There is nothing like a bit of abstract expressionism to get the brain in gear and despite the reference painting being deliberately painterly the group confessed that they found it tricky!
I decided that this was because the reference painting was something that I had produced from the heart. I walk those woods every day and see the way that light plays on the gnarled bark of the tree trunks, the shadows that play on the leaf littered floor and the kaleidoscope of light twinkling through the canopy of branches and leaves. I know those trees, the stumps, the badger sets, the cheeky squirrel that sits on a log teasing the dog. My painting was how I feel as I take my daily constitutional. I see those colours. It uplifts me and inspires me. So faced with something called Expressional Landscapes that was painted by someone else was, I concluded, already going to be a challenge. 
My group consists of beginner painters. Those that either enjoyed art at school and want to revisit the feeling of achievement that it brought, and those that were persuaded that they were no good at it. I LOVE these people! I was brought up to believe there is no such this as CAN'T! Only CAN'T BE BOTHERED! So with that firmly in my mind I take my 'students' (a term I use loosely as I don't consider myself a teacher and I am certainly not qualified, being self taught) and break each stage of the painting down step by step. Some take each step literally and some inject a bit of themselves into each stage.
Some have minor tremors at key stages, some just carry on regardless, but each and every one of them has a good time. They are absorbed in their own creation and leave with a sense of achievement. I am so proud of them all and know only too well the benefits of taking time to zone out of every day stresses to concentrate on one thing for a short period of time. My workshops last for two hours. That is long enough to make new friends, relax in a positive atmosphere and try new things in a safe environment. We all support each other and the critique at the end of the session is positive and affirming. Vincent Van Goghs we may not be, but my God we have fun trying!
If you are interested in coming and having a go you can sign up to my newsletter.
I will announce new workshops after Easter as I am taking a short break after my Pet Painting Workshop to run the Association of Animal Artists Exhibition in Frodsham.
Workshops are limited to 8 people to ensure that everyone gets individual attention.

2017. A busy and interesting year where I made lots of new friends and learnt so much more....but still not enough! I encouraged and mentored friends struggling with art projects, organised exhibitions and events for the Association of Animal Artists with the help of some lovely volunteers, and ran my first two workshops. I painted some pleasing paintings and some downright dreadful ones! (They ended up covered in black paint in a ceremonial nod to the Fast Shows Johnny Nice!) (We crawl on our knees towards our doom!) 
So did I tick all the things on my To Do list this year?
No! Of course not - I never do! I haven't saved the planet and all animals from cruelty and neglect for a start!
But I have enjoyed a full 12 months of ups and downs and cramming painting into my busy life as taxi driver to two teenagers and our lovely horse (I'd better mention my husband too - he already feels neglected and left out!) 
I am most pleased to be exhibiting with my two friends Karen Sillar and Jennifer Rainford at The Bear Steps Gallery in Shrewsbury this December. We have painted together for many years and it will be a lovely way to finish the year. With workshops planned next year as Print Pastel and Paint, and my own workshops in the diary 2018 looks to be another year making friends and encouraging those that think they can't to realise they really can! 

If you are one of the "I haven't drawn/painted anything since I was at school" or "All I can draw is matchstick men!" then do think about learning a new skill this year. It really is all about looking and seeing what is really there and not what your brain is telling you is there. There are no assumptions in art, only questions answered with a brush, pen, pencil etc.... and I guarantee you will have a good time!
Just sign up to my newsletter and I will forward the list of workshops for you to consider. I look forward to hearing from you :D
Happy Painting Folks and have a lovely Christmas!
Alison
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I have decided it's high time to formalise my painting tips (based purely on my experience!) to those who care to make use of them. Writing down the method that I use to paint also forces me to improve and simplify my technique - something which I strive for in my work.
I have hopefully made the step by step guide suitable for beginners. I have included links to sites that can help with materials and equipment, though of course there are other alternative suppliers which might be cheaper or better quality.
The Step By Step Guide is linked to the paintings I will be demonstrating in my workshops. These will be publicised on the webiste Home Page and my Facebook page. Please 'like' my Facebook page to be informed of events and offers.
Feel free to download! All I ask is that if you use the Step by Step instructions, please give me some constructive feedback so that I may improve the way that I explain and illustrate the paintings that I will be offering in the future.
I hope that you enjoy using it and would love it if you shared your paintings on my facebook page! 
Good Luck! 

Any professional artist will tell you that the secret of success, along with practice, practice, practice! is to have a business plan. The antithesis of an artistic mind perhaps, but if you are to be financially independant of a supportive partner then aside from practicing your art, you need to be at the very least making enough to purchase materials to make some more!
Every year I make the same promise to myself.
Sell more art! Do more exhibitions! Run some workshops!
So what is stopping me? I mean why on earth would someone take my word for it when there are all those other 'better/more professional/respected/better equipped' artists that can do a better job than me?
All this may sound strange coming from someone who volunteered to be publicly critiqued on prime time TV but whilst plenty of 'doing' your 'thing' can make you feel happy and content, 'doing it' in front of a paying audience - well that's another thing! Isn't it?
I have attended lots of brilliant workshops run by totally amazing artists that I have personally admired and emilated, and they all say the same thing.
"Teaching art is about allowing others to realise their creative self, and by offering a non judgemental environment where experimentation is encouraged, and ideas are allowed to happen."
Coming away from a workshop run by another artist fills a creative well of skills, thoughts, techniques and ideas and in my experience leads to better personal work.

So Autumn is upon us and the nights draw in making any outdoor or natural light drawing difficult if you are an 'after work' artist...to that end I decided to take part in the Inktober Challenge and use my evening to experiment and 'play' which is just what my creative brain needs to wind down after a day at the easel completing commission work.
Inktober was started by artist, Jake Parker and has been a roaring success, using the hashtag #inktober and #inktober2016 to archive work on the internet, using social media to display work from artists all over the world.
It is a great way for people who have maybe picked up their first 'colouring' book to go to the next step and play with this medium.
Either sketching every day objects or the family pet, or have some fun playing with a using the following tools to complete a 'sketch' a day!

• Permanent Marker
• Biro
• Fine Liners (waterproof and non waterproof)
• Winsor & Newton Coloured Ink
• Various sized brushes and mark making tools
• Sea Salt (to add texture to an inky sketch)
• Watercolour paper and sketch book
• Water Spray (a cheap one bought from a garden centre)

See my album of Inktober sketches on Facebook - feel free to add your sketches if you wish :)

As the weather gets warmer it's time for me to get out of the studio (and the mess) and get into the big outdoors!
Suffering from Raynauds makes it impossible for me to paint outdoors when the weather is even slightly chilly, so as soon as the sun appears it's time to pack up the paints and easel and get into the fresh air. Painting outdoors brings it's own set of challenges, not least of all easels that blow over in the wind, supports that fall face down onto the ground when the paints still wet, that colour that matches that sky perfectly that you forgot to pack, and setting everything up in the perfect spot, and then realising you need the loo - like NOW and the nearest one is a mile down that track you just hiked up with all your gear! Despite these challenges there really is nothing like painting in front of the subject while the light, weather (and sometimes the subject itself if like me you paint animals) changes in an instant. You have to put a line in the sand, but also be adaptable, but not to the point of ending up with a painting that doesn't make sense! 
When I entered The Buxton Spa Prize last year (2015) it was my first attempt at painting outdoors since The Big Painting Challenge. Whilst I knew what to take, I wasn't prepared for the weather! Buxton has it's own microclimate and all four seasons were thrown at me in one day! I positioned myself in a field on Harpur Hill, a similar spot to where Haidee-Jo Summers painted the previous year (no pressure then!). It rained (take a brolly), the sun burned me (take sun cream). the wind was bonkers! (take a coat) and it was cold (layers...always wear layers!). My painting of that day reflected (I hope) my experience. 

In 2015 I got to paint outdoors as much as time would allow, and I made some fabulous friends whilst doing so. 'A Brush with The Broads' took me to the Norfolk Coast (see me painting on Great Yarmouth Beach above) to paint with Anne Blankson-Hemens, Anthea Lay (both from The Big Painting Challenge) and Haidee-Jo amongst others!
I was also lucky enough to go on holiday to the mediteranean and filled a little sketchbook with pen and wash, and watercolour sketches. Whilst none of them were what I consider amazing, each and every little sketch envokes happy memories, aromas, sounds and colours and is a fantastic catalyst for a successful studio painting.
If you've never tried painting outdoors, I urge you to grab a folding stool, a sketchbook and pencils, markers or paints, a flask of tea or coffee and just sit and look, listen and breath. Food for the soul...there really is nothing like it!

It was with the weather forecast ringing in my ears for the Bank Holiday weekend that I packed the car up and went to set up my stall at ArtFest part of the Chester Food, Drink and Lifestyle Festival taking part on Chester Racecourse over Easter. Please please just be nice!
Ha! It was foul!!!
Torrential rain, gale force winds, the odd patch of sun and more than slightly chilly. As my stall was just inside the door to the marquee, thermals were a must as were a set of handwarmers and a succession of Baileys Coffees which were kindly handed out by some lovely passing promo girls!  
I was one of 40 AMAZING artists from Grosvenor Art Society, which I joined at the end of 2015, as suggested by the Chairman, David Finney, a very talented wildlife artist that is a fellow member of the Association of Animal Artists. I am so glad I did! What a lovely bunch of people! I sat opposite Dianne from Akesmere Farm, who breeds Alpacas and then spins the wool and makes the most beautiful products - bags, hats, teddy bears, and even weaves to make fabric which she then makes into stunning coats, bags and throws. I had my beady eye on a beautiful fur trimmed coat, but she sold it to a lovely customer! Then there was David himself, who kept me entertained and managed my Raynauds by pinching someone elses hand warmers for me to carry on demonstrating on my stand. Reynauds is such a rubbish thing to suffer from...I only have to get the milk from the fridge and my hands go dead which is useless if you are trying to paint plein air! 
I found some new artist friends who I much admire - Jane Percival Stewart, Bob Hill, Susan Farrington, Wendy Proctor, Graham Finch from Baileys Arts, Sue Arthur, Stylianos Philippakos (very brave man that took the full brunt of the draught coming through the door!), Anita Tait, David Wilson, David Finney, Vince Heaney, Helen Davies with her lovely hand made greetings cards, Dennis Davies, Jon Young (aka The Bums and Boobs Man), and finally Just Georgie with her lovely hand crafted gifts.
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With age comes an understanding of what makes you tick! I have always been one to jump at a new experience, opportunity or situation. Sometimes, it's true to say it has come back to bite me! But more often than not it has enriched my life. (#thebigpaintingchallenge) I am always frustrated when I don't get to paint or sketch in the day due to work or family commitments - life does have a habit of getting in the way! But in order to be good at anything sacrifices have to be made.
As I will never be an athlete training every day in order to win competitions, I can still try to be the best I can be.
I am only into Day 27 of this years challenge - to paint a horse every day for a year, and I admit it! I'm flagging! I have found myself sitting down to paint at 10pm and not finishing until the small hours in some cases - which is fine when you are in the flow, but the next morning is not a pretty site! So I am rethinking my strategy to keep momentum and energy up! This is why I have decided to be happy with a work in progress to count as one day of my challenge - that way I won't feel compelled to rush, and can take on more painting exercises as opposed to having to scribble a quick pencil sketch just to complete a day. Quality NOT quantity - and as the whole idea is to be able to understand the horse better, then I think this is still a valid way to complete the task. So keep posted on my progress - check out my facebook page and keep on posting your horsey photos for me to use as reference! :)