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!)