Brimfield WI, Markets and Steam Shows etc.Hectic Times Ahead!

We have a busy few weeks ahead of us--we are at nearby Brimfield WI this tonight to do a demo for the ladies there--I'm really looking forward to that--we have a lot of laughs while I am painting the 2 pictures...and for a change we will know a few of the ladies in the audience!
Then Wednesday 20th and Sunday 24th we are up on the local market--its quite busy up there now and we meet lots of people when we are there. I'm usually painting when I'm there--so I tend to get lots of bookings after people see how its done..
Then the following Wednesday 27th July we are back on the market as well before heading down to the beautiful Malvern Hills and nearby Welland to do the 3 day (Fri 29th, Sat 30th and Sun 31st July) steam rally.We will be  in the huge craft marquee.Its a brilliant show--lots and lots going on for all the family to see-take a look at the website   www.wellandsteamrally.co.uk
We are back on the Ludlow market on Wed 3rd Aug .
Then on Thursday 4th August we will be in a more local show and one of the biggest in the area Burwarton Show---it was tremendously busy last year-we didn't get a minutes sit down---and hopefully it will be as good this year!
Take a look at their website www.burwartonshow.co.uk
No peace for the wicked because then we are at Tenbury show on Saturday 6th August- again a very good, busy show for us--- www.tenbury-countryside-show.co.uk/ something for all the family to see there.
We will be glad of our mini break in Yeovil in the middle of August after all that!
Thn we have the big steam fair at Onslow Park on the bank holiday weekend Sunday 28th and Monday 29th Aug--its their 50th anniversary this year so it looks like it will be spectacular! Take a look  www.shrewsburysteamrally.co.uk/  looks like there will be 100 steam engines there this year--cant wait for that one.
And of course there will be the usual Wednesday markets in between as well.

Alfrick WI Encaustic Demo

We had a thoroughly enjoyable evening last night at Alfrick WI. It was a cold night and its quite a distance from home-so we were keeping our fingers crossed it didnt snow any more while we were there!
I had met one of the ladies on Ludlow market a few months ago and she said she was sure the ladies would love an encaustic demo soI was booked to do one!

There were a few puzzeled faces as we unpacked the irons and hot pens aong with extension cables--Im not sure what they were expecting to see -but what they didi see really seemed to blow them away!
After showing how to load the iron with the wax and producing some abstract pictures-all of which had the usual little faces and creatures appearing in the melted wax, I was asked if I could do a landcape with it.

There were audible gasps as within seconds I had painted a sky, mountains, a lake, bushes,flowers and folliage! I even popped in a few birds for good measure!
The ladies couldnt wait to have a go--they were astonished to find that they could produce great pictures in seconds as well--although they had never had a go before--
luckily I had taken along some stock in case anyone wanted to buy some to have a go at home because I sold a complete set and other bits and bobs in no time.
I also took along some of my oil paintings with details of my classes, there was a lot of interest for that as well.
All in all a great night--no doubt I shall see some of them again soon in the classes!

How Nice !

In this day of emails and mobile phone texts it has been lovely the past week to recieve 3 hand written thank-you letters by snail mail!

The first from Marden Wi 's program secretery Marcia Willmott thanking me and Bill for the demonstration we gave recently at their WI .

The second from John-Paul Kelly for the ''Path Through The Birch Tree'' painting.
He is very pleased with it and has also informed me that he has sent them (3 Canvas) to be mounted onto a single backing to make it easier to hang on the film sets.

The third one today came from Rachel Owen , program secretary of Lydham, More and Snead WI where we gave a recent demo.
Rachel was thrilled to se photos of the night here on the blog and has also informed me that she intends coming to a class a bit later in the year--we will look forward to it very much!

Highley WI

We had a lovely time on Tuesday evening with the ladies of Highley WI.
We got there in plenty of time and set up the display stands and table.
Im never sure what people are expecting when they are told they are going to see an oil painting demonstration-it always turns out that they are totaly amazed at how laid back the talk and demos are.The paintings take shape so quickly that people cant belive it!
The usual oohhhs and aaaahhhhs and amazing's came thick and fast when the finished paintings were handed round for closer inspection after I had finished!!!
The winner of the draw chose the waterfall painting and i donated the "Summer Day" painting to the WI. They support the "Fast Response" and will use the money raised fromthe painting to help this worthy cause.

Tenbry WI Demo

We had a very enjoyable day at Tenbry WI . Pictured is Linda who won the raffle and chose "Summer Day"
I think everyone was surprised at quickly the paintings developed before them--I had lots of questions from the audience and I think we may find one or two joining in the classes!

Christmas Pressies

I cant belive how long it has taken me to wrap up the Christmas pressies today.

It was a wet morning when we woke up so decided to give the boot sale a miss.

Then it was a toss up between the paper work or wrapping the christmas pressies!!!

No contest really-I hate paper work.But I will start it tomorrow.

Ive got all the dates to sort out for next year for the classes, have got my dates for some of the craft fairs sorted, and the talks and demos are done.

I am going to work on some new paintings this week ready for the students that have already got a few paintings under their belts and are ready for some new techniques.

I have to take out some more invites tomorrow for the private viewing and got a few people to chase up-looks like Im in for a busy week.

Class for 10th Nov

This class ''Tropical Summer Day'' is fully booked.

I will be setting another date to paint this picture early in the new year. I already have 2 children waiting for a date!!

I must sit down with my diary and get cracking with all the new dates for the coming year.

I have got a waiting list of people wanting to do specific paintings in the new year so I will work around those people and get the dates put on the website asap.

I have got quite a few WI's booked for next year already.

Stanton Lacy WI

We were at Stanton Lacy WI last night-its just a small group,as are many of the country WI's.

We had such a laugh there, Dorothy won the draw and chose Winter Wonderland as her prize. I donated Summer Day to the group to use for raising funds for their chosen charity.

Clifford WI

We went to Clifford WI last night to do a talk/demo.

The evening was great-a lovely bunch of ladies they were! We had hoots of laughter all night as I told them all about my life as an artist!
Some of the ladies are going to do a class later in the year,end of September/early Oct time-its pretty manic til then for me.

Silvia won the raffle and chose Summer Day as her prize. The other painting shown ''The Waterfall'' was donated to the WI to use for fundraising.

Clifford WI

Here are the ladies of Clifford Wi getting ready for the demo , last night.Also pictured is the lucky winner of the raffle with her waterfall painting.

We had a lovely night and we managed to get home fairly early because the ladies allowed me to go first before they had their usual minutes etc!

Hadnall WI

We had a great turnout last night at Hadnall WI. It was a suprise to to see a member of the opposite sex there besides Bill!!! Here you can see Gordon enjoying his cake after the demo!

Gordon is a very keen watercolourist, as were many of the WI members and he came along to see the oil painting demo.

I painted 'The Waterfall' and 'Summers Day' paintings as these continue to be the most popular pictures of all.It also gives me the chance to show everyone how each brush produces different effects.

I have a group of 6 of them doing a class in August-everyone agreed that it was a lot easier than watercolour!!

The lady who won the draw and chose the Summer Day painting soon came up with 5 of her friends to join her to do the class!

I also took a booking for another WI for next year from some visiting members, so all in all a great evening was had by all.

Gorgon said he was considering joining the WI just to have the slap up food afterwards! There was certainly a fantastic spread of food there and the lemon drizzle cake was to die for!