Christmas Day!

We have had a very busy day today--we had Christmas all over again--minus the tree! That would be taking things too far!
I had some boxes of canvas and things to move from the dining room to make room for Carl and Marce-its used as an overflow from the garage sometimes!

Bill got the turkey in the oven and did the veg while I made the bread sauce and my special stuffing loaf
--its really delicious--
I line a silicon loaf tin with streaky bacon and add layers of sage (from garden) and onion stuffing, sausage meat, a thick layer of garlic chives from the garden-cranberry sauce in the middle and repeat.
Fold over the bacon on the top add sage leaves and bake--
use turkey baster to take any excess fat off ( I put the crusts saved from making bread sauce into container and put excess fat over top for wild birds)
when the top is crispy I turn it out and put on baking sheet and return to oven until bottom and sides are crispy.
Its as nice cold as it is hot as well.

The Christmas Pud was served with clotted cream and was definatly no good for the waist line or the diabetes but as its a one off it wont hurt Im sure.
Marce is expecting our 4th grandchild in early August-and they are off for a 20 week scan at the
hospital tomorrow--but they are not going to find out the sex of it--that will be a suprise til it arrives-which will be lovely-

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

Absolutely Unique

I have some more paintings on display in the new gallery that has opened up in Corve Street , Ludlow, Shropshire.
"Absolutely Unique" has lots of beautiful furniture in there as well as paintings and jewelry etc.

I am going to be Artist In Residence at the gallery on 11th and 12th of February. I will be taking my easel,paints and canvas to the gallery and speaking to the public about my work etc.
Must say Im really looking forward to it!

Bills Garden

Well the weather has been dry today for the first time in ages, Bill has been out in the garden and its looking great.

The top stage of the garden was the last to be done and it was a real wilderness with bindweed and wild strawberries taking over.

Its been a real transformation, the area has been weeded and stone put down--there is somewhere to put the wishing well that Bill made a long time ago and has never had a proper home!

We have some plants to put in that we bought when doing the other 2 stages, so hopefully the weather will hold til that's done.

Theres been lots of trimming and pruning going on, the ivy had made it across the net on the pond to the other side almost-now its all neat and tidy again.

My herb garden is going to have a sort out tomorrow, the big bay tree is in for a major cut back-it may even come out and be put into a big pot.

I hope the weather holds til its all finished now, we will be packing away the garden furniture and BBQ cant see it being used much more this year !

Bill says as soon as he packs away the wind out sunblind we have over the patio door the weather will pick up again!

He said it would turn nasty when he put it back up there earlier this year and he was right!

Birch Trees class full--Nov 1st

This class for November 1st is now full.

I have 7 students booked into this popular class.

There will be the option of painting this in the brown/sepia colours as well as the black and white.

I will be setting another date for this class for January 09 and will put the details on here and the website as soon as a date is set.

If you would like to be put on the waiting list for this painting please get in touch.

Onslow Park

We got back late last night from a fantastic weekend at Onslow Park Steam Rally. We arrived on Saturday morning and got the caravan set up and all the stands in place.

As we had so much space it took ages to get all the paintings and the tables done!

We were by some old friends from last year as well as a few new ones.

We always have a good laugh here-everyone is so friendly.

We met up with some people from last weeks Tern Valley Vintage show as well.

The marquee was massive as you can see from the photographs, its hard to imagine that people were stuck for space as they walked round there, but it was so busy at times you could hardly move!

Bill manged to get out of there to see some of the things that were going on in the arena, and came back with some lovely photos of the sights!

The rainbow appeared over the site on Saturday night as we were walking up from the van to have a meal.

We were up early to have a full english breakfast to start the day on Sunday morning, all we had to do was uncover all the stands and tables as we had set it all up the day before.

I miscalculated on the encaustic stuff I sell--last year I sold out of everything early on the Saturday so this year had taken more than double with me-again I sold out very quickly on the Saturday, so have got some orders to send out early next week and also some people are coming to Ludlow Food and Drink Festival next month to pick up some equipment.

I also had people who had bought off me last year coming back for more waxes and cards.

Everyone agreed it was a brilliant hobby to have!

I also ran out of my large bags that I had printed with my class details on, still got some small ones left-the kids just love having a special bag to put their encaustic paintings into to carry round with them! Must remember to put another order in this week!

Lots of interest in the classes, some of the classes are full or nearly full now, and I must get cracking on setting some more dates.

All in all a great time had by all, cant wait for next year!

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 for Saturday July 5th "Forest Pool"

This is a new class subject "Forest Pool" is painted onto a black canvas which makes it less nerve racking for total beginners !!
Its a lovely atmospheric picture.
I have been working on some new subjects for some time, the photograph of this one is not brilliant as the painting is still wet.I will take another one later when its dry.
If you would like to join the class to do this painting, please get in touch via the website www.paintingmyway.co.uk
I sure the places will get booked up quite quickly.

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!

Latest Paintings

I have been busy over the past 2 days painting some new pictures.
On the left is African Acacia whic is in acrylic and measures 30cm x 70 cm. The sides are staple free and it does not require framing

The painting on the top right is called Winter Frost and again is painted in acrylic on to box canvas .
The size is 50cm x 40 cm.I have used a special shimmering paint on the water and some beautiful holographic paint over the trees. It twinkles in the light.


The painting on the bottom left is called African Dreams
Painted in acylic onto box canvas the sides are painted and it dosent need framing.
Bright and vibrant for todays contemporary home.
Size is 50 cm x 40 cm

Please note all my work is sent by SPecial Delivery-insured, trackable and next day delivery. The cost of p+p in UK is included in the price of the painting.
If you are outside the Uk please get in touch via the website.
www.paintingmyway.co.uk

ALL OF MY WORK IS PROTECTED WITH www.protectmywork.com

19TH April --Stormy Skies

This is the subject for Saturday 19th April--"Stormy Skies is suitable for all ages and abilities-very atmospheric painting and its amazing that that 2 colours are used in this work.
Black and white paint are blended to make every shade of grey to create this work.Its a great exercise in tonal painting.
If you would like to join this class, please get in touch via
www.paintingmyway.co.uk

Getting Ready

We are off to Leominster tomorrow to take down the exhibition of students paintings.

It will be a quicker job than putting them up for sure.!

We have got some of the students coming to help pack everything away, and most people are collecting their paintings from there, so the car wont be as full as this coming home!!!!

We had Sharleens van to take them to Leominster as well as some in our car!

Its been pretty hectic here getting pressies to respective families, last minute shopping in Kidderminster yesterday-it was really quiet there, was able to get round the shops no trouble-it was lovely!!

A Bit Of Christmas Fun!!!!!

http://www.eyegas.com/sproutifarts/ this funny game will amuse all members of the family!!

The next one is a great laugh too!!!!!!!!!!


http://www.elfmovie.com/swf/snowball_fight/index.html

Poppies and Mucking Fuddle!!!

Well we went to the Art Bay Gallery in Stoke On Trent yesterday and delivered 8 paintings that will be on display there from next week Thursday Dec 6th.

Cheryl and Alan who run the gallery are really looking forward to the opening next week.

We have all sorts of exciting things in the pipeline coming up--watch this space!!!!

Didn't get chance to go shopping either!!!

Have been working all day, and most of the evening, on the poppy commission.

It has so many different layers of paint glaze, all in different shades of red, each layer of glaze has to dry completely before adding another, otherwise it isn't a glaze, it will mix with the wet paint underneath and become another colour, instead of enhancing the colour you've just put it over. So lots of work!!!.

In between waiting for the glazes to dry I have been working on the latest in my ''Manic ''series of abstract paintings.

I have called this one ''Mucking Fuddle'' a little tongue in cheek title, as most of the series has had.I realised when we got back from Stoke that I didnt have any of my Manic series to display in the''From Small Acorns'' exhibition next week. I had either sold them or they were in exhibition at Stoke!

So I got started on the latest, and Im really pleased with the result-fingers crossed it dries in time to take with us when we go to set up on Tuesday!

Its painted onto a large canvas 40in x32in, in oil .It will be dry enough to post in a couple of weeks, all being well-and the cost is £250 including P+P in UK

Creations art Gallery

I have received my 2 paintings back from Nick Buxton of Creations Gallery, Dickens Heath, Solihull. As you can see from the pictures the one painting has suffered a lot of damage and is unrepairable. There appears to be 2 cuts, but one is made from the front of the canvas and one from the back.The stretcher bar is also snapped right through. As this is a large 3 ft canvas the stretcher bars are very big and strong.

As the packaging was not damaged one can only assume that the damage was done in the gallery which closed down with no notification to me what so ever months ago.

After getting no answers to my emails and phone calls we went over there and found out it had closed down ages ago.

The owner Nick didn't have the decency to tell us , we would have driven over and collected my work had we of known. He didn't even put a note in with the paintings to explain what has happened.

Fortunately the other painting escaped unscathed, and is now back on the market. Evening Tide will brighten up any room its hung in. It measures 36in x36in and is on staple free box canvas. The price is £250 including P+P in Uk If you are outside Uk Please get in touch.

Great Start

I have had a great start to the week. A new gallery opening on the south coast has asked if they can have some of my work for their gallery. Fire In The Sky will be hanging alongside some very prestigeous artists work--

Henderson Cisz, Jean Picton and Duncan Macgregor will all have work hanging there, so Im with very good company!!!

.

Chris the owner of the gallery, has also bought the 2 paintings that I painted to raise money for The British Heart Foundation. He is hoping to raise even more money for the charity by selling them in the gallery.

relaxing times!

We are having a great time here at St Audries. We have been out and about all weekend, found 2 great boot sales, got some lovely bargains! Some painting videos for just 30p each, a brand new furbie for 50p.I also bought a beautiful pottery cat for only £10. They retail for at least £60 in Ludlow so I am really pleased with that.
I have just finished getting ready for the painting demonstration I am doing at 4:30pm.The canvas are prepared and the paint is on my palette ready to go.
The place is already filling up with organ players.It promises to be a busy week.
Stilltrying to work the new laptop,cant get the pictures loaded on here at the moment.I have computer wizz Terry coming for a class tomorrow so hopefully he will point me in the right direction.!!!!!!

New Class 6th Oct

''Poppy Field''

This is the subject for the class on Saturday 6th Oct. We will be painting it on a different shaped canvas though to ease transport !

It is suitable for beginners and experienced artists alike.

Please contact me through the website to book.

http://www.paintingmyway.co.uk/