Its been a busy time these last few months hence the lack of Blog! Though I expect what I should have been doing was blogging about what was keeping me busy and therefore creating interest in what I was doing!
Anyway unless someone clones me anytime soon this is all I could manage...so this will be a 'reflective' blog as opposed to 'generating excitement and interest' blog - although if I can do that too then marvellous!
Blog - weird word
Anyway, remind me NEVER to try and organise, and take part in two exhibitions at the same time! We are just coming to the end of our Print Pastel and Paint (PPP) stint at the Bear Steps Gallery in Shrewsbury which we (Karen Sillar, Printmaker extraordinaire) and I, have really enjoyed.
It is a venue where you have to steward and as it is open every day it has meant that poor old Karen (who is nearer,) has ended up being the face of 'PPP' for two weeks solid! Don't get me wrong - I have done my bit, but it's a fair old way for me to travel so I got a 'get out early' ticket and have done the odd day.
I am making an appearance for the last two days though, having organised the troops at home to cope/survive without me!
So if anyone is in Shrewsbury tomorrow (10th, or 11th May) come and say hi!
We will hopefully have the Gallery dog for company too! She's very friendly!
We pack all our UNSOLD (please someone come and help us to reduce the number) paintings into our cars on Saturday at 4pm!!
The old part of Shrewsbury where the Gallery is, is a tricky place to park so we will be working as a team to avoid the parking officer! One at the car looking menacing, one shuttling the paintings from the gallery to the car, and one making sure Dora doesn't escape!
Anyway unless someone clones me anytime soon this is all I could manage...so this will be a 'reflective' blog as opposed to 'generating excitement and interest' blog - although if I can do that too then marvellous!
Blog - weird word
Anyway, remind me NEVER to try and organise, and take part in two exhibitions at the same time! We are just coming to the end of our Print Pastel and Paint (PPP) stint at the Bear Steps Gallery in Shrewsbury which we (Karen Sillar, Printmaker extraordinaire) and I, have really enjoyed.
It is a venue where you have to steward and as it is open every day it has meant that poor old Karen (who is nearer,) has ended up being the face of 'PPP' for two weeks solid! Don't get me wrong - I have done my bit, but it's a fair old way for me to travel so I got a 'get out early' ticket and have done the odd day.
I am making an appearance for the last two days though, having organised the troops at home to cope/survive without me!
So if anyone is in Shrewsbury tomorrow (10th, or 11th May) come and say hi!
We will hopefully have the Gallery dog for company too! She's very friendly!
We pack all our UNSOLD (please someone come and help us to reduce the number) paintings into our cars on Saturday at 4pm!!
The old part of Shrewsbury where the Gallery is, is a tricky place to park so we will be working as a team to avoid the parking officer! One at the car looking menacing, one shuttling the paintings from the gallery to the car, and one making sure Dora doesn't escape!
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In the meantime it is all hands to the pump to make sure that the Exhibition with the Association of Animal Artists at Castle Park Arts Centre in Frodsham ends on a good note.
It is the last day of our six week stint at the gallery and as Chairperson of the AAA I have a lot to organise to make sure everything comes out of the gallery in one piece! Luckily we have a really friendly membership and lots of volunteers to help out.
It has been without doubt the best exhibition of animal art that I have ever been part of. The standard of work this year is awesome and if you haven't been yet you only have two days before it's over!
A lot of our members are professional artists but we boast a real cross section of artists at different levels of their artistic journey and it really does help those just starting out, to be amongst those further along the path to professionalism.
As we attract members from overseas there will be lots of careful and thorough packing of paintings for me to do next week too!
It is the last day of our six week stint at the gallery and as Chairperson of the AAA I have a lot to organise to make sure everything comes out of the gallery in one piece! Luckily we have a really friendly membership and lots of volunteers to help out.
It has been without doubt the best exhibition of animal art that I have ever been part of. The standard of work this year is awesome and if you haven't been yet you only have two days before it's over!
A lot of our members are professional artists but we boast a real cross section of artists at different levels of their artistic journey and it really does help those just starting out, to be amongst those further along the path to professionalism.
As we attract members from overseas there will be lots of careful and thorough packing of paintings for me to do next week too!
 ...and when they were up they were up!... |  ...and when they were down they were down.... |
And that's not all that is going on! No! I thought a couple of workshops through the exhibition would give me something to do!
So a watercolour workshop happened today. And it was great!
We were looking at how to create texture with watercolour using various techniques. Since the Big Painting Challenge I have sort of been on a mission to encourage others to 'have a go' and my attendees today approached the exercises with a great attitude! There really is nothing better than helping other artists to discover new 'stuff' and I hope that today has ignited something that they can take into their work going forward.
So a watercolour workshop happened today. And it was great!
We were looking at how to create texture with watercolour using various techniques. Since the Big Painting Challenge I have sort of been on a mission to encourage others to 'have a go' and my attendees today approached the exercises with a great attitude! There really is nothing better than helping other artists to discover new 'stuff' and I hope that today has ignited something that they can take into their work going forward.
 |  |
We looked at:-
Watercolour paper - which is the most appropriate type - Hot or Cold Pressed, Rough, or handmade?
What is watercolour?
We made textures using all sorts of household objects
Scratching into the paper and watching the pigment sink into the indentations.
How to use masking fluid
What happens with pigments when granulating medium is added
What happens when you add Acrylic Ink
Making random marks using a (paper) straw
How to represent tree bark, foliage, moss using sticks and sponges
The list goes on, but you get the idea!
Our workshops are about discovering possibilities and then taking that knowledge away and applying it to your own work.
It is 'tooling up' so that you can approach your own work with a sense of freedom and without fear.
My next workshop is Pastel Landscapes - which was postponed and is now happening on the 16th May 10am - 1pm at Somerford Hall Farm, Cheshire ....still a couple of places if you are interested!
CONTACT ME TO BOOK OR ENQUIRE
.
If you would like to join one of my workshops please contact me and I can advise you of my Autumn programme.
You can also join my mailing list to receive my monthly newsletter which will have all sorts of inspirational ideas straight into your inbox!
(PS I do not send spam emails - too busy!)
Watercolour paper - which is the most appropriate type - Hot or Cold Pressed, Rough, or handmade?
What is watercolour?
We made textures using all sorts of household objects
Scratching into the paper and watching the pigment sink into the indentations.
How to use masking fluid
What happens with pigments when granulating medium is added
What happens when you add Acrylic Ink
Making random marks using a (paper) straw
How to represent tree bark, foliage, moss using sticks and sponges
The list goes on, but you get the idea!
Our workshops are about discovering possibilities and then taking that knowledge away and applying it to your own work.
It is 'tooling up' so that you can approach your own work with a sense of freedom and without fear.
My next workshop is Pastel Landscapes - which was postponed and is now happening on the 16th May 10am - 1pm at Somerford Hall Farm, Cheshire ....still a couple of places if you are interested!
CONTACT ME TO BOOK OR ENQUIRE
.
If you would like to join one of my workshops please contact me and I can advise you of my Autumn programme.
You can also join my mailing list to receive my monthly newsletter which will have all sorts of inspirational ideas straight into your inbox!
(PS I do not send spam emails - too busy!)
Right....time to book a day off! :) Thanks for reading
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