Sunday, November 13, 2011

Birch Tree Workshop

We had an early start yesterday to go to Llanidloes to do the Birches workshop--Elaine had organised it for me and sorted out the room..the light was good there and there was plenty of room for all of us..
most of the folk were first timers...and nervous as is usual! However the nerves soon went when we started to paint...
Karen had made the journey from Bishops Castle and chose to do her painting in shocking pink,purple and silver..a combination that worked well--and it took on a lovely fantasy feeling to it....its being hung in Karens conservatory which has a pink theme...
This was Joy's second painting ever....you wouldn't believe it to see her end result---she was joined by her hubby John who painted for the first time..
John was very confident with his brush...his monochrome colours made his painting come to life very quickly
Elaine organised the workshop for me...and she wasn't feeling 100% bless her...but it didn't stop her creating this lovely work of art...
Tracey earned herself a nickname yesterday----Bull At A Gate....we were all creased at her --there was no stopping her when she was in front of her canvas...she found it hard to be slow and controlled at times when painting the trees etc.but she turned out to be  a champion splatter er....being a bull at a gate doing that turned into the right thing to do!
The whole class erupted into hysterical laughter at one point when I started telling someone to do the splattering "harder ,harder, faster , faster--that's it--it coming now" Rita had tears in her eyes from laughing so much--and we couldn't look at one another without starting to giggle again.....but you have to do the splattering hard or it just doesn't work!
getting the splattering done..
Catherine has just started using acrylics and said she had picked up some great tips in the class..
Rita was great fun and we had lots of laughs with her...she surprised herself with her results..
Christine has made the journey over to Ludlow before and was very happy that we went to Llanni to do the workshops there..
Mary hadn't painted before,,and seemed to find it quite easy--she was quick to make decisions about where to put trees in her painting
Di made a beautiful job of her painting--only her 2nd one ever....
brilliant paintings everyone..well done
Catherine had to leave a little early so isn't in the final line up..
lovely everyone----Johns trying to hide behind his painting
well done everyone!

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Suprise..

When I looked out of the window this morning I saw a light coloured bird way up the top of the field behind us...grabbing my camera -which has a good zoom lens , and zooming in.I realised that it was a pure white pheasant....along with her normal coloured mate...
what a lovely surprise...
the white tail seems longer than the normal coloured one...
we have thrown out the excess parrot food out into the field to try and get them to come nearer so I can get some better photos...Jake and Paddy waste such a lot of it--especially Jake who chucks it for yards! We usually throw it out on the bird tables for the wild birds who love it!
When I first spotted the light bird I thought it was the local heron who has been a cheeky bugger lately...he was stood on the shed roof the other day,,,,
so we have double netted the pond as a precaution and left the lily pads for cover for the fish to hide under...the pond is very deep and has very steep sides so he cant land in the water and he wouldn't reach far into the middle of the pond from the edge ..but better safe than sorry...
I nearly got a shot of him flying off---he is just behind the trunk of the tree where the branches come of near the top..

Wednesday, November 09, 2011

Bits and Pieces...

It was a cold day to start with on the market today, a couple of the stall holders hadn't come so we were able to spread out onto the next stall...the racks of plants at the back provided a lot of shelter against the wind and rain!
with the plastic sheet up in between the stall as usual it meant I could put my smaller paintings out on display without them getting wet..
We needed 4 lights up today for the first time..it made it nice and bright inside the stall and also made it nice and warm as well!
We have a friend on the next stall called Dave Bytheway who does chainsaw carvings....we always love to see what new carvings come off his van each week...today it was this lovely life size badger...what a beauty.
Dave carves all manner of creatures...owls,hawks and hares among them, I love the toadstools as well...
wonderful stuff..
there isn't one of them I wouldn't like to take home!
This fox was new last week...its life size.
Ive been doing some more to this painting that's been hidden away in the depths of the garage storage! Ive got paintings everywhere and forget what I've got where til we have a sort out and find them again! So I added some more wax detail to this one and Bills mounted the 4 canvas onto a board to make them easier to hang on the stands!
part of the paint detail
some wax  detail--very touchy feely!
Well much as I love Christmas I think its far to early to put up the towns Christmas tree...blimey its only the 9th of November!
I was contacted by a lady via  Affordable British Art at the weekend--she wanted a larger version of one of my paintings on there "Serenity ll"  After agreeing  a price I have got on and done it for her---its seen here on the left of the original one...its as near as dammit! Just got a few more grasses and poppies to add.. in a few days time when its dried off a bit..the new big one is 50cm x 70cm .. a pressie for her hubby for Christmas..hope he likes it as much as Dorothy does!
When I was painting on the market today a couple came by and wanted  a small painting like the one below...however I had sold out of all those colours so offered to do one for them to take away wet...they jumped at the chance! So I quickly got my brushes out and painted a smaller version of it 10in x 12in--the original is 16in x 20in--they were chuffed to bits with it when they came back for it! I have got to get busy this week and get some more small paintings done ready for the Xmas rush..I bought 60 small canvas fairly locally last week and have another 100 on order for a couple of weeks time so that will keep me out of mischief for  a while!

Monday, November 07, 2011

Whoooopppppeeeeeeee!!!!!!

We are very pleased to announce that we are going to have a new grandchild...my lovely daughter Becki and partner Wayne are having a baby next year after nearly 4 years trying to conceive....they went for their first scan today and it looks like the baby will be due around Bills birthday in May next year..huge congratulations to them both....they will make fantastic parents!

Sunday, November 06, 2011

The Waterfall Workshop Nov 5th

Many thanks to everyone who fitted in with the request to have an earlier start in the class....the family who were coming had to be somewhere else at 2pm so I said we would start at 9.30am so we could finish earlier......luckily everyone could make the arlier time!!  Sue decided to use the yellow ochre and reds for her painting and it worked really well.
Virginia's painting was very subtle and mystical...you would never believe it was only her 2 nd time painting to see her finished result..
I hope I have got the names and ages  of the boys right..,lost my list again! Anyway I think this is Benjamin age 9 nearly 10..... he and his brother have been once before with mum Alison--this time dad Tim joined them as well..both boys were very bold and not scared of the paint...big strong trees and his waterfall was just perfect...
Julia made a lovely job of her painting..she wants to join us next week and the week after at the workshops we are doing in Mid Wales...
Barnaby aged 11 years was very good at following instructions from me,,
Alison was a bag of nerves at times during class...but she thrived on it and created this beautiful picture...
Margarita really enjoyed painting on the black canvas....
Tim seemed to find his first go at painting quite easy..and was soon making decisions for himself about where things should be....he made a lovely job of his painting and I'm sure we will see him and the family again!
The Happy Artists!
well done everyone--stunning paintings....
Julie, Virginia,Margarita and Sue with their masterpieces