"Yesterday" Workshop

Marguerite was a long way from home--Miami-Florida to be exact... first time painting..Had some interesting conversations via emails with her-and she sent me some sketches she had done about her time in England which had us creased! Her painting was just brilliant but she said she couldn't take it back to the USA with her..she has de-cluttered her life in the USA and managed to come to England for a month with a 22in suitcase! Blimey---I would need one that size just for my makeup LOL...Anyway  we decided to that I would use her painting to raise money for the O'Connor Cancer Unit at Shrewsbury Hospital where my son Jim has been treated,,  so I will be asking for bids on it shortly and all money will be donated to the unit...

Hahahaha--this is what happens when you squeeze a litre bottle of white acrylic paint--that has an air lock!!! Blimey-what an explosion! Luckily for me I already had my painting clothes on--and the students quickly helped clear up the paint off the floor etc!!!

We had 9 students.. 6 of which were first timers...

We had a wide range of colours used,

you would never believe that these 3 ladies had never painted before...

Beautiful results from the 9 ladies... will look forward to seeing them all again...

"Yesterday " workshop

One of my most favourite subjects--"Yesterday " gives all of the artists a real chance to do their own thing to a certain extent..There was a choice of colours and canvas size too.. Simon above met me a couple of weeks ago on Ludlow market...we had a long chat and a laugh , and when I explained to him that he could paint a picture much the same as one displayed on my stall he was a bit dubious to say the least! However he went home and had a look at the website and rang me! When he arrived he found 2 people he already knew and had been all through his  school years with--Joy and Karen..He chose the brighter oranges and reds , and soon found his own style ...lovely and loose...and the nerves soon went!

Joy was painting this painting for someones birthday--her previous one was done for a friends wedding present-- and they were completely overwhelmed by it when she gave it them.This colour was something new for Joy and a bit out of her comfort zone, but boy did she make a beautiful job of it...

Joy bought along Karen for a special birthday treat...like Simon she really didn't think she would be able to create anything worthwhile.  And yet again she found that she COULD paint, and very well too..

Linda was painting with me for the 5th time, so she will receive her artist brooch next time she comes!She bought along her friend Wendy.... Linda chose the oranges and reds shades,,,but managed to make them very soft , with a lovely glow in the centre...

Wendy chose the same colours as Linda pretty much...and soon had the hang of the blending...

We met Sue at Bromyard show recently-- she was the only one to chose the big 40in canvas...all the others went for the 32in x 14in chunky canvas .. she had a brilliant, dramatic sky going on pretty quickly...

We met the lovely June last year on the market...and must have made quite an impression on her and her hubby,because he booked her in as a surprise for their wedding anniversary, booking them into the Henwick House guest house  for 2 nights which is just around the corner from the venue! Ideal for students-several of which have stayed there previously. June alternated between sitting and standing, which is fine by me-- we can accommodate sitting or standing students! Her painting had loads of movement in it and she was quite overwhelmed at times at how well she was doing acrylics--having only done watercolours before! They had a long journey down from Mansfield ,hence the stay in guest house, but says she will definitely be back again!

The paintings are really taking shape..

These two look quite laid back here....adding the black horizon line can be a bit scary!

Simon and June concentrating hard here--the room always goes quiet at this stage!

Sue adding some detail to her painting. We all had a bit of fun adding bunnies,trees and moons to various paintings..

7 very happy people....wonderful results from everyone-- they were a pleasure to teach....

Joy, Karen and Simon...

Linda and Wendy...

Sue and June...Thank you all for a great day...I enjoyed every minute of it as usual..and the text off Simon last night blew me away, and moved me to tears..    It is such a privilege to pass on my knowledge to such lovely people who appreciate it..I am a very lucky lady to be in the position I'm in.. and it wouldn't be Painting My Way without  my wonderful hubby Bill's hard work setting up, taking down, fetching and carrying and generally being a star...thanks darling xx

"Yesterday" Workshop -Eardisley

I couldn't believe my eyes yesterday when getting everyones colours combinations they wanted to do the "Yesterday" painting at Eardisley Village Hall. Usually everyone wants to do the orange/reds or the Blues and purples version.....there is only one or two folk wanting to do the browns and cream version normally. So when 11 of the 13 students chose those colours I was a bit worried I would have enough of that colour paint with me..However I did--just!  We had everything loaded into the car instead of the van as there is a low arch leading into the village hall and Bunty van wont fit through..so it was easier to load up the car and get right up to the door to unload/load..        We got off to a quick start and above you can see Alan's painting progressing nicely....he loved using the acrylics..

Above you can see Margaret happily painting away...hard to believe that this was her first time...she couldn't believe that she could produce anything so good--and to be honest--we were all working on huge canvas---40in wide x 12in deep....that is a big  area to cover with paint--but she  wasn't fazed by it at all....

Another first time student was Carol...again you would never believe it--very confident with her brush strokes..

Peggy's painting was so warm and gentle...we used a choice of coloured metallic paints to add a shimmer to the water and  the gold just looked lovely..

We had a laugh with Gladys ...we were all in fits at the little extra she had in her painting!

Mary getting her water painted in...her granddaughter would like to come with her next time,,,

Pat made a lovely job of her picture...

Sue has  kindly organised the workshop again and sorted out the room for me..I loved the metallic she added to the sky-it looked like the northern lights when she finished..

Ethel's painting had a lovely dramatic sky....

Nesta with her lovely vibrant painting..

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Gladys was also painting for the first time--though you wouldn't have known it---she said it was the most fun she had ever had..and what a lovely job she made of it...

Val's painting is coming along nicely here..what a great sky?

Joy is nearly finished here--she made a cracking job of it...acrylic isn't the easiest medium to use--I thinks oils are the easiest,,,but acrylics have their place and oils cant be used to do this painting!

Pat  nearly finished--what a brilliant job she made of it--as did everyone in the workshop!

Watching me do the final touches of some twinkly stars and a moon....

the lineup---or almost all of them....

looking good!

well done everyone! Will look forward to seeing you in January!

Tomorrow's Hole In Wall Festival Cancelled

The show we were doing tonmorrow at Hopton Court Hole In The Wall has been cancelled at the last minute due to the vile weather we had yesterday and today---blimey so much rain...when will it all end? Thats the 4th show that has been cancelled and it sounds like Burwarton Show is iffy as well.
So I will have a day getting some paintings done for the Ludlow Art Society exhibition instead!

Bishops Castle Michaelmas Fair day 2

Hannah and Abby with their beautiful encaustic art paintings they did this morning at Bishops Castle....Ive had a lovely email tonight from Abby telling me how much she enjoyed it and she cant wait to come to paint in one of my workshops...I cant wait to see her again....and maybe she will be bringing Aunty Suzanne with her as well!

some of the wonderful old steamers on  display..

there is nothing quite like the sight and smell of the old steam engines--although I didn't get to see them at all this time as I was busy in the marquee!

I got some lovely photos again today on the way to the show...

Bill reversed the van back to the gate so I could take a photo of these lovely little jersey calves...aren't they little beauties?

triple trouble!

sooooo cute!

the view from the showground as we were leaving--some stunning clouds......that's it now for the big shows--we are still doing the usual Wednesday and  some Sundays...I'm going to be busy with the usual Saturday workshops and I have some extra ones to do as well as a few extra ones and some more demos as well.It will be Christmas before we know it--cant believe how quickly the year is flying by!

"Yesterday" Workshop Feb 26th-- Wonderful Results!

It was lovely to see Jane and hubby Pete back again--along with Pete's mum Dot-who was with with us for the first time--as a birthday present!

Christina was surprised at how different the acrylic paint was to work with...compared to the oils--but once she got used to the feel of it she made a cracking job of it. Its to be a pressie for her daughter-so it will be off on the train with her down to Bristol shortly!

Aiden came up from Essex along with his mum Jan, dad Paul and sister Bethan-he wanted to get a dark , stormy finish-and he achieved that--a very dark, mysterious painting--once we got him to stop strangling the brush!Some people find it hard to hold the brush higher up--and I have found if you hold it too near the bristles it restricts you and its hard to make the paint flow.

Dad -Paul got a great effect going on---lots of light in the centre- which worked well when he came to put in the moon---he was very brave and put in a large moon at the end--along with some lovely glittery waves and a buoy.

Hattie came along for the first time with Pat who had been once before--she seemed to find it really easy and her painting was magical....she is a natural.....

Pete getting down to it---he had lots of light in his sky--and it looked like the moon was behind the clouds at the end

Jan found the first coat quite difficult to do-and she couldn't get the effect she wanted--but when we did the 2nd coat it all came together lovely.She got the hang of the brushes and the feel of how the paint moved around and in no time she had the most beautiful sunset sky and water going on.

Final stages here--got to be careful not to do too much at this stage!

say one for me please Jan!

Janes painting positively glowed--she had the colours blended beautifully--and she was very bold when it came to doing the grasses.

all coming together nicely now--nerves have gone!

Bethan got down to it on the floor--and made a lovely job of her painting!

I loved the light Pat got in her painting-and she managed to get the reflections just right in her picture

the photo doesn't do Marie's painting justice--she has made a great job of it-lots of detail in the sky and the gold glitter paint she used to add detail to the water worked really well--I had never used it for that before--just the moon and flowers--so I will be nicking that idea from her!

Marlyn's painting had the wow factor---the water lapping up the beach wasn't completely intentional but it worked really well so she left it--she added the beautiful silver moon, partially hidden by the cloud-a stunning result--and only her 2nd painting too!

Marie's finished painting...very atmospheric!

Hard to believe that Paul had never painted before---we decided that it looked like a Norwegian Fjord !

Jane was very adventurous-and it worked a treat--love the grasses

Pete's finished painting--lovely job!

adding the finishing touches..

Christina made a great job of her painting--she found the acrylic a challenge but she got there in the end--everyone has gone away with some of the varnish needed to protect and bring out the colour...it can be applied 24 hours after the painting has dried-and they will all be amazed at the difference it makes to the end result--the colours will appear brighter and of course the painting will be protected as well.

WOW!

Lovely paintings!

Everyone did great paintings today as usual--it was our last time in the Helena Lane room--we will be at St Peters Parish Hall, Henley  Rd , Ludlow SY8 1QZ  from now on--lovely big room, lots of parking and easy to find too.