Ludlow Food And Drink Festival

I cant belive its almost a year since we were at the Ludlow Food and Drink Fesival Craft fair .

As usual the fair is on for 3 days Friday 12th, Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th September.

There will be things going on in the beautiful castle as well as other events all over the town.

We will be doing the craft fair in the Harley Centre in Ludlow College in Castle Square on the Saturday and Sunday.

I will be demonstrating both the oils and encaustic art and will have around 80 paintings for sale.

I will have lots of encaustic equipment to sell---I am stocking up well as I sold out at Onlslow Park last week and sold out on the first day at the food and drink last year.

There will be lots going on over the 3 days-the famous Sausage Trail, the sandwich trail and the real ale trail to name but a few.

We always met some lovely people there and we are looking forward to it very much.

We are on the normal craft market this Thursday, the weather forcast is quite good for then--the rest of the week is not looking very good though!

Caroles Class

Carole came for a one to one yesterday-she wanted to learn how to be loosen up in her painting technique.

Carole has always liked to have a photo in front of her when painting at home to work from, and said she couldn't use her imagination to paint anything.

I just put out some acrylic colours on a plate and we just got on and played with the paint.

It took her a while to 'free up'' but when she did , she produced a beautiful abstract painting-shown above in its stages..

Its bright and vibrant, and Carole was really pleased with the effect--we moved into the garage to do some splattering effects-which was great fun!

When we were finished I put the pan on and we all had some bacon sandwiches and a cuppa!

Carole's friend John who had bought her here had a great time with Jake the parrot while we were painting.

They are going to the private viewing on Saturday at the Ludlow Art Society Exhibition, John has just started up framing paintings so Im sure he will pick up a few customers there!

date for "Birch Trees" Sat Nov 1st

Again back by popular demand--"Birch Trees" can be done in the usual monochrome or the latest sepia variation.

In the last class just one did the black and white version and the rest did the sepia--made a refreshing change! You will always get amazing results with this one.

Even if you have never held a brush in your hand before you will take home a painting that one-one will belive you have painted!

Suitable for all abilities-even first time students!

Please get in touch with me via my website to book for this workshop-places go very quickly

www.paintingmyway.co.uk

New Date For ----Summer Day -Sep 27th

Back again by popular demand "Summer Day" will be the workshop subject for Sat Sep 27th.

There are 4 places left for this popular subject.

This one will definatley be booked up quickly-its one of my most popular paintings in Painting My Way workshops--easy to see why though!

If you want to join this class-please get in touch with me via the website http://www.paintingmyway.co.uk/

Craft Fair

We are on the monthly craft fair tomorrow on the square in Ludlow.
As usual I will be demonstrating the technique I use in class as well as doing encaustic work too!
Lets hope the weather holds out-sounds a bit iffy by the forcast!

Sundays Craft Fair

After the awful weather on Saturday and during the night we were not sure whether we would be going to do the Craft market or not until we woke up and saw what the weather looked like on Sunday morning.
After losing an hour's sleep with the clocks going on the last thing we wanted was to start unloading and getting soaked!
However the morning was bright and the sky was blue, so we decided to chance it.I'm so glad we did.
We had a lovely day, several of my students called by to see us for a chat too which was lovely.
One of them ,Kay took the opportunity to book up for another 2 classes.
Chris and Pauline who had attended yesterdays class,also booked up for May too.
It stayed lovely and sunny all day, there was a steady stream of visitors to Ludlow,and some locals were mooching too.
All in all we had a good day, we seem to get quicker setting up the stall-we were done by 9am.Its been as late as 10.30 sometimes but we have got it off to a fine art now!
We know how many paintings we can fit on the stands and roughly where they will go.
I like to have all the class subjects together so I can explain to potentual students the sort of thing they will be able to paint when they come to class.Then all the other paintings, that I dont teach can be displayed together.It works very well, but I leave the hanging of them to Bill-he gets them up nice and straight--unlike me!

Class Cancelled

I made the decision yesterday to cancel today's Winter Wonderland class.
The weather forecast was absolutely awful and as the people who were coming had a far distance to travel I was happier cancelling than risking them travelling.
When I spoke to them they said it was fine, they were getting nervous about the trip anyway.
This is only the second time I have done this in 4 years, but better safe than sorry.
I am re-booking them into another class in May, I have no spaces left until then.

So I am having a lazy day, catching up on the website updating-have joined another 2 sites to sell my paintings on and am going to take a look at the local art society exhibition later today.
Its blowing a gale here today and the radio have been giving out weather warnings and telling people not to travel unless its necessary, so I know I made the right desion to cancel the class.

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.

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.

Yorkshire Student

I have a new student coming to Ludlow next month all the way from Yorkshire.
Joyce is travelling down by train to Ludlow to attend my advanced students class and also to have some one to one sessions.
I have found her some great accommodation at a nearby B+B.
I will be collecting Joyce from the station on the Friday she arrives.
We will be doing a one to one here on Friday evening, and sorting out the painting supplies she wants to buy-brushes etc.
Saturday she is joining the class at our usual venue and then on Sunday and Monday she will be having a one to one with subjects of her own choice.
We are really looking forward to meeting her.

I have students coming to me from all over the country these days,most of them find me through word of mouth or via the website.
The feedback suggests that being able to see the results that students have achieved in my classes via the photos on the snaps pages on the www.paintingmyway.co.uk site goes a long way.
They can see REAL PEOPLE with REAL PAINTINGS-Its one of the highlights of the class to get everyone lined up with their masterpieces for the photos to be taken, everyone goes home and checks that Ive got the photos on the site.They then call all the distant relatives and faraway friends to have a look too!
When I check my stats each evening I can see whos been looking at the site and whose relatives have had the call!!
Very interesting stuff!

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.

Carole's Paintings

Carole has been painting by herself at home and bought along the 3 paintings shown above to show everyone in the class.She has made a beautiful job of them and Bill framed the one seaside scene for her in a matching frame.It set it off beautifully.
It has taken Carole a little while to get enough self confidence to have go at home, but she said coming to the advanced class helped her a lot.
I have only one place left now in the advanced class on April 12th and no other spaces in other classes other than the Winter Wonderland one on Easter Saturday March 22nd.

St Valentines Day

Well we have had a lovely day-- Bill had some fun trying out the new camera and printer--an amazing bargain off hot deals!! Just £55 for the 2!!! Its over £300 on Amazon.
Just the job to print off pics of the students on the day of the class if they want one!!
I had some beautiful red roses and a romantic CD for St Valentines Day. We went out for a lovely romantic 3 course meal tonight at the Bull Ring Tavern. Couldnt fault it--we have been there every week for their steak night special-so knew it would be good!!!
I bought my cheese home in a doggy bag as I couldnt manage to eat it all--very generous portions--it comes very highly recommended by us!
Back on the diet tomorrow!!!!!!

aura

Here is my latest painting "Aura"
I painted this aura after watching my friend Jan who practises Reiki ,working on another of my friends and giving her reiki healing.
I have always been able to tune in and see someones aura, but have not done anything with it until now.I feel the time is right for me to develop this and do something positive with it.While I have always been able to see auras, I havent known what the colours mean, so I am learning very quickly to 'read' the colours.

Calming and Healing, the green represents the healing power.The green glow around the 2 of them while the healing was going on was so bright and vibrant.
The yellow is the colour of inspiration and creativity, and also means easy going.
Violet is funnily enough connected with psychic power and of attunement with self.It also represents the nervous system.
The orange can be from experiencing stress.
The orange /yellow is a perfectionist.
The blue is very apt- it relates to the thyroid , also shows a caring , loving person, who loves to help others, sensitive and intuitive,
This painting will be relaxing to have in a room where you chill out,it is painted in oil onto box canvas which is 16in x 20in.

It will be ready to post in around 3 weeks time. and the cost is £140 including P+P in uk.
If you are outside UK please get in touch.

Latest update on Emerald Woods class

I now have only 2 places left for Emerald Woods on May 3rd.
Places are going very quickly and if you want to join this class please get in touch.
This class is suitable for all abilities even first timers!
Please get in touch via the website www.paintingmyway.co.uk

Tenbry WI Demo

We had a very enjoyable day at Tenbry WI . Pictured is Linda who won the raffle and chose "Summer Day"
I think everyone was surprised at quickly the paintings developed before them--I had lots of questions from the audience and I think we may find one or two joining in the classes!

Baby Sitting

We had Baby Hollie down from Sunderland last night.She is growing up so fast bless her.As I have got all my wet oil paintings standing in the downstairs bath drying out of the way of the cat and the parrot we decided to bath her in the kitchen sink--she loved it.The kitchen was soon covered in water! She had a bottle of milk and was in bed for 8pm. She woke at 3am for another bottle and then slept through til7.30am.
Grandad Bill got up with her in the night--I was so tired I didnt hear a thing!

Finished Painting

I have emailed Bet, who commissioned the latest Summer Day ,the image of the finished painting and she loves it!!!!
As you can see on the close up, I have added the ladybird she requested.
Its only a rough draft of the ladybird, will have to wait for the paint to dry a bit more and add more colour and detail to it in a couple of days.
I have really enjoyed doing this painting, I think the addition of both the daisies and cornflowers as well as the normal poppies really adds to the tranquil feel.
It will be around 3 weeks before I can post it to her, so it will in time for the birthday she commissioned it for.

New Commission

I recived an email late last night from Bet who wants to commission a Summer Day painting.
She has told me that it is her first time of commissioning a painting, so I have explained to Bet how I work.
I photograph and email each stage of the painting to the client for approval, before going onto the next stage-this way the client is in complete control of the finished picture, Ican add or take away anything they dont like or want in the painting.

She particualy like the 9th version of it that has already been sold, so I set to work tonight, feeling very energetic after todays great Reiki session.
I have done a lot of the background stuff.Lots of building up in the sky and the sea.
I have put several layers of clouds into it, each layer fluffed up and blended so there are no hard edges.
Next came the sea, using both a beautiful seagreen and the same blue as in the sky, again building up the layers of colour until Im happy with it.
The first layer of sandy beach colours were applyed before putting my brushes into a plastic bag and wrapped up tightly ready for tomorrows session.
I dont bother to clean my brushes when Im going to be using them the next day-as long as they are wrapped up they will be fine and they wont dry out and spoil.
It has been known for them to be in a bag for 3 or 4 days after a class--when Ive been busy and forgotten about them!!! They have always been ok!!

Reiki

Well I had a wonderful day today having my Reiki session with Jan.
It was the most relaxing and engergising experience at the same time!
Reiki is a ancient Japanese therapy-the word Reiki means universal life force energy.
The therapy involves the channeling of the energy that surrounds all of us into our bodies.

The session takes around an hour and invloves lying on the very comfortable reiki couch, fully clothed -but with watches , belts etc taken off as they can interfere with the energy.
There is lovely soothing music and candles in the room, and also incense burning,it was very easy to relax fairly soon in the calm atmosphere.
Jan began on my head, just gently holding it to start, I soon felt the heat of the energy coming through her hands.
She slowly carried on working down my body-there were times when the hands felt really cold as well as when they felt hot.
I could also feel a lot of heat when she wasnt actualy touching me-just holding her hands above me.

People can feel different things, some people dont feel very much but that dosent mean nothings happening, the healing will still be transfered through the practioner to the client.

She can feel where parts of the body need more healing than others and concentrates on those places.
I could feel a tingling sensation sometimes especialy when she was working on my back, after I had turned over onto my front around half way through.
I am sure I had just drifted off to sleep to be honest when Jan spoke to me and I came back to reality!!

It took me a few minutes to come round properly and sit up--I could have slept for days if she had left me there Im sure!!
I have never felt so relaxed and peaceful.
After having a drink of water-something I have to do regulary for a couple of days to help get rid of the toxins out of the body,I realised that I felt really full of energy as well.
Its very hard to describe to be honest!!
I would recommend it to anyone who feels under the weather for whatever reason-Im definatly going to have another session before too long.
Jan charges just £30 for this session of Reiki and belive me it is worth every penny.!!!
She can be contacted on 07837939797 if you want to book a session with Jan or just find out more about it, please give her a ring.