Tiffany Budd at work

Cranleigh Exhibition begins!

2012-01-10T14:44:00.000Z

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and are settled into 2012 with vigour! I do love the festive season, but there's something very cleansing about tidying up the decorations and taking down the tree. I like getting back to normal.....but no, I don't wish it could be Christmas every day!
I have been thrown into January with a flourish, this being because of my new solo show 'Fracturing the Flow'.
There are 40 paintings and drawings in all, 28 framed and 12 unframed, but mounted and put into a browser. The prices range from a very reasonable £40 up to £450 for the biggest painting, 'Flame Runner'.
I have just got back from hanging the show today. Climbing up and down a VERY tall ladder, wasn't the most enjoyable of experiences, but it had to be done.
I was sent an exhibitors pack which had the sizes of the gallery, and this meant I could plan out where each piece needed to go before I arrived. Preparation saves you ALOT of time!
I first laid out each painting on the floor as to where I wanted them to go.

Note the scary ladder! I did wobble on it a few times, and tried not to look down too much, there was a different climate up there!
The hanging system was the reason I had to go up there, each painting had it's own wire with an adjustable hook on the end. It worked really well.
The space is wonderfully light, with gorgeous big windows letting in lots of light, they also supply spotlights which could be moved to light up the paintings.
It took me 3 hours to get them all up, cleaned and ticketed. I met some lovely people too, and look forward to going back tomorrow (Wed 11th), Thursday and Saturday to do a bit of 'in situ' painting.
I hope some of you could spare a couple of hours to come and visit my exhibition.

'Fracturing the Flow' begins on the 11th January and runs until the 28th. Opening hours are 10am until 4.30pm. Address is 1 High Street, Cranleigh, Surrey. GU6 8AS.
I am painting there on the 11th, 12th and 14th, 21st and 28th. I hoped to be there more, but I have been called up for Jury Service, and can't defer it again. (Talk about timing eh?) If I don't get picked, I will be there. If you want to call me to find out, my number is 07870 293424 or e mail tiffanybudd@wall-power.co.uk

Obsessing with pastels!

2011-11-10T15:33:00.000Z

I have been painting for a long time now, and acrylic used to be my favourite medium. However, I have recently become obsessed with hard and soft pastels! I guess a lot of it is to do with the fact that I demonstrate in them, but also I just love the vibrancy of colour they achieve. I can get lots of details and smoothness of texture within the painting. And as I have been seeing with my sales, people do like to buy pastel paintings, which then leaves the decision of how to frame with themselves. I can charge a little less for pastels, as I can create them quite quickly. The pastels I use mainly are Derwent pastel blocks and pastel pencils. (which are great if you don't like mess) They are hard and chalky. However, I invested in some Sennelier pastels recently, which are incredibly soft and these produce a very different look and feel. They also disappear quite fast and create a lot of dust. One way I try and keep dust down, is to use my trusty Colourfix paper, which I have mentioned before. It is like a smooth sandpaper and the pastels stick to them really well.
I have been building up my unframed pieces for my exhibition at Cranleigh Arts Centre. I have enough framed, but wanted to have quite a few unframed.

Mountain Range. £180

Seeds of Love- Now SOLD

Autumn Hills- Now SOLD

Two out of the three have already sold, so I guess that has proved my point about people liking pastels!!

I am exhibiting six small Fractured paintings at The Inchmore Gallery, Inverness from the 19th November. This is part of a large collaboration with other artists to create CD sized pieces which are 'handy' for hanging!
This is a selection of what I submitted. They have since asked me to exhibit some 'normal' sized paintings next year, which I am thrilled about.

Tomorrow I will be at the Retail Therapy Fair, Ramada Hotel, East Horsely, Surrey where I will be selling my name paintings and many unframed original fine art paintings. I hope to see lots of people getting in the festive spirit!

One more painting which I have literally just completed, is based on Mother and Child, an age old subject and theme. And seeing as it is my daughters 4th birthday today, I guess I was feeling all motherly!! This is also in pastels.

And the last bit of news, is that I have been included in the new SAA Magazine November edition. (Society for All Artists), where I am introduced as a professional artist! It looks great and I'm chuffed to bits with it. The nicest thing is that when I do my art demonstrations, people have come up and told me they saw me in it!! Excellent publicity for me, so thank you SAA!!

So, that's all for now! See you all again in December. Love, Tiffany. xx

New paintings and a workshop

2011-10-11T18:17:00.000+01:00

Last Saturday I undertook a workshop for people who wanted to learn how to create my Fractured style of painting, using pastels. It was in Wokingham, and had a nice group of 8 people. We all brought lunch and a mug so we didn't starve and could be refuelled with tea and coffee when necessary!
I started the workshop by explaining how I came about creating this style of work, and began my own piece of bottles and glasses on a rough paper called Coloursoft. This paper feels like a sandpaper, but smoother. Enough for the pastel to stick to and it makes the colour 'zing'. I brought a selection of smaller pieces of this paper for the students to use, which they did. I showed them how to work each section as an individual area and working out each line and light direction.
I hope they all enjoyed the day and they created some truly wonderful artwork. Isn't that frog brilliant?!
Here are some of the paintings they did, and also a great group shot!

I obviously didn't get my piece completed as I was helping everyone with their own piece, so have just now finished my pastel painting.

After Hours- Derwent Pastels and Pencils. 50cm x 36cm.

Every year, when Autumn arrives, I inevitably create an Autumnal painting showing the wonderful colours that are out there. This year I have created a painting using acrylic on a chunky canvas.

Autumnal Tree Leaves. 60cm x 50cm

At the end of the month I have this years Oxshott Art and Crafts Society exhibition. I am exhibiting 3 framed paintings and 3 unframed paintings. It is being held at Denbies Wine Estate in Dorking, Surrey from the 31st October until the 6th November. Come and pay a visit! (even if you just want to try the delicious wine they produce there!) These are the framed paintings I am exhibiting.

Bubbles. 40cm x 20cm Acrylic on chunky canvas. £110

RHS Wisley Watercolour. £150

That's Raced to the Boundary. Pastel. £220

Holidays and a rest....

2011-10-03T19:05:00.000+01:00

Holidays are priceless, they are there for us to enjoy the sun, family, fun and a change of pace, and mine was no exception. The 3 of us go away with my lovely in laws most years, and I waited 18 months for this one, and boy I needed it! It wasn't so much relaxing - I mean with a very active 3 year old, the word relax doesn't pop up in my daily life anymore- but it was fun. Lots of swimming and sandcastles built, and time to step away from my artwork and think about things.
Before we went through customs at Gatwick airport, I managed to get a brief visit in to The Beehive, Wetherspoons pub to take a look at my paintings. They were there, in their full glory, framed and with a neat little biography underneath each one!! It truly was the perfect start to my holiday.

You can probably tell how chuffed I was from my cheesy grins in these photos!! I thought the framing they chose was spot on and where they were positioned was also great. Thank you Wetherspoons! I can help again! lol!

Now back, and sort of rested, I am planning more projects and exhibitions. The first is a group show- Oxshott Art and Craft Society, at Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking which starts on the 31st October and runs until the Sunday same week. I will be showing 3 Fractured paintings and a couple of unframed ones too. Pop along, it's a great day out! And Denbies sell the most delicious wine....I also got married there, so it has a special place in my heart.

The next exhibition is a biggie! I have booked Cranleigh Arts Centre, Cranleigh, near Guildford from the 11th January 2012 until the 28th, all to myself!! It is called 'Fracturing the Flow' and will consist of at least 20 Fractured paintings and drawings. I am extremely excited about it, and hope you can all pay a visit during that time. I am also hoping that I won't be snowed out/in!! I will post more information about it as it gets nearer, but I am sure it'll creep up on me....fast!

Fracturing the Flow- with The Swallows Flight as image.

Being an artist is a constant battle, especially in these austere times. Some months are wonderfully busy, with lots of sales, and some can be extremely quiet, and it's the quiet ones when I start organising new things! I guess it's all swings and roundabouts!! (and not just in the literal sense for me either!!)
Thanks for reading!

Gatwick commission

2011-08-19T12:25:00.001+01:00

Walkway to the skies

Things are once again busy for me, which is great.
I had a phone call out of the blue about a month ago from a gentleman who wanted to commission me two large paintings for a new Wetherspoons pub based in the South Terminal at Gatwick airport. I obviously jumped at the chance! The only downside was that they had to be completed in 3 weeks! That was pushing it, but I knew I could just about manage it...with a few late nights involved!
He wanted the paintings in my Fractured style, something, he said, that was exactly what he was looking for! The pub, was to be called The Beehive. Based on one of the first ever departure terminal buildings in the UK. It is very Art Deco in style, and wonderful building.
This is what The Beehive building looks like now.

I was sent numerous photos, style boards and plans from the buildings architects, and from that began to sketch out ideas for the painting.
Both paintings are 1.1m x 1m and 1.2m x 90cm respectively. And varnished for protection.

'Fracturing the Beehive'
The pub is opening on the 30th August, on landside. I'm due to go in September so will hopefully see them up then!!

Results are in!

2011-08-03T11:22:00.000+01:00

It's that time of year now, where results from the competitions I have entered start to dribble in!
I was unsuccessful in the deckchair competition and the Battle Contemporary art fair this time, however I was pleased to find out that 2 of my coloured pencil drawings were accepted into this years UKCPS exhibition which is being held in Westminster. The Millennium Wheel and The Gherkin (topical, yes) were chosen. I painted these in Derwent Coloursoft Pencils on Fabriano Artistico paper. That paper I find to be very resilient to layers of pencil, and it's also very smooth, which is what I am after.

Millennium Wheel

The Gherkin

These will be hung and I will also be able to sell some greeting cards. I will be attending the show (dates to be confirmed) where I will be demoing this style of work. It'll be great to see everything hung altogether!

I am still waiting for results of the Hahnemule Calender watercolour competition, but there were ALOT of entries, so I don't think I'll be in the running. This is the painting I submitted.

I tried to make it stand out and as bright and colourful as I could!!

Now, I am a bit of a cricket nut. I used to play until I fell pregnant. (not a good idea to run around chasing after a very hard ball if you are) but I was bitten by the bug and watch all the England games I can.
This is my homage to Jonathon Trott, one of our finest batsman at present. I tried to evoke the movement of the bat and swing which I think works quite well with my Fractured technique. I hope you like it! I completed it in Derwent chalk pastels on black pastel paper.

Jonathon Trott playing in a one day International.

One last thing. I have a wonderful client who keeps coming back for more paintings for her lovely house. She is a fan of my floral collage paintings and she commissioned me to paint a pink tulip to co ordinate with her armchairs. This is the painting in situ, and it looks great!! It was completed in acrylic with tissue paper collage in the background, and is 80cm square on a chunky canvas.

I am now undertaking a very big commission, which I cannot say too much about until next week! It's certainly keeping me busy.

Preview of Gallery in the Square, Usk, Wales

2011-07-18T18:47:00.000+01:00

Last week was very busy! But all good. I travelled down to Wales the Wednesday before the opening to deliver 15 paintings to David. The journey was nice and traffic free.....which can't be said for Fridays journey back down for the Preview Evening! I left at 2.30pm and got to the gallery at 6pm, just in time!
I was greeted by David, the other two lovely artists joining me in the show, a press photographer and the Mayor of Usk!
The evening was wonderful. I had a fantastic response from the invited guests, especially for my Fractured work, which pleased me no end! They all wanted to know the technique and development of the pieces and seemed very intrigued.
I was fortunate enough to meet a couple who were just about to purchase one of the Fractured paintings. We discussed it in finer detail, and then they went ahead and bought it. There's nothing like seeing a red dot on the ticket under the painting!
I left the gallery just after 8 and had a great journey back home.....to collapse!
The exhibition is on for 6 weeks, and I left another couple pondering over another piece. I hope they go for it!

In front of some of my floral and Fractured paintings.

More work in the gallery.

This is the painting that sold. 'In Flight'.

Gallery in the Square

2011-06-23T06:46:00.002+01:00

Here is the official invite to the Preview evening at the gallery.

Hope some of you can make it!

Meanwhile, I have been creating a new painting, something that has been in my mind for a while!

Flame Runner

It is a biggie! 100cm x 50cm in acrylic. I hope to evoke a feeling of movement and running. What do you think?!

A short and sweet blog today, there will be more to come soon!

Exhibitions and Roses....

2011-06-16T18:06:00.000+01:00

It's this time of year that submissions deadlines for art exhibitions and competitions are looming. And I have had quite a few to apply for! As a member of the UKCPS, I submitted 5 pieces of work to their Annual Exhibition, which this year is being held at Westminster Hall, London to celebrate their 10th Anniversary. Count Faber-Castell will be attending as well as many other sponsors. I really hope to get in, and enjoy the show.
The other entries I have submitted for are:- Battle Contemporary Art Fair and Hahnemuhle Calendar Competition. I have always found, the more you enter to more opportunities open for you.
There was also a quirky little competition to design a deckchair design for Hastings Stade. I thought my Fractured fished would work well, as it is a seaside theme, and very colourful. Again, it's a waiting game!

Deckchair Fishes

The most exciting news I have had was an invitation to exhibit at Gallery in the Square, Usk, Wales. I donated a painting for a charity auction about 5 years ago to the owner, and he has now come back to invite me to his gallery to exhibit proper! I am taking 16 paintings, half Fractured and half Floral on the 6th July, with the show opening with a preview evening on the 8th July. I have my Premier Lodge room booked for the night!! I'm really looking forward to having such a large number of paintings on show.

Crummock Water- Lake District

Poetic Iris

I have also been busy creating a new collection of work for my agent. I am a fan of flowers, as you know, and what they requested was a romantic, ethereal feel to the work, which will eventually (and hopefully) be used for table mats, napkins and prints.

I thoroughly enjoyed doing these, and I have been asked for more.

Next week, I will be on holiday. My brother in law is getting married and we all have wedding duties in this household!! I can't wait. Ta ta for now!

Sorry it's been so long!

2011-05-22T19:36:00.001+01:00

I believe Blogger has had some problems in the last couple of weeks, and managed to lose 3 hours work on here! I think it's back now, so let's try again!
Once again, times are busy....just how I like it.

I have had a couple of exhibitions, both local. One was in Weybridge at the beginning of this month, and one before that at Oxshott Art and Craft Society. I gained a Highly Commended for my coloured pencil drawing The Cutlery Drawer.
And this was the set up for the Weybridge show.....

Footfall was low, due to the wonderful weather, however I did sell a tulip lino cut, which I believe is being sent across the pond to the USA. Nice to know I'm going far and wide!!

On Thursday 19th May I was fortunate enough to have an invite to attend Parliament! I am a member of the Crohns and Colitis Association and I donated some artwork to them as a thank you, for their reports and publicity. I wanted to evoke a feeling of isolation and pain when suffering with this disease within the workplace. This is the painting I came up with.

The reason I was invited to Westminster, was that I was informed that my work was used on a big report about IBD in the workplace. This was being presented at a launch to Parliament by Lord Prescott. Carrie Grant (Fame Academy and voice coach) was also there as she is an ambassador for the NACC. She also, like me suffers from Crohn's Disease. I was fortunate enough to meet them, as well as Lord Prescott's daughter in law Roz, who was really lovely! Here is a photo I took of them holding up the report. I am also hoping Prescott's son will send me a photo of me and John Prescott too! Let's hope he remembers!

Lord Prescott, Carrie Grant, Roz Prescott and David Grant.

My last bit of news was my appearance in Artist and Illustrators Magazine....well, on an advert at least kindly used by Derwent. All good publicity eh?!

New Derwent Coloursoft Collection

2011-03-28T14:19:00.000+01:00

Derwent have been really busy coming up with new and exciting products this year!
Recently they released a wonderful new product using their best selling Coloursoft Pencils. They have called it the Coloursoft Collection, which includes all the tools you'd need to create a perfect drawing!
I was fortunate enough to be commissioned to do a set of three pencil images based on my glass drawings, which I love to do, for the tin lid. Of course I jumped at the chance!

This is the finished lid, and doesn't it look smart?! And inside are these goodies....

What more could you ask for?! Putty rubber, sandpaper, eraser, blender, paper blender, burnisher and a pencil sharpener and 28 pencils. Fantastic for using out and about.....which I have done!

Here is a more detailed set of drawings which were commissioned.....

And this drawing is being used in the leaflet inside......I call it Red Glass.

So a HUGE thank you to Derwent for giving me this wonderful commission! I highly recommend trying out Coloursoft's, they are vibrant, creamy and really blendable. Really, really lovely to work with.
Go get buying!!!

Spring at last!

2011-03-12T20:38:00.000Z

Ahhhhhhhhh! It's so nice to finally see Spring poking it's little head out of the soil. The sun has some heat in it now, and the days are getting longer. I love this time of year. The promise of warm days and summer evenings.
Work is still busy, but with my parents away on a cruise (lucky them!) I am 1 work day down for the next 2 weeks. (they normally have Annabel on Tuesdays) This has set me back a bit...my list of artwork to do is getting a touch long. But with 1 and a half days, I can still get a fair amount done.
I have done a little Spring watercolour tribute for my agent and tile publisher, it made me smile throughout painting it. It's only 18cm square and was taken from my own vase of tulips. This was commissioned by Fiesta Collectables while I was visiting the Spring Fair.

This will be reproduced as ceramic tiles. I can't wait to see it! There are another 4 designs coming along too with a gardening theme.
I have now purchased a Bamboo Fun Graphics tablet to add to my art materials pile! I was considering getting an i Pad, but the Graphics tablet was ALOT less expensive, with more programmes to work with. A graphics tablet has a pen, which you can use as a pencil, brush or pastel depending of what you are trying to achieve. It's great for doodling an idea or doing a complete work of art. This is one doodle....

Inspired by David Hockney's digital drawings he produces every day, using his i Pad. I am completely hooked on my Bamboo Tablet!

Another project I've been working on is a graphic drawing for the NACC. National Association for Crohns and Colitis. I am a member and wanted to give something to them as a thank you for being a supportive group. They asked for an interpretation of having IBD in the workplace. The idea of isolation and secretiveness. Irritable Bowel Disease is a tricky subject to talk about to people who don't know about it. It affects your whole being, but no-one can see the effects on the outside. This is my interpretation shown in their mock up leaflet, which will be distributed at various conferences.

Isolation. Graphite.

Contemporary Iris 30cm x 60cm Collage and Acrylic.

I have also still been doing my demonstrations at art societies. The last few have requested my floral paintings. These paintings need to be completed in two hours! Thank goodness I brought my hairdryer to dry the background! Otherwise, tissue and PVA glue does take a while to dry.....

Red Tulip on collage background. 50cm x 50cm Acrylic

Spring is Coming!

2011-02-18T15:25:00.000Z

Isn't is lovely to see the snowdrops popping out the ground and tiny buds appearing on the trees? Spring is my favourite time of year, a sign of the nicer weather to come...(here's hoping anyway!)
The Spring Fair up at the NEC Birmingham is one of the first big events for me to visit. It is a huge exhibition of this years trends in greeting cards, paintings, homeware and gifts. I have been going for a few years now, and enjoy it immensely. I have a few agents and publishers who exhibit up there, and it gives me the chance to have a sit down with them and discuss new projects and ideas. I see IBD Licensing and also Fiesta Collectables, as well as any potential publishers who might be interested in my work. I am always armed with a couple of photo books and my memory stick!
It was great to see some of my newer tiles on display at the fair, and overheard some lovely comments about them.

I now have quite a few new commissions to work on from the result of the trip. One being a set of 4 gardening tiles.
The only bad thing that happened that day was the 2 hours it took me to get out of the car park, thanks to two accidents on both main roads leading out of the NEC!

Another exciting event for me is the launch of my work on the front of the tins of the new Derwent Coloursoft Collection. I was commissioned to do 3 drawings of glass, showing the versatility of the pencils. I absolutely love Coloursoft pencils, they are so creamy and the colours so vibrant. I rarely use any other coloured pencil.
These are the drawings they used.

I am still doing my demonstrations at art societies, which I absolutely love. I have got two floral collage demos to do in the next two weeks, so will post the finished articles when done!
This is the last Fractured Pastel drawing I completed on the 16th February at Thameside Art Society. They named it for me- 'Moonlight Tipple'. 50cm x 40cm on Colourfix paper.

Newland House exhibition

2011-01-13T16:36:00.000Z

The Newland House exhibition in Twickenham has been brought forward! The organiser had an artist cancel on him, and he rang me up in a frenzy asking if I could bring my coloured pencil show forward a month! Therefore it is now on and runs until the end of January. Thankfully I was prepared enough to be able to get everything finished and framed within 3 days notice!
So far it has gone fantastically well. I have sold 5 drawings and had 4 commissions on top of that, which is keeping me extremely busy especially as coloured pencil work takes a long time to complete. I hope it carries on as well as it has been.

I have also been fortunate enough to have a few customers buy most of my Fractured work. My studio is looking very empty! I have also been asked to do a few commissions too on top of the sales.

I have been beginning some new work now, hoping to get more stock in. Here is the first of a new 'batch'

It is called 'Two at Sea'. Acrylic on chunky canvas. 70cm x 50cm. It is priced at £500.

The next one I have yet to decide upon a theme! Maybe fish. However, I need to begin work on drawings for the UKCPS 10th Anniversary Exhibition. Which is going to be held at the prestigious Westminster Gallery, opposite the cathedral and Houses of Parliament. I intend to do a series of London buildings in my Fractured style, starting with the Millennium Wheel. It's going to be quite large scale and offset/abstract. I can't wait to get started!
Happy New Year to everybody!

The run up to Christmas!

2010-12-21T14:52:00.000Z

I love this time of year! It's a real mix of rushing around, excitement (especially from my 3 year old) and exhaustion!
I have been busy planning for a solo exhibition, which starts next month at Newlands House School, Twickenham. They have recently built a proper gallery onto the school, and they have invited me to do a one man show, starting on the 31st January for a whole month! One of the requests I have had for this, is the sale of small 'pocket money' sized artwork. I am using coloured pencil for these, and have created a few images which the children visiting may like to purchase.

These drawings are all 6 x 4 postcard sized. I also have a larger selection of drawings for the parents to purchase, should they wish of course!!

I have also been fortunate enough to be selected to have about 6 paintings displayed at UHNS Maternity Hospital. These are printed onto perspex, which enables thorough cleaning which is of course highly important in hospitals. The Art Bay Gallery, who represents my work, made this possible.
These are the paintings in situ.

I have various other projects on the go, and am looking forward to a break at Christmas!
On this note, please let me wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Demonstration days

2010-11-03T19:12:00.000Z

Trying to fit in art and parenthood is always a challenge for me. I dearly love being a mum, but I do hanker for art filled days of bliss too! I am fortunate that Annabel, my daughter, goes to various places to play for 2 and a half days a week, which makes perfect time for me to endulge and develop my artwork.
I have now added another string to my bow. I signed up with Art Profile, who books artists to demonstrate at various Art Societies. So far I have booking up until 2012!
These last couple of months I have been busy demonstrating at Art Societies. One a week to be exact. I am lucky to have these booked in the evenings, which lets me leave husband holding the baby! Most of the demonstrations I do request my Fractured style of painting. It fascinates people before I show up with that title, as they've never heard of it before! Luckily, all of the demo's so far have gone incredibly well, and the members are all very welcoming and enthusiastic. I take along my hand made cards as well, which always adds a bit of revenue. The last one was last night, in Midhurst, near Petworth. They have invited me back to hold a workshop, which involves working as a class, helping members to create their own piece of Fractured artwork.
The first ever demonstration I did, I was really thrown in at the deep end, as they videoed me! Nerve wrecking? Yes, a touch. But this time I was demoing my floral collage style, something I have been doing for quite a few years, so felt quite confident. They all walked away inspired! Brilliant!
I have also been photographed for a local newspaper, the article will hopefully be published fairly soon.
Here is the photo they took of me in the swing of demoing my Fractured style using Derwent chalk pastels!

Trying to talk and paint at the same time is a bit of a challenge, however, add a bit of humour and it certainly makes things more fun!

Here is the finished piece! And have hopefully enlightened the crowd to my Fractured technique!

Ceramic tiles and demonstrations

2010-10-14T16:02:00.000+01:00

This month is a busy one. I have recently joined Art Profile, which is a demonstration agency which organises and books artists for demonstrations to art clubs and societies.
Being an artist can be a solitary career, so being able to do demo's to other like minded people is wonderful, a little nervewracking, but good fun! I did my 3rd one on Tuesday at Oxshott Art and Craft Society and showed them how to create a Fractured drawing. I explained how I developed my technique, the inspiration and then completed a piece in 2 hours! The last 10 minutes was a rush (cue Benny Hill music) but got it completed. Thankfully the members all thoroughly enjoyed it and went away inspired.

The drawing was completed on black Colourfix paper using Derwent chalk pastels.

I also work closely with Fiesta Collectables, which I have previously mentioned. These last few months I have been painting a set of 4 herb tiles. They have proved to be best sellers!

I have added a link to where you can purchase these tiles.
There are a few others, including Poppies, Sunflowers, a Camper Van and a Cockerel!

Sydney Opera House, Battle and Mall Galleries!

2010-08-31T11:52:00.000+01:00

Having just got back from a well earned holiday to Bradford on Avon with my family, I am now cracking on with new work, exhibitions and entries.
I submitted 6 paintings to this years Battle Contemporary Fine Art Fair, where they have a jury of distinguished judges, including CAV.OMRI Romeo Di Girolamo PPRBA Hon.RBSA Hon.BAS Hon.BAF, the outgoing President of the Royal Society of British Artists. to choose which paintings get in.
'Showcasing the very best artists from London & the South East'
I am happy to say that I have been chosen to exhibit in the fair, which I am extremely proud. There will be an awards ceremony on the 17th of September and the show begins the day after until the 26th. One of the paintings chosen was the Chantilly Clematis, which I did a work in progress on this blog. Others include a Sunflower, Proteus, Fractured Tulips, Village Harbour and Under the Sea.

I am also exhibiting in The Art Bay Galleries show-
21st Century Sisters

Saturday 11th – Saturday 25th September 2010

Open Wednesday - Sunday 10am - 5pm

Monday and Tuesday strictly by appointment only.

An ecletic mix of original paintings, fine art prints, ceramics and glassware showcasing the varied talents of female artists from North Staffordshire and beyond!

http://www.creativestoke.co.uk

I have Fractured paintings in the show as well as coloured pencil drawings. It is being held at The Art Bay in Stoke on Trent

I am also intending to submit into the ING Discerning Eye Exhibition http://www.discerningeye.org/ which shows at the prestigious Mall Galleries in London. I am taking my Fractured Cherries and Pears drawings in on Friday for judging. Wish me luck!!

Keeping busy for sure!

I have just completed this new drawing of Sydney Opera House. It was done in Derwent Artist Pencils on mountboard. 19cm x 14cm

And on one last note- I have been introduced by a fellow artist to a website called Paint My Photo, where photographers and artists meet. The photographers allow artists legally to use their photos for artwork. The standard and choice of images is truly staggering, and I have a list of photos which have inpsired me to use! Today I am beginning a rose floral painting done in acrylics and collage. Take a look at the site!

http://paintmyphoto.ning.com/

Be back soon! Thanks for looking and please feel free to comment....

New 'Fractured' work and also something a bit different!

2010-08-11T20:00:00.000+01:00

I have been 'drawn' (pardon the pun) back to my coloured pencils of late, mainly due to the ease of taking up and putting down-ness! I wanted to return to realism and copying...not usually my cup of tea, but felt like I needed to practice my drawing skills again.
After my visit to Wisley, I decided I'd like to do some botanical drawings. Tulips this time. My reference was from my own photos of the flower head and gardening books for the bulb, I did these drawings in Derwent Artists Pencils and are A4.

I thoroughly enjoyed drawing in this style, making sure I was really concentrating on the detail.

My next foray into coloured pencil again was drawing some new Fractured pieces. These are intending to enter the ING Discerning Art Competition at the Mall Galleries. I hope to make it up to London to deliver them! They are both 5 x 7 drawings, framed in 10 x 8 black frames. I wish these competitions would be on line though, it would make life alot easier.

They are drawn in Derwent Coloursoft Pencils.

Chantilly Clematis work in progress

2010-07-06T17:43:00.001+01:00

I have completed a new floral painting after a visit to RHS Wisley in Surrey. The light was just right after a morning of gentle rain and managed to get quite a few good photos of flowers. One that really caught my eye was the Chantilly Clematis. Absolutley beautiful.
Here is my painting as it progressed.

The final painting. 'Chantilly Clematis' Acrylic on chunky canvas. 76cm x 51cm

By Tiffany Budd.

Open Studio Success

2010-06-21T16:08:00.000+01:00

The two weeks are now over. And what a couple of weeks! The first couple of days, the weather wasn't on our side...but that didn't deter us! We greeted our visitors with complimentary tea, coffee and biscuits and a seat in the sun (when it was out!).
We had, in the end, a high footfall of visitors. And despite bad finiancial times, buyers were, well, buying! I sold quite a few of my Fractured pieces and also a floral commission, which I have managed to complete on the second week. Greeting cards sold very well too as well as a new addition to my portfolio, lino prints.

I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and am completely exhausted!

Surrey Open Studios

2010-06-01T19:10:00.000+01:00

On the 10th of June for 2 weeks I will be taking part in the 10th Anniversary of Surrey Open Studios. This gives the general public a chance to view artists at work in their own studios and purchase art direct from them.
I am sharing the studio with 4 other artists, Verity Darby, Hannah Gibson, Laura Bond and Peter Darby.
The address is 5 Torland Drive, Oxshott, Surrey KT22 0SA. There will be refreshments and a good variety of work being shown and created. Glassware, pyrography, sculpture, greeting cards, lino prints and paintings. Alot to see and a great day out!

Open dates and times are as follows:- Thursday 10th June 11am- 5pm and evening 6-8.30pm. Friday 11th to Sunday 13th 11am- 5pm, and the same times again from 17th-20th June.
I hope you can make it!

Oxshott Art and Craft Society Exhibition

2010-04-26T14:18:00.000+01:00

The Oxshott exhibition was a great success for all who took part, takings were up and footfall was also up, depsite the wonderful weather keeping everyone outside!!

I had 8 paintings in the show, and was very chuffed to recieve an award for 'Best Depiction of Oxshott Woods'. The painting was completed in chalk pastel and is 21 x 25 inches.
I also did a demonstration on the Saturday of my Fractured work. Creating a sunflower painting, again in chalk pastel on a sanded paper, which holds the pastel really nicely.

I had alot of lovely comments and enjoyed it immensley.

Oxshott Art and Crafts Exhibition

2010-03-15T15:04:00.001Z

My first exhibition of 2010 artwork is coming up this April (Thursday 15th to Sunday 18th April). I have become a member of the Oxshott Arts and Craft Society, seeing as I grew up in Oxshott and as a member of the Venture Scouts used to sleep over in the hall guarding the exhibits!
I will be showing some new owrk, one of which is nearly finished. I will post it soon. It is a pastel painting of Oxshott Woods, which is currently a going concern amongst residence as the woods is being cut down at an alarming rate. I have created this as a 'homage' to the woods. If which I spent many a weekend playing in.
Other exhibits include Falling leaves, Ashness Bridge and In Flight, which have been featured on here.
I will also be demonstrating my Fractured work on Saturday afternoon (17th April) between 12pm-3pm. It will most probably be a still life, so viewers can see the development as I draw.
I am really looking forward to it, and will hopefully be of help as I will soon be doing Demo's at various Art Societies in the evenings. GULP!

Derwent Competition- 2nd Place

2010-02-12T07:45:00.002Z

I entered another Derwent Competition last month to recreate Ashness Bridge in Derwent, for the new Artists Pencils tin.

As I have just had another one of my drawings (St Pauls) put on the packaging for Pastel Blocks, I wasn't particularly confident getting anywhere.

However, I am pleased to announce that I got second place and as my prize, a box of 72 Artists pencils. I can't wait to use them!

The winner, Malcolm Cudmore's image was truly beautiful, and was my outright favourite of the entries. Well Done Malcolm!

When I draw a traditional scene, I do like to add a modern twist to it.

Hope you all like it! The original is now for sale for £200, and it is framed.

Spring Fair

2010-02-10T18:53:00.003Z

This week has been good, albeit with a horrid cold and cough..... they always drag on a bit longer as you get older, don't you find?!

On Tuesday I popped up to the Spring Fair at the NEC, Birmingham, to see my agents and a publisher. The Spring Fair is a huge yearly show which showcases new art releases, cards and homewares. It is thoroughly inspirational.

I came back with a list of work to do for my tile agent, Fiesta Collectables. I saw a new development of coasters with my paintings on. I think this'll be really exciting. They reproduce the work directly onto plastic, which I think is called decron. Once I have a couple, for my portfolio, I will post some photos on here.

I also saw my licencing agent Image By Design. We discussed some ideas, and my fingers are now itching to get going!

As a member of the Fine Art trade Guild, I attended a seminar at the fair hosted by Colin Ruffell, a well established and successful artist. He discussed the artist's role in the art industry. Which in conclusion, established that we are very important! Without us, there would be no publishers, galleries, greeting cards, and of course, paintings! I felt a warm glow.....!

I have also produced a new acrylic painting- 'In Flight'. It is 50cm x 50cm on a chunky canvas.

All this, and four exhibitions to sort out, a gorgeous little girl to raise and a house to run. And you know what? I wouldn't want it any other way!!

Exhibition Dates

2010-01-29T13:02:00.006Z

Here are the dates for my exhibitions this year:-

Oxshott Art and Craft Society- 15th- 18th April 2010.

http://www.oxshottartandcrafts.co.uk/#/exhibitions/4534865684

Surrey Open Studios- 5 Torland Drive, Oxshott, Surrey

Opening times- June 10th-13th, June 17th-20th- 11am until 5pm

plus Thursday evenings (10th and 17th) 6-8.30pm.

Tiffany Budd, Laura Bond and Verity Darby- Harvey Gallery, Guildford, Surrey.

27th September- 9th October 2010.

http://www.harveygallery.co.uk/

Oxshott Art and Craft Society at Denbies Wine estate, Dorking, Surrey

29th November- 5th December 2010

http://www.denbiesvineyard.co.uk/

It's now time to begin to create new works of art for these shows!

Here are a couple already completed.

The clock is a new arrival at Oxshott Village Centre. It is completed in Derwent Coloursoft Pencil.

The one of the right is called 'Falling Leaves' and is painted in acrylic.

New Floral

2009-12-02T21:24:00.005Z

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!!

2009-11-16T11:32:00.004Z

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

2009-11-02T11:00:00.003Z

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!

2009-10-14T13:23:00.005+01:00

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

2009-09-15T11:30:00.003+01:00

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

2009-08-17T13:19:00.003+01:00

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!

2009-08-10T18:52:00.005+01:00

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

2009-06-26T12:17:00.002+01:00

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......

2009-06-24T11:35:00.002+01:00

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

2009-06-16T20:21:00.002+01:00

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!

2009-06-14T09:51:00.003+01:00

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....

2009-06-10T20:16:00.003+01:00

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

2009-06-10T12:41:00.002+01:00

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!!!!