This one is for me, place to muse, share ideas and interesting images.
Having trouble getting going with fresh work but have managed to finish this today. It started life as a quick demonstration on the theme of ‘Storm’ for my little art class. As its on a good sheet of heavy acrylic paper primed with gesso I felt I had to at least finish it off. Managed to do it without getting too fussy which pleases me. Below is the quick pencil sketch the painting was taken from. I like working from sketches if I can.
I haven’t posted here for ages. I finished the Marathon that was ” The Mavis Diary” book illustrations, then Christmas and New year – the result I haven’t touched a paintbrush for months. I always find starting from a cold dead stop really hard. I think I need to do some serious messing and sloshing paint around not worrying too much about the result until I get creatively warmed up again. In the meantime I have some paintings of Hotham Park where I am Artist in Residence in a mixed exhibition at The Oxmarket Centre of Arts in Chichester until Feb. 12 2017.
After all my angst about getting my exhibition up in th cafe with curved beams it all went so smoothly I can hardly believe it. Knights in shining armour in the shape of the cafe proprietor and one of his staff put all the pictures up in record time . All I had to do was stand there giving directions. Amazingly all the pictures found a place and I had half an hour to spare to have a cup of coffee and take pictures for the record. The Mayor of Bognor Regis and Chairman of Arun District Council arrived at the alloted time followed by other invited guests. The catering was scrumptious and wine was served as people entered as well as coffee for those who wanted it. I have to say this was the nicest experience of putting on a show I have ever had, in contrast to those times I have greeted my guests whilst still trying to get myself looking as if I have not spent the entire day running at full tilt through a hedge, dragging on a prepared change of clothes at breakneck speed at the last minute. Thanks to all who made this such a delightful experience for me.
At the start of the year in a fit of resolutionitis I decided to do some sort of artwork every day for 2016. I have done this before and found it rather productive acting as a seed bed for more sustained works. I’ve been posting this on my Facebook page, putting up whatever I have managed to do each day. The crunch comes when at 11pm I realise I have not done anything for the day. This has resulted in me venturing into the digital wilderness. I have nothing against digital art, just mine, which is very basic. By chance, and most of what I do digitally is by chance, I discovered Mandala and kaleidoscope tools in the effects kit of my editing programme. So late at night in desperation I have used this on some of my paintings to fulfil my resolve to do something each day. The results are rather beautiful.
Well, the 2016 Chichester Art Trial is over. I had 56 visitors and sold 6 paintings and some small mounted works and cards. I am now shattered from packing my paintings back up again and storing them in my studio. Now I can think about new projects. I wonder where my lovely paints, pigments and pastels will take me next. I have a few ideas.
Artists need to stay fresh and this requires taking risks, leaving the familiar and the willingness to make one dickens of a mess.
It was a very quiet day one here with only 9 visitors, but the first one did buy a small painting. After the rush of getting ready the slower pace had its benefits. Its now day 2 and the cold wind of yesterday has gone, the sun is shining and I am looking forward to some old friends coming to look round.
Spent yesterday cleaning the house and tidying my studio ready for the Chichester Art Trail which starts tomorrow. Its wonderful how the thought of dozens (hopefully) of people traipsing through the house focuses ones mind on spring cleaning. Spring may not have sprung yet but at least it has been thoroughly cleaned!
One week to go to the Chichester Art trail, and I have so much to do: making my studio respectable enough for people to get into without falling over something, tidying away all our personal stuff and turning the house into a temporary art gallery, getting posters and trail guides outside, mounting prints and last, but not least, cleaning my house which has been a sort of art widow, while I’ve stayed painting in my Studio. My Venue number is 63.
I have a blog already as artist in residence for Hotham Park but this one is for me, a place to muse about my work and that of other artists, to share ideas and interesting visuals.
ateliernewsdotcom 