Diary of an Artist

"Morning Light"

Original Watercolour to be exhibited at the Bell Fine Art Gallery

"Animal Exhibition "

20th November- 11th December 

 If I typed all I have achieved this week I may just believe it because at times it hasn't seemed real. Last Saturday I was the guest artist for Guildford Art Society and the demonstration was followed by a wonderful evening event where one of my paintings was successfuly auctioned to raise funds for our local church. When the auctioneer mentioned the donation was from a famous artist I felt like looking around to see who it was.

Workshops 2011

Monday. Administration meeting for 2011. My workshops for the beginning of next year from February through to June are now almost fully booked. In fact there are only a few places left for certain sessions which is amazing considering they have only recently been advertised.  I will be putting the Autumn programme together which will be launched in Spring 2011 and this will include the now  favourite Africa session. How to paint dogs in a loose style will be repeated for those who couldn't get a place on the Spring session. I am also looking at new colour combinations so an exciting experimental workshop will be also taking place covering a number of subjects but in unusual  techniques. This I am really looking forward to as I will be sharing  ideas from my second book for the very first time. I know this  will sell out  because it covers techniques I haven't used previously or seen as they have evolved during the creative process of being an author.

Tuesday :  I completed a four page feature for an art magazine which will be issued  in 2011. This has been such a great project as I have been able to pull ideas into one article and share openly how I see colour  and it's placement for unique techniques and results. Putting it together has meant I have taken time out from my gallery work but it is so exciting looking forward to seeing how it will be recieved. I will share more news on this in another post later on. I had a photography shoot in my studio  by a photograher using a vintage camera.  I painted and worked whilst they took the images they needed for their book. It was such a terrific experience to see the black cape over the photographers head but holding the pose for so long made me fully appreciate how wonderful digital cameras are in modern times with their instant shots! I am very eager to see the results.

Wednesday:   I organised delivery of  a new collection to the Bell Fine Art Gallery for their exhibition which opens this weekend. Cards are available of certain pieces and I am so looking forward to seeing the show. I then forwarded the completed four page feature liasing with the editor on its content and final proof.  Next, discussing a wonderful new project  beginning in February 2011 will see me driving a long way again but I am so looking forward to sharing this news.

Behind the Scenes.

I have had an amazing week which I know has not come to an end yet. I have talked to galleries who are eager for more paintings as mine have  been selling so well. I have been working on a new card collection and a  four part series of paintings of local churches which will be released  before Christmas. I am not quite sure how I am fitting everything in. Starting each day with a long dog walk with Bailey seems to clear my mind on how to prioritise. The weather has been very cold  and the scenes so misty in the mornings that my landscapes are now forming with fascinating results from how I see the countryside outside my window. I have so much work on that when I do get out I so appreciate what I see!

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I receive such wonderful messages by email about my blog and I do read each one even though it is taking me a little time to get through them. To the wonderful person who wrote a very special message letting me know how much my blog means to them, I want you to know how much your words meant to me.

In this busy life quite often  my blog is the last thing I find time for.  At times I can't help but wonder if anyone really reads it or maybe simply skips through the paintings.  At times I consider is it really  a good idea to  leave my brushes for the computer at all apart from writing my book. 

Your email made me fully understand the value of sharing and why it is important. I truly thank you so much. 

We don't always know how we affect others. 

You kindly affected me and I bless you.

Jean

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Silence is Golden

Whisper of a Flower in Spring

Hardly there but telling a story of a sunlit day with minimal brushstrokes.

That Special Moment.

Every workshop has one. It is the  period you work towards in an all day session. You start  the day with an introduction, demonstrate, give information and instruction and aim to inspire with every single word and brushstroke. An atmosphere where everyone can relax and enjoy the session is vital along with laughter at times over unexpected funny comments.

 Yesterday as always on my workshops we started the session with some warm up simple exercises to get our brushes moving using brushmarks looking at ways colour  works on paper with water. Saying so much with so little. We were not aiming at a finished painting although some seemed to magically appear.

It is a routine I have used on many occasions. A teaching technique and schedule which I am delighted is now being used by artists who have studied with me in their own workshops all over the world. To teach is a gift so to pass on the gift of teaching is a privilege knowing you are creating so much joy reaching out to others you may never have the opportunity to meet through your own work. 

After lunch in my workshops the session always then becomes more serious as everyone looks forward to the main painting time of the day.We have all the individual techniquesfrom the mornings demonstrations  but now we put them together to form the complete composition. And we are always aware we are half way through the day already. Time is flying by.

But there is one point on my workshops that is the most magical to me. A time when you can hear a pin drop in the room. Everyone has  now become so engrossed with their  brushwork that you as a teacher don't even exist. You are almost redundant.Your demonstrations have  pressed a button which cannot be switched off . A fire of enthusiasm has hit each artists soul as they become one with their paper.

You watch silently.

You look around the room as each head is  now in position to focus on their painting. Nothing elses matters. You could be invisible.

And when this happens I often feel  like crying. Purely because getting to this place in our minds to paint can be so hard  for many artists at the best of times. To get there on a workshop surrounded by others is often impossible.

But it does happen. And when it does it is magical.

Yesterday I gently touched an artists arm in the front of the class and asked her to look behind her at the silent room.We both in that moment knew silence is golden.

These moments I will remember forever .

Magic.

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Crossing Bridges Continued!

A Very Old Canal Bridge Appearing in Watercolour.

I do love it when people say  to me " I didn't know you painted landscapes!".  I paint absolutely everything but often the seasons dictate what my subject matter will be. You will often find me attracted to painting flowers in the springtime and summer months. Animals I paint all the time. Landscapes appear as I travel or paint on location. My "Watercolours With Life" workshops  cover a variety of subjects in each session so that everyone who attends is sure to paint something that they feel passionate about.

I recieved some wonderful messages following my " Crossing Bridges" blog entry yesterday so felt this  watercolour study of a canal bridge  appropriate to share today. Painted on location last year with friends I loved quietly taking in the scenery and allowing it to breath to life on paper,bringing into the scene some of the history of the bridge that is so old. What stories it could tell of days gone by  when the only people to cross it were on foot or horseback.

I still have many bridges to cross and I am heeding some wonderful advise. Never cross any bridges that you don't feel comfortable about crossing yet and if you do cross any successfully share the positive experience with others!

I am getting so many questions forwarded and requests regarding advise on how to start teaching or  holding workshops and  how much to charge. I can only share my own experiences and views but will try to help as much as possible. Sadly yet another email came my way from someone who had parted with almost £100 to attend a one day workshop with an artist who they later discovered had never taught or held a workshop in their life before.They felt cheated as the workshop wasn't  very good as the artist had no experience whatsoever. Please bear in mind it isn't always the artists fault in these situations. Quite often the organisers of art holidays or art centres behind the events are also to blame. Please do your own research into workshops and find out as much as you can beforehand about the demonstrating artist. If they are teaching abroad find out how well attended their workshops are in their own country. If they are not teaching there ask the question , why?

Be cautious!

I will happily share some thoughts and suggestions in a seperate entry so please keep sending me  the questions as I am sure  they will be ones that many others would love to know answers to!

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