SerenArts and such

Switch of blog!

2012-01-25T05:52:00.000-08:00

SerenArts and such has moved! Thank you to everyone who has taken time out to read, comment or both on this blog! Your input has been gratefully received and we have happily learned a lot along the way. We have switched over to

serenapugh.wordpress.com

although there is the link on the SerenArts website as well. Hope to see you soon :)))

Tithe Barn, Bradford on Avon

2011-08-13T07:36:00.000-07:00

I had a birthday recently. A horrible one. I don't mean horrible nasty I hasten to add... just one of those forty-plus-not-worthy-of-a-special-number-badge ones, that make you realise you're no spring chicken anymore no matter how juvenile you act. I also had to fill an online form in that asked for my year of birth. Do you know.... it took a whole 12 seconds for the list to scroll down to get to my birth year. Honestly, I aged another year waiting for it to come in to view.

What's this got to do with art, I hear you cry?

Well, my wonderful husband bought me a complete set of new permanent coloured pencils, to celebrate my youth disappearing. There were as many in the huge box as one for every day I have been alive, it seems! As some people may know I use watercolour pencils in the main as you can get precise, applied media, with the added bonus of being to add water and squooshing it all about 'artistically'. These new pencils are permanent and hard wax based. Radically different in as much as when you make a line/mark etc.... it stays there (only turpentine will thin it out and give that painterly feel.) Where they do come into their own , is the depth of colour you can get from them. They literally shine. The wax gives a lustre the watercolours cannot match, and you can use them on wood, photographs etc which should make for some interesting experimentation soon. As it turns out the only thing that has let them down is me! Presented with every shade of vibrant beauty, what did I draw- but a mainly dark interior of monochromes!

It must be my age.....

(pictured is the interior of The Tithe Barn- roof detail)

The Three Gables....

2011-08-01T05:22:00.000-07:00

Hot of the press and very topical at the moment, the latest offering as regards to the series of local watercolours I have been doing. This place has been the nub of many conversations over the years in town, as having prime location but no luck with planning permission etc. As with most buildings in our historic town the beauty of age and character comes at a heavy price- grade two listed being the first and foremost. That on top of being at the bottom of a valley during rainy periods and a woeful economic climate has never really let investors see past the obstacles. All has changed! New people are in and there is now a new place on the trail. I recently showed a painting of the building next to this on the blog ( The Georgian Wine Lodge) so this row in the town is certainly doing it's best to bring in tourists and locals alike. No mean feat, I say.

(To be fair, I may be very favourable to the 3 Gables as they have a new 'chef de plongeur!' we have a vested interest in..... I wonder if his new found skills translate at home?!)

Abbey Mill watercolour

2011-07-06T11:16:00.000-07:00

Another watercolour of a building in Bradford on Avon. I think I am in danger of cultivating a style. That will never do. That is tantamount to being almost respectable in art terms!

Also shown are a brace of commissioned lamps. A lady came in with her wallpaper and asked if I could do something similar to match her decor... well I could and I did! So there is another service on offer at Serenarts ( and if I can get enough wallpaper swatches I can redecorate!)

The Georgian Wine Lodge...

2011-06-08T13:13:00.000-07:00

This one didn't last very long.... it was only up on the gallery wall for a week. It is now winging it's way across the pond to it's new home in America. That's another continent I can cross off!

Pictured is a watercolour and pencil painting of the Georgian Wine Lodge here in the town. It didn't occur to me to paint this because people stay there and would want a keepsake of their holiday... I painted it purely for it's aesthetics. It is a magnificent building nestled between older ones, shouting 'look at me' as you come over the crest of the bridge.... a big gold tooth among smaller crooked ones.....

Bridge jigsaw.....

2011-05-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

Feeling slow and sluggish? Brain not working properly? Fed up with not thinking straight? Irritated at how easily stuff is escaping you? Look no further... help is at hand! Look as clever as Isambard Kingdom Brunel in seconds! Build a bridge in three easy steps and amaze your friends! There arn't even any fiddly interlocking pieces to confuse you. Hurry while stocks last.....

Had a bit of fun with this. I have been experimenting with more unusual ways of showing photographs recently, and here is one of the results. It is a triptych of Bradford on Avon bridge which got a good going over in photoshop, and then the image transferred onto lazertran and applied to canvasses. I like the quirkiness of the different sizes.... even if it is a little emulative of the 'three flying ducks.'

Enjoy..

Be careful what you wish for....

2011-05-15T08:22:00.000-07:00

A while back I was out gallivanting with my camera and stopped at a high, prime spot over the town. I found an unusual view of a higgled-piggled, windy street, but for love or money could not get an angle from where I was stood that didn't include a very stark, white van parked there. I wished it away to no avail, then thought 'well maybe I could erase it in photoshop.'

Once home I had a brief look at it and decided it would take too much faffing about to clone, heal and smooth it away so I left it in in all it's glory, printed it off as a photo and reached for the oil paints instead. I used the photo as reference and made the painting into a diptych... sans van.

To cut a long story short... guess who came into the gallery and bought both the photo and oil painting? ......

Yes, Mr and Mrs White Van!!

When the Saints go marching in........

2011-05-07T14:42:00.000-07:00

to the Championship League! Congratulations to all connected with Southampton Football Club from fans to players, and everything in between.... have a picture of a red and white flower to celebrate with! It's the least I can do.....

Right, onto equally important matters such as new ideas for the gallery, and keeping things fresh and exciting. I enjoy a lot of experimentation as do many other creative, arty farty types and find happy accidents lead to some fantastical results. A prime example being the lamps I do. I recently saw a television program where slivers of semi precious stones were scanned and the results printed on silk. The colours were so vibrant and reminded me of the glass paints I use. So a fun morning was had, scanning the more abstract of the lamps and taking out interesting sections to blow up and print onto canvas. The colours were fantastic on the canvasses- the light from the scanner really picks up the luminosity of the special paints. The upshot means people can now buy a combination of a complementary, contemporary abstract canvas to go with the lamp they like.... all for under the price of a football shirt, a ticket and petrol money to get to St Mary's!

( That's £80 to anyone with math as bad as mine!)

Cascade.....

2011-05-02T07:37:00.000-07:00

Every now and again the sun shines and the wind abates long enough to feel it. Every now and again you revisit places and remember why you return.

It has been at least two months since the camera has come out in anger. My husband and I played hookie from the Gallery, and took a day to walk round Bowood Gardens. We have been to various parts of the grounds several times over the years, from doing shows to just getting some energy off the children as they were growing.... but we have never been just for ourselves to take a leisurely stroll in the warm.

It is beautiful. Soft, undulating, emerald green lawns sweep down to a lake teeming with wildlife. The House itself sits at the top of the small hill watching over proceedings, but the joy is the layout of the trees, plants and rocky, hidden walkways through it all. No matter which time of year you go there will be something to look at and admire. We took the long way round and came across a a quirky walled maze of boulders and miniature caves under a canopy of cooling tree tops, following a small stream. And look what we found........

( this photo taken with a long high aperture setting and a four second delay- soft, bright and delicious!)

Glass Art Lamps.....

2011-04-18T11:14:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post to show a mini selection of lamps I have been working on. I normally paint abstract, floral or geometric panels, but every now and again a 'scene' flows from the end of the pipette. Looking at these I think the post should be called 'from dusk 'til dawn'.....

Big stage whisper Sshhhh!...........

2011-04-09T14:11:00.000-07:00

I am trying not to speak in anything above a whisper and am on tippy toes stealing through my own blog.... hoping that no one will notice that there has been a rather large absence of blogging from this quarter, while i set about rectifying the tardiness. Anyone who knows me will realise the quietness will not last... in fact I can feel a song and dance routine coming on already, with full orchestra backing and at least four score of tap-dancing elephants... well, it is so nice to be back blogging!

Posted are two pictures i have finished working on. I have had a small resurgence on local scenes recently, living as i do in a very picturesque town. I also figured tourist season is nearly here as well, so my subject choice wasn't entirely for aesthetics! The town bridge pictured is in acrylics, a medium I do no use enough. The colours are so bright and handle completely differently to my usual oils so it was a happy change for me. The other picture is a pet portrait commission of a lovely little fellow called Scamp. I was really pleased how this turned out, as were his owners. Luckily I didn't have to do his tail.... it was always a blur of wagging!

Splashes of Colour......

2010-02-14T10:54:00.000-08:00

It must be the sniff of a nice sunny day thats done this.... I thought I would post some colour studies I have worked on recently. These are all photographs I have tinkered with ( quite liberally in some cases! ) and which are now included in the website. Thats the same website my poor, hard done by husband has been spending his days and nights revamping for me..... yes, I had another whim. It's like spring cleaning the house after taking down all the Christmas decorations... you feel the New Year needs a new look, so a big tidy up was needed I thought for my internet presence. I'm not convinced my husband felt the same but he has laboured away manfully and it should be reloaded in a couple of days. Hoorah! I know how to keep him sweet though so he has had all weekend off to watch sport. I shall crack the whip again on Monday ( as if!)

Isn't it odd where we find inspiration for photography? Deep mid winter I found myself ankle deep in freezing cold water taking photos of damage to a hot tub. Amongst the blistered paint bubbles I found an oddly shaped one which really caught my imagination. After a little colour boost and crop I had what I think is a lovely abstract photo of a blue hand.... can you tell which one it is?

Oh, and very quickly....... Hello Sally!! (See, I said I would mention you!) Thank you for reading my blog! x

''Amber Wilderness''- glass painted landscape

2010-01-31T02:49:00.000-08:00

Hot off the desk ( and a highly messy, paint strewn one at that) is the latest offering. I had a little experiment with the size of frame here, opting for a long, thin one instead of my more traditional sized portrait-style picture. I also chose to use glass paints this time ... for no other reason than to shake myself up a bit. I am getting quite good in my middle age of just settling into a routine ( except where exercise is concerned!) and staying in my self-imposed rut. So a different approach was taken this time to blow away the cobwebs. I have noticed over the years that this slim orientation sells quite well as it fits neatly over fireplaces etc..... that's the theory anyway. Let us see if it gets put into practice!

(Painting 35'' x 10'')

Happy New Year....

2010-01-26T11:38:00.000-08:00

Oops! I believe I have left it a little late to wish everyone a happy 2010, but better late than never. The prodigal painter returneth finally, after an eight week absence. My sincere apologies to my regular readers for the quiet fingers of late..... my digits were superglued together by a gum that lasts for two months, and then magically disappears. Not really. I just needed the break! I will endeavor to pick up my slack ways and get a-posting regularly as to be honest, I miss the comments! I hope everyone is in the finest of fettle and getting back into the swing of the New Year.

It has been a quiet January so far, which means all the small things and bits that have been put aside can now be sorted out properly. I have been very lucky though to have picked up several commissions already, and diverse ones at that which is always a bonus for me. Most of the commissions have been glass panels which I find do not photograph well ( much like me when I have just woken up) so I thought I would post this little chappie instead. He is Dylan and a birthday present for someone, so I hope for a change that there is at least one person who doesn't read this blog as I will have ruined their surprise! Hope you like him....

Portrait of a dog as a young pup.........

2009-11-15T02:01:00.000-08:00

Thanks for that Mr Joyce- I was having problems with duplicating a previous post title then. This blurb is going to be as short and sweet as this dog is. Meet Pushka. I do not know what sex it is, or indeed what make it is ... but I do know it was a very cute and animated little fur ball, with a friendly nature. Hope 'Mum and Dad' like the painting- there were so many colours in the coat it was actually a bit of a challenge. This has sparked a flurry now of pets as people are trying to get presents done in time for Christmas. 'Oh what a shame' she said, as she thinks of all those many hours sat in the warm doing a job she adores! Wonderful stuff.

Illuminating the world......

2009-11-10T09:05:00.000-08:00

It's not because I have been too lazy to write that this blog has fallen silent. Quite the opposite. I haven't even been able to work in the gallery workshop, having instead to turn our kitchen into a drying rack for christmas stocks of lamps. And more lamps. And a few more on top. There is well over fifty now waiting for discerning people to fall in love with and all sorts of styles and designs to choose from- because you must know what I am like by now. We reclaimed the kitchen at the weekend, so now down at SerenArts if all the new lights are switched on it is theoretically possible to see us from space. We glow! A very attractive sight on a cold November day.

Isn't it funny how some things go in cycles? Sometimes I have a commission for say, a dog portrait, and this then triggers of a small spate of other dog portraits. Or someone may buy a handful of the glass cards I do... and then suddenly the whole world and it's Mum are buying them up. This week already I have been asked to do a commission of one of my paintings that has already been sold ( pictured above because I clean forgot to take a photo of the national lamp mountain, in my relief at finally finishing!) The client in question, and quite rightly in my humble opinion, didn't want a mere print so asked for me to paint another similar one. I have no problem with that! Strangely though I now have another request- this time to 'copy' for wont of a better word, a Modigliano that is out of copyright, and has been manipulated in photoshop to change the colours. Not my cup of tea and it will be odd painting in someone else's style... but I may actually learn new techniques from a proper master... and the pennies come in useful of course. Watch this space!

Last illustrations of Charlotte Khan...... 'til the next book!

2009-10-25T04:31:00.000-07:00

Can't think, brain's dumb.

Inspiration won't come.

Some days the words just flow onto the page- and other days like this I really struggle to say anything coherent or interesting. Doesn't stop me though as you may have noticed. Here are the last of the illustrations for Julie's (Mulholland) new children's book. All that is left is to go back through the pictures and grey in areas of interest and then process them for the publisher. 'Easy peasy' the computer bit because I hand that over to my long-suffering husband. 'Look Ma, no hands!' I cry, and I never seem to mind if he's busy or not.... I'm good that way. Barring a localized disaster all should be of to the printers in time for Christmas. How wonderfully exciting! Watch this space as they say.....

More good news to pass on. I mentioned in an earlier post of putting a picture into the Bath Prize competition, not expecting to win but more in hope of selling. Well I didn't win but have just had a lovely email saying my work had sold. Hurrah for that I say! I wonder if it went to one of the houses I drew in the Bath scene? I'd love to know.........................

Talking of Bath - seamless link alert - here's a little free advertising for a forthcoming event ( aren't I lovely?!)

An exhibition of water crystal photographs by Dr Masaru Emoto, is accompanied by Dr Emoto himself, who will be speaking at the Roman Baths, on 17th November 2009, on The Secret Power of Water. The world renowned researcher, who photographs water crystals, illustrates how human vibrations effect the external environment.

Tickets are available from the Bath Festival office on 01225 463362. Doors open at 7pm for the exhibition, the talk starts at 8pm.

More commissions.......

2009-10-18T05:00:00.000-07:00

If I were able I would be springing back flips everywhere today. Instead I will just have to settle for leaping around like a loony in my head. You know how it is. I'd hate to knock over someone's mochachocadoodah coffee with a wayward arab spring into a full piked twisting somersault, so I will just sit here quietly smiling instead. Health and safety and all that.

Why so happy? Three commissions in a week all done and dusted and I still had time to watch Strictly Come Dancing ( although I still painted in between the dance routines.... sorry Brucey!) Pictured are two of them. The third I will save for next week to plump up the blog when content may be thin on the ground. Canny heh? Today I am being about as rebellious as I get these days and will NOT be painting a single dot, stroke or splodge of anything. These hedonistic heights may even stretch to a takeaway on the proceeds of all this hard work.... and the sun is shining whilst I'm manning the gallery workshop here. If anyone is having a bad day just come and rub shoulders with me and maybe the happiness will rub off- after all, life is good................................

More illustrations.................................

2009-10-08T10:25:00.000-07:00

I hope you can see these alright as I photographed them quickly rather than scanned them properly. As some of you already know I have been passing away time drawing up some illustrations for Julie Mulholland's new children's book 'The Adventures of Charlotte Khan- Charlotte goes to Hong Kong.' I thought I had finished but a couple of weeks ago Julie asked me to do another 13 of these drawings for her book as she can get more in. What a result! This time they are her ideas for what she would also like to be in there, so it takes the pressure off me to try and second guess what is wanted. I was going to methodically work down the list she gave me but couldn't find the fun in that, so instead I shout out at my husband to pick out a number left and I get on with the corresponding one he calls out. What teamwork, hey?

Finished Ferrari commission.....................

2009-10-04T05:04:00.000-07:00

Firstly many apologies for the tardy blogging of late.... unfortunately when things get hectic at work this is the first place that gets pushed to the bottom of the pile. Quite unceremoniously at times! Life has been very good here of late and I find myself swamped with all sorts of commissions- hurrah! Gainful employment until Christmas... not bad heh? It was quite a gamble taking on the extra responsibility of a workshop/gallery space, but it has paid dividends and taking off in terms I only previously dreamed of. The downside though is time slips by alarmingly and you find you haven't written blog entries religiously as you once promised yourself. Ho hum, as my husband says for a multitude of things. I'm feeling all prodigal....

This is the finished ferrari commission I was asked to do by a lovely lady wanting something personal for her husband's birthday. She liked my 'Three Men in a Boat' painting at the gallery, or rather the detail in the picture I can get with oils, and wanted this exact car immortalized as 'hubby' is something to do with the tyres/wheels etc., ( things that go over my head!) I find I am very obliging when money is involved so jumped at this with relish. Apart from having to get the model and wheels right the lady also wanted it against a Tuscan house backdrop... so 'Ta-Daaaah!' Voila. It does exactly what it says on the tin, from Serena.

By the by, did any one read a piece about Damien Hirst recently.... he is apparently given up his pickling dead farm animals, sticking bits and pieces to skulls and getting other people to throw paint onto spinning canvasses for him. Hoorah, I thought, because I never really 'got' all that sort of art. If you are one of the clever people out there that can speak at length on the merits of this type of work/art, please don't write into me as I promise, in a month of sundays, your breath will be utterly wasted on me. I just don't and never will 'get' it. He is in fact taking ' a step backwards' ( his words) and has learnt to paint with a brush on canvas again. Well its about time Mr Hirst, and I truly hope you get the immense satisfaction most of us get from putting our hearts and souls down onto canvas, in true back to basics style work ethics. You never know, you may just enjoy it as it's not always about the money you see.... says she who has just painted for a tidy sum! But you get my drift don't you? More power to his elbow then. I can't wait to see what he comes up with and what he feels about it- how exciting, a new kid on the block.

Ferrari commission.........

2009-09-30T11:59:00.000-07:00

Just posting this Babs so you don't think I have gone a.w.o.l.!!! More tomorrow- including some blurb hopefully...... !

Lansdown Crescent in Bath..... The Bath Prize

2009-09-05T05:55:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post today, as in roughly 3 hours and 24 minutes I am off on holiday. For all you stuck here in this pre autumn snap of bad weather, I will try not to enjoy myself too much ( doesn't count! I had my fingers crossed!) If there are any comments ( probably rude ones after that last remark) I will of course reply the moment I am back. Well, definitely after the first load of washing goes on anyway.

It's been a very busy five minutes here trying to quickly complete a commission and a painting for a local competition. The commission was a present for a couple's daughter getting married shortly, and they thought it would be a nice idea to have a painted momento of the church they are to have the ceremony in. I too think that this is a splendid idea as I enjoy being gainfully employed. The painting has been framed up and collected to a rapturous response which was nice- oh if all commissions were that easy.

The second piece is my entry to a local open competition designed to promote the City of Bath. Here is a bit of blurb from their website

Introducing The Bath Prize

A wide variety of artists, working on paintings of the City will produce a multi-faceted portrait of a special place. From this will emerge the one painting judged to be the work that most truly captures the essence of Bath in 2009. This painting will win The Bath Prize! The Bath Prize will be an annual competition and, for this inaugural year, the prize fund is £5,000. The competition is open to British artists over the age of 18 years submitting a painting produced following a visit to Bath.

A Very Special Place

Bath is unique, a world-famous destination where, for more than two thousand years, artists and craftsmen have been inspired by a very special place. Now The Bath Gallery has created The Bath Prize, a painting competition to stimulate new work celebrating the glory of Bath, to recognise the best and to display as much of it as possible in the City that inspired it..

A Painting Competition With a Difference

To ensure that the whole of the City is covered, entrants taking part will be required to produce at least one painting inspired by a specified location in the Georgian heart of the City, these locations will be allocated by ballot.

Guess which bit I got? Even if you tried you couldn't get any more windows in the place! They allocated Lansdown Crescent to me which is quite balking if you are not into architecture. Good job I don't mind a bit of repetition. Good job I don't mind a bit of.... I didn't actually finish until the early hours of the day it had to be given in so I call that a close shave. My wrists are going to thoroughly enjoy not painting frantically for a week. First prize is £2500 which I could spend in the blink of an eye given half a chance but I'm trying to be realistic here- I'd be more than thrilled if it sells at the two week exhibition after the voting has been carried out. That's an equally nice scenario so here's hoping someone has a space on their wall for a sweet little series of watercolours depicting a historic part of Bath. You never know, with all those windows on show someone who lives behind them may snap this up!

The Adventures Of Charlotte Khan..... book cover

2009-08-30T05:41:00.000-07:00

It took an awful lot longer than I originally thought it would as I woefully miscalculated just how long 'doing the Hong Kong skyline' would take, but here is the approved cover for Julie's (Mulholland) new book. Actually the text hasn't been approved but I only put that on to show the general idea of the finished article. The book is called 'The adventures of Charlotte Khan.... Charlotte goes to Hong Kong' and will be the first of many episodes, knowing Julie's 'hot nib' prolificacy! I had word from her saying just how much she enjoyed the cover idea and it was exactly want she wanted. This bodes very well for future collaborations which I am hoping for, as Julie is one of those people with boundless energy and enthusiasm for life, and sunny temperament to boot. A lovely lady indeed. I do hope her book gets the break it deserves- and no, not just because I have a vested interest!

New website alert!

2009-08-22T05:04:00.000-07:00

My husband is a very talented man. He has just completed a full blown, bells and whistles garnished professional photography website for me to house my ever growing collection of local scenes. I know I am biased, but I think it is a fantastic effort and it all looks professional, modern and easily navigable. A job well done indeed. This new site will run alongside my main art site which also has a more worldwide photography section, but as mentioned before the new website will house photos taken of places in the West Country, my inspirational stomping ground. Hence the name 'West Country Photographs'- a ' it does exactly what it says on the tin' style name! If anyone is interested in having a look here is the link

www.westcountryphotographs.com

As ever, all thoughts and comments will be gratefully received, and if any of you out there want your own website why not get in contact with Mike through here- he is very friendly as well as clever!

p.s. Thank you Peps for proof reading it all for us!

The Adventures Of Charlotte Khan.....

2009-08-16T07:08:00.000-07:00

Not so long back in Blogland I posted a couple of cartoon-style illustrations for a new children's book by Julie Mulholland- the lady I had previously worked on book cover ideas for (The Iraqi, and Guns and Roses.) Well, to cut a long story short (can I hear a collective sigh of relief?) she has approved of the designs and sent them off to her publisher. I can show the rest off now without fear of hexing it all. I had an inordinate amount of fun doing these as illustrating a children's book is quite a way removed from my ordinary works; not only was it a liberating media to attempt, but whilst I was immersed in the drawings I kept reliving parts of my childhood long since forgotten... embarrassing moments at school, fun days out and copious amounts of daydreaming the weird and wonderful, all came flooding back. Further more I have been asked to do the book cover too, so it looks like I am gainfully employed in this game for a bit longer!

Another dog portrait...

2009-08-14T11:11:00.000-07:00

This space is fast becoming a doggy blog! As promised here is the second of the two ladies I was commissioned to paint. I am so pleased with this one and how it turned out. Black is such a hard colour to get any life into but I've managed it well, I think. She wasn't a natural in front of the camera and kept putting her ears back whenever I moved the lens towards her, looking more like a sea lion than a dog. Luckily I have a good zoom, so managed to capture her unawares while she played. Now all I have to do is frame them up and hand them over- although I wouldn't mind keeping this one for posterity!

Dog portrait.....

2009-08-10T11:55:00.001-07:00

Hot of the press a commission I have been working on of a beautiful young golden retriever. She is the palest one I have seen to date, with just a smattering of straw around her neck, ears and eyes. She has a friend too who will hopefully be gracing the blog in a day or two when I have finished her. She is the other end of the scale being a glossy, black labrador... I will certainly be tested on my contrast skills! It's been nice escaping away into my drawing of late- we have the roofers in at the moment doing what they do best, so this is proving a welcome distraction!

Ah.... but is it art?

2009-07-28T12:11:00.000-07:00

The prodigal has returned! Apologies for lack of posts recently, but when a girl is busier than an umbrella firm during our summer, then you know something has to give. Alas, the blog 'bought it' for a while. I have had so much to say and show you all, but that was days ago and I have moved on from all the gossip of shows, commissions and wotnot now. If I don't write about things in the moment then I'm afraid it gets consigned to my erratic memory banks for eternity, while I concentrate on the new ( that's a round about way of saying there is only room in my head for one thing at a time! )

Seamless link alert... Ahem, 'talking of new' (did you like that? No visible joins hey?!) the photos I have posted above are the current creative bent that I have found myself engrossed in. I am most sincerely an avid photograph taker, and find great pleasure in lining up a view, setting a scene with light, capturing a split second of life, the finding the beauty in the natural etc, with my camera. I am quite a traditionalist as you have probably garnered from my art postings, so was pleasantly surprised that I found myself enjoying 'altering' and blending photos together, or just bending colours around to suit. The cynic in me says this is just another commercial route to keep the roof over my head but that is only 49% - the other 51% just loves to keep on creating in whatever way, shape or form it may take. I also still have all the associated memories of taking these pictures au natural, as well as the bonus of a sense of achievement by making something new. Whatever your views on altered art I would greatly appreciate your feedback about the photos- and it's o.k. as I am after all, a big girl now!

Bradford on Avon work in process

2009-07-12T04:38:00.001-07:00

(Silent scream.) This painting still needs a large amount of work doing to it.... and I have to give it in midweek. Guess who'll be painting through the night again then? I think a small ripple of applause for the person who came up with fast drying oil paints. The paints caught me off guard to start with (...easily done...) with the drying times. They act like a slow acrylic, and areas were setting before I had a chance to 'do my thing' which was quite unnerving. I don't like to be rushed at some things but I have struck up a working relationship with the little tubes of life-saving now. Hurrah.

O.K. What have I done? Somebody please put me out of my misery. How did I get this underlining to happen.... and more importantly, how do I turn it off?! I have looked through all my blog tabs etc and still no clue, so is it something I have touched on my 'puter? There are going to be so many people thinking ' surely she is having a Steffi- everyone knows about underlining!' But I genuinely don't. I know other things instead... like guinea pigs have only three toes on their back feet, and not four like the front ones. Stuff like that. Stuff of no particular value really. Well, unless you're a guinea pig trying to find some well-fitting Jimmy Choo's. As a thank you for showing up my disgraceful secretarial skills I will send out a Butterfly print to the first person to put me right- but there are two conditions...

1. The answer has to be on the blog here and not the Facebook copy feed,

2. There must be no alluding to the undeniable fact I am a bit of an eejit.

There. Fancy helping a lass out and getting a free bit of art to boot? I'll sort posting via email to the clever and quick.

Mm. Just had a terrible thought. What if this blip doesn't show up on posting. If this happens I'll switch to plan B- could you kindly disregard the second part of my posting please!!!! I'm going to push the publish button now.... here goes

Another illustration....

2009-06-28T08:38:00.000-07:00

Whistle-stop picture post alert. Here is a further illustration for Julie's book. I think I have watched too much of The Muppets over the years as that pigeon definitely pays more than a passing resemblance to Gonzo, don't you think? Like a homage really then, before I get arrested by the 'that looks a little bit too much like a copyright infringement if you step back and squeeze your eyes to small dots' police. They are everywhere you know.

Enjoy!

Nude with towel.......

2009-06-26T07:11:00.000-07:00

I have just finished this painting between doing the cartoon illustrations for Julie's book. A cheeky little number, don't you think! It is an oil on canvas 14"x18", and is one of the offerings for the Bath Art For Life Exhibition coming up in July (16th -19th, Queen's Square,) along with the completed seascape. I have yet to start the Bradford town bridge one yet so I had best get a wriggle on and stop watching Wimbledon surreptitiously on the laptop at work. Oh yes! I'm sure the eagle-eyed among you have already spotted that in the background- isn't work great? Ha! We even have a punnet of strawberries down here at the gallery to top off the hedonism. I would offer them around but I just know they won't last much longer than the time it takes to get the lid open!

Hope you like the painting and it's gentleness. I am pleased with it and especially like the light captured. Enjoy!

More book illustrations.......

2009-06-21T08:01:00.000-07:00

A couple of further illustrations ready for perusal. I'm really getting into this type of artwork, as you can do what you will in essence... a real sense of freedom goes with cartooning. It's satisfying drawing with a sense of humour too, as life sometimes needs a lift from the daily trials. A welcome, light-hearted break is just the tonic on occasion. I think my soul must have needed this commission, as I have taken to it avariciously- I cannot seem to pull away and get on with some oil paintings I HAVE to start on. I need one of those clone brush tools my husband has on his photoshop program to duplicate myself... although in reality, the thought of two of me not getting on with something is a scary thought indeed! Enjoy....

Second illustration for new book....

2009-06-19T06:13:00.000-07:00

Hot off the press the second illustration for Julie's new childrens' book. This picture shows our wee subject Charlotte having one of her many daydreams about her nemesis ( her mum's boyfriend Steve!) likening him to an alien. She cannot believe her mum does not see him as she views him. It's SO obvious!

I originally had his bottom half as a big, fat, slimy, sinewy, muddle of tentacles, but as it actually made me feel queasy drawing them and I am a supposed adult, what on earth would kids think? Too freaky methinks, so out came the eraser and in went a suit. Much better imagery and no pending lawsuits from parents with traumatised offspring. Bonus!

Large seascape in oils........ 5' x 3'

2009-06-12T11:36:00.001-07:00

I would like to say that this is the current painting drying on my desk... but it is so large that it is hanging over the end. Makes getting a brew on somewhat tricky! I like doing these big ones every so often, ( even more so when, like this, it is a commission) as I get to stretch my arm out and get lost in the sheer joy of applying paint. Another joy of the larger canvas is that I get to hide behind it at the workshop! That left me the peace and quiet to daydream away where I had what I think was, a great idea. This idea came after about half an hour of standing on tiptoes, arm at full 'starting to shake with effort' stretch, cloud painting...

how does ' a TELESCOPIC filbert' sound? A handy aid to helping you get to the parts of paintings no brush has gone before etc. Any takers? It would be an adaptive idea that could be used with all types of paintbrushes. What do you think? 'Shreen's Stretchy Stick' has a certain ring, I feel.

Seriously though, having a painting on the go is a welcome talking point for visitors coming in to the gallery. I'd recommend this tactic for starting off numerous conversations with people as an icebreaker! Works a treat. I still have some waves to paint in and some more highlights to pick out, but you can certainly see the general idea. Enjoy!

Illustration for new book....

2009-06-09T12:44:00.000-07:00

My lovely friend Julie Mulholland has been at it again. She has just finished her new children's book and has asked me to draw the cartoons for it, because she is nice like that. I wish I could be nice back by telling you the title of the book, but my brain has gone on holiday without me. It left after a four hour stint of laying laminate planks down in our hallway, and it still only looks like we have done a square inch. Tomorrow I shall get on with more illustrations.... it's far easier!

Aftermath of the Bath and West...

2009-06-04T07:39:00.000-07:00

Many apologies for not blogging as frequently as I should, but it has been a busy week workwise and a very difficult week personally; but that is another story.

Well, we came, saw, and eventually conquered the Royal Bath and West after a fashion. The first day was the usual freezing, sideways rain type day that we're more than used to there, so that effectively put the kybosh on proceedings. The second day floored us though, we didn't sell a thing. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Diddlysquat. In all our years of doing any type of show this was the first time that that had ever happened. Feather and knocking over are words that spring to mind. Not even a card. It was rather demoralizing, but we still gave promotional leaflets out to give ourselves something to do and soften the blow. The third day was fair, but it wasn't until the last day that things finally took off. It was probably the notice we put up saying ' Last day sale-£5 of all glassware' that did it. We got mobbed. Honestly. A proper Harrods-style, 'sharpen your elbows up Ma, I'm going in' type frenzy! Mike and I got pushed up against the walls at one point. I got an attack of the giggles (always helpful in any given situation heh?) because it was so weird and scary, and we did more then than all three previous days. Amazing scenes. That one day paid for all out goings and left a little bit over, so all is well as they say.

One good thing that came from this show as ever, is the commissions, projects and collaborations that spring up from interested parties. I had a very intriguing conversation with a chap who is trying to get a big art venture off the ground at Poole's waterfront. He liked my works and I liked his energy so hopefully something may come of that. The dog portraits went down well too, so that should be a nice little tick over for months to come. Should keep me busy anyway.

The painting is the work in progress I posted earlier. I finally felt like picking up my paintbrush again today and made inroads into the sky. I still need to deepen up the dark clouds but it is definitely taking shape nicely. Hope you like it... even if I have painted over the background drips that most people liked! Lol. Enjoy.....

Another day, another spaniel!

2009-05-18T11:36:00.000-07:00

As promised previously, here is the second of the spaniel commissions now finished. I was asked to put a few strands of brown through the monochrome colouring to show his tones off... breaks up the obvious standard contrast quite nicely I think. Time to frame them up and deliver them to their new home now!

Pencil drawing of spaniel.....

2009-05-17T11:15:00.000-07:00

Hot of the press a commission I have been working today. I still have a bit to do on the furthest ear and some other tweakings, but it's nearly there. I hurriedly popped a frame down and took a photo before the light completely went, so apologies for the grey look. I'd stop and chat about this normally but I have to get on with this spaniel's little buddy as time waits for no man (it may end up as a pointless exercise though as my eyes are crossing over from tiredness!) So I'll catch up properly tomorrow with hopefully another drawing... promise!

A 'prolific' posting!

2009-05-15T12:36:00.000-07:00

I awoke early this morning in one of those wide-awake-eyes-focused-crystal-clear-headed-compus-mentis-moments that really sets a day up beautifully right from the word go. It ranks alongside having a 'cool pillow fashioned into a perfect position' and slipping into 'freshly laundered bedding after a long bath' as other bedtime favourites. I managed to wait at least 25 minutes before subtly fidgeting enough to wake my gently snoring husband. Mission accomplished, I snuggled in closer all smiles and morning warmth. "You stink!" he said unceremoniously.

To be totally fair, he was talking of the invasive stench of solvent smells coming from downstairs where I have been using the kitchen as an overflow second work studio, and not my personal toilette routine (or lack of it!) The fumes I am able to ignore successfully as I am used to them, but Mike has really suffered- headache and blocked sinuses were his wake up call instead. He soon rallied though and reasoned that 'as it was all my fault, then I had to make him a coffee in bed... and get the headache pills.... and bring his laptop to him...' With a cheeky glint in his (slightly inflamed) eye he also said 'Oh! And I would like some melon scooped into little balls for my breakfast, and then I will forgive you!' I laughed and pottered off after seeing to the first 3 demands. On a whim I curiously rooted around at the back of the kitchen drawer and found..... a melonballer! The joy! Which explains one of the photos above. The rest are all table tops and lamps in various stages of drying, festooning our kitchen sides with liquid jewel colours. It's a hive of creativity in there readying for the show coming up. As a wee bonus we HAD to have a take away in the evening as I have covered every inch of surface, including the cooker, so who says women arn't so good at spatial relations? Mine worked a treat!

Busy girl.....

2009-05-09T04:19:00.000-07:00

Only a short posting as time is somewhat precious at the moment. The grains of sand are sliding away far too fast for my liking down through my little egg-timer. As you've probably noticed I have used that old chestnut of 'padding out' with photos and waffle... a winning combo when pushed, I feel! The Bath and West show is nearly upon us and that is taking up most of the working day (and evening...zzzz) trying to get enough stock for the gift side of our business. Oils and watercolours are on hold for a while, but I am also inundated with commissions too, so no rest for the wicked, heh? The commissions are a diverse mix too from pencil drawings of pets to oil seascapes, lamp with 50 poppies for a birthday and a glass 'mind your head' notice (that's the duck or grouse picture!)

Variety is the spice of life and all that.

The tables with their painted tops are proving really popular so I always seem to have a few of them on the burner now- we are taking lots to the Show while we are on a roll. I am also in the middle of painting lots more silk tops and sarongs for the Bath and West initially, but if they don't make an impact will sit happily in our place after the show. In fact if the show doesn't go to well due to lower spending etc., then I will have lots of finished stock for the gallery shop to dip into over the summer season. Hoorah for that.

Oh, and one last thing before I screw my leg on.....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM!!!!! Have a good'un!

Reveal day of the Disintegration.......

2009-05-01T11:10:00.001-07:00

Oops. I jumped the gun.

There is always one isn't there? The one who always rushes forward and does everything at breakneck speed, without paying any regard for what it is that she is 'supposed' to be doing. The one who then has to put up her hand and apologise for getting it wrong because she was too eager to listen properly to start with. I see my behaviour has changed little from being a wee girl then! I have always been a pressie-squeezer and I even list it as one of my hobbies, so it is no wonder then that I went and opened up my bundles for this Disintegration Collaboration that Seth has been running over on his The Altered Page blog. I can hear Michael Caine saying ' you were only supposed to blow the ' yada,yada, yada..... only in my case, I was 'only supposed to photo' my bundles today and not open them. Ho hum!

Ugh! And a grotty ol' business it was too. One thing I noticed straight away was the bundle I half-buried came out relatively unscathed and still whole; I had thought this one would be alot soggier and eaten away but it looks pretty much the same as when it went in. The bundle that I hung up for Mother Nature to do her best on, had gone true to form and had almost disintegrated away in one corner. We have had some fairly fierce weather here at times so that was no shock, infact I had to rehang it twice over the months due to the wind trying to liberate it. As you can see from the photos in this bundle almost everything has changed state, with two noticeable exceptions. Firstly and foremost, the Teddy made it! It may look a little grubbier, but thanks to the wholly melted wash powder tablets he smells lovely. The second one is quite bizarre and I think maybe science should find an alternate use for this material- check out the gluten free fruit loaf! Apart from the fact I tore the foodstuff as I opened the wrapping up, it is virtually indistinguishable from when it first went in. Earthquake-proof housing could be made from this material or soft play areas for children springs to mind too. A wonder stuff no less- as long as you don't have to eat it.

And can you see the little visitor to the bundle? I was happily snapping away when this small beetle showed himself. He is now safely back in the garden living off what he should be rather than that which I provided. Seems like everyone wants to join in with Seth's fantastic collaborative effort!

Seascape update...

2009-04-18T08:40:00.000-07:00

Ooooooooewwwww-weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Many apologies for screeching like a banshee, or a Moldovan wedding dancer if you prefer, but I just had to get it out of my system! What a week indeedy. The commission has been done and dusted and gone on to pastures anew. I have an appointment to see if I can get some work accepted at the British Academy of Arts, for a forth-coming exhibition of nudes they will be running ( yes! I am nervous about it, but there is no point in being shy at my age!) We have also managed to get the Bath and West Show again, which will be ideal for advertising the Gallery/Workshop to the fullest ( and make some pennies of course) which is by far more productive than sticking an advert in a magazine. And....yep, there's more!.... got another commission for a lovely big seascape in soft greys. Time for a spot of tmesis I think- 'Hoo-flippin'-Rah! That's celebratory enough.

Posted is an update of the work in progress on the easel. My puddlescape is now looking more like a seascape, and more recognisable- which is good. 'Only the skies to go' she wafted airily!

Va Va Vroom....... oil on canvas 18''x14''

2009-04-11T12:33:00.000-07:00

Ahh! The happy sigh of relief from someone who has just worked in their favourite paint....

Hot off the press, the latest commission in oils that I have been asked to do. There are still some tweaky ( ooh, get my technical jargon!) bits to smooth out, but it's nearly there. Luckily for me red is my best-loved colour else this could have been quite difficult. It can be a harsh colour but it is so bold and vivid I cannot help but like it. Not for the faint hearted this hue! I'm not a biker by any stretch of the imagination so I was pleased it turned out nicely. I once had a Honda Melody in my twenties, but as I fell off it on just about every occasion that I had to sit on the dammed thing the love affair for two-wheelers never took off. I'm twice that age now, but still cringe at the memories of short skirts, pipe cleaner legs and being tipped upside down on the tarmac of many Wiltshire roads. I'm pretty sure I single-handedly kept the local mechanics industry alive and prosperous... I certainly kept them in fits of laughter. Ho Hum.

Work in progress....

2009-04-02T06:45:00.000-07:00

We are off on our travels tonight for a few days so I thought I would post a shot of my latest seascape in progress, just to keep the blog alive and kicking! Well I say seascape but at the moment it really is just a puddle that you can see. I'm prone to hyperbole given the opportunity. I shall make a big effort again on it when we get back, something I should have been doing today but couldn't settle down to. Too excited really! I enjoy going to new places etc., and this trip is definatly a new experience- a Moldovan wedding! The 'family' is getting bigger and more continental so Christmasses will be even more fun I reckon from now on! Not that I am wishing our summer away.

A vague thought entered my bonce today about how unpowered, unstressy and low key our life is now, whilst showing our friend the ropes of the gallery/workshop. It took all of 5 minutes, and two of those minutes were pointing out the coffee making facilities! A far cry from yester year when we lived on stress and fatigue as our staple diet. Did I mention I love being an artist? It's not a bad life is it?

If anyone is kind enough to drop by with a comment for this post, I will reply as soon as we are back in town- don't think I have deserted you! 'Ketchup' later....

Stained Glass Window....... A3 size

2009-03-28T08:55:00.000-07:00

Where's my step ladder? I need to hang up some bunting. YES! I have finally finished my stained glass window. The main part off it only took a 4/5 hours, but the glass painted cockeral has taken nearly a week to dry off completely. It's all worth it though as I am very pleased with the result- the course was enjoyable too and I got more than a little hooked. I had big plans for the beginning of this year to get a kiln to expand my horizens with glass work, and enrolled on a course to learn a few basics of fusing glass and stained window work. Getting the gallery/workshop shelved the kiln idea, as we sensibly sank the savings into stock and fittings. I thought about cancelling the tuition, but have always been a sucker for learning something new and exciting. And what things I learned- niblets, fids and groziers hold no fear for me now! Lead was stretched, shapes cut and held with nails, and soldering completed with halfmoons ( after the first couple of joins anyway!) Cementing in place was probably one of the messiest tasks I have ever done, and for a while I was concerned the window would not clean up....but a handful of chalk dust does wonders I found. In between drying and setting times I fused simple glass pieces into pendants and coasters using various grades and colours..... Monsieur Lalique, eat your heart out non?

Some of you may be wondering 'why, with an artist's wealth of inspiration to pick from, has she chosen a football logo, and Spurs at that too!' I'm laying the blame entirely on my stepson. He has done so well at school recently getting into every exam with A grades, that it was only right and proper to do a special one off for him. He was officially 'chuffed'.....ahh, the way to a young lad's heart!!

Sands of time...

2009-03-23T08:23:00.000-07:00

Where did we get to? I remember.

I'd posted a couple of photos with almost no explanation previously, with a promise to remedy that. Well as I haven't actually done anything since then on those pieces, I'll postpone the 'whys and wherefores' until a later date. I could make some waffle up as you know, but that comes far too easily; if there is no challenge then it is hardly worth doing! You will just have to wait until I pull my finger out and get on with it all.

So what have I been doing? Playing shop!

It's all well and good selling our wares, but it does mean I then have to replace things, and at a furious pace at the moment. I can see the merits of having other people's work in at times like this! This last week has been a blur of lamps, glass cards and getting silks ready. I still haven't gotten round to finishing off any oil paintings yet and I really need to do some local scenes. Oh well, I'm sure it will all work... just as soon as I figure a way to clone myself (wish I'd listened harder in science class now!)

Stained glass window.....

2009-03-17T12:13:00.000-07:00

Short blog post alert!

Just a quickie to show some works in progress. I promise faithfully to explain what on earth they are when I have a half hour spare! Until then, let your imaginations run riot.... enjoy!

Disintegration Manifestation, or sumfink........

2009-03-10T09:15:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks back I was nosing around blogland feeling a little bored and in need of some high jinx. When I am in this mood I look up people I follow for one reason or the other, and then wander off through their links. I wouldn't go so far to say I'm cyber-stalking, but it does guarantee I stumble across interesting and art related blogs a lot more easily than just random meanderings. Well, what did I find.....

Over on Harry Bell's Boogie Street blog (that phrase reminds me of a heady mixture of those scrummy Haribo sweets, and the guilty pleasure that is the Baccharat song of 'Oh yes Sir! I can boogie'!) there was a great entry under 'Parcel Post' which I read with interest. Have a look see if you can, as not only is the art great but Harry has a nice turn of phrase too, so it really is an enjoyable blog.

His blog is especially nice though if you finish this blog first!

It was about an art idea posted by a fellow blogger Seth from www.thealteredpage.blogspot.com involving making up bundles of all sorts of things and then burying them, submerging them, hanging them up etc. outside to 'disintegrate' basically. Once you have made up your bundle you stick it wherever you want and leave it there in the rain, snow and shine until May 1st. You post a photo of your homemade package with contents on your blog, submit a link to Seth at The Altered Page ( full details are posted under 'Disintegration Manifestation, about halfway down the page ) and then come May Day, open your bundle and take a photo of the result to post on your blog. What marvellous fun! There are so many people now doing this that it has become a huge participation ( or should that be 'precipitation!') event, which I always enjoy joining in with. I have to admit I like the science of it all too. So here are my bundles- well, I couldn't just do one now, could I? And at the very least if I don't have any work to post come May 1st I'll have back up photos of old rotten grot to stick online as in-fill!

Bundle 1- paper poppy, shiny penny, a winning £2 lottery ticket exp., thick gold leaf sheet, felt floor protector, a cream mount, 2007 diary (I only wrote in it twice-Samuel Pepys I'm not!) glass slide, miniature card and envelope, pink and white tissue paper, purple and white chalk pastels, red oil pastel crayon, 2 wooden stretchers, string and a neon blue hairpiece bought in a moment's madness! Wrapped up and buried half-submerged in soil.

Bundle 2- a silk painting experiment, gluten free fruit loaf ( ooh, if anything deserves to disintegrate...), a ginger and lemon teabag (yum,) a toffee eclair sweet ( given them up,) chocolate biscuit (sob, given them up,) coffee (wail, given it up,) washpowder tablets ( cannot do without them!) A sponge (used at home and for work so v.i.p,) Cif oxyclean wipes ( each and everyone of them a little friend!) and last but not least, A CUDDLY TOY! (Good game, good game!) all wrapped up and hanging in the wind. Now it is just a matter of waiting.....

Six times table trouble.....

2009-03-08T11:11:00.000-07:00

I remember learning these way back in time when nylon flares were all the rage and brown and orange colourways were seen as elegant and fashionable. Today's post however has nothing to do with mathematics and algebraic systems... it's all about 'when art goes bad' (cue dramatic drum roll!) I wasn't going to mention the bad bits here on blogland as I like to keep things viewed through my Panglossian, rose coloured spectacles whenever possible. Common courtesy though wins because I have a BIG tip to pass on, that I learnt the hard way and wouldn't want anyone making the same mistake. 'What did she do?' I hear, from at least one person hopefully out there. Well.....

I have spent all week painting 19" round glass tops for tables which are proving popular now spring is a-coming. I 'draw' (using pipettes) my design on, wait for that to dry and then pour in the colours over/inside the design using solvent based glass paints. When all is dry the design gets covered with sticky-backed, white vinyl for protection and boosting the brightness of the colours. The whole thing gets flipped over, and 'voila' you're the owner of one pretty table top. That's the theory anyway. I used a new paint for the drawn design- a metallic, water based glass paint that was of 'superior quality' according to it's headline. It dried nicely, and didn't react when the oil based paint was applied. The vinyl was then placed on, sticking perfectly to the underside......for about 10 seconds. The vinyl then disappointingly started to peel back with all the metallic work attached to it, sticking only where the oily stuff was. A bit demoralising seeing as I had six of these dried out on my worktop. I had to strip them all back down to blanks again, whilst Mike drove to get replacement paints. A costly and frustrating mistake indeed that I hope no one else repeats. So, the moral of the story is don't stick a vinyl backing onto water based paints.... EVER!

The picture posted is one of the table tops (a correct one!) that has been glued onto a mirror backing for an african themed commission.

A little log cabin in the Swiss Alps...........

2009-03-02T08:36:00.000-08:00

Ok. Not really. Not even with eyes set at a hard squint and a huge dollop of make believe on board could you pretend this is where Heidi and her plaits live. It is however where I shall be living when I am not at work! Yes, we finally finished off the garden studio to hold the glasswork overspill from the workshop. There is even a cubby hole/nest behind the shelving for me to paint in, and electric for lights and laptop. How 'Des. Res.' is that? It will also come in handy for inviting people along to out of hours for commissions, or sales reps for new lines etc. As it stands at the moment it also makes a handy parcel store for the postman, and somewhere nice and dry for the bigger of the spiders.... why do I never find small manageable ones?

The Workshop/Gallery has been going well and art across the board is moving at a welcome pace. Highlight of the week for me was a silk painting that I had put up on the wall 10 minutes previously, being snapped up immediately. I didn't even get a chance to photograph it so you'll all have to take my word for it that was absolutely gorgeous ( it was a quartet of silk scenes depicting the seasons, for the curious minded.) Mike's highlight was putting together a website in record time to help out a customer who had been let down by another. Unfortunately, where there are highs there usually is a low too, and for the last ten days I have had a doozie of a headache on and off which has made it very difficult to look at computer screens, read anything, remember anything or be sociable, so blogging 'out' and feeling sorry for myself 'in.' Headaches have now made my H8 list, along with spiders, not being believed when I am actually telling the truth, people touching my collarbones, and ANYTHING that makes me cry apart from laughter. I'm not terribly keen on Cliff Richard either but that's a different story.......

Painting and premonition....

2009-02-12T04:58:00.000-08:00

Inspiration does not come easily sometimes just sat at my desk, so I trot off further afield so see what goes. My recent wanderings have led me to the river here as you can see from previous photos, so with that in mind I created this abstract silk cushion cover loosely based on swollen, dark undercurrents and islands interspersing the flow. I chose woodwork class at school instead of needlework, and my, did that come back to haunt me. It took me nearly 4 hours to sew up by hand! I must be one of the few females not to own a sewing machine- plenty of power tools mind, but no Singer. If I'm honest though it wouldn't have taken half the time if I hadn't stopped for boredom breaks every other minute. Or coffee. Or chatting. Or looking out the window.... you get the idea. Anyway I digress as ever. What I'm failing to do is explain the title of this post in connection with the photo. Well guess what happened after I had finished the cushion amd placed it all a-plumped in it's spot? Yep. The river broke it's banks and completely flooded the area down here. Mike and I spent ages siliconing our defences in place, and putting everything up high out of harms way. Waiting was the hardest, but fortunately the water only got as far as the bottom of the step to the door. I now know why we can't get flood insurance here, as we watched the water ebb back to the river.

Note to self- paint a sunny scene next.

The first of many

2009-02-07T14:09:00.000-08:00

We had a nice day's trading today- and sold an oil painting I had completed of the Bradford on Avon Bridge ( the Lock-up view) a few months earlier. It had been pointed out in the community website too unawares, so from our point of view it has been a good boost for a local artist painting a local scene... exactly the criteria the customer was after. I now have a 'hole to fill' on the wall which means I can blow the dust off my filberts and get on with another oil. It feels such a time ago that I am genuinely looking forward to it... there is just this matter of finishing off with these 'few' silk blanks I ordered in.

I need to grow another set of arms....

Bradford on Avon in the snow part 2!

2009-02-05T12:50:00.000-08:00

At the risk of looking like I haven't done a jot of work all day (moi?!) here are a few of the photos I took before settling down to a day of marbling and painting. The atmosphere as I walked around was truly uplifting and joyous. The local schools were shut and roads to work impassable, so child and adult stood together for an impromptu hookie day in the snow! Tomorrow will be time enough to post workings, but for now... enjoy!

( my favourite has to be the duck....I wonder if the others will tell her that she 'has a little something on her top lip? )

Bradford on Avon in the snow....

2009-02-03T04:21:00.000-08:00

Hmm! Slight stretching of the truth in the title there. It should read ' just-the-Tithebarn-area-as-that-is-as-far-as-I-went-before-icicles-formed-on-my-tearducts-and-my-feet-felt-like-they-had-been-dipped-in-nitrogen!' but that doesn't make for a snappy headline. I was also supposed to be working really hard too, on getting new stock ready, but hey! It's snowing! I smugly justified bunking off by telling my poor, overworked husband that 'who knows? Maybe one of the photos will be good enough to sell' as I left, gaily stomping and crunching away in the icy whiteness. It only took 10 minutes before the heavily-entrenched guilt complex I have been nurturing from years at a strict boarding school set in, and I headed back. I'm rubbish- I even cooked and did all the laundry etc later that night too...Mike doesn't have to say a word!

One of the joys of being down here at the workshop is the abundence of birdlife. I am not a twitcher by any means, but am constantly fascinated by the comings and goings of our little feathered friends. I even know what a few are, like the robin pictured above. He has been captured at an unflattering angle showing off the plumpest of fronts since Jessica Rabbit. I'm still not convinced that it isn't a turkey that has been coloured in with felttip. There would have been a couple of photos of young bluetits too, but the robin has been very territorial over the Tesco 'healthy eating' seed crackers I keep throwing around, and he's chased them off. I'll just have to watch out the window for further opportunities- oh, it's a hard life......

Well it's about time too..

2009-01-31T12:15:00.000-08:00

Hurrah, huzzah and 'Ally-bloomin-loo-yer. We finally have an internet connection! It has simply taken ages. I never thought it would mean that much to us, but it really has been frustrating trying to run the business without it. Not as frustrating as trying to get set up with Talktalk though. Mike is thankful for not being the most hairy-headed fellow around, as he hasn't had to endure the pain of pulling it all out clump by clump dealing with them. Two weeks of bungled, mis-informed telephone calls later, and those were the ones we weren't hung up on, we found out that 'someone had cancelled the original agreement and we would have to start all over again, if we wanted'. Well, no siree! No thankee indeedy! We phoned BT, and in little over a week later are now fully operational and ready to roll. That big sigh you can probably hear is our collective relief! Smooth operations are now the order of the day, and getting back up to speed with blogland is next priority!

Posted are some photos of the 'new adventures in silk' I'm working on. I'm going to have to come clean- I am totally hooked on the flow of silk paints! I have only started with smaller items to get the feel, but today I stretched on a large cushion, applied my design and had fun with salt. The results are stunning, although the colour hasn't shown up as in real life. Eventually I would like to apply the silk paints as close to fine art as I can get- but that wont be for a while yet! In the meantime, what colours can I mix up now! Oh, and that hairy rolling pin picture turned out to be the grey/green stripey scarf, in case you were wondering! Enjoy!

Plumping up...

2009-01-14T11:08:00.000-08:00

It's a bit quiet out. The only thing moving is tumbleweed. Inside is a different matter; it is warm and busy. I enjoy winter's days like this, ensconced cosily with lots to be getting on with. Many people are getting back to painting routines now after the festivities, life clicking back into place. We still feel a bit out of kilter after setting up the new place, but are getting back into the throws of good, honest work. I have picked up the paintbrushes and Mike's back to the virtual grindstone. The craft side of my work is now starting to pad out the smaller areas here, but I think it will be a fortnight before I can start on canvas again. There was also the strange matter of my index finger suddenly developing an independent will of it's own, and pressing a button that ordered some beautiful silks. Don't you just hate it when that happens?

Sigh.

There's nothing for it I suppose... I am just going to have to paint all that too!

A quiet start....

2009-01-07T12:03:00.000-08:00

Well, that's the first day over and done with. We had to beat back the throngs of customers and hire donkeys to carry our bulging money bags home for us, it was THAT busy.

Not really.

Two friends popped in during the morning, and I spoke to another couple outside looking for a coffee shop later on, and that was it! I'm ashamed to say I even offered to make a cuppa for them. It was the same for everyone else down there, so we all spent time in each others workshops having a good old chinwag and a proper nose at each others' wares. Tops fun indeed! So while it may not have been the most prosperous day financially, it certainly was for building up friendships. The quiet time was good for catching up on thinking without haste too, and I realised this blog has sailed past it's first birthday without me even noticing. How remiss- I promise I have never done that with my children!

Altogether now.. Happy Birthday to Blog, happy birthd- yeah, yeah, blah!

Here's to another year x

'Twas the night before......

2009-01-06T12:33:00.000-08:00

Well, it is almost upon us. Come rain or shine (more like sleet and snow) we open our new workshop cum gallery tomorrow. Bar a few minor tweakings we are ready too having worked harder than a handkerchief at flu clinic, for the last couple of days. Our 'it's all coming together nicely moment' was when the floor had a coat of paint and looked all clean, shiny and new. I know it wont last long so I took a photo for posterity. It looked so good I think I will actually enjoy sweeping it for say, ooh, at least another 3 days before I get bored! White-washing the cladding has opened the room up and sets off the paintings better than the previous natural wood colour. We've almost managed to hide my messier, working studio area and give Mike's side of the business more of an office/customer feel with 'it does exactly what it says on the tin' room dividers. Neat. Literally!

As for the rest of it, pieces will be added hot off the production line. I must confess there was a slight balking at the idea of sitting in front of the window where the world can walk by and see me painting away, being the shy, retiring and quiet woman I am ( ha! May I BE forgiven?!) Fortunately I have found my hairbrush, and have a daily mantra of ' just get over yourself will you girlie' which seems to be working! Now here's a difference between the sexes... I'm worried about being self conscious and on show, while my hubby is worried about having to rely on Talktalk for broadband down there! On reflection,methinks his is the bigger worry.

Anyway, must fly- things to do, like crossing our fingers.......

A jangling of keys....

2009-01-05T12:24:00.000-08:00

Look what Santa gave us for Christmas. Our very own workshop/gallery to flourish in. Mike and I are more excited than the vicar of Dibley on a factory tour of Cadbury's. We keep trying to act our age but it is proving difficult to suppress the joy. We join a lovely little community and this area is a tourist hotspot too, so things will never be dull! If you have five minutes spare a quick Google of the Tithebarn Workshops in Bradford on Avon will shed further light on these beautiful buildings, although I know I will waffle on about here as soon as I get a lengthier chance. In the meantime we have lots of plotting, painting and posting of photos ( whoo, p-p-pick up a penguin alliteration!) to be occupying us- not to mention challenging the little grey cells with the mensa-defying shelving flat packs we bought. I think tea tonight will be a vat of omega3 oil and a tin of spinach. Yum.......

It's a new day, it's a new dawn, it's a ....

2008-12-27T12:29:00.000-08:00

Oooh it's nice to be back. We had a great Christmas which went without a hitch... almost. Last year I personally saw the tree and all the trimmings and crimble wotnots go up in the loft as they always do. Could we find them this year? Save for two glass stars and a length of fairy lights the whole lot had mysteriously disappeared. I blame the Hedron Collider of course. Now it's been switched on a wormhole has opened up between it's core and our roof space and all our Christmasses past are now deepest, darkest anti-matter. Strange but true. I was fortunate enough to have a brain hiccough one day in Ikea though and bought a massive bunch of brown twigs, and now I know why. A standby for lost trees. It kind of works too in a minimalistic fashion! The only slight twinge of regret that we have over the missing tree is we had got to that stage where there was no psychotic cat to pull it over, no dog to eat everything on or under it, and the childrens' hand to eye coordination for decorations supremely past that 'sneezed on' look that we all know and love. Oh well!

We have also had the most incredible week workwise. We have a workshop/gallery! We get the keys on the 1st Jan and we cannot stop grinning! In fact have another exclamation mark in celebration with us! The unit is one of a well-established group in the Tithe Barn area of Bradford on Avon, and a good footfall spot too, so things are looking decidedly exciting for us. As you can imagine there is a lot of sorting to do from painting floors and walls, building workstations and counters, getting 'stock' organised and displayed etc, so posting will be a little sporadic. Photos will follow naturellement- any excuse to point the Panasonic, heh?! In the meantime Happy New Year Everyone, have a corker!

2008-12-24T10:21:00.000-08:00

MANY HAPPY FESTIVITIES
TO EACH AND ALL
See you soon
Mike and Serena

A good time was had........

2008-12-15T08:33:00.000-08:00

Well we have made it back in one piece from the exhibition, but the tonne of mince pies and vat of mulled wine didn't! I think people were initially quite taken aback with the idea of a free winter warmer as they perused the art on offer, but given a few seconds all of them were very accommodating to the idea! And can you blame them? It was colder than a snowman's bottom. The picture above is the picnic area next to the West Barn where we were. As you can see another thing Bradford on Avon is noted for is it's flooding. The hills the town is built on is like a giant Aero bar made up of caves. The rain permeates through all of this and ends up at the already swollen river, which then goes pop- and gives me a glorious photo opportunity like this. Isn't he a beauty? The ducks, coots and moorhens struggled with the water flow (every now and again you would see one hurtling past at breakneck speed, looking bemused in an avian manner) but this fellow swept majestically around as if on castors.
Anyhow, I digress as ever. All this talking to lots of people over the weekend has left me with an attack of the verbals which hasn't quite dissipated yet. Coming from my little ivory tower to such a public event can be quite difficult to start with and really shows up the lack of conversational tools I own! The juggernaut gets rolling though, and then I find it hard to stop..... February is looking good! All I really wanted to say, was a really big thank you to everyone who stopped by, looked around and chatted with us. We had another successful show to end the year on, and have taken commissions to start the next year off in an encouraging way. What more can a girl want?
So a very heartfelt
THANK YOU

( and for the summer exhibition it'll be Pimms, o.k?!)

Robin redbreast.....

2008-12-09T13:26:00.000-08:00

Woot.

Finished him. He has a happy face unlike the previous wren picture. That bird looked concerned about something, with a hint of being miffed too. At least this chappie brings with him an air of Christmas cheer. I read somewhere that Chinese postmen are called 'robins' because they wear red jackets as part of their uniform, but it was probably on wikipedia so don't quote me!

Wren on branch (watercolour and pencils, 6" approx)

2008-12-09T09:25:00.000-08:00

A little Jenny wren as a quick posting- I have told myself I absolutely MUST finish the next one tonight. It will be a robin, so I can use it for my Christmas cards too, eh?! Genius, I can kill two birds with one stone..... oops, wrong choice of words possibly in these circumstances. Laters (forgive the informality in that, I'm in a rush and manners are the first to go, followed closely by decorum given half a chance.) :o)

And I forgot to attach the picture, after all that. What a lala. Here we go again........

Chop, chop, busy, busy......

2008-12-07T08:31:00.001-08:00

I have been busy.

Well, we all have here to be fair. Try as I might i cannot take all the credit for working hard. It got so busy on the printing side I had to scrub clean and help out. Anyone would think it was christmas card season, and giving gifts of photo canvases to all! In the midst of all this productivity the new Garden Studio arrived flat packed, with the legend " should take two competent people 4-6 hours to complete." How rubbish do we feel now that three of us have taken 5 days and it's still not finished? Where's Nick Knowles when you need him? It's been cold, wet and thoroughly miserable weather so there was a very small ripple of gratitude when the roof went on, which quickly dissipated from my 6' 3" son. I'm sure his head would take a phrenologist weeks to read there are so many bumps on it. The instructions too have proved wearing. Apparently, the Kensington we ordered is really a Westminster with a verandah attached. I'm thinking of going to London and building a little picket fence with floorboards all around Westminster and renaming it Kensington, and see where that leads oh yes! All this DIY distress will be worth it, as space is becoming a premium here now. This studio will be ideal for displaying glass wares, and hold the new kiln arriving in January (New year, new challenge.) I can play shop too, or just have somewhere else to dolly daydream. Marvellous.

We had our first gallery interview this week and my works were accepted. I can't show until next september when there is space available, but I am still a wee bit excited, I must confess. I always got "you're not what we are looking for, I'm afraid" - without even seeing my work. Those that bothered to reply anyway! Which has just left me with the 'self-exhibiting' (oo er missus, steady on) route. Fine fun indeed, but all has to go back in storage afterwards ready for the next one.

Next one.

Heavens to Betsy, only 5 days now. I better get a wriggle on.

Bradford on Avon Bridge, oil on canvas 20"x27"

2008-11-28T10:17:00.000-08:00

Ta dah! As promised earlier here is the painting of Bradford's main town bridge, after an 8 hour shift. I have quite a bit left to do, but have made great inroads. There will lots of foliage to paint at the bottom and of course I have to put the top on the Old Lock Up (main part of the picture.) This prison cell can fit one (unlucky) person in, and hangs over the river- quite a deterrent from crime in the good old days I'll wager. This is quite a tourist attraction, and once a year it is opened to the public to cast an eye inside. I haven't done the tour yet but can't imagine it will take long! I think it's home to spiders so I may have to give it a miss...

Fancy a quickie!

2008-11-28T02:28:00.000-08:00

Well I'm all undercoated and gridded up. I have my music on, I have had my 3 cups of coffee, and the egg timer has been turned over- let's go.
It's 10.30 am and I will post whatever state this is in at 6.30pm...regardless.
Oh the ways in which we motivate ourselves!

Oh oh, need another cuppa- can I stop the sands of time for that?

Seascape ( oil on canvas 27"x40")

2008-11-26T13:34:00.000-08:00

Yawn.

I can't keep my eyes open any longer!
Night all and pleasant dreamzzzzz zz z
:o)

Whitehill, Bradford on Avon part2 (Diptych)

2008-11-20T07:48:00.000-08:00

"Lovely painting, rubbish jigsaw puzzle!"

I have finally finished the second part of the painting. More wet-in-wet technique, as you can tell by the softness. The paintbrush 'bought it' though, becoming little more than a knub. It's such a shame, I am just going to have to replace it. It will need a friend too. I am of course to paintbrushes what Amy Winehouse is to hairspray, but it is my only vice. Well, you can't beat a good filbert can you?

Back to the grindstone..... :o)

Whitehill (oil on canvas 8"x20") ......

2008-11-18T03:50:00.000-08:00

Part one.

The plot thickens...

'Escape' -Oil on canvas (16'x20')

2008-11-15T08:18:00.000-08:00

Well now, how did that happen? I seem to have painted another boat scene, minus moorings again, too. Got a bit more to add , smooth away and tidy up but it's nearly there. Hmm, note to self- better paint the edges! This is of a stretch of the river running through Bradford on Avon further down from the ubiquitous view most people go for, and indeed my next subject matter, in a 'I'm-not-jumping-on-the-local-artist-does-the-main-bridge-band-wagon-but-yes-i-am-if-I'm-being-honest'.....(breathe)..... way. This part shown is just as the river leaves town and heads out to country. Alongside runs a lovely pathway which takes you for miles past narrow boats, wildlife and mature treelines. I have never met an unhappy person on this walk- although some of the runners struggle to smile.
These canoes are always tied up here, quite some way out from people easily getting to them. A few have been "lost" in the past, hence big chains and only water access now. For my husband's 40th we hired a couple, us in one and our then teenagers in the other. The boys spent the whole outing screaming with pain from poor steering and riverside brambles as thick as your arm. By the time they got out they looked like extras for a Sam Peckinpah movie. We thought it best to swap partners over, and in the melee I was left dangling midair from an old rusty railing. No one would help, because they couldn't move for laughter. Did I mention this was in February, too?
I'll stick to painting them from now on

New book cover design....

2008-11-05T08:25:00.000-08:00

No time for chit-chat today, I'm busier than a roll of patterned wallpaper from Ikea. I have had time though to sort out the 2nd book cover I have been working on, and 'hoo-flippin-rah' there's not a sniff of Darth Vader in this design! Hopefully the author Julie (Mulholland if you want to check her out!) likes this, as it made a nice change drawing. Right, off to screw my leg on.... my everlasting painting is calling.

Vettriano who?!

2008-11-01T09:24:00.001-07:00

Well now. Hasn't it been a week for offensive remarks? First we had Sachsgate rearing it's ugly head, then we had some Vettriano vitriol volleying about.
I really like his style of work and technique, if not the subject matter. His paintings are beautifully crafted and polished off to perfection, however, singing butlers don't really feature in my world, and his depicted people all look like they have absolutely nothing better to do with their lives- again, not something that features strongly in reality either! There is no denying the beauty of his paintings though. Which is why I was a little surprised when he said 'No' to the National Galleries of Scotland as regards a portrait of Monty. The 'No' wasn't a problem, it was the nasty "I don't do men with breasts." Charmless.
Monty's reply? "Vettriano who?"
No hoo-hah ensued, and in the non-existant aftermath I realised I wasn't as snobby as Jack, so...
if the National Galleries of Scotland are reading this.... I 'do' men, and love boobs. Make of that what you will! I have a couple of things to finish off, but January is looking good, O.K?
Pictured are two WIPs- the first is the latest on the large abstract that I mentioned previously as homage to Jonas Gerard. The second is a variation of the big grey seascape. I experimented with the base colour under the oils in more of a drastic manner than I felt comfy with, but it has worked. More by luck than judgement, but I'll take it! Have a good weekend all, and remember.... there is a portrait job going up in Scotland (Prudes need not apply!) :o)

Rain stopped play......

2008-10-28T09:52:00.000-07:00

Having spent the last week or so hunched over toxic solvent based glass paints all in the name of art (and money, of course) I decided enough was enough. The studio smells like a glue sniffer's paradise and I am worried about rheumy-eyed, slack-jawed, hoody-wearing delinquents camping outside. I fear I've become a cheap date however- for £1.95, a 15 ml bottle of Kelly Green gives you all the symptons of a great(?) night out without actually imbibing. Slurred words, inane conversation, mood swings and complimentary blinding headaches all for a mere snip! Joy. So I made a dash for it.
Now...
Over on 'Off the Wall Art' last week, Babs posted a blog pointing out this lively and energetic abstract artist, Jonas Gerard. As soon as I had watched the YouTube video of him working away, I knew at some point in my life I just had to have a go. He jiggles and dances his way through the whole painting process, chucking paint around with wild abandon and happy good-naturedness. Although I prefer to work my art in a detailed way, something must be said for the sheer feel good factor of cutting loose and going bananas. Today was the day, so I made up a big canvas (70"x20") and set up outside in the lovely autumnal afternoon sunshine. Cue 'head' music ( I didn't want anyone to know I was outside and no one can hear if you get a case of the mondegreens!) ranging from Lark Ascending , morphed into Blue Monday with a hefty lump of Under Pressure for good measure, and I was off (.... off my trolley, more like.) The songs weren't working though, I needed to remember some real hip shakers to wriggle around to whilst daubing. The Sugababes popped in, Pointer Sisters, Yes sir I can boogie... I haven't shaken my 'booty' in anger since 1994! The paint went flying on, here, there, everywhere. Both hip replacements were popping, squeaking and groaning like a rusty pair of castanet accompaniments, but I didn't care! Throw another dollop on! I was on the second rendition of 'Push the button', when it happened.
Plip!
Plip plop.
I looked up, and whoomph! Deluge. Thunder, lightening and hailstones (pictured) replaced the sunshine in seconds. I heard my husband say "what the bloody hell have you done to the weather, woman!" from the safety of indoors, as I struggled to get a six foot painting out of harms way. On reflection, what I imagined were sassy, with it, cool dance moves actually turned out to be a corker of a Rain Dance. I wonder if Jonas Gerard ever gets that problem? I did however achieve what I originally set out to do, as a dousing of ice cold rainwater is every bit as envigorating as a spot of Plein Air in the sunshine. I know which I prefer though.

Terror Terrier!

2008-10-20T04:00:00.000-07:00

Rah! Let's drape the bunting around and pop open a jar of olives- I've finally finished this commission off. I felt a strange affinity with this dog ( and no! Not a 'one old dog to another' type connection!) as I have finally found something that hates having their photo taken, as much as me! Look at his protestations- I'm going to try that next time. I had to take about 20 pictures just to get one that wasn't blurred from him trying to make a break for it, or showing a set of teeth that would make a piranha look like Nemo. Spirited little fellow, bless him! Joking aside, I enjoyed doing this as I like detail. I derive quite a sense of satisfaction making things look like 'what they aughta' down to the last molecule, but it doesn't last too long. I also derive a huge amount of pleasure just throwing loads of paint around in wild abandon too. Think it all depends on the tension of my knicker elastic on any given day. Have fun!

Great British Summer (5' x 4') oil on canvas...

2008-10-10T10:05:00.000-07:00

I don't have much time, so just a quickie. I have a big question to ask though, so any guidance would be more than helpful. Are you supposed to paint the edges of your canvas? There, straight out with it! I only ask because, not being trained 'proper-loike, Mr 'Iggins', I don't know what the form is on these things. This oil painting got sent back to me to 'finish off' (I don't think a frame will be applied, so there-in probably lies the answer.) What did I do? Well, as I'm told to of course! But I wouldn't mind being a bit more scientific about it next time.....

Freeform tabletops (new range)...

2008-10-08T09:14:00.000-07:00

It's been all go today, and we're also settling in for a long night's work here, too- which of course isn't a problem when you've got those creative juices flowing (it's when you haven't that it's a struggle!) Pictured are two tabletops for starters. I use oil based glass paints for these, and just freestyle "draw" the paints on from a pipette. The whole lot moves around on it's own accord, so you have to make sure your desk is well and truly level! I tried out two of these at my earlier show, which got snapped up immediately. Thought I'd do a couple more for the next one in December. The vase pictured is a new style I have found, and for this I have used alcohol inks. I think it gives a lovely watercolour effect no other glass paints can recreate. The photo was taken whilst the sun was beating through the window today, so if you can't tell what it is....it's poppies in a field! It's a whopper too, standing at 80cms high. Can you imagine the size of the flowers you'll need to put in it? Not your average posy, that's for sure!

Luke... (kkcrkkghh!) I am your father

2008-10-07T10:47:00.000-07:00

Another day, another book cover! This is an idea for the sequel to Julie's first book. It is at present untitled, but the story carries on from the previous book, with a heavy leaning towards the judicial system and it's consequences. Carrying on the theme of cross-cultural differences, but reflecting the idea of courtroom drama, I came up with this idea. I painted it all separately, and then scanned it all in, to eventually place it on a gradated backdrop. It looks really good in all it's disjointed bits.... but put all together I can't help but get the feeling that Darth Vader has taken up arc-welding. Hmm. Another play I think.

Is this a dagger I see before me.....

2008-10-03T12:10:00.000-07:00

I really annoy myself sometimes (did you hear that? I think it was my husband's eyebrows lifting from the office next door!) I woke up and for no reason whatsoever, suddenly decided I didn't like the book cover idea any more. I'm sure it's the lack of detail; it might just as well have been 'because it's Friday' or that the price of cereal has gone up (broccoli on the other hand has come down).....who knows? I'd have to say, I sure pick my moments to get antsy with something. I'm up to the eyes with commissions, and I help myself how?! But all is well now. I have even managed to get two pictures out of one, an arty BOGOF if you like. After finishing the rose part of the drawing, it quickly got scanned for all-purposes, and then returned to the desk, for the dagger to be painted, and extra leaves added. I couldn't scan the result as it was too big, and anyway, Mike was having problems with his 'padding' so he didn't have time ( I have problems with my padding too- are jeans getting smaller?!) So I took a photo, which will account for the colour discrepancies. I feel harmoniuos and at one with the world now, as I feel that this image sums up romance and intrigue succinctly. Whoa...hang on and hold the bus.... is that reminiscent of a tattoo?
Lordy. There I go again.
Before I sign off and head for what other people have been up to in blogland, I have to mention my friend. She has spent the last 2 years designing her new website and it has finally gone live, which is very exciting. Her name is Cate Alfano and her webby is www.atmospheric-art.co.uk (you'll have to copy and paste the url- I can't remember the html for links!) Her work is computer generated and quite 'other-worldly' but she still retains a traditional feel to her paintings. She'd love to see you over there. If you like colour, you'll love this site... enjoy!!

New book cover....

2008-10-01T12:08:00.000-07:00

Just found an extremely quick way of publishing posts... press enter after you have tapped your title in! Hey presto, an immediate post with no content whatsoever, which wasn't quite what I had in mind. A wee bit too minimalist for my liking- I've gotten fond of my waffle. Luckily there's an edit button to remedy the phantom posting, so let's get talkative!
I have spent most of the day finishing off the idea for the book cover I mentioned previously. The original cover has a silhouette photo of a bloke running, with a sniper sight nearby. Which is fine... but the book is essentially a love story/ thriller, and this cover was only appealing to men ( and possibly woman with PMT!) So I have tried to redress the balance with a storytelling picture that has heavy elements of romance, but with a healthy dose of intrigue too. The photos are of various stages of development along with the original cover- and not brilliantly taken, but they give you an idea of what's what. There is still no definite on the font styles and colours yet, that will be the next stage, if/once (?!) the image is approved. I am genuinly pleased with how it has gone, and I especially like the image reaching round the whole book. What do you think? Over to you! I'm off to start on the sequel...

p.s. extra Brownie points if you can spot the typo on the book blurb!

Kingfisher resting .........

2008-09-23T09:35:00.000-07:00

Boy oh boy, didn't I just get the best present ever! I have been after a set of these for far too long now, and had all but forgotten my urge to spend more money on yet more watercolour pencils! For some people it's shoes- me? Art stuff! In my defense, this was a real bargain, promise! £40+ off the cheapest I could find anywhere else AND free p and p. Good 'ol Ebay. Got enough left over now to buy...a pair of shoes!
I have been toying for a wee while to a range of birds in the same manner as my butterflies which have proved so popular (well, if it isn't broke etc!) I enjoy this type of work too, with monochrome backgrounds off-setting splashes of colour. Tres effective methinks. So here is the first..... and yes! I have unashamedly gone for a crowd pleaser, but then, what's not to like about a kingfisher?! A simply stunning bird.

I'll huff and I'll puff.....

2008-09-19T09:15:00.000-07:00

I invented a new drink today. Coke zero with gold coloured 'perfect pearls' iridescent powder. It looked lovely- didn't taste too good though! Oh, the joys of card-making today. And why did I have golddust in my drink? Simple really. Clarinet lessons when I was 11. All I had to do was gently blow the powder onto the wet paint (Ha! That just has to be said in a Michael Caine accent!) Instead I think I gave the Solar winds a run for their money. It went everywhere, and more besides. However, if you ask my hubby, he'd say it was because of my big breaths, boom boom, 'cause he's funnier than me! He too has been working on cards all day- personalised Christmas cards for businesses etc. Sigh.
Whatever happened to summer?

P.S. A big high 5 to Babs for starting something funny off!!!
And of course her lovely comments- I am still chuckling away! Babs- your the coolest!! TC x

Back to work?!.........

2008-09-16T11:49:00.000-07:00

We went back to the grindstone today. Well, when I say we, what I actually meant was my husband worked , while I, (and get this!) HAD to read a book for research! Straight up! Am I not the most jammiest, luckiest person? It was a cracking read too! The Iraqi, by Julie Mulholland. We are meeting tomorrow to discuss a possible book cover design, so I thought it only right and proper to check out her work. A quick-paced read, that keeps you going to the last page, with it's adventures. What a way to spend the afternoon! My poor hubby on the other hand, is still catching up with printing orders. However, he is of course Superman, and has now got his new site up and running. If you fancy a nose, check out YourStart .We now are gearing up for a big advertising campaign to get it 'out there'- fingers crossed and all that.
The picture posted is of two more glass panels I have completed- one in blues and greens, the other in tongue-in-cheek leopard spots! I just have to tidy them up ready for the mirrored backings to go on, and Bob's your uncle! Enjoy

It's all Greek to me!

2008-09-15T13:06:00.000-07:00

These photos are the reason why there has been precious little going on here at SerenArts, for the last week or so! Too busy chasing the sun, instead of working. "Well!" I hear you cry. " It's all right for some! And it was- in fact, better than alright! It was just perfect!!! Parts of Greece, as anywhere, are beautiful, but this part was truly breathtaking... on the foothills of the mountains with only the wildlife breaking the silence. Oh, and us of course shrieking with childish abandon in the pool! We shared the pool with frogs, bats and swallows of an evening, and the little private beach with a very odd, octopus fisherman, that you could hear for miles hooking up the entire contents of his throat to spit out between the stanzas of his badly sung sea-shanties! Maybe it was bait, who knows, but we all got a fit of the giggles over it!
I hope you like these photos- I have come back full of inspiration for new paintings and cannot wait to get on with things. So watch this space for all that is Greekly sunny, calm and tranquil, inspired by our little slice of paradise we were privy to. Enjoy!

ps... can you see the little praying mantis in the leaf photo? What were the chances of spotting that fellow, heh?!

Oscar the Tibetan Terrier....

2008-09-03T11:42:00.000-07:00

Hmm. Posting this blog via an old laptop- so it is this font or nothing else! I'm not complaining. What this 'puter lacks in memory-sapping typefaces, it more than makes up for in warmth for my lap! This is just a quick post to keep on top of things. The new domain for YourStART has now been registered etc., and is just waiting to be uploaded. Mike has now added 5 more art templates to choose from and fine-tuned his services package. I too have been busy, and completed 4 more commissions of the freeform abstract glass panels that are proving very popular. As a busman's holiday I did this little chappie for a friend of ours. I don't often do pet portraits, but it got such a rapturous reception, I may do more! Apparently these little Tibetan Terriers are lightning quick, mini sheep herders and have flat feet so they can stand on fences. Well.....it seems very plausible to me.

(Might just go google this now!)

Fine tuning....

2008-08-26T07:38:00.000-07:00

Can we sue the weather? Just wondered.

I downloaded a little blog gadget which generates a random colour theme to hopefully inspire new combos and generally colour up the world. The first two it came up with were shades of grey. How rubbish is that? There's plenty of that outside my window. I may start a movement off to replace the word 'sky' in every dictionary globally, with the word 'grey' and vise versa! I'm even feeling too uncharitable to show leniency and call it silver. Or steel. Or gunmetal. Or powdered possum pelt. Bog-standard boring grey, that's what it is. Blech!
Today has been website tune-up day. Re-photoing, rewriting and reloading stock etc on mine, and getting on with building up Mike's new one in progress. He has popped it onto his big webby, so if you like you can view it here but you have to promise to come back here again!! Or have a scoot through his main site - after all, everyone needs business cards, surely! How about wedding stationery? Or big canvas prints of their own works (or big canvas prints of my works!? Ahhh. I'm a one heh?!) If anyone does take a squizz, feedback would be most welcome!
Got to toddle off now- commissions to deliver and all that. Or out for another adventure in Arthur the big red van, really! Take care...any which way but grey!

New directions...

2008-08-20T12:56:00.000-07:00

Isn't it remarkable how a break in your ordinary day to day runnings, gives rise to new ideas and inspiration? My husband has worked tirelessly (when there is no football on, anyway!) to help get me up and running. New business cards for me every time the wind changes, posters that can take all day because I need to see EVERY font he has (6000+, hoo I can push my luck sometimes!) and translating my rambling glumphy ideas ( for those that don't speak serena, that was lumpy and gumph btw!) into coherent web pages for my website he designed. Not to mention any large scale canvas printing I feel I cannot do without, there and then. Ergo, an idea has formed, from his watchful eye at my exhibition. Mike is now in the process of putting together a basic package for artists to get themselves set up, through him, with stationery, branding if needed, small portfolio-style website with gallery pages etc, web hosting, exhibition space, and fine art giclee reproduction onto a variety of media. This all needs fine tuning of course, but the wheels have already been set in motion. I will naturally be passing on more detailed info as it happens. It seems non-sensical to have all this wherewithal and experience laying dormant.
And isn't it also remarkable that within 5 mins of being back in the studio your desk does a masterful impression of being buried alive! At least it proves I am getting on with all those commissions!

Ever onwards......

2008-08-19T08:57:00.000-07:00

It feels strange being back in the Studio. I quite enjoyed getting dressed up to go out to 'work', with clothes that had no paint on them. I felt a twinge of regret pulling on my coverall that looks like it's been through ten rounds of extreme paint-balling! We have been busy today catching up on deliveries and commissions, whilst also searching for the next venue. Anyone one would think we thoroughly enjoyed this 'exhibiting do-dah!?'
Highlights of the show have included people coming along from the Bath and West earlier this year- so advertising and shameless self-promotion seems to work. Commissions have featured well also, in different medias....I have loads to do now, so 'Whoo!'- no getting listless and un-focused for me. The more work for me, the more sane my husband becomes (less time for disruptive behaviour from madam here!) There may also be a commission in the offing for a book cover. I had a very quick chat with a lovely lady who has released a book, and is now ready to release her second one. Her name is Julie Mulholland and her first book is called 'The Iraqi'- if you check out her website she has posted some preview chapters (well-written, racy and pacy) to read, but don't stop there....buy the book, especially if I have done the cover on it!! Hee!
Another highlight has of course been the wonderful feedback and comments of appreciation received. It can be quite hard to gauge where you are, when you are sat alone in an ivory tower day in day out. On reflection, I now know I gave good account, and also now know of ways forward. A big thank you to everyone who took time out to come and drop by to see us, and chat. Some of you came from afar, for which we are deeply grateful.
The pictures are of local interest which didn't get shown on the blog before the show, so I'm posting these to big-up our town! The West Barn is now occupied by another artist, Simon Hodges, who is there for two weeks. His work is wonderful and well worth the visit if you are in the area.
And that's quite enough promoting other people for one night!

More from the West Barn..........

2008-08-12T11:38:00.000-07:00

Day two has been a soggy ol' affair and then some! Last year when we hired the Barn, the electric sockets were on the floor. This year we noticed that they have been re-sited up the walls.....found out why during a particularly heavy downpour! Mike and his broom did a fair impression of Neptune, and we thought we could fashion a raft to punt people around the exhibits. It would be novel! The accompanying photos are of the immediate area while the sun was brave.
I have lots to catch up on tonight, so I will keep this post short, however tomorrow's blog will be of what has been moving, and of the many people we have been meeting, so we'll see you tomorrow?!

At the West Barn.....

2008-08-11T12:10:00.000-07:00

A fantastic preview evening was had indeedy! Lovely people, lovely comments and luckily for me, lots of sales to keep me painting ever onward. Something of everything went too, no one area has dominated over others for anyone who likes to know these things! Oil, watercolour, glass, photography, cards etc., all gave good account. All sizes too, whether over five feet or under 5 inches. A real mixed bag! (And impossible to predict as ever!) There were some wonderfully animated conversations over the paintings, especially "The Decision"- it seems we all have a story or opinion about wedding rings! (There was a surreal moment where it transpired several of us were all on second marriages, and spoke of where our 1st golden bands had ended up!) The power of a painting to promote such a wave of communication was awesome. I may pursue a more story-telling style in further pictures, purely for the unique reactions that different people take from your work. I would just like to say a really big THANK YOU to everyone who turned up and made the night so special- and you are all most welcome to come back and finish off the Pimms! We still have loads...help!!? Strangely, we found it hard to give it away today. Another fine day of (smaller) sales and warm conversations, but I fear people are a wee bit suspicious when we try to ply them with a free drink! They only relent when we tell them we used to run pubs and it is second nature to us!
Stop! Enough now of us, me and Serenarts! I really must mention the building before I sign off. It is a stunning piece of conservation work that has won many accolades- it is also getting quite a well-earned reputation for artists exhibiting. It dates back to before the beginning of the world began, was completely destroyed by fire in the '80's and then just left to ruin in the British weather. Finally in 2003 it was reopened by Charlie, after a total rebuild to a sympathetic original plan, using much of the original excavated stone. Clever stuff. It now sits like the final jewel in an old crown of mediaeval buildings here. There is a wonderful minstrel gallery overlooking the lower hall, and I have included a few photos (in no particular order , I'm afraid- no time to sort!) that will hopefully give you all an idea of the old and new history this place signifies. Tomorrow I will post a proper homage to all the buildings down here. Might pull in a few architects wandering by too! Enjoy!

All hands on deck..

2008-08-09T13:07:00.000-07:00

Yey! Finally resurfaced!
The last three weeks have been a flurry of activity. The last three months before, lulled us into a false sense of bravado with time-keeping. Ha! Well it all caught up with a vengeance! I actually quite enjoy the last burst getting everything ready for an exhibition (though it probably doesn't show!!) Sleeves rolled up, shoulders set for action and paintbrush a-flying...I always feel useful when it's manic panic stations! We have spent most of today getting things in situ, ready for tomorrow's preview evening, and can now calm down a bit and enjoy the ride! Just have to remember to buy the cucumber for the Pimms- we can manage that!
The only down side to all this is not having the time to blog, and not being able to catch up on other peoples. It is fascinating part of the day to drop in and see what's going on globally, and you get quite attached to certain bloggers and their lives! Without wishing life away, roll on the 18th- I can spend all day catching back up again! A well earned treat.
The picture is the poster Mike has created for the advertising- I had to share it, as I think it's lovely and should pull people in!

A riot of colour...

2008-07-23T09:34:00.000-07:00

We have a day off here- I only had to become 40 to wangle it, mind! I shouldn't be posting- there's too much fun to be had elsewhere! But thought I could quickly share a few photos of the beautiful flowers my Mum and Stepdad sent. Aren't they gorgeous- the flowers aren't too bad, either!!!!! Enjoy!

View Over Exmoor...oil on canvas 20"x20"

2008-07-22T14:42:00.000-07:00

I like sheep, especially as kleftico.
Only joshing!

Another day, another rich landscape! One of these days I'll surprise myself and go all muted and soft, but I can't see it happening for a while! This is one for Mems and Peps as it's their neck of the world. I think if memory serves, this is heading out towards Porlock. I could be wrong though- ask anyone who knows me, about my sense of direction, or lack of it really. I only have two directions... "that way" and "over there"- nothing else!

Seascape in oils....

2008-07-21T14:49:00.000-07:00

Short post,
No time,
This one's for Babs,
from my production line!

Jimmy....

2008-07-20T11:01:00.000-07:00

A year on and still missed. We had to mention him as he was an active team member of SerenArts. No-one could pull out paper from the printer and shred it as quickly as he. Or drink the paint brush water you had just gone and fetched as messily as he. He would creatively add extra letters to any typing you were working on by standing on the keyboard. And considered it his duty to rid the studio of those dangerous and pesky loo rolls, by chewing up and spitting out everywhere little lumps of wet tissue paper. No stock photo shoot was ever completed without him regally sitting next to the latest piece- to protect it of course. And boy could he paint! He would just load up his paws by walking over a current oil on canvas, and artistically spread his daubs all over the place. Now who else has such an office/studio assistant like that, heh?! One in a million.
Rest In Pilchards, Jimmy x

Large seascape in oils.....5'x4'

2008-07-19T12:42:00.000-07:00

Phwoar, what a whopper. No, it's not an actress and bishop joke, just me enthusing in a bawdy british manner on the size of this painting with a cheap double entendre! (Got the Devil in me tonight- might have something to do with the impending 'birthday of note' coming up- that, or I'm just a rude mare really!) I definitely became a dirty mare today, as I had more paint on myself than the canvas. A walking greyscale, indeed. Next time I get into that state I shall roll around on paper and get two pictures for the price of one. I could pass myself off as a collograph maybe?
For reference I again turned to the bottomless archives of our Mems' photo stock! This was going to be more true to the photo, but the minute paint hit canvas, the sheer size of the piece gave rise to flourish and added drama. I still have a bit to do on it, but just had to post.... impatient as ever, heh?!
Toying with the idea of naming this "Portrait of a British Summer!"

Kingston Mill watercolour.....

2008-07-15T08:57:00.000-07:00

Another local painting of where we live. This is a watercolour of Kingston Mill in Bradford on Avon, which used to be one of the old woollen mills the town is famous for. It has now been converted into lots of retirement flats for people with muchos moolah. My stepdad and fellow firecrew cohorts managed to completely flood out the entire building many moons ago, on an exercise. They did it in style too, as all local visiting dignitaries of note were invited to watch the firemens' expertise in an emergency!!!! One little tap turned the wrong way caused thousands of pounds worth of damage, and lots of embarrassment! Well, if your going to do something...do it big!
I found this much easier going today- it can take me a 'go' to adjust between all the different media I use. My brain felt more in tune with my hand this time! Glory!

Bradford on Avon- mainly watercolour!

2008-07-13T09:42:00.000-07:00

Haven't been lazy over here- just been away! We even had a legitimate excuse to down tools and swan off... our first wedding anniversary! We took Arthur the trusty van- and now most cherished van at that as he flew through his MOT unscathed (luckily, leaks in the roof and a nail in a tyre don't fail you! Phew!!) A lovely little campsite nr. Poole turned out to be the destination, where we chilled until the rain finally drove us back home (Hmm! Damned clever rain that!) We did stay dry by tying a clear plastic tarpaulin over the roof- if anyone asked, we were going to say it was a new style solar panel!
I did take some watercolours with the sole intention of doing more work whilst away, but as it turned out they had a holiday too. (We have a penchant for taking the post out on day trips too!) Here is the start of some local scenes in watercolours (and inks, and pencils, and and and and!) This is a view of one end of the main street. Hope you enjoy......

Oh,by the by, a big thank you to everyone who stopped and chatted to us at the Frome Art Boot Sale today. It was one of the best atmospheres we have known. Lots of happy people, and artists.... and fantastic weather. Rah! Life is good!

Narrow boats on the Avon...40"x28" oils on canvas

2008-07-03T09:28:00.000-07:00

Oh! Sweet Mary, Mungo and Midge. Hallelujah and Yahoo-di Menuhin. I've finished the barge painting. It's the big one too, so the next smaller one should be a doddle by comparison. I now need to go buy some bunting, just to be able to hang some out! This turned into a real labour of love, but it's done and what's more, I like it! Rah. That helps, I feel! I am going to celebrate by having a very long soak in the tub to try and remove the Prussian Blue I am currently wearing- I am almost certain it's not this season's colour! (Now Cerulean, that's a different story!) Enjoy!

Exmoor view....oil on canvas

2008-06-28T12:40:00.000-07:00

This is the latest one up for bat. I was starting to feel a little bogged down by the two large barge pictures I am currently working on, so took a busman's holiday with this landscape. I had my idea of fun by painting the sky upside down to freshen up my perspective- and have now realised I really do need to get out more! (Although I know I would only use the 'get out more' clause for a spot of plein air!)
Right, back to the barges.......