Buxton and High Peaks Art Society Demo

We are away at the moment, Ive been at Buxton High Peaks Art Society today doing a demo--its been booked for nearly 2 years after meeting one of their members on Ludlow market in 2011. We are staying at a lovely Premier Inn in Newcastle Under Lyme and are treating it as a little break, next door is a Taybarn restaurant--wow what an experience that is-- a good job there isn't one near to home or we would both be very very overweight! Pay a set price and eat what you want-choose from salad, soups, carvery, chip shop, Italian,,Chinese,,Indian and pudding section-there is even a Mr Whippy ice cream to help yourself to..also never ending soft drinks too...we would recommend it highly! Its also one of the cleanest restaurants we have been to--the tables are not 'sticky' and the staff  are continually cleaning up and clearing tables--

some stunning views on the way to the demo today..

loved the rocks up on the hills..

A mixed audience of artists-some have tried oils, many had not---

having a good look at the Waterfall painting that I did first..I always take the paintings round so the audience can have a close look--there is lots of detail in them that is hard to see when I'm actually doing the painting..

There were lots of 'ooohs' and 'ahhhhs' as they watched me...they couldn't believe the speed at which the paintings developed--and what was funny--was the fact I did them a lot slower than usual as I had over 2  hours in which to paint them instead of the usual 1 hour I get as a rule!

We were able to put up a display of some of the paintings I teach..

Winners of the raffle John with the Waterfall and David with his Summer Day painting.. I actually pulled out both of Johns tickets....but he kindly put the one back to give someone else the chance  . It sounds like we will be coming back here to do a workshop--there were many of the members interested in having a go..I will look forward to hearing from them again!

What a beautiful scene on the way home--will be painting this one for sure!

There was hell of a hail storm on the way up today--white over!

Oriental Dawn Workshop

We had a lot of laughs and fun last Saturday in the Oriental dawn class..John and Judith S were bought along for the first time by Judith M who had been once before...as they would be hanging their paintings in the same house they wanted to do something different-so it was decided they would do a diptych and the paintings would follow through the 2 canvas's..quite a feat for first timers--but it was lovely to watch the paintings develop and how well the pair of them worked together...

here is their painting about halfway through..

Tony did really well--he is waiting for an op on both knees bless him--and had a tens machine on for the workshop--that is dedication if ever I saw it!

Tracey and Maureen have been a few times before and I must check if they are due their artist brooches I give everyone who attends 6 workshops...here Tracey's painting is upside down as she is painting the reflections of the trees into the water-that seems to be the easiest way of getting them right!

Maureen is concentrating hard here--the fir trees are harder to do than they look and had everyone trying hard and holding their breath as they did them!

Judith M made a cracking job of picture--we had a bit of a problem with the canvas drying out a bit quick-a manufacturing fault as they have always been OK before--will be having a word with the suppliers about it..

Maureen tackling her reflections -again upside down is the easiest to do them!

Anne has got well and truely hooked at the painting game--and she showed me what she had been doing at home--very impressive--she always listens carefully to my instructions and follows them to the letter..she is booked up as far as next March-and hubby and son Luke are joining her for Lavender Lakes next week!

I met Jackie at Burwarton show in Aug when she bought a painting off me--she loved every minute of it and sent me a lovely email thanking me and wanting to come to the Yesterday workshop..her hubby wants to come along too-so we are sorting out which one to come together !

John adding his finishing touch to his canvas--what a great job they made between them...they managed to get the canvas's back to Bedford safe and sound too!

Tony with his finished painting--well done Tony and good luck for the op in Oct! x

well done everyone..

brilliant work ladies!

Lovely job everyone!

Big Poppy Workshop

Well what a day we had on Saturday...I was expecting 11 and 16 turned up...must sack the secretary!!! Any way we always have extra brushes ,canvas etc on the van so it was OK! This workshop always takes a bit longer than the usual 4 hours mainly because of the drying times of the mediums and the paint..its amazing just how the paintings change through the workshop,,

as you can see we had a wide variety of colours...its one of those paintings that seems to work in whatever colour people choose..

love the purple and turquoise shades that Fregia did...

Subodh chose some beautiful yellow and oranges for his painting....it was really bright and vibrant

Sri chose the more tradition red and black

Carol had a bigger ,chunkier canvas to use...

starting to add the melted wax here...

its a good job we have a big room to use!

adding texture with the wax and irons..

I loved Subodh's finished painting...none of the photographs do these paintings justice,,the texture and variations in colour just do not show up..

Sybils's painting really came to life when she added the silver wax middle..

you can a bit more of the detail in Carol's picture here..

Abbie,Carol and Tony

Cathy and Fregia

John, Sybila and Ann

Connie and Carol -- Subodh  is holding  camera shy Sri's painting too!! 

Christine ,Shirley and Margret

Website

The website  www.paintingmyway.co.uk was off air for a while this week--the main sever was down--so the site is being moved to a new server--this means that I cant do any adjustments to the website until Thursday by the look of it--it does not affect any bookings or anything--just means I cant put the latest photos of the workshops on there, adjust numbers left in workshops or mark anything as sold on there! So please bear with me--normal service will be resumed asap!

Buttons and Beads!!!!!

I never thought I would see the day when I was excited about buttons and beads--but since my daughter Becki mentioned she would like a button bouquet for her wedding, and I said I would make her one---its been buttons, beads and pretty things all the way!

Im amazed at the amount of different colours,sizes and textures there are....and Im loving sorting them all out!   Ive been given many by friends and family, and bought loads from boot sales,antique fairs etc.I clean and sterilize them all before sorting into size and colours ...I have all sorts of beautiful bits to create bouquets with!

Ive had a few practise runs..

Love playing around with the colours..

Think I like the monochrome best so far though!

This is the first one--Im going to take it apart and start again,,,

Im sure I used to be a magpie in a previous life..I love glittery things!

reminds me of sweeties!

love these..

Had a practise at a button hole...quite pleased with it! Ive been out today and bought lots more bits from the boot sale--spent the afternoon cleaning it all ready to use! Got lots of stuff coming via the internet this week too...cant wait to get started again--one major job coming up--the summer house down the garden is to become my workshop--I will be able to keep it all together down there and the kitchen table will stay clear!