Bevs Painting day

Ive spent a lovely few hours with one of my students Bev. Bev has been to a few classes with me now and has carried on painting at home as well--even going on to teach her son Tim (who has been to 2 classes) a few new paintings.
Bev wanted some advice on how best to tackle a painting she wanted to paint from a photograph of one of her favorite places Lake Vyrnwy.
She bought along the photos today and we discussed the pros and cons of different methods-
in the end she did some under painting with black acrylic paint and used oils on the top.
It didn't take long before the picture took shape.
She made a beautiful job of blending the paint on the hills-she captured the light and shadows easily.
The dark trees came about after using a 'bashing' brush to create texture and she used a small brush to add detail.
It was a first for me today as I opted not to actually paint a canvas myself--I didn't feel there was any need for me to do so--I knew Bev knew all the strokes we used in class-and really only needed a bit of back up of her own confidence as much as tuition.

She made most of the decisions herself and needed little prompting from me.
The water tower in the lake was properly the hardest part of the pic,and that turned out ok after a bit of careful blending and darkening of the shadows.
After she had finished I showed her the wonders of encaustic art--she loved it! As do most people who have a go at it!
She couldn't believe how quickly it came together.
When she had a go she soon created an undersea scene complete with moray eel peeping out of the seaweed.

Class of August 8th-Winter Wonderland

There are still some spaces left in this popular class.
Painted in oil onto a black canvas, the results are always excellent.
Suitable for all ages and abilities even first timers.
If you would like to join us for this class please get in touch via the website
www.paintingmyway.co.uk

April 4th "Serenity In Green"

Ive had another shuffle around with the class dates and I have moved Serenity in Green/Brown forward to April 4th.
I had to cancel one of these classes a while back and I promised it wouldnt be too long a wait for it again.

If you would like to join us for this class please get in touch via the website
www.paintingmyway.co.uk
4 PLACES LEFT IN THIS CLASS

November 15th Class--

A change of subject for November 15th--a beautiful warm sunset scene created using acrylic paint instead of oils, so your painting will be dry for you to take home!

This painting is suitable for all students to more experienced ones.
If you would like to join this class-please get in touch via the website
www.paintingmyway.co.uk

Jane and Heathers Day

Jane and her daughter Heather came for a class today.Heather had taken a look at www.dianetheartist.com where I have 200 paintings on show and chosen this one to do.

We had great fun, Jane has been to lots of classes before and has had her advanced student brooch, Heather had not painted before.

They were both cracked up at Jake who didnt stop talking all day.Last time Jane was here he copied her laugh, which cracked us all up!

Jane found the acrylic paint quite different to work with compared to the oils she has been used to in previous classes.

When we started on the second coat and it was easier to blend it all started to feel right again.

Both me and Jane decided that we liked our paintings better upside down-when we turned them to paint the bottoms!

So Bill did some re-stringing when we had finished as the canvas were strung the wrong way up!

They were both very nervous when it came to painting the tree.

They both really liked their sunset skies and were scared they would spoil it.

After watching me do my tree they plucked up courage and did the most beautiful trees each.

Jane added some little birds in the sky and Heather painted a little cat sitting on one of her branches of her tree.

They were both delighted with the finished pictures-I sent them away with enough varnish to give them a coat tomorrow--this will bring out the colour even more on their finished pictures.

Birds In The Garden

While we were in Onlsow Park Steam rally I spotted these beautiful ornimental garden birds. They balance on a rod with a beautiful crystal ball at the other end, and then the rod just balances on a spike.

They go around in the wind and gently sway up and down as well-its very peaceful and tranquil.

I had spotted them the previous week at the Tern Valley show ,but didnt get chance to go and buy them there.

We have them outside the patio doors by the pond-of course they have been named Paddy and Jake!

Website Updated

My webmaster has now done all the updating on my website www.paintingmyway.co.uk

All of the class dates are on there with how many places are left in each class.

Todays Class-Forest Pool

We had a great time in class today.

Sheila was unable to make it because of injuring her arm, She will be coming again in the near future when she is better.

Everyone had been to me quite a few times before except for Michael.

Pauline and Chris will be coming again along with one of their neighbours who does not believe that they have painted their paintings without me touching the canvas myself! Jack has been loads of times before and so has my mate Jan.

Michael (2 nd from left) was over here on holiday from Germany, he had spent the previous week with artist Charles Evens in Suffolk doing watercolours.

He had never used oils before and he was pleasantly surprised by them! He couldn't believe how quickly the painting came together.

I think he will be giving them a go when he returns to Germany! I am emailing him the photos taken in class today.
Michael has got his own blog with some of his work on there-I was very impressed with it.

Check it out yourself on http://www.michaeljordanart.blogspot.com/

The paintings turned out lovely as always, there was a good variety of bushes and different shaped pools! The paintings all had a mystical feel to them. We used the palette knife to create texture on the tree which everyone found interesting to do.

We had to have the photos taken inside today as it was pouring down with rain most of the day, so when it came to taking the paintings out to the cars outside Jack found the garden parasol to shelter under to get the pics safely out!!!

Everyone has booked again including one of the ladies that lives on Guy Thorney Croft Court where we hold the classes.She popped in to see how everyone was doing and decided she wanted to come along next week.

This means we have only 2 places left for African Dream next Saturday.

Oh and Jack I promise to have some more of your custard cream biscuits next time!!!

Bills Garden Now

We had a lovely afternoon in Hereford today. Bill had some Wyevale Garden Centre gift vouchers left over from his birthday and hes been hankering for a giant rhubarb plant for the garden for ages. He filled in the small pond with compost a while ago when he was doing the second level of the garden, this has created the perfect environment for this plant. It likes a boggy setting.

The leaves can grow up to 10 feet across, so it will be interesting to see how it does here!

I also got a beautiful black and white striped reed that will grow in the same place.

On the way out we spotted some beautiful clay pots with Alpine plants growing out of them.

The pots were beautifully aged with moss and algae growing on them--couldn't resist getting 3 -especially as they were reduced!

The 2 tall ones will sit on the steps and the one in the round bowl will look lovely on the table on the bottom level.

We had bought some plants at the craft fair yesterday, I wanted something that would compliment the beautiful blue flowering plant (no idea what its called) and found a lovely pink flower with dark red foliage-it looks lovely against the light gravel.

We have also bought some fun items like the digging dog statue and the happy face planter from the boot sales. Its taken a while but its all been worth it.

We were looking forward to having a BBQ this weekend but the weather forcast is not promising, so we will have to see what happens!

Mellow Moods Class

Today we had Jan and Jane to paint the Mellow Moods painting.

It was great fun to see how each painting progressed-first of all with the sponges and later with the brushes!

It was a very straightforward painting to do and both of them agreed that it was quite an easy one to do!

I will work on another colourway for this class for later in the year

In between painting we had breaks to go outside and see the fish in the pond, they have all grown massive over the past few weeks-the new ultra violet light has worked wonders and the water is now as clear as can be.

It wont be long until they are spawning now the temperature is rising.Then the fun starts -checking constantly that any havent jumped out of the pond!

Todays class

We had a great time today in class! It was laughs from the word go!

As you can see from the photos, we had one unruly student who kept playing up!!

Ron was the only first time student today and he soon settled down after reassurances from everyone else that he would be fine!

Jane managed to join us again-and was really happy with her pic until she put in the suns rays, I showed her how to get rid of them and all was well.

I stocked her up with painting materials when she had her one to one on Wednesday--the few things I didn't have I gave her a list to go shopping at The Range in Kidderminster,just a couple of brushes and an easel were what she was short of.

She phoned this afternoon while she was there at The Range to check she was getting the right things --all my students know that if they are in any doubt about anything they can ring me anytime and ask! Whether its about technique or materials I am always here to answer their queries.

Michelle had to leave a bit earlier than everyone else-she had a new grandchild to go and see in Northampton, so she is not in the final photograph.!

Bill from Shrewsbury was using his 3rd gift voucher that he received from his wife--he loves the different techniques that he has learnt in each class.

Kay recieved her advanced artists brooch for attending 6 classes-she was thrilled with it!

I will finish the update tomorrow because we have little Holly her for the weekend and she is fast asleep in the room I have the computer in!

Janes Summer Day

Jane came for a one to one on Wednesday.

She had been to a class once before but couldn't wait for the next one so came to the house!.

We had a lovely afternoon and Jane painted a beautiful painting.We took some pics with my camera phone and sent them to her daughter to see-she was very impressed with her mums achievements.

This Is a Great Site!

I have seen this site on another art forum and thought you would all like to have a look! there are some great things on here!

http://www.boreme.com/boreme/funny-collections/optical-tricks-p1.php?gclid=CObZx4XBhZMCFQKY1AodRCRz0w

The blog is playing up today and wont let me put any photos on here, so you will have to wait to see yesterdays student Jane with her Summer day painting.

Unexpected space in class

I had a call from Greg who was supposed to be joining us for the first time next Saturday to do the Emerald Wood Class.

He hadn't realised that it was his daughters birthday until his wife reminded him at the weekend! They are off to visit her, but he has said that when they are back he AND his wife will be booking up for a class.

This means there is one place going spare for this popular painting.

If you would like to join in but would like to bring a friend I can fit 7 people in so please feel free to get in touch.

This painting is suitable for all abilities from first timers upwards!

please contact me http://www.paintingmyway.co.uk

My Painting Buddy!!!

I was stood painting in the kitchen last night minding my own business when I heard a flutter of wings behind me and in flew Paddy Bird onto my head!

Bill and I were both shocked as he as never been brave enough to leave the front room before in the 4 years we have had him!! He had to navigate the turns into the hall and into the kitchen, he was puffing a bit when he landed on my head!

He has never been that keen on me until a few months ago, he always seemed to like Bill the most. He simply tolerated me-what has made him change I dont know.

Most parrots take to just one of their owners, Bill can still do more with him-mainly because Im still scared of him-he has bitten me down to the bone on my fingers several times in the early days and it has always gone septic. But Im getting braver now hes being nicer to me.

He was very interested in what I was doing, he seemed to enjoy watching me paint.

He thought all his birthdays had come at once when Bill gave him a clean brush to hold as we are always taking pens and lipsticks off him as his beak goes through them like butter!!

I might get him some paint and a little canvas soon and see if hes picked up any tips!

Class of April 19th-Stormy Skies

Well this will be a quick post-we have our little granddaughter staying the night and I'm off to bath her now---

Ive invested in a couple of new easels--couldn't get the same as the ones I have at the moment-but the new ones seem to be just as good-Evan better in some respects-I can fit a very large canvas on them!

While I was over at Kidderminster I bought some new flat brushes to replace the old ones.

I had great fun last night customising the aprons we use in class-I had bought some crayons to use on materials-you iron it after doing the design! I didn't have time to do all of them, but the ones I did do the students loved!

We had great fun in the class-we had a real mix-some newbies and some people who had been several times before-and of course Jordan aged 10years -who for some reason I kept calling Oliver all day!

We had a real laugh all through the class- I had to keep convincing the newbies that everything would be ok--they don't realise that in my mind I am at least 2 stages ahead of them and can see how the paintings will look once the water line or background hills have been put in!

At the last minute I decided to show them how something as simple as a palm tree would totally change the whole painting--3 out of the 7 decided to do one, and the difference it made was really was amazing!

Everyone who came wants to come again, so I will look forward to seeing them all again.

Congratulations Sharleen!!!!!

We want to congratulate my friend and student Sharleen Toller on starting up her own website gallery on www.affordablebritishart.co.uk
She is my first student to do so although I think Mandy wont be far behind her!
We met Sharleen last August at Onslow Park steam rally when we did the craft fair there,such a short time ago and look at her now!!!

Sharleen took to the technique like a duck to water and quickly started painting at home.She has already sold some of her work,Im sure the future is very bright for Sharleen!

Class of June 14th "Poppy Field"

Again back by popular demand 'Poppy Field'
This popular painting subject always has amazing results -even with first time students.
If you would like to join this class please get in touch via the website
www.pantingmyway.co.uk

Class For June 21st "Summer Day"

Back by very popular demand 'Summer Day' is one of the most popular paintings that we do in class.
The changes can be rung in many different ways and it is always very successful even with first time students.
The painting always turns out different in every class-as usual!
Each person interprets what I show and tell them in the step by step sections differently.
Each person will paint their sky different to the next person , as with the sea and the beach, when it comes to doing the foreground flowers, its lovely to see the confidence emerging from even first time artists as they paint a variety of flowers from poppies to daisies.
If you would like to join this class please get in touch via the website
www.paintingmyway.co.uk

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!