Maltese-ers?

I'm working on a few paintings from my sketches in Malta last November - Malcolm reckons nobody will buy them and I should stick to Venice/Tuscany etc., but surely somebody out there might like them???

Changing seasons in painting

Here's a thought - I took this large (40 x 28") painting of a very green Glencoe, out of it's frame, which had 'done the rounds' in galleries and not sold, and repainted it into different seasons ... firstly winter-time, then decided I preferred autumn. It's actually 100 times better now as Glencoe is magnificent in November..... here's the before, in-between and after stages!!! Now it's ready to go out to the galleries and hopefully not come back this time!

Still working on Glencoe!!

My November painting visit to Glencoe has proved very useful as I've been using the work from my sketchbooks to do the new paintings this month since the snows arrived. Here's the latest edition and then I'll move on to some of the lovely Malta and Gozo sketches I did there in November too....lots to do as ever!!

This is a piece I started in Glencoe last November just when all the snows were starting in the Highlands...finished it today. SOmetimes outdoor field studies stay just that way - studies for using for reference...other times they come to something that just needs a bit of finishing off then they graduate to be real 'paintings'! I like the end result, but next week, I'll want to do better...such is life!

Snows are thawing....

Ah well - nice while it lasted. The countryside is not so pretty now, just wet and slushy and floods on the side roads. Painting still while the going is good, and before classes start this week

Got such a lot of brilliant support from FB friends when I mentioned about a falling out with a gallery...interesting and helpful opinions....so good to share these matters instead of boiling up inside. It helped me to let it go, move on and not brood for days!! Much more productive!!

MORE SNOW

Lovely to have our first Wednesday class in yesterday in an attempt to get back to normal...however more snow has arrived today, and it's back to the studio to make use of the blocked driveway and lack of distractions!

Paint in France July 2010 - Magical!

FRANCE 3 – 10 JULY 2010 MUST HAVE MIN NOS. BY END JAN
An ideal trip for those who love wine, food and art – in any order! Residence La Guiraude is a traditional Lauragaise farmhouse/luxury villa on an idyllic hillside location with beautiful gardens and a swimming pool. This is a perfect base for artists, surrounded by sunflower and wheat fields and within close reach of the Canal du Midi. Wine tasting, cookery demonstrations and inspiring locations to paint, all organised by our English hosts, promise to add up to a mouth watering trip!

New Gallery in Edinburgh

We delivered 4 new paintings to a new gallery in Edinburgh today...it is called Life On Canvas Gallery at Morningside Edinburgh...see http://www.lifeoncanvasgallery.co.uk/ Hope it proves successful - they have taken the painting I showed on yesterday's blog, and the following -

Snow is melting

Sunday morning and the snow has started to melt and drip everywhere....ah well - this means we'll be back to 'normal' soon and classes starting up again by Wednesday. I am ready for it....got a few new paintings under my belt, and being sent out to galleries tomorrow....pray God for a few sales!

New Year

Well - have decided that this is the year to start blogging! Facebook has become a great way to keep in touch with a terrific network of painting friends, as well as 'normal' friends and family keeping tabs on me!
The New Year has started with record cold temteratures and deep snow throughout the UK. Sorry - I know it is a pain in the neck to most of you, but to me - it's bliss! NOBODY COMES UP THE DRIVE AND I HAVE BEEN GETTING MORE PAINTING DONE THAN EVER, AS THE DISTRACTION OF HAVING TO GO PLACES IS CUT BACK SEVERELY!!