Birches Workshop

Well after getting loads of snow I had to come to the decision to cancel today's workshop---with everyone coming from miles around it was the best thing to do....I have managed to do some jigging round with dates and we will be painting The Birches next Saturday instead.     I know some of the students who were coming today cant make next week and will be coming on another date. Its one of those things that cant be helped..its not worth people risking it just to come and paint when the weather is so awful.I would be worried sick waiting for them to arrive! Lets hope we don't get too much more snow to disrupt things......

Fingers Crossed!!!!!!!!!!!

While its lovely to see the snow and beautiful winter wonderland scenes it isn't good to get a lot of the white stuff the day before I have a workshop where I have people coming from all over to paint with me! The forecast isn't looking good at all for our area.. so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we dont get as much as they say we will and that everyone will manage to get here on Saturday OK... If worst comes to worst I will have to cancel the workshop and sort out another date for it---but hopefully it wont come to that...I will be ringing everyone booked in for The Birches on Friday evening when I can see how its looking....so FINGERS CROSSED EVERYONE!!!!!!!

Mystical Moon Workshop jan 12th 2013

As there were only 4 students today I did the workshop at my home...

Jenny adding her moon....I think this is the hardest part of this painting! They do tend to keep getting bigger and bigger as they try and correct the circle!

2nd time for Tracey...

and Deb should have had her Artist brooch a few pictures ago --but Bill couldnt find them when when he had a look in the van quickly---will make sure I have it ready for her next time she comes!

We met Cathy when we were setting up the exhibition at Bishops Castle--first time for her and she loved it--

Cathy is adding her branches and foliage here--and what a great job she made of it...she decided against adding the metallic paint at the end-and she bought some varnish from me so when she gives the painting a couple of coats it will bring the colours right out.

Jenny wanted to try something different-and she did a couple of branches in silver paint--after standing back and thinking about it we both decided it didnt work! But it was soon put right with a coat of black paint over the top--if you dont try these things you never know though do you?

Tracey could see how her branches improved with each one she painted!

Deb is nearly finished here...lovely result!

Great paintings ladies!

Grandchildren!!!

Little Tommy enjoyed his first Christmas--so did his bear friend!

Its just amazing how quickly the grandkids are growing up....Ollie is a proper lad--full of beans!

It was lovely to see Callum and Izzy round here over Christmas, Hollie and Lucie enjoyed seeing them too--lovely to have all of the grandchildren together for a picture!

A Few New Changes!

As you will have noticed there are a few changes to the blog--Ive changed the colours around,,,,not sure if it will stay this way or be changed again yet!
I'm able to get bigger photos on here now as well, so that is good.

The other major change is what this little tiny gadget has made to me.Ive had my hearing aid for a month now and its really helping my tinnitus, it hasn't cleared it up completely but I'm getting more time 'quiet' now than I have in 16 months.I can also hear the TV and people talking better so good all round..its a tiny little thing--it can hardly be seen..fingers crossed it will help get rid of the tinnitus altogether!    Im also down to just 8mg steroids a day for the polymyalgia,,so am really pleased about that as well..It has been a bit up and down over the Christmas period but has settled down nicely again and with luck I will be cutting down to 7.5mg which is classed as a low dose very soon.  I only put on 1.5lb over Christmas when I went to weigh in at Slimming World--and when I went to weigh in last week I had lost that so its all going the right way...

 

Mystical Moon Workshop Jan 12th

I have  some spaces left for this Saturdays workshop Mystical Moon,,,a choice of colours in this acrylic workshop using a 12in x 24in chunky box canvas.Suitable for all ages and abilities.. We get great results every time as you can see from previous class photos below. Contact me via  www.paintingmyway.co.uk if you would like to have a go at this painting!

Vikki did a slightly different version-alone with her son Tom.

as you can see--wonderful results--

hard to believe there are some first time students among these.....all very good paintings!

Happy 2013

Well as 2012 comes to an end and we welcome the new year 2013 in its a time to reflect whats gone on during the last 12 months.. We have met loads of new people who have attended the Painting My Way workshops--most of them walked into the room pretty much convinced they would be my first failure and that they would never be able to paint a picture that would be any good.  How lucky am I to be able to prove them wrong...nobody knows how I feel when the most nervous of folk settle down within minutes and start to relax , making decisions for themselves where to place a wave or a tree...to know they go home feeling so good about themselves is priceless to me..  To my students who are not in the best of health -we wish you well and hope you have a better year next year..(((HUGE HUGS))) to you all.  We hope that next year will bring some better weather and the big shows we normally attend will run as usual--we missed out on 5 shows and I think numbers will be down in the workshops due to that..I pick up quite a few students at the shows...but saying that I also get lots of students coming back and bringing new students with them, so may not be too bad!  Some of the workshops are almost full already....There will be a few new workshops coming up...and of course all the old favorites will be run several times..  Well Im off to have a lovely roast beef dinner with my lovely Bill...along with one or two drinks to welcome in the new year....so we will see you all next year--will look forward to it very much indeed...The website has been updated and you can see where we will be -markets/shows etc -weather permitting  through to next Christmas. Workshops dates are done until Sept-so take a look ! www.paintingmyway.co.uk    HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE XXX                                                                                                                                                                               

Merry Christmas Everyone

Well Christmas is  almost here again--where has the time gone?           The year has flown by so quickly.   So much has happened too--the main event in my life has been the arrival of our little Christmas Elf---Tommy!!!!           Cant believe he is now 7 months old already!   He will be sitting at our dining table tucking into his first Christmas dinner on the 25th--he has got his 2 front teeth for Christmas so we will save the drumstick for him LOL..                                                                    On the painting side of things--apart from the horrible wet summer that meant that many of the shows we usually do were cancelled-it has been a great year.                                                                                                                                                      The workshops have been busy with lots of new faces as well as  of my regulars! Again we have met some wonderful people and made lifelong friends with many of them. We have created beautiful paintings,given people confidence they didn't have before and unleashed so much creative talent that was hidden away...we have laughed until we cryed as well-with many memorable moments in the workshops!                                                                                                                    I would be lying if I said it had all been easy and a doddle-because it hasn't....the weather has been against us all year--most of the Wednesday and Sunday markets have been wet, and if Bill had a £ for every time he hung the plastic back sheets to dry in the garage this year he would be rich..but we have carried on-and now have just the one this Sunday to do...we are off then  until the beginning of April--we may do the Sunday market in Feb and March weather permitting but that will be it--a lovely break from it and its well deserved!                                                                               The dates for next years workshops are on the website now www.paintingmyway.co.uk                                                         Its coming up to the 9th year of my workshops in April and I'm pleased to say that the price of most of the workshops is still £35 -exactly the same as when I started 9 years ago....there are a couple of exceptions though- workshops using a chunky 12" x  24" canvas have gone up by £2 as these canvas have risen a lot in price this year,,,but that is only a couple of the workshops---Grasses and Mystical Moon.. The Yesterday workshop on the huge 40" x 12" canvas will remain the same at £45 and if you use either of those size canvas in The Birches workshops the price will be the same...  I will be updating the website over the Christmas period with the dates and places I will be during 2013 -markets and shows..well that's it for now folks---don't know if I will get back to do any updates before Christmas--we have family for the big day and Boxing Day and have our 2 lovely granddaughters coming to stay for a couple of nights Christmas week as well so we will be very busy...                                                                                                                                                        So a Huge MERRY, HEALTHY CHRISTMAS from me and Bill...see you all soon xxxxxxx

Poppy Workshop Dec 15th

The last workshop of 2012 was fantastic-- we had 11 in to paint the Big Poppy...using acrylic and melted wax plus some texturising mediums.Its a big canvas measuring 24in x 24in -above you can see everyone making a start ..

Karen and 2 others decided to use yellows and oranges instead of reds--and it worked lovely- very vibrant!

some found it easier to lay the painting flat and others used an easel..

Lesley adding the finishing touches to her beautiful painting..

David was painting for the first time...and what a brilliant job he made of his picture...

Dawn came down from the Wirrel again--but stopped in a local hotel that had a Groupon deal....so had time to relax and enjoy Ludlow as well!

It was lovely to see Carol again--she bought us a beautiful table centrepiece she had made --bless her.. She chose blue with a touch of purple for her poppy--love the combination of colours!

This will look beautiful on the big day on our dining table!

Emma's first time, she had quite a drive from Welshpool but really enjoyed herself! She was amazed at her results in such a short time!

Bev has been loads of times--and loved this subject as it is sooooo different to any of the other paintings I do..

Karen adding the melted wax detail..

Brenda getting handy with the iron!

Brenda bought along her daughter Caroline for the first time---she made a great job..surprised herself with the results!

Don't they look fantastic? Well done everyone!

the photos don't do the paintings justice..

all so different!

Reeds In Breeze Workshop

First time for Lorretta,,,

Audrey was also a first timer..

Joy was with us for the 4th  time...she bought along her friend Margaret ..

Margaret seemed to find it pretty easy-and no signs of nerves!

Sue was painting for the first time-she came along with her friend Viv who has been 3 times before--

I love the brown and ochre shades,,,a really natural look!

We had a real family affair here--Elaine bought along her 2 daughters and her granddaughter to paint..Elaine had been just once before--

daughter Jessica was painting for the 1st time-though you would never know it to see her painting..

12 year old Amy made a beautiful job of her painting..

And WOW--Rachel's grey version was just stunning... 2 nd time painting--I think everyone was chuffed to bits with their pictures..we had amazing results from them all...

Well Done everyone!

Beautiful Paintings ladies!

Beautiful!

Fantastic pictures--well done!