ART WANTED

I had an email today from an American site I have some of my work on.

ArtWanted has told me that this painting is in the top ten images for today (sunday 15th June)

I have had lots of great comments about this painting from people who have seen it on there!

Tranquility In Green

Here is my latest painting "Tranquility In Green" painted in oil onto a large box canvas 100cm x80cm.

You can see the different stages that the painting went through as it evolved.

Very muted shades of sap green, black and white make this a very calm painting.

The cost is £180-if you would like to reserve it -it will be around 3 weeks until it can be posted please get in touch with me via http://www.paintingmyway.co.uk

Tranquil Moods

Tranquil Moods was picked up today by its new owner.
Jan fell in love with it as soon as she saw it a short while ago when she came here for a one to one!
So its now hanging in Jans 'snug' Im going to call by and get some pics in situ soon, so get the kettle on Jan!!!

Todays Class -Sat 10th Nov

We had a lovely laid back class today- ''Mrs Subtle'' and Chris from Hadnall Wi came along with Mrs Subtle's (Jean) daughter in law Joe. We had met Jean and Chris a few months ago when we did a class in Chris's conservatory!!!

It was a tad cooler than when we had met before---I swear I lost several lb's that day!!!

Anyway, we got stuck in to 'tropical summer day'' and it wasn't long before we had some exciting skies going on !

Joe (pictured above signing her first masterpiece) who was a first timer told me she had done a fine arts degree, but found this more fun and she was learning how to actually paint a picture, she really enjoyed her day.

The time flew by and before we knew it we were finished.The palm trees went very well, everyone was surprised at how easy they were with the fan brush.

Sharleen got chatting to the other ladies and found they had mutual friends via her dog training classes--it sure is a small world.

Sharleen has also kindly offered us the use of her business premises for classes in the Telford area. Straight away the 3 ladies booked up for a class, which means that with Sharleen there are only 2 places left for ''The Birch Trees'' on Feb 9th.

The students went away with canvas's and brushes to carry on at home,

I am going to sit down tomorrow and get the dates sorted out for next year-after going to the boot sale that is!!!

Some fun sites!

Have just found 2 interesting sites you might like--the first one is hilarious www.eyegas.com/attackofthesprouts
and the 2nd one donates a grain of rice to starving children with each correct answer.It soon mounts up so give it a go . www.freerice.com

Todays Class

Today we had a really laid back class!

Everyone had met in my classes before--

Jack had been once before, Jan was doing her 4th painting and Sharleen was painting her 3rd one.

The painting was a different one to the one advertised, but that is nothing unusual-nothing is set in stone with me, I will chop and change the subjects to fit in with what people want to do!

Sharleen bought along Chip who is seen checking out the subject for the painting today! I think everyone was surprised at the way that the painting evolved today. We started off with a black canvas, added some white acrylic with some various sponges, then we painted in some trees in various colours of white, grey and black.

As soon as we put the linseed oil onto the dryed acrylic you could see it come to life,as soon as the linseed oil hit the canvas it just became more vibrant, the black and white paint took on a totally different look- the original painting had shades of blues,yellows and greens in it. I had decided that I was going to paint mine all green to replace the 'Emerald Wood ''painting that I sold a while ago.

After seeing how my painting had progressed, they all decided that there were some changes they would like to make to their original acrylic paintings-mainly a big branch on their main tree!! We has such a laugh in the class, everyone was ok putting in the background trees but as soon as I mentioned painting BIG trees it all went very quiet and no-one wanted to do it! There was a lot of breath holding going on!!!!

Everyone watched as the painting transformed from black and white to a magical green enchanted scene.

After seeing mine everyone decided to ''go green''

I set the paint out onto the palette and said'' right then whos going first then''--silence for a minute and then Jan-bless her said ''Ok then lets get it bloody over with!!!!!'' it cracked everyone up!!

Earlier in the class after we had to use the sponges to apply the background, we all had lots of weird things appear in the paintings. Sharleen and Jan and myself all had strange faces and some animals in theirs, but Jack beat everyone with his 'witch on a broomstick-complete with moon in background!''

All in all a great day-loads of laughs as usual, Jan came home with us to borrow some of my extensive range of art books, I am always happy to help any of my students in any way I can, and as I have built up quite a collection of various art books in one form or another, I am quite happy for them to use them to practise with at home! I have also told them all to ring me if they are not sure about anything--Id rather they do that than make a major mistake at home and be put off painting for good!!!!

All of the students will be joining the SAA, of which I am a PA-- (professional advisor)

The Society for All Artists --- www.saa.co.uk

is a very informative and helpful site -the bi-monthly magazine is full of helpful hints and tips about painting and the regular catalogue is full of bargains.The joining fee fee is soon recouperated when ordering their paints etc at discounted prices-anyone who is going to paint on a regular basis would be well advised to join this society--everything is P+P free too.

Good Idea Bill !!!

I always clean the brushes out in the garage sink after a class/one 2 one etc.

It has been getting a little cluttered up out there lately cos Im not the most tidiest of people, and the brushes have been hanging around on the draining board til they have dryed out completely.

Bill has said for a while that we need something to put the brushes into straight away after they have been cleaned, then they can dry out thougherly, then they are ready to put into the individual boxes for the classes.

Simple but effective, he knocked up this storage unit for the brushes this afternoon while I was doing the one 2 one with Penny!

I can put the brushes straight into there as soon as they have been cleaned in the odourless turps and cleaned in the brush cleaning soap and dryed , and they are ready to put into the boxes for the classes. So much easier -thanks Bill xxx

I have just replaced all the scriptliner brushes that we use in the classes with new ones and the old ones I will keep for when we do acrylic classes. The new brushes are also available for sale for just £3.50p including P+P

I also have a new stock of painting knives that will be on sale for just £4.50p including P+P-they sell out as fast as I get them in-once people see just what can be done with them , they all want one!!!

St Audries Bay Waterfall

This is the painting of St Audries waterfall that I painted for Mary.

I have tryed to capture the mystical feeling that surrounds the beautiful place.

It is one of the most peacefull, quiet places I have ever been.

This painting was done on a new canvas and although I primed it twice it started to dry out the very next day.

We will give it a coat of varnish the next time we are down there to bring out the colours.

Commission Finished

At last I have finished the commission of a fairly local church-Corely nr Clee Hill. It has been a challange to say the least--one thing is for sure-there will not be another painting of Corely Church by Diane Jennings in existence!!

I tend to stay away from doing paintings of buildings and stick to landscapes!!
I am very pleased with the results as was the lady who commissioned it. She came to collect it yesterday and was thrilled with it.