Autumnal Glow 2012

Rosehip Demonstration

Dedham Hall 2012

For the first time this year I have had time to plan ahead to 2013 and look forward to exhibitions and workshops that will be highlights of my art life next year. I have a wonderful new project which is also going to keep me very active in my studio.

This year has been incredible with so much happening, especially in the early months. My new book "Atmospheric Watercolours" was launched in May and has been selling so well internationally, following my first book "How to Paint Colour and Light in Watercolour" I had no idea how it would be received. Written from my heart sharing my passion for my favourite medium and also including techniques and tips given to me by artists from all over the world, it was created purely as a way for me to encourage artists to adore working in watercolour as much as I do. This way of painting really does lead to seeing everything as a possible subject and opens my own eyes to new colour combinations constantly leading to unique results. The feedback from readers has been overwhelming with emails coming in from all over the world and I have been almost in tears so many times from the comments coming my way from artists who are loving each page. Thank you so much to everyone who has bought a copy and told me how much you like my new book.

"Watercolour Passion" my second DVD following "Amazing Ways with Watercolour" was filmed in Spring 2012 and has sold internationally too. This was so much fun to create and TownHouse Films are wonderful in how they work. I am privileged to be one of their artists.

My workshops in UK were fully booked this year with long waiting lists to get on them. Which has almost held me back in releasing dates for 2013 because I am concerned at the lesser amount of time I have free over the next twelve month period. My focus is now held very much with galleries who show my work. Even so, dates will be released on my blog next week and popular sessions will fill very quickly. My advise to anyone following my blog posts who would like to book a workshop with me is to please email me so that your contact details can be listed with my personal assistant who handles my bookings for me. The workshops themselves have evolved each year leading to days full of motivational techniques and the inspirational sessions which seem to have become highly sought after over time.

Over the last year I have received many invitations to be included in several galleries and many exhibitions. I have also been invited to several countries to hold international workshops and I am looking at my Fall programme for 2013 at the moment.

One thing that is vitally important in my own life is my studio time and this is where very hard decisions have had to be made. Rather than happily say yes to everyone and jump in eagerly with new commitments I have taken time out to look ahead and think about what I want as an artist which for someone like me isn't an easy thing to do. When I started painting it was for the love of it. For the joy in creating and for that heady feeling when new ideas turned into exciting paintings with the journey in their evolvement being every part as thrilling as the end result. I am surrounded by peers who endlessly and effortlessly seem to "churn out"  painting after painting but who quietly admit they don't enjoy being an artist any more which is so sad. The profession they so eagerly yearned for, in many way has seen a downside as the passion they once held has led them to a full time job which at times they resent. I find this disappointing when so many new artists would give anything to be in their position.  This has given me food for thought because it is not where I want to be headed and it certainly wouldn't sit well with my bubbly personality and love for watercolour.

Several times this year I have longed to paint roses in my garden or fabulous huge horse racing scenes or animals at a whim but I have needed to load my car for a new destination for a meeting or to demonstrate or teach.  Sometimes I have found myself limited in my studio time when I desperately had the urge to create. Which is why I am finally back on track putting my studio time as my quality time where I paint what I paint when I want to and create work for the galleries who represent me without distraction. Next year I know my art will be the best that I can achieve with the brilliant new subjects that are already pulling at my emotions making me want to race to paint them. Subjects that are being kept under wraps until next years exhibitions.

When I paint my studies and discover new colours or subject approaches I will be sharing them on my blog  because I love the emails and comments I recieve from complete strangers when we meet at art events. But I am wisely letting go of a few commitments that have taken a lot of time. I am standing down from councils of art societies and allowing myself the freedom of placing my focus on my own art next year which I believe is important and essential in my life at the moment. One I will miss is the SWA,Society ofr Women Artists  whom I have loved working for under the leadership of the amazing past President, Barbara Penketh Simpson who has to be one of the most caring and inspirational people I have ever met in my life. Her vision and enthusiasm for the society has led to its' success over recent years and has also encouraged many new artists wishing to belong to the society. Anyone who knows me will fully understand I always give 100% when I am involved with any charity or society so I needed to move on to free my time and this sadly means my art society demonstrations next year will be limited also.  Having said that I will be demonstrating at Patchings next year so do come as it is an amazing art event that I would not miss for the world!.

Times change and our lives must too if we wish to enjoy every moment. I honestly thought this year was my most exciting yet but I know now from invitations coming in what 2013 holds for me and I am going to welcome the new year with both hands and step bravely into a whole new adventure.

I hope you,whoever you are reading my blog, are making wise decisions about your future too. Make sure you have time to think about what you want to achieve and go for it because we are only here once and this life is not a rehearsal!

Go For Gold!

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