Todays Class -Sat 10th Nov

We had a lovely laid back class today- ''Mrs Subtle'' and Chris from Hadnall Wi came along with Mrs Subtle's (Jean) daughter in law Joe. We had met Jean and Chris a few months ago when we did a class in Chris's conservatory!!!

It was a tad cooler than when we had met before---I swear I lost several lb's that day!!!

Anyway, we got stuck in to 'tropical summer day'' and it wasn't long before we had some exciting skies going on !

Joe (pictured above signing her first masterpiece) who was a first timer told me she had done a fine arts degree, but found this more fun and she was learning how to actually paint a picture, she really enjoyed her day.

The time flew by and before we knew it we were finished.The palm trees went very well, everyone was surprised at how easy they were with the fan brush.

Sharleen got chatting to the other ladies and found they had mutual friends via her dog training classes--it sure is a small world.

Sharleen has also kindly offered us the use of her business premises for classes in the Telford area. Straight away the 3 ladies booked up for a class, which means that with Sharleen there are only 2 places left for ''The Birch Trees'' on Feb 9th.

The students went away with canvas's and brushes to carry on at home,

I am going to sit down tomorrow and get the dates sorted out for next year-after going to the boot sale that is!!!

Apothecary's Guest House

I have got to recommend staying at the guest house we were at in Wellesbourne.Its called Apothecaary's -The Old Dispensary, Straford Road , Wellesbourne, Warick CV 35 9 RN tel 01789 470060
It was the best nights sleep we have had in a long time! The bed was one of the most comfortable we have ever slept in!!!
The room was spotless and comfortable, and Jenny our hostess couldnt have been nicer.
After we had unpacked in the aftenoon, she directed to a great pub that did meals just up the road from there-The Kings Arms--another old place which seeped history.We had a beautiful meal of gammon,pineapple, egg,peas and chips there! I know the diets gone out of the window again!!!
After that we went and did the demo at the fire station for the art society.Then back to the guest house to relax.
The next morning we went down to the beautiful oak beamed dining room,with wood burner, to find some fresh orange juice and chunks of fresh pineapple awaiting us. After that came the full english-all freshly cooked and sourced localy. It was absolutley beautiful.
we will definatly be stopping there again, most relaxing and homely.

Funeral

Today was a sad day-we said goodbye to Rita-our old friend.She had a great send off, the crematorium was full of her family and old friends.The hearse took her all around the area in Shreswbury that she had lived before she came to Ludlow--me and Bill hadnt known her then, so it was touching to pass by her old home.

I have found some lovely pictures of her on the computer, the one above was taken last Christmas, she loved goose so the past 2 years we have had Rita up for the day in between Christmas and new year and I cooked her a goose dinner-- and she has really enjoyed herself, making a fuss of the cat and the parrot and enjoying her dinner--as you can see from her plate!

She is going to leave a big gap in our lives-in the time I have spare now I will paint and think of her while Im painting.

Wellesbourne Art Society

We had a lovely ride down to Wellesbourne, nr Stratford Upon Avon yesterday. We stopped off and had a wander around Stratford, bought some bits and pieces before finding our way to where we were staying for the night.The Old Dispensary.

We had a lovely welcome from Jenny.

Pictured above are the lucky winners of the raffle with the 2 paintings that I did for them that evening.Catherine and John.

We were doing the demonstration at the local fire station--they were 2nd in at the dreadful tragedy in which 4 firefighters died.

The proceeds of the raffle for the 2 paintings I painted during the demo, went to the fund for the families that lost loved ones in this tragedy.

I will be returning to do one or two classes there by the sound of it,I only take 7 people max for a class in order to be able to give everyone enough time and show them the method thoroughly.There was a lot of people interested last night, so may have to make it 2 classes instead of 1 class.

Since I started teaching people to ''Paint My Way'' --my prices haven't gone up at all in over 3 years .I have absorbed all of the price rises of canvas , paint, and brushes and the cost of hiring rooms to hold the classes--because to me the most important thing of all is to show the ordinary man in the street that THEY can paint beautiful oil paintings -all they need is encouragement and to be shown a technique,which shows in what they produce in my classes-

The exhibition in Dec 'From Small Acorns'' will show that.

Wellesbourne , Stratford Upon Avon

We are off to Wellesbourne,Stratford Upon Avon, later today( cant belive the time) to do demonstration for art society.
We are booked into a B+B because of the distance we need to travel, my daughter is staying here to pet sit, so Sparky and Paddy will be spoilt rotten!!

Spaces In Class

I have 2 spaces left for the class this weekend-- unexpected-- Jack wont be back from Scotland to bring his wife Yvonne to the Tropical Summer Day class, so if you are interested in joining us this saturday please get in touch through the usual www.paintingmyway.co.uk
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Reminiscence

We had a lovely day on Sunday with Wendy and Gil-my old friend Rita's daughter and son in law.

Over several bottles of wine and a lovely roast dinner, we laughed and reminisced and told each other stories of Rita--she was such a character.

She has left a big hole in all our lives.

It turned out to be a late night, but I have the feeling that Rita would have approved!!!

I know she would have enjoyed the lemon and lime cheesecake!

From Small Acorns

While we were doing the class this morning, one of my old students called by with her paintings to put into the 'From Small Acorns'exhibition.The lucky thing is going on holiday for a month and wont be here for the private view so she dropped them with me today.

The top 2 paintings she has done in classes, the bottom one she has done at home using the method I taught her.

Its very effective.

I have encouraged students to paint at home and to enter the paintings done without my instruction, into the exhibition-It will make very interesting viewing for everyone.This student has done very well-she has sold 3 of her paintings done in class with me--the last one sold for £180 --she had priced it high as she didnt really want to sell it-but someone liked it so much they paid the money for it--a great buzz for her!!

Lemon and Lime Cheesecake

I have been busy tonight making my popular lemon and lime cheesecake in preparation for tomorrow's Sunday lunch. We have Wendy and Gil, Rita's daughter and son in law coming round for lunch, so its given me the perfect excuse to get creating in the kitchen!

I haven't made this sweet for ages and couldn't put my hand on the recipe as everything is still a bit upside down from when we were decorating the kitchen, so it was a guessing game to some extent!

However with regular tastings of the cheesecake filling I got the tangy lemony,limey topping just perfect.

The cream thickened up lovely when I added the fresh lemon and lime juice and when the condensed milk went in , it tasted beautifully creamy.I baked the biscuit and butter base in the oven to make it extra crispy, a lovely contrast to the creamy soft topping.

Todays Class

Today we had Jan who was with me for the 5th

time and a first timer Samantha who had traveled from Albrighton, near Cosford.They both did a beautiful version of Snowy Day.

We didnt start painting til nearly an hour later than planed--I had a few things to show them on the computer that another of my students-Sharleen. had been sending me during the week!

One of the things gave us some ideas for a future painting class--if we can get a volunteer to model it!!!!!!!!!!

The whole day was a great laugh, as usual--it never fails to amuse me the conversations we have while painting tranquil scenes!

Its amazing how different the paintings turn out when doing a class, Sam's was a lot more 'hilly' than Jans with steeper sides down to the pond.Sam also turned out to be a natural at trees, and with the big tree up the top of the fields behind us as an example, she turned out the most beautiful tree!

Jan has got more confidence each time she comes to me and tackled her tree with far less nerves than normal.

Sam is coming back with some of her family to paint the birch tree painting early in the new year, I have set the date for 9th Feb for that one, I have some people waiting for me to set dates for the new year so will sit down and sort that out when I get a minute.

For Jan !!!!!

In class today, Jan said she was going to practise doing some skies at home,all the above photos have been taken by me and should provide some interesting material for her to work from.

SOme of the pics have been taken on wednesday night while traveling back from Shrewsbury, some are from St Audries Bay and some are outside our back door!!!

All Is Well

Death is nothing at all I have only slipped away into the next room
I am I and you are you whatever we were to each other that we still are
call me by my old familiar name speak to me in the easy way which you always used
put no difference in your tone wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow
laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together pray smile, think of me, pray for me
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was
Let it be spoken without effort without the trace of a shadow in it
Life means all that it ever meant
it is the same as it ever was there is unbroken continuity why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am waiting for you somewhere very near just around the corner
All is well
Thanks to my mate Sha for sending me this.

Rita RIP

Our dear friend Rita passed away last night 31st Oct.

I have known Rita for over 3 years now, she was a real character-full of beans and most of the time a laugh a minute.

Bill used to tease her and call her 'a cantankerous old bugger'.

I cant tell you how much she will be missed.

We didnt miss many days going down there to see her and sorting out bills, or taking her some shepards pies that Bill made--she kept saying in hospital ''please get a job in the kitchen-I do miss your cooking Bill!''

She is going to leave a great big gap in all off our lives--Bless You Rita xxxxx

I found this lovely poem and it sums it all up.

Don't cry for me
When tomorrow starts without me ,

And I’m not there to see.

The sun that shines upon your eyes, which are filled with tears for me.
I wish so much you wouldn’t cry,

The way you did today.

While thinking of the many things we didn’t do or say.
I know how much you love me,

as much as I love you,

and each time that you think of me I know you’ll miss me too.
But when tomorrow starts without me don’t think we’re far apart for every time you think of me I’m right there in your heart.

Try This!!!!

Subject: Can you read this? Let me know

fi yuo cna raed this, yuo have a sgtrane mnid too .
Cna yuo raed this? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.
i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and last ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can still raed it whotuit a pboerlm. This is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed this forwrad it
FORWARD ONLY IF YOU CAN READ IT.
My mate Sharleen sent me this, both me and Bill can read it ok!!

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.

Class on Saturday 3rd Nov

There are some spaces left for next Saturdays class of the painting'' Snowy Day''

It is a lovely warm snow scene and is quite an easy one to do.You need no previous experience at all to come along and paint this one.

Contact me by phone if you would like to come along! The details are found on my website

www.paintingmyway.co.uk

Stick Insects

As you can see the stick insects are growing well.One in particular is getting very big.They really are hard to see when on the plants though. They seem to prefer the blackberry leaves to anything else.

They are giving all the kids in the family much amusment!

Babysitting

Look at this little cutie!!! Little Holly was as good as gold for us on Saturday night

Shes such a happy little thing. We decided to sleep in our caravan on the drive as we had Darren, Lydnsey and her sister staying, rather than have anyone sleep on the sofa.

Bill had made repaired the bed which broke when we were at Onslow Park when we playing scabble!.

It was a good job the cooler box was the right height to prop up the bed when we were there or we would have been stuck!

Plants and Ferbies

These are the ferbies that were the source of much amusment on Saturday.

The plants are what both Sharleen and Jack had cuttings off on Saturday.They had never seen anything like the spiders leg one before!

If anyone knows the real name of the 'spider legs 'plant please let me know!!!

Some Great Advice!!!!!!

A Doctor proclaimed the way to achieve inner peace is to finish all the things you have started.
So I looked around my house to see things I started and hadn't finished and, before leaving the house this morning I finished off a bottle of Merlot, a bottle of Shhhardonay, a bodle of Baileys, a butle of vocka, a pockage of Prunglies, tha mainder of bot Prozic and Valum scriptins, the res of the Chesescke an a box a chocolets.
Yu haf no idr who gud I feeel.
Peas sen dis orn to dem yu fee ar in ned ov inr pece.

I found this on another forum and it made me laugh, thought I would pass it on to you all!!!

Todays Class

Here are todays students Jack and Sharleen.

We have had such a laugh today, in between the serious painting.

We tryed out some new tools today--Lydl the German supermarket have had art materials on offer all week, and I picked up this pack of 5 rubber tipped painting tools, designed to remover the paint from the canvas---they worked a treat and at only £1;99 for 5 a real bargain. Sharleen is off to buy up all their stock tomorrow for me, I had the last pack from the Stourport branch, the sets of fan brushes were good too-and again just £1;99 for 5

Chip came along and really behaved himself-Paddy didn't think much of having a poodle in the house and scared him out of the living room-even though he was in his cage!
There were plenty of bikkies on offer for him (and us )

Half way through the session I bought out the singing hamster toys that had us all cracked up, then out came the shelbies and furbies!! We were like a load of kids, laughing and giggling!

Sharleen has gone home with 2 new 'pets' a baby ferbie and an adult one-I know they will have an excellent home and they will probley enjoy a trip to the office on monday!

Oh and Jack the bottle of wine went down a treat thanks!!!!

Tomorows Class and The Exhibition

I have had a cancellation for tomorrow which means that I have Jack and Sharleen coming here to paint.
I have had some more of my students get in touch wanting to display their paintings in the ''From Small Acorns''exhibition in Leominster. I am not sure that there will be much room for me to put any of mine in the exhibition at this rate!!!

I have already increased the order for glasses at Tesco because the numbers have gone up--the last thing I want is to run out of glasses at the private viewing!!!.
I have found that Tesco is very good --they hire out as many glasses as you want free of charge-whatever sort of glasses you want--I have on order a very large number of wine glasses and tumblers- so far! There is going to be a certain amount of car drivers there so we will be catering for them as well!!
I have some beautiful wines already-white ,rose,and red and we will have some orange juice cocktail for the drivers as well as some other soft drinks.
There will be some of the children that have attended the classes there-I have decided to group all of the childrens work together-I am sure that people will be amazed at their results!

Craft Fair

Here is ''Little Ted'' looking after the stall yesterday! It was really warm when we set up yesterday morning but as the day went on it went really cold! I was glad of the heat of the lights and the encaustic iron!

It was fairly quiet, but the encaustic stuff went well, got to get another order in tomorrow.

It was a pleasure to see Jan from the classes again, she was very patient and waited for Bill to fetch the latest batch of painting knives from the sorting office--its sods law that the first day you go out of the house early the delivery you've waited in for over a week turns up!

Some fun sites!

Have just found 2 interesting sites you might like--the first one is hilarious www.eyegas.com/attackofthesprouts
and the 2nd one donates a grain of rice to starving children with each correct answer.It soon mounts up so give it a go . www.freerice.com

Brians latest Painting

Brian, one of my one to one students came over with his wife this morning to buy some canvas off me and to show me his latest painting that he has done on his own at home.

Very impressionist to look at with his bold sky that had a hint of pink that stopped it feeling too cold.

He said that he had used a knife to do the sea, which works very well.

The addition of the little yacht with the red sail is a clever touch!

Brian had used what he learned in the classes to do this painting and I hope there will be some more paintings included in the exhibition that have been done out of classes.

When Brian has the black frame around the box canvas it will set it off a treat!!

I will be ordering some more frames this Friday for students who want them ready for the exhibition.

Tomorrow

We are on the craft fair tomorrow, lets hope that the weather keeps fine.We are having a different stall, to usual, the old one was quite exposed to the elements. We will be on the opposite side to normal and we will extend the stall backwards, as we do on the sunday, so we have lots of room for all of the stands and loads of paintings.

Cook Books

At last I ve got my new shelves put up to keep my cook books on, just got to find and finish unpacking the boxes they went into first. I have loads more than this somewhere!!!

We seem to have stuff all over the house--got to have a major sort out this week as Darran , Lydnsey and baby Holly are coming down from Sunderland to stay at the weekend.

We called round to see our little grandson tonight after visiting my friend Rita at the hospital, he is crawling now-the time has flown by so fast, he will love christmas this year!

Fish

Its quite difficult to see propley but one of our golden orf in the big pond has become very twisted,he dosent seem to be in any distress but he cant seem to swim in the direction he want to when feeding!

He is becoming Z shaped, havent been able to sort out whats wrong with him yet but dont suppose there is much that can be done!

Exchange is no Robbery!!!

we had some unusual guests at the class first thing today--Sharleen breeds Tuxedo Platies and we had agreed to swop some for a new blank canvas! We had restocked our large 4ft tank with various fish, but we still had room for some of these delightful lively fish. They arrived at the class safe and sound in a plastic bag contained in a bag designed to keep cans of drink at the right temp-which also works great at keeping tropical fish at the right temp!

I had also promised her some canvas for designing the ''from small acorns''exhibition 'private view invites' and the posters, so we had a swopping session! Me and Bill would have been on the computer for days trying to do them so a great big thanks for that Shaxx

Todays Class

Today we had a really laid back class!

Everyone had met in my classes before--

Jack had been once before, Jan was doing her 4th painting and Sharleen was painting her 3rd one.

The painting was a different one to the one advertised, but that is nothing unusual-nothing is set in stone with me, I will chop and change the subjects to fit in with what people want to do!

Sharleen bought along Chip who is seen checking out the subject for the painting today! I think everyone was surprised at the way that the painting evolved today. We started off with a black canvas, added some white acrylic with some various sponges, then we painted in some trees in various colours of white, grey and black.

As soon as we put the linseed oil onto the dryed acrylic you could see it come to life,as soon as the linseed oil hit the canvas it just became more vibrant, the black and white paint took on a totally different look- the original painting had shades of blues,yellows and greens in it. I had decided that I was going to paint mine all green to replace the 'Emerald Wood ''painting that I sold a while ago.

After seeing how my painting had progressed, they all decided that there were some changes they would like to make to their original acrylic paintings-mainly a big branch on their main tree!! We has such a laugh in the class, everyone was ok putting in the background trees but as soon as I mentioned painting BIG trees it all went very quiet and no-one wanted to do it! There was a lot of breath holding going on!!!!

Everyone watched as the painting transformed from black and white to a magical green enchanted scene.

After seeing mine everyone decided to ''go green''

I set the paint out onto the palette and said'' right then whos going first then''--silence for a minute and then Jan-bless her said ''Ok then lets get it bloody over with!!!!!'' it cracked everyone up!!

Earlier in the class after we had to use the sponges to apply the background, we all had lots of weird things appear in the paintings. Sharleen and Jan and myself all had strange faces and some animals in theirs, but Jack beat everyone with his 'witch on a broomstick-complete with moon in background!''

All in all a great day-loads of laughs as usual, Jan came home with us to borrow some of my extensive range of art books, I am always happy to help any of my students in any way I can, and as I have built up quite a collection of various art books in one form or another, I am quite happy for them to use them to practise with at home! I have also told them all to ring me if they are not sure about anything--Id rather they do that than make a major mistake at home and be put off painting for good!!!!

All of the students will be joining the SAA, of which I am a PA-- (professional advisor)

The Society for All Artists --- www.saa.co.uk

is a very informative and helpful site -the bi-monthly magazine is full of helpful hints and tips about painting and the regular catalogue is full of bargains.The joining fee fee is soon recouperated when ordering their paints etc at discounted prices-anyone who is going to paint on a regular basis would be well advised to join this society--everything is P+P free too.