Amazing Ways With Watercolour: New DVD 2011

How incredible! The trailer for my new DVD " Amazing Ways With Watercolour" has only just been shared online on the Town House Film web site and already orders are coming in from all over the world.

This really is such exciting news. I am eagerly waiting for the post so that I can  watch my own copy which should arrive today!

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" Amazing Ways With Watercolour" can be purchased from Town House Films directly who ship worldwide free of charge. For further information please use this link.

http://www.townhousefilms.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=49

The release date is 31st March 2011 

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"Amazing Ways With Watercolour" DVD Trailer

 Filming " Amazing Ways With Watercolour" with Town House Films in Norwich.

Exciting News!

A trailer of my new DVD " Amazing Ways With Watercolour" is now online and you can be one of the first to view it via this link.

http://www.townhousefilms.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=49

This is where as an artist I feel very nervous! It was so exciting creating the  film but now is the time to sit back and see if  it is enjoyed. The aim of the film really is to inspire and motivate rather than give a definite step by step demonstration as found in so many existing products.These to me are often wonderful but can lead to a million paintings of exactly the same thing world wide which is what I strive so hard to work against and avoid in my workshops. I adore results that are original and stand out from the rest for whatever reason.

With so many glorious colours available it's now quite easy to simply have a ball creating. However having  an understanding of watercolour as a medium, discovering what it can do while consistently exploring new approaches in technique are keys to unlocking the doors to achieving great results. I am trying to make unlocking these doors seem even more exciting in a fresh  approach. Losing the preliminary sketch and  making first brush marks truly count is vital to a pleasing outcome.

I truly believe there is a time for trying something new in ways of working with a favourite medium which is why I am sharing  mine in this film. I also genuinely believe there is an artist within us all.

Finding  a unique style is a journey that should be relished rather than feared. 

I hope my passion for watercolour comes across in this DVD. For now I will be sitting anxiously waiting for the first comments I recieve when it is viewed !

" Amazing Ways With Watercolour" is available  from Town House Films and can be pre ordered worldwide.

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Giving in Love

A Special Painting

The Herb Picker

From my book " How to Paint Colour and Light in Watercolour"

Every artist has one now and then. A very special painting they they feel right from the beginning is going to lead to a result that is magical for whatever reason it might be. For the beginner it is often their first success. For the more  advanced professional it could be a new break through in technique or a piece that stands out from the rest. This painting is one of mine.

I adore holding workshops and sharing my  ideas . I often have favourite subjects which inspire my demonstrations. This herb picker is one of those favourite subjects. The original from my first book " How to Paint Colour and Light in Watercolour" has stayed with me in my studio. Mainly  because I simply haven't been able to part with her. I have taken her to art demonstrations for a number of art societies and shown her in my own workshops.

Everyone loves her.

Without too much detail the face is there, sunlight plays upon her clothing as she takes a well earned rest before taking the herbs she picked from the nearby mountains to the local market to sell.

I was in Turkey on a sailing trip when I  visited a village. Here I passed   figures on the mountains gathering herbs which make tea. I was lucky to see this peasant placing her herbs in a huge sack which she then placed on her back. Next she set off to have the herbs weighed for selling. It was a wonderful sight for an artist as  even her clothes worked in terrific colour combinations. 

This painting is  very dear to me as it is a firm favourite from my first book and one I have intended to keep.

 But I am donating it to charity. On 21st March, 2011 in London this piece will be auctioned in aid of a favourite cause. Children with special needs. The cockerel I donated  for the chariuty event hosted by Raymond Blanc in aid of the Lady Taverners raised a four figure  bid. I hope this does the same as I am working towards buying a mini bus which will bring joy to faces of those who use it.

Some decisions are harder to make than others. Some are definitely the right ones.

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" How to Paint Colour and Light in Watercolour " is available from Amazon.com, Search Press and the SAA Society for All Artists.

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Faithful Friend

Faithful Friend

 There are only so many flowers I can paint in one  week! I know its' spring and I know there are some gorgeous subjects bursting into life in my garden but if I stayed with the same subject no matter what kind of flower it was I  am sure my work would suffer. And so  my heart has pulled me in the direction of a lovely dog that has been visiting my cottage this year.

 "Faithful Friend" 

Coming to life in Watercolour,amazingly without any form of sketch beforehand.

This faithful friend turned up with an amazing man who has made every door in  beautiful oak for our home.The dog patiently sits in the van waiting for his master to finish working. Every now and then the two companions  are briefly reunited over a coffee or break and the faithful friend immediately bounces into gleeful action. When the master returns to work the look on this intelligent dogs face is priceless.

And that is what I am painting here. 

Not the dog.  

The emotion and story behind the piece. I have a story to tell in only so many words. 

My brushstrokes are my speech.

If you look at the following first stage and can imagine you already see a dog then my start is a good one. My painting is begging me to continue working, just like the real dog was yearning for his masters company.

I have a strong connection with this that will make the outcome very magical. And this makes my subject so enjoyable to  paint.

The first colour placement with no preliminary sketch.

A very exciting way to work as subjects lietrally burst into life during the process of creation.

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It is always mesmerising watching subjects jump to life without a hint of  a sketch  to guide the artist. Two collections of my watercolours will be  in exhibitions in April 2011

"The Frame", Odiham, Hampshire  from April 7th,2011

"The Wey Gallery",Godalming, Surrey from April 23rd, 2011

Everyone is welcome to the private previews where I look forward to meeting you. For further information please contact the galleries directly

The Frame Gallery,Odiham, Hampshire RG29 1LB

Tel: 01256 701082

The Wey Gallery,Godalming,Surrey  GU7 1HL

Tel: 01483 418013

Finding the Courage

Finding Courage and Sharing Too

Five minute wash from yesterdays  photographic shoot for my second book

A few artists attending my workshops have asked me how I  manage constantly driving to new locations for  so many projects. The truth behind this is that only a few years ago I really found going anywhere really difficult. In fact at that time even driving to a local supermarket nearby could cause me  to panic.  I had been dealing with an emotional trauma which left me feeling as though I couldn't face the world.

With love from my family and friends I came through but painting changed my life. Colour  took me to another place. An escape that I needed at that time. I have always painted since a child. My parents had split up and I spent hours literally creating happy images of things that were no  tin my life.

As I grew I travelled all over the world and met many artists.Colour  became a huge part of my way of living and philosopy. So how did I overcome the fear of driving long distances?

I wanted something so badly that I had to do it. I wanted to write my first book and everyone was asking me to do so.To keep everyone happy I did it. I drove to meet my wonderful publishers at Search Press.I wasn't worried so much about meeting them as actually getting there.  I knew that if I depended on any one else to drive me on this journey in future I would also be dependant totally on others. I knw I had to drive myself and make a change.Search Press were magical and  always will be.  Next I drove back to them for a photographic shoot, stayed in a hotel and enjoyed the meetings. I drove to the SAA for my first DVD and more recently to Town House Films to film a gorgeous new DVD which will be available at the end of March this year.

Last year I even flew to Norway to demonstrate and I have even given a talk at Warwick University in front of an audience of non artists! 

I believe we can all achieve whatever we want to achieve ,if we want it really hard enough. And I did want to write.

So if I can find my way around a fear of driving long distances I am certain everyone can find their way around the fear of working in watercolour or not having successful results. Let's make this year one of change and one that fill our hearts with happiness. That way we will affect everyone around us also!

If ever you have doubts, say two words.........

" I can"

It makes all the difference in the world. 

Trust me, I know!

First Photographic Shoot for Second Book

 

 

Photographic shoot for my second book 

With Gavin, a fabulous photographer and friend!

Yesterday saw me  packing my car  yet again and making the drive to Tunbridge Wells for the first photographic shoot of my second book which will be launched next year. This really is the dream book I have always longed to write. I am filling it with so many subjects, tips and new techniques that it feels like Christmas when I stop to think of everyone who has asked me to include certain sections in it.

It is incredible when you begin to understand the logistics of what actually goes behind writing a book and the final result when it is complete.The planning and meetings beforehand lead the way into days like yesterday when I was ready to  have images taken to include in the first sections. I am very aware that many find watercolour  difficult to use  so my aim is to make that idea fly out of the window. I also have artists coming to my workshops who have been painting for years but just don't feel as excited as they used to about the medium. I happily change that notion with my  ever increasing enthusiasm and passion for  working in watercolour.

And so I arrived armed with  the flowers I wanted to shoot for the day and other subjects which were only in beginning stages. I can now work on these at home up to stage two for the next shoot. There will  be easy to follow progressive stages of many subjects from start to finish so they need to be recorded throughout the devlopment process.

I also want to share the real subjects I am working on to avoid readers having to find them when they buy my book.  Gavin was  fabulous at getting the exact shots I wanted for me to use as if I was talking in a workshop. I often point out what I feel is important and even more interestingly stress what is not relevant to a successful painting. 

The lighting has to be perfect for a successful publication, the experience and skill of the photographer is vital. Some colours don't  reproduce very well such as yellow or orange and so expertise in getting them absolutely spot on for readers to  see exactly which colours work and how is again absolutely  crucial.

Search Press are a wonderful established publishers and work with an incredible photographers studio owned by Roddy Paine. When I visited there for my first photographic shoot I can remember feeling so nervous. In minutes they had me not only relaxed but laughing too so I knew yesterday we were all going to have a great time and that will show when my book is finished.

Gavin at work.

We started the session with shots of the real subjects I was using. These were followed by shots of paintings at a various stages so that I can work on them for the next photographic shoot. And then my favourite part of all. I could paint! And oh boy did I paint. After what seemed like ages setting up shots and preparing angles now I could hold my brushes and set them moving across clean white paper. On my jounrey I had longed to be painting as I missed my studio. This week I have been on such a roll creating one lovely watercolour after another. so to leave the studio was very difficult for me. Especially after the inspirational workshops I held last week !

I was all fired up and eager to work so there were sparks almost flying off my brush as  the end of the session drew nearer. This  painting of white flowers was  really  very quick in less than five minutes but I didn't want to take the flower home having not painted it!

Less than five minutes, a first wash for the camera!

Before I knew it the time had come to pack my car again  and make the long drive home, tired but very happy as the day had flown by and it held magic. The kind of magic artists will understand when they read this second book finally next year as so much love is going into it. Talking of which I loved seeing Katie from Search Press again and Gavin who  is fantastic knowing exactly what I am trying to achieve and finding ways to help me make that happen.

Now I really am desperate to paint in my studio but I have just recieved even more good news so I must send a few emails first!

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" How to Paint Colour and Light in Watercolour" my first book is available from Amazon.com or from SAA,The Society for All Artists along with a DVD.

"Amazing Ways With Watercolour" a new DVD which  is a two hour film of  my techniques showing how I work on a number of subjects will be launched  after March 31st. I know many artists and friends are eager to see it  !

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Creating Excitement

Creating Excitement

 

An exciting first stage of a primrose painting.

Vibrant colours seem to make the new season literally spring to life.

I couldn't sleep as thoughts of vibrant colours whirled around my head this morning. I just had to race to place them on a number of washes for a variety of  subjects.

For the last few months I have been working on my second book and storing  studies and exercises away that I feel will be easy to follow. I have many that are a little out of the ordinary for  lovers of watercolour to be tempted by. Often I hear artists tell me they have lost their muse or are simply tired of painting the same subjects in  the same style. My goal in this new book is to encourage everyone to jump right out of their comfort zones and try new techniques  that are bursting with colour,seemingly almost jumping off the paper  because they are so full of life and energy.

I am having such a fabulous time experimenting that I am dreading actually parting with these pieces eventually!

 I look back to  even last year and see how much my style has evolved. It continues to move forward as I grow in my art career. I am loving every second but it is only worthwhile because I can share my passion for watercolour regularly.

I don't think I have ever felt happier in my life and maybe that is what is showing in my recent results. Joy of life and love for friends and family.

I am one very lucky lady!