Tropical Sunset Class Full-August 30th

This class is now fully booked.

Yesterday morning Bill looked through my appointment book and said "there is nobody booked for the 'Tropical Sunset' class on Aug 30th.
I replied "there is plenty of time yet" An hour later the phone rings and a lady who lives just around the corner from us phoned to book the class for her and a friend after seeing the article about me in the Ludlow Lifestyle magazine.
The other 4 places were filled by students of todays class "Winter Wonderland"


I will upload the pics of the class tomorrow.

Class date for Stormy Skies--Nov 8th

This is another of my class subjects that has proved popular over the past year in my Painting My Way classes.

Stormy Skies is always popular as it always gives great results every time.

You will use a variety of brushes as well as the painting knife-something that when mastered will lead you to many fantastic results!

If you would like to join this class please get in touch via the website

www.paintingmyway.co.uk

it is suitable for all abilities form very first time onwards.

date for "Birch Trees" Sat Nov 1st

Again back by popular demand--"Birch Trees" can be done in the usual monochrome or the latest sepia variation.

In the last class just one did the black and white version and the rest did the sepia--made a refreshing change! You will always get amazing results with this one.

Even if you have never held a brush in your hand before you will take home a painting that one-one will belive you have painted!

Suitable for all abilities-even first time students!

Please get in touch with me via my website to book for this workshop-places go very quickly

www.paintingmyway.co.uk

date for "Serenity In Green" Oct 11th

This is a new painting for the Painting My Way Workshops.

"Serenity In Green" is a very interesting painting to do.

Although this example is painted in shades of green and I have already got 2 ladies booked for the workshop to do it in green, I have had enquiries about whether it can be painted in other shades/colours during the workshop.

Of course the answer is yes-you can do the painting in any colour of your choice.

I understand that while the classes are about learning to "Paint MY Way" if the finished painting doesn't fit in with your decor at home you wouldn't be so happy to paint it. Im happy to teach this painting in what ever colour you would like.

"Serenity In Green " is the perfect opportunity to see just how pressure on the brush and how much paint you put on can produce very different results.

This painting is suitable for all abilities-even first time artists.

I will as usual go through the painting step by step-showing you how to load the brush, how to apply it to the canvas, and because my classes are all small--7 people at most you can be sure of plenty of attention.

Please get in touch with me if you would like to join this class via my website.

http://www.paintingmyway.co.uk/

Date for Poppy Fields--Oct 4th

Poppy Fields has had some fantastic results whenever we have done this in a workshop.

Its a beautiful ,bright,vibrant painting that is suitable for all abilities -even first timers.

You will learn how to use a range of brushes in this class,and you will be amazed at just how different everyones paintings turn out!

If you would like to join this class please get in touch with me via my website www.paintingmyway.co.uk

This class tends to get booked up quite quickly, but will be held again next year.

New Date For ----Summer Day -Sep 27th

Back again by popular demand "Summer Day" will be the workshop subject for Sat Sep 27th.

There are 4 places left for this popular subject.

This one will definatley be booked up quickly-its one of my most popular paintings in Painting My Way workshops--easy to see why though!

If you want to join this class-please get in touch with me via the website http://www.paintingmyway.co.uk/

Places Left In Classes

There are just 4 places left on the "Tropical Sunset" workshop being held on Sat 30th August. This has proved to be a popular subject in the past and is suited to both first-timers and more experienced artists.

There are 3 places left for the "Oriental Dawn" painting workshop on Saturday 6th September

The results last time were really beautiful and everyone was amazed when they had finished the picture!

Again this is suitable for all abilities.

PLease get in touch via the website if you wish to book-these are popular subjects and they do get filled very quickly.

www.paintingmyway.co.uk

Path Through The Birch Tree Woods.

When Jane saw my Birch Tree paintings today she explained how she has a little copse of birch trees that she planted herself in her back garden., She said my paintings reminded her of them.

She bought them and we offered to drop them off for her after she said it would be difficult for her to get them home with her not being able to walk very well.

We offered to drop them off for her after we had packed up and taken everything back home.

She told us she would show us her trees and her chickens that live at the bottom of her trees.

We were met at her door by a big bouncy Labrador called Maude and a little 19 year old ginger cat called Sweeney.

We had a lovely chat with Jane about lots of things, she showed us a poem that a friend of hers Seamus Hearey had written about her birch tree garden, and was published in one of his books.It was beautiful.Very tranquil.

Jane then showed us the most beautiful garden at the back of her home.

An old brick pathway led us up to the end with old fashioned shrubs and flowers either side-you could here the sound of the river and the water going over the weirs.

So peaceful.

Then at the bottom, in a beautiful stone walled enclosure with the most beautiful birch trees Ive ever seen ,we met her 3 chickens!

They are lovely birds-clucking around in the bark mulch there.They are quite big birds with ginger feathers all the way down to their feet-they look quite funny with their feathery legs.

After taking some photos of the birch trees-the name of the type escapes me at the moment-except I know Jane said they are not the bog standard ones we normally get over here! They peel and reveal the bark underneath-pure white, while the bark that is on the top is white on top and golden underneath. It feels like velvet.

Jane peeled some off for me to take home.

We also had some free range eggs to take with us-courtesy of her 3 chucks!

All in all a lovely day.

Todays Craft Fair

The weather forcast was completly wrong today--instead of the wet day forcast it was warm bright and sunny--until time to start packing away! At 4pm it went black, even had a rumble of thunder-then the heavens opened.Everyone else was running around like headless chickens trying to pack their stuff away! We sat tight and waited for it to give over--goood job we did--a lovely lady came by-admired the Birch Tree Triptych and bought it!

Ive got to re-order all of the encaustic art stuff as I sold out today-have got a new customer caling by for a complete set this Sunday.

No Peace For The Wicked!

We got back at 5pm tonight from a wonderful holiday with some good friends----unpacked, did some of the washing-then realised I had the brushes to clean that me and Ros used yesterday while painting! So did that at 10pm tonight!

Then thought about getting everything ready for the craft market tomorrow--and thought otherwise of it!

We will get up early and load the car--we also have a nearly full class on Saturday and we are back on the craft market again on Sunday!

We are also looking forward to seeing Ros and family again on Saturday-they are stopping in Ludlow until Sunday, looking forward to meeting up again and having a lovely meal together.
Im sure Jake will be on his best behaviour for everyone!

Big Thanks To Jean

I want to thank my friend Jean for pet sitting all the menagerie while we were away. It was her first time and everyone loved it!
Jake is talking like her-and trying to whistle Col Bogey!
Paddy has been trying to talk to her in his own little way and Sparkycat has behaved him-self and not bitten her feet during the night!

Smokey And Gizmo

We had a sad job to do when we returned from our holiday this evening. The vets had called home to say the remains of my two old girls were ready to pick up.

There were a few tears, as I collected the beautiful solid oak casket they had been placed in.

Im very impressed with the service though, they were very caring and compassionate-my old girls had a good send off.

Minehead and Weston -Super-Mare

We had some interesting photos from our holiday-as usual I got loads that I intend using as painting subjects-when I find the time to do them!

We went into Minehead the day before yesterday, it was beautiful weather,we had a mooch along the beach and around some of our old favorite shops! Its changed a bit since we were there last year, they are building up the beach-I presume to stop it being washed away..

Bill took some of the burned out pier today at Weston -Super-Mare on our way home. They are asking for donations to help re-build it-some of the damage wasnt insured.

He also took some of the seagulls in flight--I love how hes captured the one in the photo!

Fantastic Holiday

We have had a great holiday in Somerset, we joined my friend Ros , her hubby Lincoln and son at a lovely holiday cottage site.We were next door neighbours but one in a delightful little cottage.

The photos show the outside of the cottage and also the view fron the kitchen table out through the stable door.

There was a couple of walnut trees outside, also a beautiful lilac tree, with beautiful lilac flowers on.

Each cottage had its own picnic table outside , so you could sit out in the evening chatting.

We had the pleasure of Winston the owners labradoodle dog dropping in for tit-bits regularly,he demolished a nearly whole chicken quiche last night! Its a good job we didn't have any spare room in the car or I think he would have been dog-napped and ended up back here in Ludlow-he really was gorgeous.

It was so quiet and peaceful there--we had the advantage of having a cooked breakfast as we booked B+B, but as the cottage was self contained we had the option of eating out in the evening or cooking--of course we ate out--we were on holiday of course!

It was lovely to meet up with Ros and family , we had such a great time!

Of course with us both being artists we had lots to talk about and we even managed to do some painting yesterday-the only day it rained. We had great fun together.The time just flew by, and before we knew it we were on our way home.

Todays Class

What a brilliant class we had today---Jack ( who lives in Bambury, Oxfordshire) had no idea where he was going when he set out this morning-his daughter Claire who I met on one of the craft markets in Ludlow, had bought him a gift voucher for his birthday.She didn't give it him until he was outside the venue today! Audrey and Catherine had also travelled a long way -we met them at Wellsbourne art society when I did a demo there earlier this year.

Jan is a regular and a close friend.

Everyone had a choice today-the subject could be painted in the usual monochrome or in my latest style of sepia. The students also had a choice of canvas.They could have the usual 40 cm x 50 cm box canvas or the more unusual revelled edge one--slightly shorter, but lends itself to this style of painting beautifully.

Audrey decided she was going to paint in black and white and everyone else chose the more recent sepia option. Claire chose the bevelled edge option.

Audrey got the hang of the encaustic pen very quickly-the foxgloves appeared very quickly on her canvas, and everyone was amazed at how it transformed her painting.

We had great fun--Claire found some potential customers within the group for her Silver fingerprints service--she can take a fingerprint of a child's finger (or adult) and turn it into a beautiful pendant in a short time.She can also do the same with a painting--what a brilliant gift that would be! I will get her website address and put it on here.

Catherine was more used to working very detailed and using coloured pencils and agreed the class was great for learning to 'loosening up' her style of art.

Well I'm off to bed now-got to finish packing in the morning for our holiday-will get that done while Bill fetches Jean , my friend who is pet sitting!

Also got a painting to pack to post while we are away---Heat is going to Hertfordshire, will have to take it with us to post cos we are not back until Wednesday evening, don't like to keep customers waiting so have emailed the new owner to explain when it will be with her.As usual, I will send it special delivery--insured, track able and next day signed for delivery!

If It Should Be

I had this poem sent me yesterday--it made me cry-its so true.

IF IT SHOULD BE

If it should be that I grow weak,
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then you must do what must be done,
For this last battle cannot be won.
You will be sad, I understand.
Don't let your grief then stay your hand.
For this day, more than all the rest,
Your love for me must stand the test.
We've had so many happy years.
What is to come can hold no fears.
You'd not want me to suffer so;
The time has come -- please let me go.
Take me where my need they'll tend,
And please stay with me till the end.
Hold me firm and speak to me,
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time that you will see the kindness that you did for me.
Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I've been saved.
Please do not grieve -- it must be you who had this painful thing to do.
We've been so close, we two, these years;
Don't let your heart hold back its tears.

New Kittens.

First of all a big thank you for all the emails , private messages , phone calls and hugs sent to us since yesterday.It means such a lot to know that so many people understand.

As you can no doubt see from the photos above there are some new additions to the family.

It has turned out to be good timing-my daughter Becki knew she was having these two bundles of fun several weeks ago. They have certainly helped heal the pain of losing Smokey and Gizmo yesterday.

Becki had grown up with the old ladies -as they were known-since she was just 3 years old, and although she had moved out from her brothers house where they lived 3 years ago, she still saw them.

I got a text from her this afternoon asking what I thought about the new kittens being called Smokey and Gizmo---I think its a fitting tribute to two wonderful little cats,so the dark one is being called Smokey and the black and white one is Gizmo.

We went around to see them this afternoon-- they are just gorgeous-full of mischief.

Smokey hasnt got the hang of pulling her claws in when walking on the carpet , and Gizmo has decided the best place to sleep is on top of the sky box!

They will be spoiled rotten with Becki and Wayne, and if they turn half as good as their namesakes they will be lovely little cats.

Sad Day

We have had a such a sad day today.

My two old ladies have been put to sleep at the vets this morning.

Smokey and Gizmo were 20 years old and have been the most faithful and loving of pets anyone could wish for.

We knew we couldn't keep them going for long last year.We took them to the vets to ask his opinion 12 months ago as they had both started to lose weight, he said they would have all sorts going wrong at their age (97 in human years) but if they were his cats he would leave them a bit longer-his words were "you will know when the time is right"

Well the time was right today. Gizmo's back end went a couple of days ago, looked like she had injured herself somehow-she had no muscle tone in her thighs so she could have just tryed to jump onto something -we just don't know.

Smokeys eyes were not good and they were both as deaf as posts, Smokey had been chased by a dog the day before, and only just escaped so a decision had to be made.I couldnt face going through it twice so we decided they would go together.

Its the hardest thing Ive ever done.

They had a tin of tuna before we took them down the vets, and snuggled up together in the basket. The vet was brilliant-so compassionate. She sedated them first and they didnt know a thing about the final injection.

We are having them cremated together and placed in the same box.

We are going to miss them so much-they were such gentle little cats-they had never scratched or bitten anyone.

Wye Valley magazine

When we eventually got home tonight there was a message on the answerphone.

Sharon From the Wye Valley magazine had seen the article about me in the Ludlow Lifestyle Magazine and wanted to do an article about me in her magazine!

I rang her back and she gave me all the info about it-then I had to email her my biography and some paintings with all the for sale info about them to go in to the Sept issue!
The mag covers a big range of places,an even bigger one than the Ludlow one covers, but both are out at the same time time so Im getting lots of exposure as an artist.

So I have been busy all evening doing that,Im off down from my study to join my long suffering hubby Bill.

Tewsbury and Ledbury

We called at Tewsbury on the way home from Wallsworth Hall today-the weather was beautiful-hard to believe that it was all completely flooded this time last year. We couldn't resist calling at Ledbury afterwards, as always, there are some lovely shops there!

By the time we got home we couldn't be bothered to start cooking, so called by at The Squirrel for a steak and all the trimmings-and very nice it was too!