Foxgloves and Dragonflies Workshop March 19th

Due to illness, accidents and work we were down to just the 2 ladies yesterday! Sue on the left was painting with me for the 3rd time but it was a first for Hilary on the right! We all got on like a house on fire and had lots of chat and laughs during the day! Beautiful paintings from them both--its amazing what you can do with black and white acrylic paint and a pop of colour for the foxgloves and dragonflies! A touch of oil paint for the water and sunlight coming through the trees and it was done!

Foxgloves And Dragonflies

Barry painted with me earlier in the year when I went to do a workshop for the ABC41 club of which he is a member..he came along with his wife Denise who was a bit nervous!

This is a lovely subject to do and the results are quick to show too..I love teaching trees--everyone soon gets their own style very quickly--and trees are a bit like signatures-all unique to each person!

5th time for Liz who travels down all the way from Derby with the other girls-she loved using the monochrome paint!

First time for Gaynor, who also travelled down from Derby-lots of nerves but soon settled into it, lovely results too..

The workshop was a birthday treat from Cynthia husband-they stayed nearby and made a weekend of it-first time using acrylic and oils for her--she has tried watercolours before though..

5th time for Jo too--the Derby ladies will be receiving their artist brooches next time they come!

Christiania really enjoyed her day-said it was her first time since she was at school!

Diane drove everyone down from Derby--so Bill made some boxes so the paintings could all be stacked safely in the boot for the journey home.

everyone found it very interesting to use the acrylic first--then oils--and then right at the end have the choice of adding some colour to the monochrome...

Sharon got on well with the acrylic paint and had some great trees happening!

Lovely bold trees from Karen !

First time for Mary-she cant wait to come again!

everyone hard at it here!

Mary with her finished painting--she left hers monochrome-apart from the foxgloves and dragonflies..

I loved Barry's and  Denise's paintings--they added a touch of lilac to just the bottom of their paintings-very effective!

Karen loves colour--and her painting took on a real magical look--Cynthia left hers monochrome which looked just as good!

Isn't it amazing just how different the paintings can turn out so easily!

Amazing results from the '''Derby Five'''

Christiania, Denise and Barry with their finished masterpieces

Birch Tree Workshop

As you can see from the pictures we had a full and busy workshop yesterday at Clee  Hill Village Hall.

16 in all--6 who have been before and 10 newcomers!

Lyndsey rang at the last minute-- 9.45am that morning to see if I could squeeze her in...luckily she only lives a few miles away!

Jack has been a few times before--and chose the lovely warm autumn colours..there were more big canvas done than usual--and as I can no longer get the 40in x 12in canvas as they are not being made any longer-however Ive found a lovely new size 80cm x 30cmin a chunky canvas-its not quite as wide but being chunky gives a bit more scope to add lovely detail..it worked very well!

Dave was a first timer-he didn't want a path in his painting-which is fine...nothing is set in stone in any of my workshops! Birchs works in so many different ways -we will always be able to reach the end result you have in mind1

Kirsty bought along her mum Helen and Kay---all first timers-and what great results we had from them!

Helen chose the browns and creams for her painting..

Kay chose the monochrome fr her painting--its always been my favourite combination  of all--

Lizanna was also panting for the first time--and like all the first timers was pretty much convinced she would not be taking home anything worthy of hanging on the wall--how wrong were they?

Judy is another first timer..not that you would believe it to see her painting!

Dawn and friend Sam have been once before to paint Summer Day--

Sam adding some detail to her trees..

Nina was another first timer..lovely colourful autumn shades for her too--she was surprised  at how quickly the painting came together!

Anne and her daughter Claire had quite a long drive from Trowbridge , Wiltshire to join us for the first time  also--but said it was worth the 2 1/2 hour journey and will be back again! It never fails to amaze me just how far some of my students will travel to come and paint with me! Anne chose the 12in x 24in chunky canvas and the lovely soft browns and creams..

Claire got on really quickly with her birches..

Chris wanted to use the autumn shades but with more greens than yellows and reds--it worked lovely--first timer!  Her sisters (?) called by at the end of the workshop to see the results and were all amazed at the results-and all want to come along with her at some point--its always fun when people come in a group!

Sarah is loving her painting workshops and is keen to get started at home,,,2nd time for her.

Jac received her gift from me for attending 6 workshops--instead of the usual artist brooch she chose a pair of artist earrings with a brush on one earring and a palette on the other--you can just see them in the photo!

adding some final touches!

What great results from everyone--a brilliant day--though a very busy one--and we enjoyed a well earned glass or 2 of cava when we got home!

Birches Workshop-April 27th

It was lovely to see Jill again, she came last year and painted Reeds In The Breeze using oils-and she wanted to try acrylics as she has been bought some as a gift...she chose to do the big 40in x 12in canvas and the soft sage green and cream colours

We met Julie just last Wednesday when we were on the market....she had never painted before and was quite nervous that she wouldn't be able to do it! She chose the monochrome version but used silver paint for the foreground trees...

Ali joined us at the last minute....we did her 'Hen' party last week...and she has been wanting to paint the Birch trees for some time...

Tony has been painting for a while-and it did show! He chose the autumn colours for his painting--but they were much more subdued than my version...I thought it looked like twilight,,and the others agreed,,,,

Adding the detail to the trees,,

Ali's trees are coming on nicely here..

Jill was using 2 dryers to save time!

Tony's trees are looking great...

Gills painting had a lovely calm, tranquil feel to it..

Looking good....

What lovely results--and all so different..

While we were packing away, we noticed Barbara who runs  the rooms we use for classes--she was arranging some more flowers for the church.. isn't this just beautiful..made from leaves pinned together...just beautiful!