easiest to do them!

Anne has got well and truely hooked at the painting game--and she showed me what she had been doing at home--very impressive--she always listens carefully to my instructions and follows them to the letter..she is booked up as far as next March-and hubby and son Luke are joining her for Lavender Lakes next week!

I met Jackie at Burwarton show in Aug when she bought a painting off me--she loved every minute of it and sent me a lovely email thanking me and wanting to come to the Yesterday workshop..her hubby wants to come along too-so we are sorting out which one to come together !

John adding his finishing touch to his canvas--what a great job they made between them...they managed to get the canvas's back to Bedford safe and sound too!

Tony with his finished painting--well done Tony and good luck for the op in Oct! x

well done everyone..

brilliant work ladies!

Lovely job everyone!