New Floral

I have been painting and sketching away like a demon these past few weeks. I am having quite a few ideas come to me (thank goodness, there's nothing worse than artists block), and I am desperate to get them all down onto canvas, or even paper.
I have also been planning new exhibitions next year. So far I'm up to 4. This means, I need to get those ideas down...and fast! I will publish a full list once everything has been confirmed.
I have completed the new Iris painting, to replace the Soft White Rose, which recently sold. It is currently hanging in my bedroom, waiting for a buyer...... It is 50cm x 50cm and painted in acrylic on a tissue collage background.

I have also had an article published in this months UKCPS magazine 'Talking Point'. It is an article showing a work in progress of my Fractured Tulips. Many people have often asked me how I do this style of work. So it is now published for all to see!

No time!!

I have recently discovered that there are not enough hours in the day!
I had a successful meeting with The Art Bay Gallery, and apart from a 6 hour return trip (thank you workmen for re laying a piece of the M6) it went very, very well. They have taken 6 more pieces of art work, and are also selling them as limited edition prints.
go to www.creativestoke.co.uk for all details!
I am developing a new small collection for them based on the Stoke Pottery chimneys, which work extremely well in my Fractured style.
My aim is to do about 6 drawings. In the next few month they are going to put an exhibition of my work up there. So, lots to do!
On another note, my floral paintings have become popular again, so have bought the most beautiful lily to paint....I will post the painting once it has been finished.
So, as I say...Lots to do!!!

New Venture

After a few suggestions from customers and exhibition guests, I have now tried to do portraits in the Fractured style I have developed. It has taken me some time to summon up the courage to do this, but decided to go for it.


Having thought about it for a long time, I used chalk pastels to give it a bit of softness, which is sometimes difficult with acrylics. I then used myself as an artists model!


I have attached the final outcome, which I am not entirely sure about, but this is new after all, so it may take some time to get used to it!

On another note, I have begun to plan 2010 exhibition dates. I am joining forces with 2 other artists, Verity Darby and Laura Bond. The 3 of us are going to do Surrey Artists Open Studios from the 5th-20th June at Verity's house in Oxshott, Surrey. And later in the year in September an exhibition at The Harvey Gallery in Guildford. Planning the new paintings are beginning to take shape, in earnest!

Tomorrow (Tues 3rd Nov) I am travelling up to the Art Bay Gallery, Stoke on Trent, to view my new exhibition they are holding of some Fractured work and some coloured pencil drawings. I am looking forward to meeting them all and seeing the display!

Something different!

I have been reminiscing on my flower painting days....and decided I was missing doing them somewhat, so I have created a new floral painting. It has a collage and lino print background. Lino print is something I learnt at school and ever since then have loved doing it! It can bit a bit dangerous, if you let the cutting tool slip you can gauge your hand! Not pleasat! But you have to suffer for your art, right?!

I have also done a little pair of Chrysanthemum's on a slightly ethnic background, well the colours are anyway!

Derwent Pastel tins

A couple of blogs ago, I showed you a drawing I was commissioned by Derwent, of St Pauls Cathedral. I am pleased to say this image is now being used for the new formula Chalk Pastel tin box! It is extremely exciting and I am very happy.

In the meantime, I am working hard on a commission and working closely with Fiesta Collectables on new tile paintings. It's a busy old time!

UKCPS success

As a member of the UKCPS (UK Coloured Pencil Society) each year there is an Open Juried Exhibition where we are able to submit 3 paintings for possible inclusion into the show, which this year is being held at the prestigious Royal Birmingham Society of Artists gallery. I submitted 3, including Fractured Lilles and Bottles and Glasses, as well as the one on the left, Kingston Bridge. I was pleased to receive an e mail congratulating me on all 3 being accepted! I am exceptionally pleased about it too!

The show starts on the 21st September until the 3rd of October.

Back to work!

Well, after a wonderful holiday to Normandy with my husband and little girl, a bout of Swine flu for me and chicken pox for her, I feel ready to take the bull by the horns again!

Lots of things have been happening in the art world for me. I have had another exhibition at Weybridge Library Hall with The Surrey Artists, had a commission from Derwent Pencil Company for a fractured version of St Pauls Cathedral in pastels, and now I found out that my new ceramic tile of a camper van on the beach is flying off the shelves!

It's just as well Annabel is starting nursery 2 afternoons as week soon! Gives me more art time, which I am grateful for...

And to top it all off, my dear webmaster husband has put a new link on my site so you can now buy direct from it. Let's hope this increases sales for me now. it's something that has always been missing from it, and now we are live! Go take a look and treat yourself.

Something that's in it's planning stage is the possibility of me selling prints of my work. We'll see.....

WOW! Gallery Collection starting to take shape

Well, I've finally completed 'The Lighthouse' painting, or should I say drawing? Never know....

Very pleased with the outcome, just what I had envisioned and it is now framed in a neat pine frame. The size is 10 x 8 inches.

I've got together four paintings for the seaside themed show, which begins at the beginning of August in Dorking. I intend to do a couple more. The paintings vary in size and price, which we need to think about in these tough financial times. After all, paintings are a luxury!

Now, onto the next one......

Had a very stressful weekend away.....the family and some friends went to Center Parcs, my idea of hell quite frankly. Too many people, all squashed in little boxes with organised activites throughout costing almost as much as a house! For half the day on Saturday we had no water either. The whole place.....minus water. Yuck. Ah well, live and learn and I learnt that I'll never go again! Got a holiday booked to Normandy next month in a big Gites, now THATS more like it!! Hopefully get some sketches and paintings done too.
I took some work too, thinking I could chill out for a couple of hours, but was SO tense, I decided not too in case I ruined my work. I am getting near the end of completing The Lighthouse. Knowing when to stop is a knack I am still developing!
How lovely it is to be back in my home and studio.

Lighthouse

After a wonderful weekend down in Sussex with my family, I feel all relaxed and slightly sunburnt.
I have begun to make a start on a new coloured pencil Fractured drawing which will end up in the WOW! Gallery in Dorking. I am working a good weight cartridge paper and using Derwent Coloursoft Pencils, which I love using. I have drawn up a layout of a lighthouse with a sea around it. I love getting the movement of the waves with shading and Fractured lines.
I get a full days work tomorrow, and amongst doing this drawing, I've got pictures to frame up for an exhibition in August and my studio needs a good old tidy up. I managed to throw a jar of dirty paint water all over the floor last week!

Gallery interest!

What a beautiful weekend we are having, totally inspiring. I am currently in sunny Sussex and I have taken lots of photos of flowers and stuff for my reference in between having a glass of Pimms or two....... Whether I use them this year or i the next few, who knows?! It's always good to have lots of good photos for paintings and sketches.
I have had some interest in my two Fractured paintings from a gallery in Dorking. They are going to be doing a seaside theme in August and were interested especially in the 'Ready to set sail' painting. Looks like I might be doing some more seaside themed paintings. They do seem to go down quite well, and every one I have done has been sold. Boats, sea scenes, beach huts, lighthouses.... must make people feel good!
I want to do another lighthouse one, based on a photo I took in Southwold a couple of years ago. Long and thin I think.... So, better get to work and stop enjoying this lovely sun eh?!

New Ideas brewing....

Sometimes, while I am happliy keeping my daughter happy playing with various toys, ideas pop into my head and my fingers start itching!
A couple of weeks ago it was my 5th wedding anniversary and amongst others things, was given a bouquet of Tulips. I took some photos and one of them has sparked an idea for a coloured pencil drawing in my Fractured style. I will keep you posted on progress!
Next Wednesday I have a full working day, and am dying to make a start on it! In the meantime, I'm going to print out the photo, and begin sketching out my lines and direction of light.

Next week is also another exhibition I have work in. This time it's for the IATTDA (International Association of Two and Three Dimensional Artists) Summer Exhibtion showing work at the 1215 Gallery in Windsor. Wish me luck!

Cambridge Art Fair

After a long journey up to Cambridge, I arrived to drop off my 11 paintings to ArtGallery.co.uk, with hope in my soul for good things to happen at the Cambridge Art Fair, and when attending the Drinks preview, see what I'm up against! I spot a Patrick Heron print and a couple of Delaunays! Yikes! I notice there is no particular style this year, and apart from my florals, they seem a bit low on the ground. Perhaps I should've got out more of my Fractured work?!

Was it a success? Well, people made some positive comments about my work, but alas no-one put their hands in their pocket. This was a common theme for each gallery who exhibited there. High foot fall, but low money spending. However, one of my paintings was on the promotional leaflet and brochure, so hopefully that'll be good marketing for me!
Onwards and upwards!!!!