Birches Workshop

We had a few students unable to attend due to various reasons--however they will be coming along in the future! Although there is a wide variety of choices for the workshop, colour and canvas size-almost everyone decided to use the 20in x 16in canvas- Jenny and Anna used the 24in x 12in and the 12in x 24in..And the monochrome version proved to be the most popular colour...Everyone wanted to add a bit of bling in the form of metallic silver birch trees....Steven has been to the Yesterday workshop previously--and we will look forward to seeing him and his wife in the future ..

Jenny chose the same colours as me-beautiful bright autumn colours--love the path disappearing off in the distance..

Anna has quite a distance to travel from Bristol..but Bill was able to tell her an easier way  home than the satnav had bought her..being an ex lorry driver is very useful sometimes! She made a lovely job of her painting--managing to get her splatters on the trees very fine--though we couldn't work out exactly how-although I watched her every move! She admits she is addicted to the workshops--and we will look forward to seeing her again next month!

We had 4 ladies come down from the Telford area after one of their mums came along to the demo I did recently at the  Withington WI..all had tried watercolours before and a bit of acrylic but this was a first for them.. Helen is adding her dark trees here...

The silver paint stands out lovely against the bright autumn colours in Jenny's painting..

the last of the silver birches going in...

everyone was amazed at the difference each stage made to the previous one...

layering dark and light trees added distance and depth to the pictures..

I love the way everyone gets more confidence with each step...its often quite hard to paint over stuff you have previously painted--but it is necessary to add the depth and distance to the paintings...

adding the lines to the birches...

When we do acrylics we always have mats down to protect the floor in the room --its new and very light----to be sure we put down a huge tarpaulin sheet to do the splattering!!!

always interesting to see how everyone tackles this bit...

for a lot of this workshop you could hear a pin drop...everyone concentrating so much..

what great results from everyone..

After a 5 hour workshop it was lovely to come home and have a quick dinner to prepare--diet coke chicken is a firm favourite here-so quick,easy and tasty-and as the weather was so beautiful we sat outside by the pond to eat it...

One of our original fish--Moby is a real greedy bugger-and is always first out of the water  searching out food on the lily pads..

waiting for their dinner!

Pud was just as easy and delicious-fresh local strawberries, with low fat strawberry greek yogurt and a few tiny meringue's

Birches Workshop

Adrian and \dawn were painting for the 3rd time today..they always creat a diptych on 2 canvas--always get brilliant results ,,

hard to believe that the splodges on every ones canvas could ever be transformed into beautiful foliage in such a short time--and I'm sure that in the beginning of the class-nobody believes it either!

There was a  wide range of choices for the students today-both in colour and canvas size,,,one of the reasons we allow an extra hour for this workshop!

it takes no time at all before the canvas are transformed,,

its always very interesting to watch everyone get their confidence as the time goes by,,

at times you could hear a pin drop--at others all you could hear was laughter!

Claire was painting for the first time--she chose the lovely soft sage green and cream combination--

Sarah and her Mum chose the lovely autumn colours and the huge 40in canvas

I love the monochrome tones--I think they are my favourite!

Jane adding her trees..

Jackie received her artist brooch from me today for attending 6 workshops--

adding the detail to the birches..

looking good--nearly finished now!

love the big bold trees!

you have to be quite brave to start covering over the first trees you do...

it always amazes me how they can get the finished painting to look like just one person has painted it-quite an achievement!

looking good Margaret..

Jane is nearly finished here..

just a few more to do!

I love the way the birches stand out against the autumn colours-very vibrant!

Margaret adding the final few trees..

a few more layers of trees yet..

its great when everyone gets photos of the progress they are making..

Well done everyone-will look forward to seeing you all again!

The Shrewsbury 5 !!!

Wonderful!

Shirley and Margaret

Dawn and Adrian...

Mellow Moods Workshop

First time for Joan..she was bought along by her daughter Lucy-who had seen me on Ludlow market years ago ,picked up a leaflet and lost it-and eventually found me via Google! Joan seemed to find every step quite simple and created a beautiful mystical painting..

Lucy also really enjoyed creating her painting-- we are going over to Wolverhampton to do her hen party--that will be lots of fun! We have done a few hen parties and its always a good laugh--and everyone has a lovely memento of the day to keep forever..

Helen was painting her 3rd painting---she tends to go for the subtle effect--which is is fine----that's the beauty of my workshops--you get to use your own initiative and choose exactly how you want your painting to look at the end--so if you want bold or subtle you can do it!

Norma and Dave came along a couple of years ago for the first time and painted "Yesterday" they then sent along some relatives as a surprise after--all enjoyed it very much! This subject is quite different to to that one as we use acrylic and oils..

Dave used the spring time colours to do his painting...its amazing how different they look from the autumn colours..

Martin is getting close to his artist badge now..

Anne is getting to be quite an expert now..she has done quite a few workshops with me...

Jackie will be having her Artist brooch next week when she comes to do the Birches workshop...she bought along her sister Karen for the 2nd time today..

Karen made a great job of her painting,,,there was lots of fun and chatter going on in the class with Hugh who was with us for the first time...and Karen and Jackie were creased most of the day :-)

Hugh with his masterpiece-he had to rush off before the group photos as he had a taxi picking him up..he absolutely loved his day-his son had bought him a gift voucher I had donated to the local British Legion club to raise money in an auction...he def had his own ideas on what he wanted in his painting--no waterfall for him--he wanted a stream... so a stream he had!

Cathy has got all the paints at home but didn't know what to do with them...I'm sure she will be having a go at home now..

well done!

Lovely! Well done!

Lovely results-well done!

See you all again soon!