Poppies and Daisies

What fun we had last Saturday painting Poppies in oils on a black canvas.Rosie and Karen had made the journey from Mansfield--Karen has been quite a few times before-and received her 'artist' brooch from me for attending at least 6 workshops! First time for Rosie--and she defiantly got the painting bug! Karen emailed me to say they have both been out and bought paint,canvas and brushes to carry on painting at home..

Adrienne was with me for the first time..lovely movement in the grasses..

I managed to catch the camera shy Karen! Love the picture!

Was so good to see our dear friend Irene again...its been far too long since she made the journey from Stoke On Trent to come and paint with us!

Sandra's first time--and what a lovely job she made of her picture..

Ann made the long journey from Bristol again--they really did come from far and wide to paint on Saturday!

I loved Jill's painting--it reminded me of peacocks feathers..

what beautiful results from them all..

Alveley Ladies Guild Demo

We were at Alveley Ladies Guild last night to give a Painting My Way Demo...it wasn't the biggest audience Ive ever had but that didn't make it any less fun to do ! It was a lovely cosy room and I was able to set up my paintings around the room and the smaller ones on the table by me..

The Summer Day painting is always a popular one with people..

I did the 2 paintings in an hours as usual....lots of interesting questions from the ladies while I was painting as well...

Lynn won the Summer Day painting and Beryl The Waterfall..I hope they managed to get them out to the cars OK without getting them wet!  It was pouring down when we left...called at a great chippy in Bridgnorth called the Seagull on the way home---the fish and chips were to die for!

Summer Day Workshop Oct 8th

We had a full house today for the Summer Day workshop--14 ladies so Bill was out-numbered good and proper! 13 of the ladies  were first timers and Margarita has been a few times before! They travelled from far and wide with Karen travelling over 2  1/2 hours away from Mansfield..Everyone was a little nervous--and as I told them all it would not be natural if they weren't...most students were pretty convinced they would never be able to create anything that looked remotely like the subject and it was lovely to watch their reactions as they watched the paintings develop..lots of laughs about the 'bashing ' brushes, 'tickling 'brushes and not forgetting the 'bush' brush!!

Karen adding some colour to the sea..

very relaxed!!!

Lynne using her bush brush to create the foreground..

Bea lives just across the road from the venue..and she loved it..she is quite disabled but we got her a seat/easel  next to me so she could watch me demonstrating without having to move from her seat..

poppies are going in here--what a lovely calm painting

Margarita made a lovely job of her picture...she has used acrylics and oils now in the different workshops and seems to get on well with both mediums!

We met Melanie at the steam fair not long ago--she wanted to do her painting in a soft teal colour to match a newly decorated room...she really surprised herself with her results...a beautiful soft gentle seascape

well done everyone..

it never fails to amaze me just how different the paintings turn out--everyone finds their own style..

all very different, all calm and relaxed paintings.

lovely work ladies..

I'm looking forward to seeing you all again ladies!

March 26th Poppies

Stella had to leave the workshop early--her back was killing her after a fall in her garden--she will get the painting finished when she comes with her granddaughter in 2 weeks--I hope she is feeling better soon!

Judy came under the recommendation of Chris and Pauline --my managers! They have referred lots of their friends to e and have been known as my managers for a while now! She loved it, and wants to come again soon!  She was quite nervous to start which is only natural--but when she new you could just paint out any bits she didn't like it calmed her nerves!

Hannah had grown so much since we saw her in October-hard to believe hes only 12 years old-her finished painting was very modern looking with her giant poppies!

Doreen traveled up from Wales the day before and stayed just a few hundred yards from the venue we use--at Henwick House-- she highly recommends it to anyone looking to stay in Ludlow-says the rooms are beautiful and the breakfast was just great!

Gill had been a few times before--and made a great job of her painting--everyone said it was much harder than they had expected--the ones that look simple often are--

well done everyone!

Class Dates Until July 23rd

I have just added the new dates to the website  www.paintingmyway.co.uk
So Im done until July 23rd on there now----next batch of dates will be done shortly!

Workshop Dates

I have put some more dates for workshops on my website  www.paintingmyway.co.uk
Ive now got the class subjects done until June 18th and there is one brand new subject in there!

February 5th "Stormy Skies" oils

We are painting "Stormy Skies" on February 5th--you will use oils and a variety of brushes and techniques--
for more details check out the website www.paintingmyway.co.uk

JUST 3 PLACES LEFT

February 12th "Grasses"

We are painting "Grasses" on February 12th--you will use acrylics and a variety of brushes and techniques--the painting will be dry for you to take home

for more details check out the website www.paintingmyway.co.uk
9 places left

March 26th "Poppies and Daisies" acrylic

We are painting Poppies and daisies on March 26th--you will use acrylics and a variety of brushes and techniques--the painting will be dry for you to take home
for more details check out the website www.paintingmyway.co.uk

April 9th "Stormy Poppies"

We are painting Stormy Poppies on April 9th--you will use oils and a variety of brushes and techniques-- you will have a chunky 12in x 24in canvas to work on--the sides can be painted black afterwards to finish it off and give a contemporary feel!
for more details check out the website www.paintingmyway.co.uk

Hospital, Shobdon, and Everything Else!

Well after being told on Wednesday that my operation had been cancelled I received a letter marked 'urgent' today from the hospital telling me the op is to go ahead as planned! So I will be out of action for a few days recovering but am expecting to be able to hold the Poppy Field class on July 10th as normal.
If its any different I will contact everyone booked and let them know!

We had a lovely day at Shobdon today--its always lovely there-and because its quiet we can catch up with news from our friends there.
Our friend Elaine--alias 'Jones the Bead' always asks to be put next to us so we can have a laugh and natter over the weekend.
We have supported the event from day one 6 years ago and made friends with Elaine then--she is such a lovely person--she went round the food marquee today and came back with some beautiful fruit cookies!
I tryed to catch her with the camera having a munch!
Elaine makes the most beautiful beaded things-and always has something new to display-she is very talented and has more patience than anyone I know with those tiny little beads!

Last year at Shobdon we were fortunate to meet someone else who was to become a special friend--Lin.
I cant believe that its only a year since we met--it seems like we have known each other for ever!
Lin makes the greetings cards from my paintings-they are sooo popular-she has a great eye-and crops the photos of my pictures to create the cards.She knew I was getting down on my stock of cards so she sent along another 90 with her friend this morning to sell over the weekend!
We cant wait to meet Lin again tomorrow and catch up with everything.
Lin will be taking photos of my new paintings to turn into cards--and I know that the bluebell woods one will be used as one for a start!
I got some lovely snaps of the pool at Shobdon again--I will be using the images as a new class subject and I have logged the photos on www.protectmywork.com
The scene looks quite tropical, the water is covered in duckweed which makes it look completly green!

Birthday/Wedding Anniversary

Well I cant believe its been 10 years yesterday since I met my Bill and 9 years on Sunday since we married.
As it was my 40 th birthday when we married -he has no excuse to forget our wedding anniversary ever!

Many thanks to the friends and students who have sent pressies , cards etc--very much appreciated

We are off for a couple of days now-have re-arranged the "tropical sunset" class
will keep you updated with whats happening next!

Diabetes

Just got back from the doctors for the results of my blood tests. As expected he told me I was diabetic.
My blood tests before Christmas showed I had boarder line Diabetes, but a few weeks ago I noticed I was getting more and more thirsty and my eyesight was getting blurry at times.

I tested myself with Bills spare machine and it showed some quite high readings.So it was no suprise to be told this morning.
As Bills been diabetic for the last 10 years I know what to do to control it-so for now its just diet controlled and hopefully can keep it somewhere near like that.

Other parts of my blood tests have improved a great deal so it wasnt all bad news!

We are off to do a demo this afternoon at Four Rivers so off to load the car up now.

NEW Encaustic Class--May 8th

When Ann brought her granddaughter Hannah to class today she also bought along her friend- we got chatting and they had a look at some of the encaustic bookmarks I had on display there.
They were all curious as to how they were created and want to come to a class and learn how to do it themselves.
I have set a date for this class on May 8th. I only have room for 8 students and 3 are booked already.
You will be painting 20 postcard sized paintings and one A4.
I will show you how to do landscapes and abstract pictures using the special iron and the coloured beeswax.
Its great fun to do and is very addictive.The effects you can get in seconds are quite amazing-the wax dries in seconds and can be re-worked as often as you want until you are happy with it.
all sorts of little creatures appear in the wax as if by magic and its great fun spotting them.
Please get in touch with me if you want to join us in this class via the website-Im sure th places will go quite quickly!
www.paintingmyway.co.uk

Tonight

We went over the Leominster after hanging the paintings at Ludlow Information Centre.

I have treated myself to another new camera-although I only bought one a few weeks ago!
Asda had a brilliant deal on and couldn't resist it!
Ive got one to leave in both handbags now-so wont matter which one I grab when I go out.
The new one has some great features on it-and I am busy trying them out!
I'm quite please with these results-taken as usual as we were traveling along in the car!
Makes me want to get my brushes out!