Hilton Christmas Fayre

Well - running late on updating the blog. Excuse is I've been really busy.

Anyway, had the local Christmas fayre at the weekend. Lots of people through the door and most of them were friends and neighbours, so it was great to catch up with all of them.

A number of new items were available - both paintings and cards - and I also got some coasters made up of my designs, which looked great. This was alongside the gift tags, keyrings and bookmarks which I always sell.

Great slot, in between two friends, so lots of chat going on. It was a very successful event and we all have signed up for the same event next November.

Now time to regroup and start trying out some ideas that I have in mind. Watch this space.

Lovely visitors at Michaelhouse exhibition

Spent the whole day manning the exhibition today - certain quiet parts of the day, which is to be expected, but got really busy at lunchtime.

Met some lovely people. One lady was told about the exhibition by a mutual friend in Spain and she thought she'd pop in! We ended up having a long chat, which was nice. Also some other artists - some I've met before (from Hemingford Art Club and other places) and a gentleman who I had a long chat with about techniques etc. He paints planes - reminded me of my Dad (who was an RAF pilot and did a few aerial paintings).

Only two more days of the Michaelhouse exhibition and then we take it all down on Sunday morning. Then have to start getting ready for the Hilton Christmas Fayre the following weekend. Here is the flyer for that event, in case anyone is in the area....

After that I can take a breather and maybe get some more art done (including designing a Christmas card for us to send out) - oh - and also start buying some Christmas presents as the festive season is approaching fast!

Half-way through Michaelhouse exhibition

Well - just over half-way through the Michaelhouse exhibition. Obviously lots of work, as we are manning it ourselves at the busy times of the day, but feedback has been good, as I believe very few artists do actually do this.

We had a very successful private view last week - lots of people through the door and a number of sales. I sold one during the event, along with quite a number of my cards...

"Close-up of Teasel"
(acrylic ink and soft pastel, done on quarter imperial Bockingford 425gsm NOT watercolour paper)

This is my latest teasel - a great subject to paint and a popular subject with people. There are so many on the fields at the moment and obviously I see them every day on the dog walk. Don't think I'll ever get tired of painting and drawing them.


Another painting that has been sold is this:

"Peacock Feathers"

(acrylic ink, done on half imperial 

Bockingford 425gsm  NOT watercolour paper)

I have done a few different peacock feather paintings. I bought a number of feathers at the local garden centre - incredibly long and difficult to manage on the table whilst painting. However, having them right in front of you, rather than relying on a photograph, really helps in terms of seeing the different colours within them.The colours available in the acrylic ink range are perfect for this subject matter. Using salt in the centres worked well also, giving a wonderful effect, whilst retaining the deepness of the blue.

Life is too busy to paint at the moment, which is a shame. After the exhibition is taken down this coming Sunday, hopefully I can start experimenting with all the new ideas I have.

Michaelhouse Centre exhibition now up and running

Nina, Sherry and I spent all of yesterday afternoon hanging the Michaelhouse exhibition in Cambridge. Our husbands joined us and we really appreciated all the work they did. What a wonderful location to exhibit in - with the beautiful arches and high ceilings of the church .

Nina's husband has taken a number of photos, which I haven't got yet. I took a few - so here is a flavour of what you could see if you manage to make it to this lovely location....

This is what you see when you first walk in. I ended up getting the first two screens and the furthest one, as my paintings are generally rather large. Sherry has the middle one and Nina the next one along.

Here are three of Nina's screens - with her wonderful linocuts.

At the far end are my three smaller screens.

In the middle are Sherry's smaller works and Nina's fourth screen on the right - and two husbands having a well-earned rest and chat!

The view when you first come into the Cafe, with our large screens to the left and up the stairs is an area where Sherry has put her really large paintings. You can also see the other husband at the top of the stairs - taking loads of much more professional photos!

This is upstairs - some new work by Sherry, that I hadn't seen before.

And on the other side of the arch - more works by Sherry.












Over the next two weeks one of us will be manning the exhibition between 10.30am - 2.30pm (ie the busy time for the cafe). So if anyone fancies a coffee break or a quick bite of lunch in a lovely setting whilst looking at art - you'd be able to meet one of us at the same time and we would love to talk about our work (what artist doesn't!)

Everything packed up, ready to go....

Just finished packing up all the paintings, ready to take to Michaelhouse on Sunday for hanging. Walls look very bare!

Here is one of my latest - another teasel (they are very popular and I love doing them).

Between Nina, Sherry and I we are manning the exhibition during the busy times of the day. Going to be in Cambridge rather a lot, I think. We think it is important that we are seen to be there, to discuss our work with visitors, although I've been to this venue quite a number of times and not seen other artists.

Anyway, looking forward to it and hope it goes down well with the visitors to the Centre.

Committed now...

Well - flyers have been printed, timetable for manning exhibition sorted, announcement in Cambridge Open Studios website diary etc etc. Lots to do - and still need to do a few more paintings beforehand! Trouble is family timetable rather busy, but hopefully over this weekend I'll get some more done.  

Next Carnelian exhibition mentioned in the press

A friend has managed to get the next Carnelian exhibition - at Michaelhouse Cafe, Cambridge in November - into the October edition of Cambridge Magazine, which is absolutely brilliant and really kind of her to go to the trouble.

It can be found on page 9 of the online version: Cambridge Magazine

No pressure, then! I better get moving....

However, I wasn't wasting time today. Had a great morning with Lyz Gardner - an Ely-based artist I first "met" on Facebook and then in person at Cambridge Open Studios. She paints landscapes with oil pastels. Her facebook page is here: Lyz Gardner

I have had that medium sitting in a cupboard for years and thought it would be good to try this medium out with someone who knows what they are doing. Back for another session with her next week, putting into practice all the techniques I learnt today. Fingers crossed I am successful - if so, it will be posted here at some stage. Nice to try out other medium and I want to see if I can mix these pastels with other medium as well - I hear a play session coming on....

Starting monochrome series

I have always liked Indian ink and the things you can do with it. This is probably why I ended up using acrylic ink, which reacts in a similar way when certain techniques are applied.

Having done many paintings in just acrylic ink, drawing with the dropper, I thought I'd try using black ink in combination.

Sunflowers are available at the moment and drawing with just yellow on white paper doesn't really work with my normal technique - not enough colour contrast. This is a combination of the two inks - don't know if it worked, but one always needs to do a little experimentation every so often....

I then thought it would be rather nice to do some monochrome pictures, foregoing my usual bright colours and just relying on the textures created by the inks.

After a few disasters (where I remembered too late that Indian ink is indelible - so if it looks quite good - leave it, don't fiddle and add more, because it doesn't work....) - I ended up with this one of sea holly. This is actually a combination of Winsor and Newton Indian ink and also their drawing ink. The former is an intense black and waterproof, the other is more subtle and not waterproof - the combination works well, giving me areas of more delicate pigment alongside intense areas.

This is a closeup of the flower head itself. I was really delighted with the textures achieved here. I wasn't sure how I was going to indicate the detail - with acrylic inks I mixed different colours together, but here I didn't have that option. Salt would give some texture, but I wanted more. So I transferred some of my rubbing alcohol into a small bottle with a dropper - combined the two products on to the wet ink and hey presto - a lovely texture. This is why it is always good to have some play time to experiment - you never know what you might come up with.

Think I am going to head upstairs again to try some more of these. I always feel that not everyone wants incredibly vibrant paintings (like my acrylic ink ones) so I want to get some different ones done for the Michaelhouse exhibition in November.

I have picked up some interesting things from the hedgerow whilst out on the dog walk - lots of berries/dried foliage available at the moment. Must remember to take secateurs next time, along with gloves and a bigger bag - love teasels, but they are pretty vicious on the fingers! Also found out that fresh cow parsley doesn't last - wilts almost immediately so will have to stick to sketching out on the fields or bringing home dried stems. However, angelica keeps going in the vase for days, so definitely going to try that in this series.

Discovering Underpainting for Pastels - Part 2

Just realised there was someone else I enjoyed watching on YouTube - so here is part 2:

Another lady I have found who does loose watery underpaintings for her pastel work is an Australian lady called Leesa Padget. I found a few videos on YouTube done by her. This was really useful, as you can see just how dribbly she gets the pastel when she wets it. The link to the one I found really useful is here : Leesa Padget 
She blocks out colour with soft pastel on her underpainting, but then wets all of it with alcohol. I asked her, on her YouTube site, a question about using the alcohol:
Leesa - great video, thank you. I occasionally use pastel and have heard of using alcohol for the underpainting, but never quite understood how to do it. Watching your video I think I can attempt this technique. I assumed that one washed the brush out each time one changed to a different area of colour, but you go from light to dark with the same pot - and also use this technique to "set" some pastel later on.

Her reply was this:
Hi Lynn, thanks for the lovely comment. As for the alcohol, you can reuse the same jar for quite a few paintings, the pastel particles will settle to the bottom after a while and as long as you don't disturb them the top part will be clean.

Great to know this, as I would have thought it could have been a pain if you had to wash out the brush every time - and although I have been able to obtain rubbing alcohol online, I haven't found it locally, so I want it to last as long as possible!

I am going to have to get upstairs and try some of these techniques. Only problem is that I can't fit a full size solid easel in my studio, as it is in the eaves and the roof is extremely low. For the underpainting techniques done by the artists mentioned on this and the previous blog, you need to have the paper/board upright, to encourage dribbles. However, I have just invested in a table one - not as brilliant, as I think standing up to do this technique frees you up, but needs must....

The only other thing coming up for me in the near future is a couple of sessions with an artist over near Ely, who I had conversed with on Facebook, but also went to her Open Studios in the summer. We have organised a couple of private workshops together - so that I can learn how to use oil pastels. She does amazing landscapes in just this medium and I would really like to know more about them. I have had some (both the basic Pentel and also the Sennelier ones) for a while, but never really used them to any great effect. Watch this space....

Discovering Underpainting for Pastels

Last November I went to West Dean College for a course on pastel painting with Sarah Bee. She opened up my eyes to exciting posibilities with soft pastel - namely underpainting. Up until then I had just layered the pastel and painted on typical pastel paper that comes in a pad. I never particularly liked the colours that comes in the pad - this stems back to me being a watercolourist by nature - I just love seeing the white of the paper showing through. The other problem with layering pastels like this is that you have to really totally cover the paper, as that paper can fade in sunlight, thereby changing the whole character of your painting.

Sarah Bee has a really novel approach - that being painting on a very loose acrylic underpainting - and that is on top of a textured surface of clear gesso - in fact the placing of the texture is just as important as the rest of it. Well - searching the internet for information today, I came across an article that came out earlier in the year from Jackson's Art Blog. It was promoting Sarah Bee and the Pastel Society's exhibition at the Mall Galleries. I actually went to this exhibition (on the recommendation of Sarah, who said I would be amazed at what people were doing with pastel nowadays - she was right). At the exhibition was the painting she had done as a demonstration at our course! It was great, as I had never seen it finished. The link to the article is here: Jackson's Art Blog about Sarah Bee The painting she did for us was the last one ‘Warm Rocks and Cool Water at Haytor Quarry’.

Since then I have discovered a couple of other artists who do interesting underpaintings to their pastels. Karen Margulis is an American artist who I have mentioned before. She does underpaintings with a number of different mediums and she is very generous in describing how she does it, step by step. Here is a link to her website - all you need to do is type "underpainting" in the seach box on the right and an myriad of blog entries come up -all really interesting to read: Karen Margulis

In one of her blog entries, Karen mentions another American artist, called Richard McKinley. She had been on a course of his and found him inspirational in his approach to pastel painting. This blog entries, with lots of tips, can be found here: Richard McKinley

I discovered recently that he had done a DVD on underpainting - so I bought it and really enjoyed it. Obviously it only touched lightly on the finished painting, but what I want to do is not quite the same as him - I want to leave more of the underpainting showing, so this was the section I wanted to concentrate on. This DVD can be found here: Bold underpainting for lively pastel landscapes There is a certain amount of theory on this DVD, but I don't think there is any harm in going over this information every so often.

A few more for the sketchbook

I have been rather quiet since the Open Studios - catching up on all those things that needed doing, but were ignored while I was getting ready for the exhibition! Then of course holiday - but hopefully I'll get back to the drawing board soon.

However, I have done some sketching. One of the most interesting places I have been over the summer months was with a friend I sketch with occasionally. It is called Lyveden New Bield - a National Trust building in Northamptonshire - link here Lyveden New Bield It is an Elizabethan building that was never finished and so looks like ruins.

It was rather a complicated structure to draw - especially as it had no roof, so one could see through the unglazed windows to different areas. This is a pencil drawing of one facade - not brilliant, but I have never said I was good at buildings!

This was drawn from the same position as the previous one, but turning my stool to see another wing.

We then moved to the opposite side of the building to see what would have been the main entrance - although there had never been any steps leading up to it. This sketch was done with my Rotring Art Pen and wash.

Later on in the summer I went to Houghton Mill with the local art club. I have done this National Trust building before - and never again. It is extremely difficult to get a likeness due to the many angles/windows etc. So, while others decided to accept the challenge of the building, I went for a wander towards the meadow leading to the Hemingfords and sat down in the long grass by the river to sketch wild flowers.








You may have noticed that I have introduced colour into these sketches. Although I drew with the Rotring pen, I then added a watercolour wash. One of my fellow club members has introduced me to some amazing watercolours - really vibrant (which is, of course, what I love). I have been anti using block watercolours since the ones I have are really difficult to get enough pigment on to the brush. The brand (which I had never heard of before) was White Knight - link here White Knight watercolours When you unwrap the colours you are immediately aware that they are much more sticky than the normal pans - almost halfway between pan and tube in consistency. Anyway, I think these will feature much more in my sketching....

Don't know what this flower is, but there was quite a lot of it about and added some lovely colour to the area.

When I came back to meet up with the club members, I wanted to do another quick sketch - and found a swans feature lying on the ground. They are simple, but I just love the shape of feathers.

Another club location was Fen Drayton Lakes (an old gravel pit site, which has now been turned over to the public). I just sat and sketched this tiny island in the middle of the lake.

Last week the club met up at Holywell, down near the pub on the river front. Just along the road there are some really pretty cottages, some of them thatched. Attempted this one, but not very successfully. Thatched cottages are very quaint, but they have some really devilish angles!

Returning to opposite the pub, there is a lovely view looking along the river. Occasionally there were people on boats passing by - what a lovely way to spend a Friday morning, pottering along the river. Anyway, apart from them, there was only a few swans and other water birds around. Mind you, the pub landlord did ask whether the seal was around! Obviously not that day, as I saw quite a few fish near the bank and he said they disappear if the seal turns up - understandably....

Only did a couple of sketches that morning - then up to the pub garden for a pot of tea with other members and shared ideas etc with them - very enjoyable.

Secretary Bird gets joint 2nd

Over the weekend the Secretary Bird was voted joint 2nd by the public at the Hilton Art Show. Great news (one of my favourite paintings). The other "2nd place" went to Nina - who I hold exhibitions with, so how fair is that - equal standing....

Another friend got first place in the adult section and also the "best in show" - not surprised - he has won that accolate a few times over the years and yet again has done a beautiful painting of our village green in acrylics (a medium I really don't get on with).

Rosette is attached to iPad photo of painting - to show which one it is. Original is all bubble-wrapped up waiting to be given to Jess - youngest daughter - who is now the owner of said painting.









Haven't got a photo of the actual linocut Nina did, but have a coloured version of it that sold at Open Studios (the one in the art show is a black and white version).

Called "Jurassic" and is a reduction linocut. Really complicated and not surprised it got an award. If you want to see other work by my fellow Carnelian, then here is her website: Nina Sage 

Life is relatively quiet from now to November, when Nina, Sherry and I have our next exhibition - which will be held in central Cambridge. Information on that will be posted nearer the time - and of course I will be updating the blog when I do new work. Have to say that just at the moment I am just catching up on all the work that needs to be done around the house that got forgotten due to painting/getting ready for the Open Studios!

Local art exhibition

This week is the village Feast Week - a 7-day extravaganza of events including a ball, Michael Jackson tribute band and other events in the marquee and sporting events such as cricket and sports day on the green - together with an art and craft show for all ages. I have again entered in to this art show - just returned the "best in show" shield which I won last year, so they can present it to the next overall winner.

Have put in the following two:

My lovely secretary bird, who is now gracing the top of the blog. This acrylic ink painting is officially now owned by my youngest daughter. I had promised to paint her something at Christmas, but due to commitments never got round to it. So I asked her, before the Open Studios, to choose her favourite one - and this is it. Obviously I wasn't going to enter it as it was no longer mine, but she very kindly said that I could put it in and then she'll put it up in her bedroom. I have to say this is a favourite of mine, so very glad it is staying in the family, where I can see it!

The other one is another large acrylic ink painting (on half imperial) of peacock feathers. I had actually shown the girls all the available paintings and asked their opinion on which should go in - and these were the ones chosen.

I went over to see the exhibition yesterday - voting is split into adult and child - so you can vote for both categories. I think that is fair, although still difficult to compare a selection of pretty sophisticated photographs done by older teenage boys with art work done by under 5's!

Having looked at the competition in the adult section, think I am in for a rough ride! Some really fabulous works of art so stiff competition.

The local art club I am a member of also has some space in the village hall to display their work - showing people what we do and trying to bring in new members. I was also asked to put in a few to that - although this is just a display, not for voting on.

For my large piece I selected the nigella and bud - a much more simple flower painting done in acrylic ink and soft pastel.

Having sold my large peacock, I thought I'd put in my little one (quarter imperial) done in acrylic ink. I love the jewel-like colours of peacocks and acrylic ink hues work so well in this regard.

The last one to be put in is the nigella seed heads done in acrylic ink and soft pastel - a small painting done on quarter imperial but cut down from that size a bit.




Exhibition closes on Saturday and presentations are made at the afternoon tea, served in the marquee and eaten whilst sitting by the grass maze on the green - how English is that?





Haven't mentioned the grass maze before. On the edge of the green we have this ancient maze - cut out by William Sparrow to commemorate the restoration of Charles II (where we live was Cromwell territory - there is event a statue of him in the local town).

There used to be loads of grass mazes around the country in Shakespeares time - mentioned in some of his plays. Most have grown over and are long gone, but luckily people in the village have kept this in good condition and it is a popular place for visitors and locals alike. My girls used to try and race each other to the middle - timing themselves to get a better result each visit! They are too old for that now, but I often see other children doing the same!

Another one flown....

Just said goodbye to "Here Comes the Sun"  - bought by people who couldn't make the exhibition days. It is winging its way to France soon.... I love seeing the sunflower fields in France, so a very apt to take the painting over there!

This was done with just acrylic ink and, unusually for me, also included using a brush. I try lots of techniques and implements to move the ink around - just depends on the subject matter and using negative painting in certain areas worked for this one.

Cambridge Open Studios finished for this year....

And now it is all over....

I seem to have been working towards the Cambridge Open Studios for absolutely ages - lots of new paintings done, framing and then setting up the exhibition. One day on from the last open day and it has reverted back to its normal space.

The second weekend was also brilliant - managed to have a little bit of lunch at 3pm (no chance before that) and then more people came - so that was the end of that!

Sold some more of my paintings - for example my Lonesome Pine. This is a screenprint I did of a beautiful tree near my Mum in south Devon. We discovered it on a walk through the fields down to a secluded beach - standing all by itself (hence the title). Every time I walk past this tree, I stop and admire it - the fact that it is still standing even though it is really open to the elements there.



I found that one of the large mounted works I sold - a lily in acrylic ink and soft pastel - I hadn't actually taken a photograph of - which was very remiss of me. I normally keep a record of all my paintings, as I like to look back at them sometimes.

Another mounted work that is going off to another home is my lilies in drawing pen and acrylic ink. I played around with texture with the acrylic ink - using cling film and when dry, did a detailed drawing of some beautiful lilies I had in a vase. Sometimes it is quite nice to revert back to a detailed drawing, as I normally do such free work with my acrylic ink paintings.

Another painting leaving is my close-up of a sea holly. This was done in acrylic ink and soft pastel. Sometimes things just work - and that was the case with this one. The inks at the bottom left-hand corner were dribbling off the page when I was doing it. For once it didn't turn to mud - they mixed beautifully and turned into a wonderful rainbow of colour, so I just left it to do its own thing. Sea holly is a great subject to paint with these inks - the spiky "leaves" surrounding the flower are so dramatic. Luckily the flower stall at the local market quite often has some and I grab them whenever I can.

I am having a few days off from art - to catch up on things I should have done over the last few weeks and haven't had time to! After that I think I am going to treat myself to some sketching sessions. The local botanical gardens in Cambridge are wonderful and, although parking is appalling, it is a great location, especially in the green houses. We also have a great zoo nearby and a raptor centre - so both of those are on my list. I also want to go to some exhibitions in London before they finish. Haven't been to the Matisse Cut-Outs, the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition - and then someone told me of a John Piper exhibition (a small one) in another gallery, so must go and see that. Of course Cambridge Open Studios itself hasn't finished - some artists are open next weekend. This is my chance to actually go and see some other studios. Already got the list together and it seems like I am going all over Cambridgeshire as none of them are near each other, typically.

Will post some of the sketches as and when I do them.... so keep reading!

Another brilliant opening

Nina and I decided to open for a few hours tonight for friends who couldn't make the weekend openings. It was planned as a low-key affair (with some wine and other refreshments - although due to the heat the elderflower cordial got consumed more than anything else!)

Can't believe how well we did. Lots of brilliant feed-back from everyone who came. Nina and I both have to say goodbye to a number of paintings. Leaving me in the next few days are the following:

Last of my teasel series - I love this subject so much and have lots of the seed head in the studio - picked up while on the dog walks. I am definitely going to do more, as they are very popular.

Poppies are also popular and I have done a few. I have made this particular one in to a card and they have been flying off the table stand during this exhibition - maybe due to the World War I commemoration coming up?

My calla lilies - a lovely little painting (small being unusual for me). Going to a home with low ceilings and beams - my other paintings being much too large for that house! Unusually for me, I even used a paintbrush on this one - makes a change from just the dropper from the bottle....

The kingfisher had been fun to paint - even apply the masking fluid with a toothbrush to achieve the look of water dropping off the bird as it takes off! As the new owner said - I must have fun doing these paintings - and I do. I love bright colour, loose watery effects and the unpredictability of this technique. I can never replicate a painting and that is what is so great - keeps me on my toes.



Only problem is - I could now have sold the Lion painting three times, but of course I don't do giclee prints..... I want each painting to be completely original and unique.

Anyway, the exhibition is on this coming weekend too - so a bit of moving paintings around to fill the gaps and fingers crossed the framer is happy to do an emergency order for me, so I have enough to put up! Next exhibition I will make sure that I have a number of spare paintings sitting in the back of differing sizes - just in case. Can't always expect people to leave the paintings in the exhibition until the end of the event, especially if they live quite a distance away. Luckily I do have a couple of really large ones, so that is ok - just need to fill smaller spaces....

First weekend of Open Studios

Well - first weekend of Cambridge Open Studios finished. It was really successful and absolutely loads of people through the door - thank you so much everyone for coming to look at mine and Nina's work.

We both were successful in selling paintings - I have now sold the following:

My wonderful lion. I could have sold this a few times, but of course I do original works of art only - no copies - so this is the one and only painting. Going to a friend, so at least I'll be able to see him in the future!

He looked great in the exhibition - right at the end of the stands, sitting on a table - and of course in large format - half imperial, so once mounted and framed, he makes a big painting. I swear his eyes were following us around the room - spooky!

A favourite of my oldest daugher - my full length peacock. Again a really large painting and looks wonderful framed. I was worried when I first started this painting, as I hadn't done something like this before, but luckily the ink went in the right places and it worked! Serendipity or skill (or a bit of both, as it is a water-based medium)?

The last was a little watercolour and ink study. Again this was a popular painting and unfortunately I hadn't put any more botanical style studies in the exhibition. I really like painting in this way, so I am going to do some more for the next exhibition. It is sometimes nice to do a quiet close-up study of flowers sitting in front of you, rather than standing up doing dramatic paintings drawing with the dropper!


The other thing that was really successful was the cards I have made of my favourite paintings. I sold out of certain images and have done a rush order with MOO.com to get a load more before next weekend, when we are open again. People may not have the money to buy a painting, or the space to give it a home, but the cards are a reminder of those paintings and seem to be very popular with the visitors.

Obviously we had loads of friends and neighbours through the door over the two days. However, Cambridge Open Studios is very popular in the area and people travel all over the county to see artists that interest them. We were very lucky that we were obviously on the list of some of these visitors - and due to the posters we had put on the notice boards in the village, we even had people coming in to the exhibition who had just been picnicking on the village green!

Life is quieter for this week, but then we are open again next weekend. Hoping that we get the same sort of numbers through the door. We hardly had time to have any lunch, as there seemed to be a steady flow of people coming and going. We were also lucky with the weather, which stayed fine for both days.

Really enjoyed this first experience of Open Studios - definitely going to do it again next year.

Exhibition ready.....!

Paintings up, cards and other items on tables, labels done - just about ready for tomorrow's Cambridge Open Studio.

Sharing the exhibition area with Nina, we have half of the room each, which works well. Has given us a lot of space - thank goodness I have done a lot of work!

My paintings are so big, that I only tend to get two to a screen (which is 1m x 1.6m!)

Smaller work along the wall - not all of it in view in this photo. I have some of my sketch books out for people to have a look at.

Table full of cards, tags, keyrings etc with a backdrop of my lion, nigella and dandelion head. Thank goodness for the invisi-easel from Ken Bromley - they are absolutely brilliant! I discovered them at a friend's open studio event last year and I am amazed that I can stand, securely, a framed painting that is 29" x 22 1/2". Must buy more for the next exhibition....

Cards now been printed....

Just been down to DHL to collect the cards from MOO.com. What a great company - really fast delivery, even on standard and they look great....

 

Just chose a few designs that I thought would work in small format and, of course, I have a large number of cards already made up, so it will make a great display.

Last paintings coming from framer middle of this coming week and then exhibition starts a week today! Will start seriously setting up after today, as Verdi's Requiem taking up most of the day (rehearsals and performance). Busy life, but wouldn't have it any other way.