Craft Market

It was beautiful weather today for the book and craft fair.

There were loads of people around the market square.

We met some interesting people again-as we always do when we are on the craft markets.

It was a lovely atmosphere in the square-there was a medieval busker playing a variety of instuments amoung other things. We also met up with some of the other people who will be with us in the craft marquee at the Shobdon Food and Drink Festival later this month.

Its a lovely venue-always friendly and a good laugh.Lets hope for good weather! Although its only a few miles from home we might take the caravan as they have some great live bands there on the Saturday night playing 60's music.If the forcast is ok we will stop over and enjoy the atmosphere there with some wine and music!

This Saturdays Class

This is the subject for this Saturdays class-very mystical subject.

This painting is suitable for all students even first timers.

I have 2 places left for the class-if you are interested in joining us please get in touch via the website http://www.paintingmyway.co.uk

Hope Bagot

We had a great day at Hope Bagot yesterday-although it didnt stop raining all day!

There was a constant stream of people through the door of the vilage hall where we were.

The children all loved having a go at the encaustic art and some beautiful paintings were produced during the day.

Tomorrows Class

We have a full class tomorrow to paint Tropical Evening.

This is a tranquil scene and it will be interesting to see just how different they all turn out.

We have a special student tomorrow--my daughter Becki is joining in after a bit of persuasion.

She is kindly paying for a 12 year daughter of a friend of hers to come and as she was going to wait anyway for her, said she may as well join in!

To say she is nervous is an understatement!

Well Id better go and get the box done for tomorrow-got brushes to put in the individual boxes that each student has to keep everything together.

Also I have to make up some more of the undercoat that we use on the canvas.

Its lucky the room we use is just a few hundred yards away from home-Bill usually ends up coming home to pick up one or two things that have been requested by students and Ive forgotten to pack!!!

Birches

Painted across 3 canvas each measuring 20 cm x 50cm this artwork will look great on any wall. Each canvas has been painted on all sides and has been coated in 3 coats of artists varnish to protect it. The paintings have been very popular with people this past year, they are every atmospheric to look at, and you can see different things in the backgrounds of each one!

This work will be protected with 3 coats of varnish before posting.

the price is £200 including P+P in Uk

please get in touch viahttp://www.paintingmyway.co.uk

LIttle Bird

We have a lodger at the moment--Sparky Cat bought in this little baby robin last night- he hadn't harmed him at all.
Previously he had bought in a dead one and after he bought in this one he bought in another dead one.We don't think he has had them out of the nest-they were all fully feathered and almost fledged so we think they had fell out of the nest.
We put this one into a tissue lined bowl and covered him over-fully expecting to find him dead from shock this morning.
However he was very much alive and kicking and wanting some breakfast went we went downstairs this morning!
He accepted some moist bread from the tweezers very well, but we decided he needed more natural food and Bill dug up some worms and cut them up for him---YUUUUUKKKKKK
not a good experience feeding wiggly cut up worms to a baby bird!!!
It is gross-but baby bird loves them, he ate 2 largish ones and is sleeping like a baby now! He should be able to fly and fend for himself quite soon, so hope we can keep him going till he is strong enough!

Joyces Latest Painting

We had a great day today, Joyce had taken a look at a copyright free book that the SAA sell and chosen a picture she would like to paint.
We had a real laugh at the different colours that we added to the sunset sky, but when they were all tickled with the tickling brush and all the colours softly merged together and the effects were really beautiful.
When the bushes and palm trees were added in the black it really made a big difference.We used the rubber ended tool to make the water lines instead of the usual knife which worked very well.
She also added some little daisies to the painting she did yesterday, they are easier to do once the painting has had chance to dry off slightly and Joyce really enjoyed doing these!
Joyce is going back to Bradford with lots of helpful hints and tips-along with my fact sheet which will help her through the different stages of the paintings.She also has bought some art supplies from me, knife, paint etc.
I will be packing her paintings up safely when they are dry and posting them to her by special delivery in a couple of weeks time.

BIG Canvas!

I have treated myself to some giant canvas-some are 5 ft and some 4ft.They are stored on the landing at the moment as we are short of space!
Im itching to get started on them and will be painting one of the 5 ft ones later today.Its going to be interesting working this big-the problem is where is it going to live while drying!!
The house is full of canvas-all shapes and sizes-we could do with an extension to keep them all in!
I will post the work in progress on here a-if I remember to take the photos-I tend to get carried away when I am painting and forget to take the pics.

Class Of April 5th

Well we had another great class yesterday-we welcomed Jane for the first time-everyone else had been several times before.She admitted to being a bit nervous but soon settled down and everyone put her at ease!
We had 7 in class so Bill had to bring up the easel he made for me a while back.I will have to go over to Kidderminster this week and get another easel the same as the others.
They are evry expensive but well worth the money,good and sturdy for all the bashing we do in class!
The time flew by as usual, although for once we didn't go over the 4 hours, we still had a couple of good breaks for tea, bickies and sandwiches.
Everyone was amazed to see how different the paintings all were again, some were quite subtle and some more bold, but its always interesting to see how everyone interprets what they are told and shown.
When it came towards the end there was a bit of reluctance from 2 of the students to paint in a large tree in the foreground-in Janes case it was the normal-''I'm really happy with what Ive already done and dont want to paint anything over it'' and in Kays case it was simply because her painting didnt really need a tree, she had enough going on in her painting to take it or leave it! In the end they decided to put one in, and they both looked brilliant.
Janes partner was gobsmacked when he came to collect her after the class had finished
We will be seeing everyone again soon!

Reiki Healing

My dear friend Jan is starting up her Reiki practise very soon.
You wil be able to book a one and half hour session with her to "heal,harmonise and balance your life".
Its the most amazing experience , Ive never felt so relaxed and invigorated at the same time ever!
The atmosphere is amazing-so relaxing , calming music and sweet scented air. And of course Jan is so calming with her manner you will feel relaxed before you even get on the bed to begin your reiki treatment.Jan can work hands on or hands off. I must admit the hands on way was great for me--to feel the heat from Jans hands was unreal to be honest,you cant describe the feeling. When I came round(Im sure I dropped off twards the end!) I didnt want to move-felt like I could sleep for a week, then after a while I had so much energy it was unreal.That stayed with me for some time.
I went into it with an open mind and came out very impressed.Wanting a top up session now!
Its also the best value at just £30 per session.
She will be practising at Clements in Tenbry Wells from April 29th. To be sure of a place please give Jan a ring on 07837 939797.