Paintings For Exhibition

Ive been busy painting a new picture for the Ludlow Art Society Exhibition which is coming up soon.
This version of my Summer Day painting is a massive 36in x 36in and already looks different to this!
Ive left it up on the easel and went I went into the kitchen earlier to get a drink I decided I didn't like the clouds on the right hand side! So I tickled them out. I'm much happier with it now!
Ive just got one more painting to paint and Its all ready to go.

Catching Up With Everything!

Things are starting to slow up a little now after the hectic weekend.
Ive got some new paintings to put on the various websites--

The oval one is called ''Serenity in Dusky Rose'' and measures 16in x 20in.
It has been painted in high quality oil paints onto a staple free oval canvas.
The sides have not been painted.The price including P+P in UK is £120
It can be framed at an extra cost of £20

''Sunny Sunflowers'' has been created using high quality oil paints onto a staple free box canvas measuring 24in x 24in.
The background is a soft blurry mix of yellows and greens, the bold sunflowers in the foreground are painted in very thick textured paint that stand out against the softness behind.
A bright and cheerful picture to brighten any room.The sides have not been painted.
Price is £145 including P+P in Uk

''Yesterday'' is a atmospheric sunset painted in high quality acrylic paint onto a 36in x 14in staple free box canvas.
I painted this picture while at Welland and a lady asked me the title of it--I replied that I had only painted it yesterday and hadn't thought of one yet!
She replied ''that's a great title--Yesterday''
So Yesterday it is--its now been finished and varnished to bring out the colours.
The lady in question had her eye on it for her bedroom, I couldn't sell it on the day because it wasn't quite finished and varnished--Ive told her to look out for it on my website so fingers crossed she will buy it!
The price is £140 including P+P in the UK
If you are outside the uk and would like to buy any of my paintings please get in touch for cost of postage.
You can see more of my work on www.paintingmyway.co.uk

New Website

Well Ive had loads of feedback from my brand new website www.paintingmyway.co.uk

Everyone has said its easy to navigate and quick to load.
Im still doing bits and pieces to it--got around another 200 paintings to load on there yet but the main thing is the classe dates are all there and up to date.

Its already had loads of hits from all over the place according to the stats!!!!.

April 25th --Birch Trees

I have moved the date for this class forward to Sat April 25th. This is one of the most popular classes I run.
Painted in acrylic so the picture is dry for you to take home. You have the choice of painting it in the usual monochrome or the sepia tones.The sepia has been the most popular choice in the past 2 classes.
Suitable for all ages and abilities even first timers.
If you would like to join this class please get in touch via the website
www.paintingmyway.co.uk

4 PLACES LEFT IN THIS CLASS

Class of March 14th -Winter Wonderland

Winter Wonderland is painted in oil onto a black canvas.Its great to see how each student creates a completely different version of mine-even when they haven't painted before
You will learn composition,perspective,colour and how to use several different brushes and what they will do, as well as a painting knife.
I have 4 places left for this class
.
The painting is suitable for all ages and abilities from 6 years upwards
If you would like to join us for this workshop please get in touch via the website
www.paintingmyway.co.uk
or ringing me on 01584 872013

Summer Day -Feb 14th class

There are 4 places left for the Summer Day class on Saturday Feb 14th.

This has proved to be one of the most popular classes that I run.
It is suitable for all ages and abilities.

You will learn how to use various brushes and also a painting knife.

Its a lovely calm painting that looks great in any setting.
I will have a couple of variations of this painting in class so everyone can make their painting different in various ways!
If you would like to join this class please get in touch via my website www.paintingmyway.co.uk

Class of Feb 28th--Forest Dawn

Forest Dawn is a new painting subject.
Its suitable for all ages and abilities.
It is created using acrylic and oil paint.

If you are interested in joining this class please get in touch with me via the website www.paintingmywy.co.uk

or give me a ring on 01584 872013 if you have any questions about this class

Poppy Commission

Ive made start on Karens second painting she commissioned.
She loved my Poppy Delight painting which was already sold and wants one along the same lines but in more orange colours to match her sitting room which is terracotta colour.

She bought along some photos of the room and where the painting was going to hang to give me some idea.
I showed her some other paintings I had done using the oranges, yellows etc so she could tell me exactly which colours she wanted me to use.

I have made a start on the first undercoat of it and I am very happy with how its going.

It will have many layers on top of this, up to 40 layers of paint will go over this and then the centre is done with melted wax.
Karen is having both black and gold wax which will set off the tones of orange beautifully.
I will be doing a lot more to this tomorrow.

Craft market

We have been on the Book And Craft fair today on the Castle Square in Ludlow-the weather was a real mixture-pouring down one minute and sun burning bright the next.

It was unusually busy for a change, despite the weather! I didn't even get chance to take any photos, as Bill pointed out as we were packing up at 5pm!

It was a constant stream of people most of the day. Jill a lady Ive been talking to on the Internet for a while came by, she wanted to try out the encaustic art and had ordered the complete set off me.
I gave her a demo of how to do it, and then she had a go, so I could be sure that she knew exactly how much pressure to apply to the iron. She did a lovely pink and purple pic in just a few seconds!
She is a really keen artist and I had to send Bill home to collect some black and white blank canvas as I had forgotten she had told me she wanted some!
Good job we are only 1 mile away!
I managed to get 2 paintings done--2 class subjects that I wanted to get done on the size canvas we use in class.
At the moment they are on much bigger canvas and it was confusing people when I said they were class subjects-the size put them off!!

Anyway I managed to finish them, in between all the chatting and demonstrating, I hope they dry before the weekend so I can take them to the Tern Valley Vintage show .

Birch Trees In Brown

Birch Trees in Brown
This is my latest work in the Birch Tree collection.

This is one of my latest work in my almost monochrome birch tree collection.

I painted this triptych in a combination of beige, cream and dark brown, instead of black, grey and white!

It works a treat!

The photo does not show the true colour of the dark brown though-its showing up as black on the photo.

This colour combination will be popular in today's contemporary home.

Each canvas measures 20 cm wide x 50 cm long -so a large 60 cm x 50 cm in total-all the sides are painted and it has been varnished to protect it.

The price of this painting is £180 you can buy it via www.dianetheartist.com

Bills Garden--coming along nicely!!!

We went off yesterday to have a look for some bits and pieces to finish off the garden.

He had lots of vouchers for his birthday so he has put them to good use--the beautiful Mexican plants are something we have looked at and admired for a long time-the trunks are plaited together and then they have grown and matured in these lovely pots.

Its very nearly finished now, both levels have been covered with a special membrane and some lovely Cotswold stone put down, along with the lovely stone circle that came from our dear friends Jan and John .

Bill has planted his beautiful magnolia tree that he had for his birthday, and is now just waiting to get the summer house emptied of the garage shelves on freecycle so he cant get a giant plant he has spotted on the local market--it looks like a giant rhubarb plant, grows very big and likes a moist soil.

Ideal for the spot next to the summer house next to the wildlife pond that leaks a little constantly.

We had some lovely planters this morning off freecycle-terracotta ones, they will look lovely planted up with some trailing strawberries along the wall onto the 2nd level of the garden.

I expect we will end up with lots of plants from the boot sale tomorrow!

Droitwich Spa Art Society

I have been asked to travel all the way to Droitwich Spa Art Society to do my Painting My Way Demonstration. Its quite a distance from us , but we will make a day of it and travel there in the morning have a look round Droitwich and have the demo in the evening.

Its a large group of over 6o members, it will make a change to have 2 hours to do the demo in--usually at the WI's I only have around an hour to do the 2 paintings!

Usually I get asked many more questions when I'm at the art society/club do's so the extra time will be useful.
Its not until November but the way the time is flying by it will soon be here!

Latest Newsletter

Well Ive sent out the latest newsletter to everyone who requested one--didn't realise how much time it would take up--I'm sure that as soon as I get used to the format of it , I will get quicker!
Its been an interesting few days with my brother in law showing me the shortcuts etc on the computer! I do need him back here to verify a few things that went in one ear and out the other mind!
Must admit am not the most computer literate of people, would rather spend my time painting than computing-but needs must and all that!
I have got to catch up with some housework too--I have a student travelling from Yorkshire next Friday for 4 days, Joyce will be having a mixture of one to ones and also joining in a class.
Ive been so busy working on the "Trio Of Sunflowers" commission that there hasn't been much dusting going on lately-still cant do everything.!Will have it all sorted by the time I pick Joyce up from the train station!!
Bill has been busy varnishing all the latest paintings for me--he is much better at it than me.They all have at least 3 coats of varnish before they go out, with 24 hours in between each coat.

Highley WI

We had a lovely time on Tuesday evening with the ladies of Highley WI.
We got there in plenty of time and set up the display stands and table.
Im never sure what people are expecting when they are told they are going to see an oil painting demonstration-it always turns out that they are totaly amazed at how laid back the talk and demos are.The paintings take shape so quickly that people cant belive it!
The usual oohhhs and aaaahhhhs and amazing's came thick and fast when the finished paintings were handed round for closer inspection after I had finished!!!
The winner of the draw chose the waterfall painting and i donated the "Summer Day" painting to the WI. They support the "Fast Response" and will use the money raised fromthe painting to help this worthy cause.

Bets Commission

At last Bets painting will be on its way to her! She commissioned this painting ages ago, I painted it straight away, and added some daisies detail to the bottom of it a short time after.
It refused to dry!!!I got it off the wall to pack and send last week only to find that the daises were still not quite dry, so a quick email to Bet to apologise and tell her it would be this week instead.
Well its dry at last and Bill has packed it up ready to be sent by special delivery in the morning.
Its a special gift for her hubbys birthday at the weekend.

Its a busy month for birthdays in March.I have sold 2 paintings for birthday presents this month, both are a complete surprise-one more so than the other-I will let you into the secret after the event!

Its my birthday and our wedding anniversary on Friday and still got to sort out a present for Bill yet.
Cant belive its 7 years since we got married!.
They say life begins at 40 and in my case it did. I got married on my 40th birthday-and they have been the happiest 7 years of my life!

Space in Class "Summer Day"

I have one space left for this Saturdays class "Summer Day" sat march 15th
This is one of the most popular paintings that we do in class.
I have had a cancellation due to ill health.

If you are interested in joining this class please get in touch via the www.paintingmyway.co.uk site.
This painting is suitable for everyone -even first timers.

Spell Checker

To help with such things ...this made me laugh!

Eye halve a spelling chequer,

It came with my pea sea;
It plainly marques for my revue
Miss steaks eye kin knot sea.

Eye strike a quay and type a ward
And weight four it two say
Weather aye am wrong oar write
It shows me strait a weigh.

As soon as a mist ache is maid
It nose bee four two long,
And eye can put the error rite
It's rare lea ever wrong.

Eye have run this poem threw it
Aye am shore your pleased to no;
Eats let her perfect awl the weigh
My checker tolled me sew.

Inspiration!!!

I am always out and about with my camera looking for something interesting to paint, the bottom 3 images I took earlier this week from Whitcliffe common, overlooking Ludlow.
Its pretty sensational.The big majestic Ludlow Castle dominates the view , but then turn slightly to your right and St Laurences Church comes into the picture with Clee Hill behind.
Now all I need is the time to paint all this beautiful scenes!

class of May 3rd --Emerald Woods

This painting has just 2 places left-its a very popular one and quite easy to do.A lot of scope for individual personalities to shine through!

Please get in touch via the website if you would like to join the class.
www.paintingmyway.co.uk
Check out my 'snaps' pages on my site to see all my happy students with their paintings---you will see that many of my students come back time after time--my classes get booked up very quickly and I have a waiting list for some subjects.

The classes are very friendly,laid back and informative at the same time- great fun and a beautiful painting to take home as well!
Take a look at the guest book to see what some of the students have said about the classes as well!

I have kept my prices the same for the past 4 years--£35 which includes all materials used in class. We paint on a high quality box canvas which does not need framing-although if you wish to do so we supply a lovely frame to match your painting for just £12. Great Value!

class of may 10th--"Mellow Moods"

Mellow Moods is painted using acrylic and oil paint. Its an interesting one to paint and is suitable for all abilities including first timers!

Please get in touch via the website if you would like to join the class.
www.paintingmyway.co.uk
Check out my 'snaps' pages on my site to see all my happy students with their paintings---you will see that many of my students come back time after time--my classes get booked up very quickly and I have a waiting list for some subjects.

The classes are very friendly,laid back and informative at the same time- great fun and a beautiful painting to take home as well!
Take a look at the guest book to see what some of the students have said about the classes as well!

I have kept my prices the same for the past 4 years--£35 which includes all materials used in class. We paint on a high quality box canvas which does not need framing-although if you wish to do so we supply a lovely frame to match your painting for just £12. Great Value!