Monday 29 March 2010

Arty business


Well as it seems that there is more to being an artist that spending all waking hours in the studio painting.I have been looking through my sketch books and found some quite delightfull sketches,(sometimes they seem must more interesting than the finished painting). I think it is the freshness that appeals so much.
Just approved the proofs for my business cards. Also finally made the effort and have instructed a web designer to build me a website. Very exciting.
Also found time for some life drawing which is really a good wasy to keep the drawing skills well honed.

Tuesday 9 March 2010

the business of art

No pictures today. Much too busy working on the business side of things. Very productive lunch meeting with Cherry Ann. I am so impressed with her wonderful original ideas. Can't wait to see our work in galleries.

Monday 8 March 2010

inspirational friends.


What a wonderful week i have had. My good friend Ros managed to get away from her amazing guest house in Broseley and come to stay with me. She is so full of creative ideas which she channels into the guest house. We had lots of chats about colours and the affect that they have on mood. I can hardly wait to go to Broseley house to see the results.
My next inspiration came from our visit to Jonathan's son and daughter in law. They are nesting at the moment and creating a really interesting home. Barnaby has a great eye for shape and form, Anna has a wonderful free way with colour. The result is amazing. Black, pale grey and white furniture. Lilapaws pink,withsmall amounts green, blue, yellow. Wow! The funny thing is there is so much to look at that it takes you a while to take it all in and as a result the room seems much bigger that it is.

Finally we spent the weekend with the grandchildren. Their imagination knows no boundaries.
I can't wait to get all of my ideas onto canvas.
Down to earth with a bump today as I need to work on my Art Course. Two dimenisional perspective, lots of pen and ink drawing, sketching still life. I know this will improve my work in the long term but it feels a bit tedious at the moment.

Wednesday 3 March 2010


Another day in London.Went to the Design Museum, quite a walk from the Milleneum Pier. It was a bit dissappointing; seemed to me a bit like ART pretending to be useful.
I was delighted to read in todays Guardian that the latest 'must have' is a trilby hat. My Mephis impulse buy seems to put me ahead of the game. Excuse the pun.



My application form for the RA summer exhibition arrived today. Looking forward to the experience of submitting a piece of my work. Don't even mind the prospect of the Walk of Shame.

Monday 1 March 2010

New Orleans has really fuelled my creative ideas. My latest picture explored the relationship between the Mardi Gras parade and the Crowd. As first there seems to be so much energy, colour and noise in the parade compared to the quiet onlookers. But without the crowd the parade would be without meaning. It seems to me that the the seemingly dominant part is really a victim at the hands of the passive element. My latest painting invites the viewer to pay attention to the crowd rather that the razamataz of the parade.

will they like it?

Today I submitted my application for entry in the Chelmsford Art Trail 2010. This is my first attempt at exhibiting work. A bit naively I didn't mention being a member of Activate; oops!
This chore over with I got on a train and went to London carrying my lunch in a RA Van Gogh plastic bag. This proved to be quite a conversation piece. Very interesting conversation with a woman on the Metropolitan line about Van Gogh, Arles, Nimes and Art. Another conversation on the journey home with a business man who had also been to the RA to see the Van Gogh exhibition.
Got home to find my roll of canvas had been delivered. Altogether a very Artfull day.