Going Wild

I finally got down to the allotment with my camera and took some photos of the wild flowers I have grown this year. They looked very beautiful in the fading September sunlight, I hope I have managed to capture some of that beauty.

Feeling Floral

I cant quite believe it's almost 3 months since my last post, I really must try harder to get back into the swing of things. I have been spending quite a lot of time on my allotment this year and I am very pleased with my first crop of cut flowers. It's all a little bit experimental, I am new to allotmenting and have never grown cut flowers before. I was a bit late starting things of so am still waiting for some to flower but here are some of the usual suspects, sweet peas, cosmos, marigolds, chrysanthemums, cornflowers, euphorbia for some greenery and the little plant that looks a bit like cow parsley is called ammi visnaga.

Happy New Year

Searching For Spring Oil on Canvas 90cm x 90cm

Well it's January 2014 already, I am sure the years go faster and faster the older I get, 2013 was a good year for me creativity wise so I hope it continues in 2014.
I get a lot of my art Supplies from Jackson's and a few week ago on there blog they requested submissions from artists to take part in Reviews of the Year, I applied and fortunately was selected you can read my review of 2013 here and reviews by other artists here.
I thought the above painting was quite appropriate as Spring will probably be upon us before we have had time to recover from the New Year celebrations!! Wishing everyone a wonderful 2014 x

Breathing Space

I had hoped that once my exhibition was up and running that I would be able to spend time on my neglected blog but this doesn't seem to be happening. I am however starting to think about what I do next and as space is limited in my studio I think I need to either work smaller or maybe work on paper for a while, however it is nice to have just a little time to think, a little bit of breathing space. Here are a few inspiring things that I have come across over the past few months, starting with an artist new to me Hannelore Baron, I don't know why I have not come across her before but I find these small works and her life really poignant.

Hannelore Baron used a wide range of materials but, using predominantly textiles she made collages and box constructions. You can see more of her work at  Leslie Feely Fine Art.
Whilst researching Hannelore Baron at Leslie Feely I came across painter Kikuo Saito.

I love these freely painted abstract works, brightly coloured yet still balanced, looking at these paintings I was reminded of the beautiful works of Joan Mitchell who is one of my favourite painters.

It's well worth looking at the Joan Mitchell foundation website, it's full of information about her life and lots of good images of her work including her wonderful pastel drawings.

I will finish with a few photographs taken one evening on one of our gloriously hot days back in July.

And one of the paintings inspired by the walk. Have a good week everyone.

The Colour of Ideas

It has been a long time coming but at last I have a solo exhibition which has opened today at the Sale Waterside Arts Centre. It's a small collection of twenty paintings, and I am really delighted with the way the exhibition looks. It is titled The Colour of Ideas which seemed fitting as it has been this blog and the encouragement of my kind commenters, and the blogging community who have inspired me to continue to paint. Also I must give a huge thank you to the Sale Waterside Arts Centre especially Julia Milns who has organised everything for me and Jenny Waterson who encouraged me to apply for the space. And a massive thank you to family and friends who have supported me and being so understanding over the last few months when there has been no housework done, and my constant refusals to coffee invitations (although I have managed a few) and days out.

I also have a website which is now live, thanks to my wonderful husband. There are still some pictures to add to it so it's still a work in progress but nearly finished.

Nearly There

There are two weeks to go to the start of my exhibition at The Sale Waterside, all the paintings are done, just a little tweaking to do on a couple of them (I have a problem with this, just don't know when to stop). All the small paintings are framed and I have started to photograph everything for my website which will be live soon!! Here is a better photo of the green painting (no title yet!) and one of the smaller paintings.

June

Don't worry I do realise that it's July but, I am wondering where June went it seems to have past me by in a bit of a blur. I am still busy painting for my exhibition in September, however, June was a bit of a frustrating month with distractions, illness and family commitments all which seemed to happen on my allocated painting days. Also I am finding it hard to keep my creative flow when I only paint Thursday and Friday, I spend most of Thursday trying to get back in the zone, so progress is definitely on the slow side, I think I will have to rethink my working pattern and probably start painting in the evenings.

June however was still full of inspiration and it started with a visit to Tatton Park in Knutsford which is one of my favourite local places to visit. As usual at this time of year it was full of flowers.

Some beautiful reflections which look a bit like abstract paintings.

Wandered out a little into the park, loving the open space of the landscape

Some photos to follow shortly of the paintings, when I feel brave enough to share. Have a great weekend everyone.