Beecroft Museum

How exciting to be part of the Activate exhibition at the Beecroft. I love having the opportunity to share my work with the world. These paintings really express my joy at being in France this summer. I can feel the vibrancy and warmth when I look at them.
I would not have been able to have take part in the exhibition without the support of Cherry and Tom who very kindly delivered my work to the Museum and the required day. Look at Cherry looking very proud of her lovely work.

Tooing and froing

Well here i am back again. I seem to have been fliting back and forward between France and England rather too much. I seem to get the energy and inspiration to start new paintings but usually abandon them nearly finished in one country or the other. The exciting thing is finding them on my return and just adding the last little touch and they are ready for signing.
I feel rather sad that I missed most of the events related to the Chelmsford Art Trail but I am glad that I took part. It seems as if there has been lots of really creative events going on. I am very excited that I will be back in time to attend the Beecroft winter exhibition preview evening. And delighted to see my picture there in the centre of the poster. It has inspired me to bring this painting back to England when we return.
The high spot of today is that I have been accepted as an associate artist at Cuckoo farm Studios.
I have been busy packing my paintings today. As you might have guessed by now I am really missing being in England with my family, friends and fellow artists.

Magic light

It is so great to be back here enjoying the wonderful Mediterranean climate. Even on a dull day the sun manages to shine through. Although the sky is brilliant blue if seems like yellow to me.
I have been busy working on some new paintings, and finishing up some existing ones; altogether very productive and satisfying. With each new work I think less and feel more. The colours just seem to evolve in an organic sort of way. Painting in an Abstract style seems to suit me sometimes my thoughts are not readily apparent when you look at the finished work, sometimes resemblances to reality appear without a conscious effort on my part.
I am so in love with oil paints at the moment that the acrylics have been put away. I am still always an easel short of a studio as the work in progress pile seems to be getting larger all the time.
I have just launched my new website which is complete except for the French translation which will follow soon.

time out to enjoy other peoples art.

I am just back home after spending a wonderful weekend staying with my dear friend Ros in her guesthouse, Broseley House, Shropshire. The interior design is all Ros's own work and has to be seen to be believed; no wonder she has four gold stars in the AA best places to stay guide. We enjoyed morning coffeee with local artists Janet and Mike Brown. We were invited to view their collection of local paintings as well as their own work: a very interesting range of styles from life to abstract. We then met with another Broseley artist, Maggie Humphry's who has published a book of her locally inspired paintings. Later we had dinner with Keith who is a photographer with a very artistic eye. The next day we decided to go and visit a local potter, Elspeth in her studio then finally to round the whole weekend off we went to Much Wenlock to view the exhibition of Peter Blake prints at the Twenty Twenty gallery. Altogether a really interesting weekend where we were fortunate to meet these interesting characters. Back to my painting tomorrow with renewed energy and lots of new ideas.

sunflowers come home

Well we are back here at last. Spent most of the journey home thinking about my next painting. can't wait to get some available time. Meanwhile the sunflowers are sitting in the kitchen in their packing. I can't bring myself to unpack it yet, just in case it looks all wrong here.

a perfect day

Difused sunlight through the skylight. Jonathan developing in his dark room to the sound of english songs playing on french radio. I am thinking of all the knowledge that Gary shared with me during my painting lessons. We went to Bezier and bought a tube of his secret colour which I am putting to good use as I push and pull the paint around the canvas, large paint brush in one hand, turpsy cloth in the other.
Found the time to get my paperwork together and have applied for the christmas exhibition.

Tending my picture garden

Each morning I go down to the studio to work on my paintings. Some need a little bit more light, some a bit more shade. The placement of colour within the frame needs to be considered with care. Balance and form must be continually reviewed. Sometimes I find a really delightful patch when viewed in isolation but it is growing in completely the wrong place and needs to be ruthlessly removed. Time and patience are sometimes all that is needed. Sometimes is all seems a bit disjointed and I wonder if all is lost. They suddenly that ilusive moment arrives when it turns from a project into a work of art. Nothing left to do but sign it, sit back and enjoy.