Sue Cook Studio Blog

6 Steps to the RA Summer Exhibition

2011-04-01T14:00:00.005+01:00

After skipping a year (and quite some time off this blog), I've decided to return to floral paintings but with a little more edge this time. The colours I chose for this painting have been influenced by a commission I'm working on which is for a Spanish styled kitchen. In order to make sure of a colour match, I'd bought some sample wall paint. I used this emulsion colour to prime the canvas for my floral work, and its the first time I haven't started painting a design straight onto a white. I shall definitely be trying this technique again since it really adds vibrancy to the tone.

This is the acrylic painting in 6 stages. I had no real plans of what I was going to paint when I first stood in front of a 60 x 90 wall of orange, but just went with the flow. I realise paintings occasionally have to be planned, especially commissions, but its also fun to start with a blank canvas, some music, and see what emerges. :-)

Step 6Step 5
Step 4
Step 3
Step 2

Step 1

Been a while....

2010-11-04T17:28:00.003Z

since I've posted on here.

But I now have a few painting projects on the go again, and so I've got something to share rather than random wittering.

Its the Eynsham Art Groups 40th Anniversary this year and there is an exhibition to coincide with it, so I have reworked a nude I started some time ago and I'm in the process of changing it beyond recognition. I have a week to finish it - so a few late nights coming up I think.

The painting itself is quite big (60 x 90) and I've used acrylics (quicker drying time than oil) and have just started putting on some gold leaf highlights. When the size has set, I'll overpaint parts of the gold and see what it looks like.

Threadneedle 2010: I am a number

2010-06-07T20:52:00.006+01:00

On Saturday, I ventured into London (via car of all things on a day when the Blackwall Tunnel was closed), to take my submission for this year's Threadneedle Art competition.

This is an oil of the first wedding shoes of the landlord of the Queens Head, Eynsham. He kindly provided me with some 'blurb' to accompany the shoes...fingers crossed they appeal to the judges. Each entry gets a number and the numbers of the paintings accepted for the competition which are to be exhibited at the Mall Galleries, are published this Friday. I am 549.

Change your shoes, Change your life VIII: "These shoes winked at me in Coventry, circa 1974,
whilst looking for wedding attire. They cost me a week's (apprentice) wages...in fact twice the price of the wedding dress! Elton John and Slade were Top of the Pops and I enjoyed my elevated view of life."

Aging rockers...

2010-04-23T14:36:00.002+01:00

More shoes for Artweeks....

A work (still) in progress.

Word doodling....

2010-04-11T12:08:00.003+01:00

From all the words on this blog.....try for yourself at www.wordle.net

....they are art forms in themselves I think....and a great way of saving some treasured words....

More shoes

2010-04-10T17:30:00.003+01:00

Framing always takes ages. I get the painting in the right place after numerous attempts, scrape chunks of skin from my fingertips trying to get the back on, and then turn the frame over to view huge bits of dust or crumbs ....where do THEY come from? I check my surfaces are clean before I start. But it gets me every time....actually about six times...before I give up and go make a cup of tea and regard the whole mess on the work table with something akin to malevolence.

Red shoes

2010-04-08T20:20:00.006+01:00

My mother always used to say 'red hat no knickers'....but I have always aspired to owning red shoes. And what better red shoes to aspire to than a pair of Louboutins?

This isn't finished yet. But you get the idea....

Ever lasting

2010-03-12T15:26:00.003Z

I started a new shoe painting this afternoon. In oils.

It is not finished and I have to wait for it to dry off a bit before I can do anymore. Patience was never one of my painting virtues!!

Do I...don't I??

2010-03-06T15:43:00.003Z

Hmmm. Do I or don't I enter the RA Summer Exhibition this year. So far it is RA 3 Sue Cook nil, although I was deferred last year....

The only day I can get down to London is the 26th March - in which case I have to submit a glazed work - but this is the same day as the Arts Group AGM which I have to go to. Gah. Nothing on for months on end and then deadlines all backing up at once. Will ponder and sulk a while longer.

The deadline for buying an entry form is March 10. Next week. I have till then to decide I guess.

Flowers talk

2010-03-06T15:31:00.003Z

I did some more on this yesterday....but I have to confess to having one of those afternoons where I don't really know where I am going. I wanted to get more depth into it and as is often the case with acrylic, the whites looked faded once dried. So after fiddling with the petal colours I put in some rough highlights. My aim is to get the sense that the central flower is set back from the rest which are crowding in front of it round its edges in some confusion. A work in progress....sigh.

Flowers

2010-02-26T14:40:00.003Z

I have made a start on a new work. This one has been inspired by Graham's 'Girl who read flowers'. I wanted to create the sense of burying your face in a mass of petals and fragrance and then opening your eyes.

I painted the background in gold paint first then free painted the flowers on top. Its by no means finished, I just wanted to get the petals in to begin with so I have been deliberately sloppy (more more than is usual for me lol) with the paint. Its quite big (45 x 60 cm). Now if only someone could invent floral fragranced paint eh?

Some news....

2009-11-25T21:43:00.005Z

I didn't get placed in the OXART competition - but they did ask me to exhibit at the ARTS-INC Gallery alongside them so I feel very chuffed!! Its a really lovely gallery so please if you're nearby - pop in and take a look. There are some marvellous art works on show (I feel very honoured).

I have also been asked to join the Oxford Arts Society so I'm currently exhibiting some work in their Winter Exhibition at Art Jericho.

And perhaps the biggest news of all, is that I am "finally" in a gallery.

Wilton Art Gallery - newly opening to showcase contempory UK art in Wilton just outside Salisbury. The opening preview evening is next week so I'm looking forward to that. In fact I am really looking forward to seeing my Dreamtime series finally hung alongside each other as they were always intended. I just don't have the wall space since each of these is a metre square...and most small galleries don't - so I'm very excited. I shall be posting pictures.......but to give you an idea, here are the three together. I also included some other florals which I won't reproduce here.

Back to black - change your shoes, change your life V

2009-11-13T13:01:00.003Z

Finished and framed.

Phtographing paintings behind glass needs better studio lighting than I have - but you get the idea.

This one will be exhibited and for sale at the Eynsham Arts Group Winter Exhibition which opens on the 21st November.

The original boots belong to Marmalade Kiss (lucky devil!)

Next.....

2009-11-10T23:27:00.004Z

This is going to be my submission for the Eynsham Arts Group Exhibition which opens on the 21st November in the Bartholomew Rooms.

These boots are not quite finished...I need to refine the background ( I keep changing my mind) and the highlights on the patent leather need bringing up.

I have the most gorgeous gothic black swept frame to put these in, and all should be completed by tomorrow. I have decided to just enter one painting, and for the first time have pushed the boat out and had some limited edition giclee prints done of my other shoe paintings. I have never tried selling prints before so this should be quite a learning curve. I have also got some more fridge magnets made up - again of the shoes. Hopefully these will offer an interesting alternative to cards.

No news yet on the OXART competition - watch this space. All busy in the studio otherwise as I have been asked to submit paintings for a new gallery. Details to follow!!

Shoe news

2009-10-27T15:57:00.006Z

Its been a while but I've some great news about a couple of my shoe paintings!!

First off, pink shoes in my Change your shoes, Change your life series have been shortlisted in the Little Christmas Art competition. The competition was open to all artists in Oxfordshire and this painting is one of 30 from which the judges will be choosing 3.

(gulp!)

The suede shoe painting was also accepted for inclusion in the Oxford Art Society Open Exhibition which runs until October 30th at the Said Business School in Oxford.

This is an annual exhibition and the first year I have been accepted.

I went along to the private view party last week which was opened by Helen Peacocke. You can read her review by following the link.

I took a somewhat shaky photo on my phone (not wanted to appear too gauche with a camera) and also snapped a fellow Eynsham Artist Graham Rice in front of his painting.

I was way too self-concious to agree to a picture in front of mine. There were far too many artistic luminaries about!! It was great to bump into fellow artist Barbara Gorayska....I haven't seen her since we exhibited together at the Jam Factory a couple of years ago.

All in all a good month for shoes!!

Competition

2009-09-26T09:43:00.005+01:00

I thought I might enter the Little Xmas Art competition which is an Oxfordshire based competition sponsored by Art Fusion and Art Inc Gallery.

Hopefully lots of the Eynsham Arts Group will enter as its on our doorstep so to speak.

The entry deadline is 20th October, so I have decided on entering a recent painting rather than starting a new one as I have some plans and ideas but not the time (even at my painting speed!) to execute them.

I am still building on my shoe collection in the hope of getting a gallery interested in the new year. Its going to be one of my New Year Resolutions (in capital letters) to make more of an effort to promote my work. Its difficult though, the other non-business minded side of me whines...what with 2 young children, a teaching job, and a household to run. Its small wonder I find the time to clean out my brushes properly (which I invariably don't) let alone pitch to galleries. Hope springs eh?

A place in the sun

2009-09-12T10:57:00.006+01:00

I was in Crete this time last month. Beautiful long lazy sunny days and warm evenings. I promised the owners of the place we were staying - which was utterly fantastic by the way - the Hotel Aloi in Annisaras - that I would send a painting. And this is it. It isn't finished yet, school term has started so my painting hours have been somewhat curtailed. It is oil on canvas paper...since that can be rolled up easily and sent via airmail. It depicts the path through the gardens to the terrace, late in the afternoon when the sun was low and less fierce and really illuminated the trees.

Nuff said

2009-08-06T11:08:00.001+01:00

Purple haze

2009-08-05T14:09:00.002+01:00

75 x 100 cm on box canvas, acrylic and Graham I owe you a whole tub of white and a few brushes...

I haven't painted in acrylic for a while, the oils have been taking precedence. I'd forgotton what fun it is to paint B I G.

Killer heels

2009-07-30T17:26:00.001+01:00

This is a work in progress....I have to admit to being hugely envious of the owner of these babies!

Do I have a shoe thing????

2009-07-10T14:10:00.001+01:00

Made this at school as part of a whole school Roald Dahl project. Mod roc (brilliant stuff!) over metres and metres of chicken wire. It took one day, and about 30 children. Getting it back inside was a comedy moment though....but oh such fun !!!

Normal service (nearly resumed)

2009-07-10T13:22:00.002+01:00

Check out these cha-cha heels....courtesy of fellow blogger and famous seamstress, ..... Marmalade Kiss ......and my next shoe project.

Painting suede is hard....

2009-06-01T22:25:00.003+01:00

This isn't finished in my customary speed, but I am pleased with the progress thus far. The bracelet is still a bit messy, and the tone on the front of the shoes isn't right. I'll get there...eventually. I am going to frame it in a siilar frame to the pink shoes (see below). Here is a link to my newly discovered star framing supplier Friargate Framing

Don't step on my dirty beige shoes...

2009-06-01T19:43:00.002+01:00

Latest in line for the 'Change your shoes, Change your life' project. Lorna suggested I add some jewellery into the composition so here you are. The shoes are old abandoned ones of mine found at the back of the cupboard. The bracelet is made from seed pearls and bits and bobs and very cherished. I like the shadows cast by the straps and the seeds....
I took this photo after ages faffing over how to place the shoes. Its been sunny recently and perfect for taking outdoor natural daylight photos. School has started back so I am not sure when these will get finished but I can see these in a frame likethe pink ones......hmmm

Blue blue shoes

2009-06-01T15:45:00.001+01:00

My letter from the RA arrived today. Dated 29th May however, so I can console myself that I lasted for more rounds than last time.
But hey, "the" frame has arrived so I'll post a pic soon.

Found a frame!

2009-05-28T19:44:00.001+01:00

After quite literally an accumulative 8 hours of online frame searching, I have found the perfect frame for the Threadneedle pink shoes. Thanks to Friargate Frames (an ebay store) I am awaiting delivery of this:
The frame is wood with plaster moulding, ivory colour and totally perfect.

Other (non)news is that I am STILL waiting to hear if the blue shoes got into the RA. No letter. Despite friends in the same village getting theirs. I can't remember being so agitated at the no-show of the postman since valentines day 1980.!!!

Thinking landscape after all.

2009-05-11T20:57:00.003+01:00

I can't help wishing I'd painted these as if they were abandoned on a sandy beach. Well, its what I imagine anyway. Perhaps the background is best left neutral so viewers can make their own narrative...thanks for the suggestions all. :-)
Decision now is....what frame???? This work is destined for the Threadneedle Exhibition/Competition in London next month...so I need to decide soon.

Change your shoes, change your life IV

2009-05-10T13:50:00.004+01:00

Been rummaging in the back of my wardrobe today. Looking for some shoes to paint as part of my 'Change' series. These, believe it or not, were (in the eighties) very expensive and now very battered silk Cartier's. Luckily the sun was out so loads of good lighting for the photos. It has (however) taken the best part of 2 hours to upload said photos after having to reinstall drivers for the camera. Why does a 30 minute job always take an afternoon??
Who knows.
Anyway. I'm off into the studio now to see what I can come up with. I'll update later.....

.....2 hours later here we are.

I do enjoy using this canvas paper. The grain is similar to very fine canvas but you can tape it to a board and you're ready to go. Its Crimson & Blake and rare as hens teeth. I got my pad from a well known online auction site, since none of my usual artist suppliers stock it. I haven't signed this one yet. I cannot decide whether it looks best portrait or landscape. Any suggestion?

Still life studio

2009-05-03T17:21:00.001+01:00

I have never tried a still life before. Something about arranging vegetables into an exact arrangement seems to me rather pointless as a composition. Why not just take a photo? Well that was before I started dabbling in oil and thought the exercise would be worthwhile. Rather than stage it, I did just take a snap shot of my studio table instead, and painted this afternoon. The portrait in the background is me (in oil), painted by Ron Freeborn last year during an Arts group meeting. I have to hold my hand up in shame to the abandoned paintbrushes in jam jars. In my defence, I am in the middle of finishing a shoe painting and thought it a waste of white spirit to clean them in between 'goes'. The two abandoned wine glasses in the foreground are from the other eve when I had some company in the studio. I have since washed them up...honest :-)

Still some finishing to do, but I have enjoyed the process.

Spring Exhibition May 2 - May 17

2009-05-01T12:19:00.001+01:00

The Poppyfield (acrylic & gold leaf)

Change your shoes...change your life II (oil)

Primavera (oil)

The Eynsham Arts Group are having an Artweeks exhibition and these are the paintings I am showing. You can view a lot more of the groups work here or even better, why not come along and view the real thing. There will always be one of the artists around and there are cards and prints etc for sale also.

First day of the year without boots!

2009-04-19T15:54:00.003+01:00

I am a boots gal by winter and a flip flop girl by summer. Its gorgeous today, so I rummaged in the wardrobe and left my socks behind. :-)
Maddy took this photo. We're sat on spare pond liner "supervising" as MrC digs a pond for the garden. G & T anyone?

Art Weeks

2009-04-19T14:32:00.001+01:00

Today I have been in the studio finishing work for the next Arts Group exhibition which takes place on 2nd - 17th May. Having decided to submit oils rather than acrylics this year, I have had to do some planning (for a change) to make sure the layers all get finshed (and have time to dry).
I am cutting it extremely fine (again - as per usual) but I am very pleased with the results so far.
This is a large-ish box canvas. Its not finished yet (eek!) but should be by tomorrow. Since I am building up the colour by using lots of thin layers of oil, it is drying very quickly. Sometimes I miss my acrylics.......sniff.

Primavera

2009-03-23T10:04:00.002Z

Being in an oil-paint mojo these days, this is my first floral using oils. Its not finished (and yes Lorna its low res) but I hope to complete it this week. Artweeks isn't that far away now and I am working on a body of oil florals to exhibit.
Its a larger version of a similar acrylic I donated for auction last year. The idea is that the background buds and foliage will be in soft focus, and the middle prominant petals will be very sharp focus. There is a lot more detail to go into the centre flower, and if I had worked this in acrylic it would have been finished by now. However, I think the vibrancy of colour you get with oil certainly lend themselves to the colours I have used here....(and green is one of my favourite).

More shoes....in progress

2009-03-06T10:17:00.002Z

This is number 3. Unfinished as I need the paint to dry so I can paint in the laces. I suspect the owner of these picked them in part for their tartan linings! (mutter mutter). LOL.

I want to paint portraits of shoes rather than people and build up a series for a gallery. I think favourite shoes can say a lot about a person....the shoes themselves and also the ones that are picked. If you would like your favourite pair painted and included please let me know...I am on the look out for the interesting and the quirky :-)

Change your life, change your shoes II

2009-02-13T13:34:00.001Z

This isn't finished yet...I can't decide what to do about some shadows under the heels.

Change your life, Change your shoes

2009-01-20T14:45:00.002Z

I was given a set of oils for christmas. I am usually an acrylics kind of gal, but have been wanting to 'have a go' at some oils for some time ......... This one has been painted on canvas paper (about 21 cm x 21 cm) which proved a really good substrate. Its not so good with acrylics so I thought I would give it a try with oils instead. The rough surface is ideal for slapping on oil colours and I have to say I am pleasantly surprised. I had no idea oils were so much fun!! Those that know me will not be surprsed by the subject matter, since I 'love' shoes. They are works of art in themselves and I am after having a go at painting some cha-cha heels next :-)

Art wines

2008-12-29T13:46:00.001Z

Working small for a change, I have decided to try my luck at the Oxford Wine Company Art wines competition. The call for entry is to design a wine label for a new wine. The competition is run also by Oxfordshire Artweeks which is a huge creative event which takes place every May.
This little acrylic painting started life as a sample for a commission. I have dozens tucked away in the studio and I have just spent a fruitful few hours revisiting them. I have chosen this one because a)it has all my favourite colours in, b) it was the right size and c) it had a gourmet theme and d) there are strong design elements in it. Some of you may recognise the composition as its based on work by the cubist George Braque.

Happy Christmas everyone

2008-12-20T17:01:00.003Z

This is me, anyone care to guess the year? ;-)
Every christmas, my Dad's workplace (INCO) used to have a kids christmas party when we'd be dropped off, loaded onto a coach to go to the Alexandra Theatre in the centre of Birmingham for a panto, then back to the works canteen for party food and a present from Santa. I remember we also stopped at Quinton on the way home for chips.......happy days....

Christmas commission

2008-12-13T17:41:00.001Z

Painted on canvas paper with acrylic. I have a few this size (15 x 15 cm - 25 x 25 cm mounted) for sale, all different flowers and ready to post in time for christmas if anyone is looking for present ideas. Just drop me an email. :-)

Christmas turtle with all the trimmings

2008-12-06T16:45:00.001Z

School christmas play season is upon is and for some reason, I drew the short straw in the make an outfit in under 24 hours stakes. A turtle shell. To fit an eight year old. Dress rehearsal Monday....
Truth be told I have rather enjoyed myself. Off to the local DIY shop for chicken wire, scrounging old newspaper for papier mache......and I bet its just for a walk-on part too!!

Finished work: "Sideways"

2008-11-15T08:40:00.001Z

It has been a while but I am finally ready to step back from this canvas. I always find the last stages of a painting a bit fraught....when to stop fiddling and tweaking.

As a painting nears completion, I sometimes wonder when to stop... the best clue for me is when I start painting the next one in my head. (Kathryn Mullaney)

Snapshot from the studio

2008-11-07T15:18:00.001Z

After a break I have decided to go back to bold florals. The Autumn colours are particularly vibrant this year and have prompted the colours behind the latest canvas. This one is big: 30 x 24" and destined for the Arts Group exhibition next week (if I can finish it that is). Today I started it and this is just getting some paint down to get the feel and atmosphere. Much more to do yet.

River studies

2008-10-25T13:18:00.001+01:00

I decided to do ink drawings from the photos I took of the river the other week. I want to do a set of three for the upcoming Eynsham Arts Group exhibition next month.

More Mona Lucy

2008-10-23T15:47:00.001+01:00

Her eyes are following me round the studio today! Blocked in the hands and glazed the face again so she is less greenish. ....still a work in progress but an interesting project nevertheless, trying to get an 'old' oil paint feel with acrylic.

Gabriel's Wharf

2008-10-22T22:14:00.003+01:00

Is one of my most favourite places to visit in London. I've been lucky enough to go here many times and each time is always a delight. Such a mix of people, street entertainment, refreshing art, unusual design and quirky architecture...all under the gaze of Saint Pauls Cathedral and the OXO Tower.

This is a work in progress ( I am dabbling with colours) so this is merely felt tip and ink pen at the moment. I'm not sure yet how its going to finish up. For some reason this pic is much more washed out than the original version - I want to use deep deep coours but I obviously have yet to come to grips with the new camera phone...

Mona Lucy

2008-10-19T09:22:00.002+01:00

Its a work in progress .....

Messing about on the river..

2008-10-13T17:39:00.004+01:00

Such a gorgeous day yesterday. We went out on a boat with friends and just pottered along the river between Bablockhythe and Swinford. Its been some time since I blew the dust off my 'good' digital SLR and I thought I would tke the opportunity to take some shots with the potential view of garnering some watercolour ideas. Lucky for me the river was relatively calm as its hard to stand and take pics whilst bobbing up and down!

Send in the clowns...

2008-10-13T16:42:00.001+01:00

I am often asked to facepaint at kids parties and for once, I got to face paint at my own as it was M's birthday. Me and Mr C dressed up as clowns to entertain for the afternoon, and clowns don't come complete without custard pies do they?

Dragon

2008-10-10T14:03:00.002+01:00

Been creative in the kitchen rather than the studio today. It's M's birthday party tomorrow hence the cake. I used a mixture of sponges to make the body held together with cocktail sticks, marshmallows for eyes, and Toblerone for spikes. Green icing does not come off dog fur very easily though.....

Poinsetta

2008-10-07T14:56:00.001+01:00

I know I really shouldn't mention the 'C' word in October. But I have been painting a card design today. Its just short of A4 in size on canvas paper and painted in acrylic, and the plan is to produce cards and postcards from it. Of course the original is for sale if anyone is interested, just email me.

New in blue

2008-09-30T16:13:00.001+01:00

Started on this one today. Inspired by a talk given by Ron Freeborn last week at the Eynsham Arts Group. This one has been painted directly onto canvas without prior sketching and working the paint whilst still wet.
This is just the background. The plan is to work some yellow tulips into the foreground.

New blue

2008-09-15T14:41:00.002+01:00

Have started changing this over from red to blues. An improvement in colour scheme for the subject I think.

Postcards from France

2008-09-15T09:25:00.002+01:00

I took my watercolours and a postcard pad, and here we have an offering from my son James, and a view from the balcony. I posted all the others before I took pictures of them (duh). I actually think James has the better composition.

Lots of painting to catch up on this week, I have 3 new canvases which should get finished. Busy busy :-)

South of France

2008-09-05T16:39:00.002+01:00

For the next 7 days I will be here:
The light in the south of France is wonderful for painting so I hope to get some ink and watercolours started here.

New work in progress

2008-09-03T14:40:00.004+01:00

Time for a nude.....in red.
I haven't painted a BIG canvas for a while, all the recent commissions have been small-ish. So it was a real treat today to unwrap a new 3 x 2 foot canvas. I love the smell when you take the cellophane off. With this one I have painted pretty much straight onto canvas. The canvas has a coarser tooth than I am used to so these pictures just show the blocking in (which I have yet to finish).

I have a new website!!

2008-09-01T21:03:00.002+01:00

I knew having the laptop in the kitchen would pay off eventually.... I've been able to build a new back-to-basics website. Thanks to some tremendous help from Arianna at Ihelm and and there have also been alot of near misses for the laptop being thrown out the window.
Any feedback would be much appreciated, especially from those of you with different browsers!
Cheers.!!

www.picturedreams.co.uk

Been away....

2008-09-01T16:44:00.003+01:00

and not painting much alas. Off to south of France on Saturday but I AM going to take some paints with me this time. I figured its high time I dug out my watercolours. In denial about the summer being over, moi? Damn right!

Alice dressing up

2008-08-06T00:25:00.004+01:00

Did some more work on Alice ( as I have decided to call her). A way to go yet but I am pleased with the colours and contrast, This painting is destined for an exhibition in Oxford at the end of this month.

Work in Progress

2008-08-05T18:30:00.001+01:00

I am in the middle of building a new website for my portfolio and have just spent most of the day investigating photo galleries for websites. So a bit boggle eyed this evening.

Something new

2008-07-29T17:37:00.004+01:00

Finished this one today. The canvas used is quite bijou in being only 8 inches square. Its been an experiment in trying to employ a different viewpoint in terms of both composition and lighting. And for once, no red!! I'm quite pleased with this, and I've already started on a much bigger bolder version. I am in love with the greens.....

Non Florals

2008-07-25T15:26:00.002+01:00

Most of these paintings have been commissioned over the past 12 months or so.

Raising funds

2008-07-21T16:38:00.006+01:00

Its funny (in a not so funny way) how the older you get, the more prevalent cancer amongst friends and family becomes. I am reminded recently of lucky escapes and have decided to do my bit. I am selling 4 originals on that well known online market place, and donating some of the proceeds to Breakthrough Breast Cancer. You can support this charity buying a wide range of stuff (not just mine) (link here).

I am selling these:

They are all that remain of my 'Painting a day' project from last year. Each is 10 x 10 inches mounted. I hope they find good homes.

Hide

2008-07-21T11:33:00.003+01:00

Triptych 60 x 90 cm and a favourite of mine. For those of you familiar with the Saatchi Online Gallery, this one is in the showdown for next week. I might not be blogging quite so frequently over the next week or so since my laptop was treated to a milkshake at the weekend and is still drying out. ...( a four-year-old involved).

Florals

2008-07-12T14:36:00.003+01:00

Stargazers

2008-07-11T11:29:00.003+01:00

Here is the finished article. Painted on canvas paper and about A4 in size. What started out like a great idea to paint on this kind of paper has turned into something of a nightmare as the paper is so textured it took ages to get paint on. If you zoom in on the bigger picture you can see the texture of the linen and although arduous, I am pleased with the final result.

Why do you paint?

2008-07-10T14:29:00.003+01:00

Painting is just another way of keeping a diary - Picasso

Dig out my blues this morning whilst I was sitting with the Art Group Exhibition.

Never work with children or animals

2008-07-04T16:24:00.002+01:00

Maddy. Nuff said. I do try to keep the kids out the studio but sometimes its too irrestible.

Just get paint onto canvas

2008-07-04T11:09:00.004+01:00

Made a start this morning on 'dressing up'. See earlier post. Sometimes I work best by putting on some music. Loud. In this case Nina Simone. And using one brush, and limit your colours just get the white canvas covered so you can make a start and make your mark. I have a very long way to go with this one but I am pleased with the results so far. I love the colours so I am happy so what the hey? Sorry about the poor quality pic...the battery has run out on the camera so I had to use my rather pants phone....

Once more the exhibitionist

2008-07-01T13:34:00.004+01:00

I was lucky (?) enough to be asked to be chairman for the Eynsham Arts Group a little while ago. This hugely popular artists' club has been going strong since 1970 and I "think" I am the first girl to go in the chair.
Anyway, as part of my responsibilities I spent this morning straightening paintings and listing whos' who and what's what in advance of the opening which coincides with the annual village carnival this Saturday. The carnival itself is something of a village institution and I for one am looking forward to the racing pigs (amongst other acts) this year (pics to follow).
As for the exhibition, the standard and diversity of work is impressive and we are lucky to have a permanant exhibition space in the Bartholomew Rooms. Here is a snapshot. I hope to take some more pics on the day.

Light sabre entertainment

2008-06-28T16:30:00.001+01:00

Couldn't resist. Sorry. My son is a huge Star Wars fan and there aren't many things that make me laugh out loud. I thought I would share...

More throughts on the RA, shagging zebras and barbed wire?

2008-06-28T14:54:00.001+01:00

Interested? Read on

Kicked out the RA (again)

2008-06-27T13:54:00.004+01:00

Yet another Summer Exhibition rejection. Luckily the sun was out because lugging a 4 foot by 3 foot canvas across London ain't pretty.

The Secret Life of Cows

2008-06-25T19:59:00.007+01:00

I went to Liverpool this weekend, with a friend to visit her artist brother, John Boardman, aka Darkly. He is genius. Please go look around his website at his work, this is just one example. He also writes poetry and holds forth at Stamps Bar (you may even spot him on the bar webcam here, he always sits by the window behind the stairs). I am saving up for one of his paintings and his posters are for sale at modest prices.

Dressing up

2008-06-25T11:09:00.005+01:00

I am just finishing off Girl in Pink Bandana and I've decided to extend the slightly flapper-ish theme. Getting models and poses for a composition is always a bit of an exercise so I have been looking at some royalty free images for inspiration.
I found this. Its a young 1920s girl 'dressing up' and I will be using this as the base for the next painting. I am really exciting by these ideas. It combines my love of vibrant colour with some interesting composition. I just hope I don't get vilified for showing a child smoking. Its my intention to represent how children mimic.

Its Exhibition time again....

2008-06-24T14:37:00.002+01:00

Girl in pink bandana

2008-06-19T10:28:00.004+01:00

Did some more on this portrait this morning. Its 'step away from the canvas' time for now until the piant has dried. I really am enjoying this style of painting.

New groove and no boundaries

2008-06-18T12:23:00.006+01:00

What with one thing and another, I haven't spent any proper time in the studio over the past month. Today I returned to a new idea I have been brewing for a while. Following on from the 'Man Made' composition for the RA Summer Exhibition, I thought I would continue the style with a portrait using bright colours rather than monochrome.
This is the result of this morning's efforts. A canvas 16 x 16 inches square.
All I have done is cover the canvas in paint to give me a base to work from. My idea is to have a girl embracing herself yet staring intently outward. A way to go yet, but I am pleased with some of the effects and can almost see where this one is going.

Getting paint down like this lets you see where you need to make changes. Much easier that trying to paint each little part exactly as you go along. It also allows for much free-er brush strokes and carte blanch (or in my case palette blanche) where colour is concerned.

Wherever possible, I prefer not to draw out my paintings beforehand. And this is an example. Drawing with paint from the inside out is something I learned a while back and, for me at least, allows much more freedom of expression than trying to 'paint within the lines'.

Highlights from Zakynthos

2008-06-10T20:40:00.013+01:00

I won't bore you with endless photos of beach shots. Suffice to say we went to Maistrali in Tragaki, the same place as last year and it was truly fantastic. I picked out a few that capture the holiday pretty well.

Rumour was there were sharks in the pool....

Actually just J, looking for his paddles.

No holiday at Maistrali is complete with out some Greek night dancing. M joined in with far more enthusiasm than most, but I have to admit it was great fun once you got going....Lots of spinning involved. lol.

We hired a jeep for the day to explore a bit and visit the turtle (caretta-caretta) nesting beach at Gerakis. We decided it would be fun to try and find "that restaurant we went to last year" which is perched on top of one of the mountains. Picking one, we proceeded to drive up very steep inclines and when I observed that the road was more goat track than anything we drew to a halt. It was then I looked out the side window to see these...accompanied by gathering angry bees...

Zakynthos is famous (and rightly so) for its gorgeous honey but we didn't wait around and after what seemed like a 90-point turn on a road barely wider than the jeep with a 1000ft drop on one side, we made off in a cloud of dust.

We eventually found the restaurant, in Gerakari. This taverna sits at the top of the mountain, in the highest point of the village overlooking the island. The terrace where you eat is a balcony which is built so that you have a panoramic view of the island. I think the owner must be keen on flowers and crochet....In the beautiful gardens I came across this fellow...And for once, clean and fed (at the same time rather than one or the other) children. Yammas!

Race for Life

2008-06-10T17:55:00.005+01:00

Thank you to everyone who gave their support and sponsorship for Race for Life. I managed a respectable 35 mins for 5k. (Not bad considering I had just got back from a fortnight's "training" consisting largely of ouzo and greek meatballs).
Here I am pictured before the race, with my friend MissT.

That was the artweeks that was....

2008-05-19T22:46:00.004+01:00

After a frantic couple of weeks painting, followed by artweeks, I thought I would share some photos (courtesy of Julie at the Emporium). I took my paints along to do some demos during the exhibition. The best bit was getting kids having a go at acrylics, and Emma if you read this...please get in touch !! Thanks to everyone who came along. You can view some more examples of what was on display here.

Study in Red

2008-05-12T23:02:00.005+01:00

I mentioned earlier that I had been working a lot in red lately.

This was for a sizeable commission for an Oxford client and the brief was to put some zing (and red) into the room. The design is based on a diamond painting I did last year. Slightly cubist in style and making full use of colour and juxtaposition of shapes. I had 4 huge canvases to work with. Two are 3 x 4 feet, one 2 x 5 feet and one 2 x 3 feet. My client has kindly allowed me to show you what they look like in situ. Its one thing to see photos of canvases, and quite another to see them in context, so its a rare treat for me to be able to share. I hope you enjoy.

Susan Daisies

2008-04-30T18:09:00.003+01:00

Art Weeks is nearly upon me. I have 2 nights left and 2 paintings to go.
This is Susan. 12 x 24 inches. Acrylic on canvas.
I've been working on a lot of reds lately (pics to follow) so this one felt very refreshing to do.

First painting for April

2008-04-12T15:48:00.005+01:00

This one is destined for Artweeks exhibition. I wanted to portray fabric using paint....and gold leaf.
Every now and then I like departing from my usual compositions and style just to experiment with something new. Works like spring cleaning in your head.
I really love this time of year. The light is better. People are happier. And the cricket season and long sunny weekends are just around the corner.

I have gone and done it now by mentioning cricket which probably means it will rain constantly throughout May.....hey ho.

"Qui audet adipiscitur",

2008-04-10T23:36:00.001+01:00

I am working in what can be said is more than a handful of paintings at\the moment

Pain (in the knee)

2008-04-09T00:32:00.002+01:00

As opposed to the neck.
I have managed to sprain some ligaments in my knee. No walking. No standing. Certainly very little painting. I am very fed up. Today, a random door caller turned up selling oil paintings. They were extremely good. He was french and represented a number of artists in a collective who preferred to sell their art (very cheaply ) in this way.
It was such a ray of sunshine in my enforced recuperation to meet with and look at other peoples' stuff...and it was all good too!

Bugger. I want to be back in my studio.

Disclaimer: Please forgive this somewhat self pitying post. I have been confined. And for someone who never sits, thats torture.

Spring greens

2008-03-31T12:21:00.003+01:00

Colour at last!!

Blocked in this morning. I am painting a series of exotic flowers from more unusual angles on 10" square canvases for Artweeks in May.

Ne me quitte pas

2008-03-30T17:09:00.004+01:00

Sunny day and some Nina Simone.
My submission for the RA Summer Exhibition is finally finished, after many many hours and a lot of silver leaf on the studio floor.....mobile....laptop.....
I will be a little bit wistful to see them go, after they have kept me company in the studio awhile.

Update

2008-03-28T11:23:00.003Z

I have decided to remove the studio cam as it was so s- l-o-w-. Webcams in studios are a nice idea in principle, except that sometimes there is little activity worth watching and so it rather does become a 'watching paint dry' exercise.

That said, you can always video call the studio when i'm online and painting to see whats going on. Using MSN. My MSN address is in my profile.

What a difference a scan makes....

2008-03-19T10:27:00.004Z

This is a digitally remastered crop from a painting done some time ago. The original was in black and red...

Steve Taylor at Art Fusion did this for me and we are going to experiment with putting this image on different media. I would like to see this on a sheet of metal.

The whole idea of revisiting work using digital techniques opens up a mind-boggling number of possibilities and you'd be hard pressed to know when to stop. There are so many tools at your disposal these days, makes you wonder if the days of brush and canvas are numbered....

The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.
Aristotle

Background

2008-03-17T12:21:00.003Z

Some work on the background this morning. I think I am almost on the home stretch with this one. I have really enjoyed the exercise of painting in 2 colours...but I have some exotic flowers on the go with lots of bright vibrant colours which I'm looking forward to splashing around with later this week.

I am not convinced about the circles.....I am half tempted to paint them out again and blend the background with just a few bright highlighted spheres here and there. What do you think? C'mon you lurkers....

A mornings work

2008-03-12T12:08:00.004Z

Finished off filling in the cloth (I have always avoided painting material in the past and now I remember why...). And done some on the body of the child. I'm aiming for a 'rough' brush work feel to this. ..rather than smooth and realistic. I want people to have to stand back from this one to see it. How on earth I am going to get it to London on the Oxford Tube doesn't bear thinking about at this stage....

I used my webcam to take this picture as I was too idle to go back into the house to fetch the camera and plethora of wires required to upload to the laptop...and I'm quite pleased with the photo. I might more use of this video cam in future.....

All you need is love

2008-03-11T21:50:00.001Z

Working on the clothes this evening. If technology doesn't let me down..you should see this on the studio cam....if I disappear...its because the other half wants to check the footie results.....

Up close and personal....studio cam

2008-03-11T14:52:00.003Z

O the wonders of modern technology. Thanks to those clever peeps at ustream, you can now see into my studio when I'm online.

Also if you click on the Verve link...you can see blogs from all over the world and what they are up to.

Technology rools.

Serendipity

2008-03-01T10:00:00.004Z

Out last night for the Arts Group meeting. I was lucky enough to get picked out of a hat to have some work digitally fiddled with (for want of a better term) by Steve Taylor at Art Fusion. He creates the most fantastic prints on whatever substrate you can think of, then paints in some more, and photographs them again!. The end result is amazing. This is one of the samples he has to play with. Exciting stuff.

"Adventure is hardship aesthetically considered"

Barry Targan

Only vegetables are happy

2008-02-28T14:34:00.005Z

As if I don't have enough already! Meet Ronaldo and Cootie, 7 week old boy rats. They like the studio.

"People need trouble - a little frustration to sharpen the spirit on, toughen it. Artists do; I don't mean you need to live in a rat hole or gutter, but you have to learn fortitude, endurance. Only vegetables are happy"

William Faulkner

Flesh on bone

2008-02-27T12:32:00.004Z

Did some more on the RA painting this morning. I am exploring a new technique with this one. Using acrylic more like oils. I have still a long way to go but I am pleased with how this one is shaping up. All I am using is titanium white and mars black. To give you an idea of scale, this canvas is 30 x 40 inches. You are probably best off clicking on the image to get the best view :-)

Too tired to sleep

2008-02-20T22:49:00.003Z

Visions for those too tired to sleep,
These seeds cast a film over eyes which weep.

Amy Lowell

The latest offering from the studio. A christmas day commission

Thought for the day

2008-02-16T17:15:00.003Z

I found I could say things with colour and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - things I had no words for

O'Keeffe

Proper work

2008-02-15T14:49:00.002Z

Enough taking the mick out of the late night wine-induced ramblings of a fellow artist, I have actually done 'some' work today.

Toast

2008-02-15T11:48:00.002Z

Just for Graham.
Heh heh heh