Hornsea art exhibition

I'm very pleased to say I sold a painting at Hornsea art societies annual exhibition.  This is my first year as a member, and I had been told that they did very well with sales, but I didn't expect to have one.

'Orchard, alfresco' acrylic

I entered the 'Orchard al fresco and also Bridlington Boatyard as framed pieces.  I also put in three unframed pieces.  I sold 'Orchard, al fresco' and one of the unframed pieces, 'Moorings', so was very pleased.

'Moorings' acrylic

Things getting easier

I am back from the TSG summer school which was very enjoyable.  Very interesting few days.

Bridlington Art Society annual exhibition is also over now, and I am pleased to say that I got the award for both best abstract painting and, amazingly enough the best picture of the exhibition.  I got this last for a machine embroidery that I almost didn't enter.

Celtic Fish 10 x 8 inch machine embroidery

This was worked on water soluble fabric.  After the stitching is complete, including some hand stitching and beading, and some padded work, the water-soluble fabric is washed away.

I'm disappointed that neither of the two large acrylic pieces won anything.  I thought they were much the better pieces, but there is no accounting for taste.

I spent the day at Spurn Point yesterday, on a trip arranged by Larry Malkin, for members of East riding Artists.  It was a wonderful day, such a beautiful place, and I have loads of ideas for future work.  We are hoping that he will arrange another day as we spent most of yesterday learning about the history and geography of the place, and wandering around taking photographs.  We did very little sketching.

Still running

Although I have now finished the artist residency at the Old Parcels Office, Scarborough, I still feel under pressure. I have paintings to hand-in to Hornsea Art Society today, which has meant finishing, varnishing, framing etc over the last few days. I have also been getting ready to go to York on Monday for the Textile Study Group summer school.

I haven't been sleeping very well - a combination of warm nights and stress, so I am very tired.  On the plus side I am getting up at 5.30am so have a couple of hours before breakfast to get work done.  I enjoy these quiet hours before anyone else is stirring.  

'Orchard Al Fresco' acrylic 16 x 20 inch

This is one of the paintings I entered into the Hornsea Art Society annual exhibition.  I like the illustrative quality of it.

Art @ Home Farm

Diane Leach and I are exhibiting at Sledmere this weekend.  We did an Art@Home Farm in 2014.  It was in May and very cold.  They have moved it to July, and the weather is fabulous.  Unfortunately visitors are low. I am enjoying having the time to chat with Diane as we never seem to get together except at exhibitions, so we always have a lot to chat about.

'Peace' 20 x 24 inch acrylic

The above painting is one of two new paintings I have submitted to the Bridlington Art Society annual exhibition.  I meant to take a photograph of it in it's lovely wide frame, but unfortunately I forgot.  I'm very pleased with it.  An experiment in palette knife painting.  It's very difficult to do minimalist painting, you always want to add more.

Artist Residency

I wouldn't have believed what a difference it makes to work away from home, and to work for a long period, up to 6 hours one day!  Usually it's four hours, and it suits me perfectly.  There are no interruptions, and I just get on and work. I need to put a similar routine in place at home after the residency is finished.  At present, I never get more than two hours, and often not even that.

I have covered the tables and floor with plastic, then covered the floor again with scrap paper I've saved from packaging.  Because it doesn't matter about the mess I feel so much freer.

The major plus is that I have the space to work on four or five pieces at the same time, plus a couple of warm-ups as well.   I can spread them out on the floor to dry, then prop them up and look at them from a distance. I will be sad when the residency finishes in two weeks.

This is one of the paintings I'm working on.  It still needs a lot of work, but it's getting there.

Old Parcels Office, Scarborough

Have had a couple of good sessions at the Old Parcels Office.  I wasn't sure how it would go, if it would be different from working at home or not.  It is very different.  I have more space to walk back and just look.  In fact I have more space for everything.  Because it is such a huge building, the 'feel' of the place is different.

I have made a start on several paintings that look as if they have great possibilities.  I am going again today, and hope to get some sketching and take photographs of the beach and harbour as well as it's lovely and sunny.  It just depends upon if I can get parked anywhere as it will be busy with Sunday trippers.

The piece above is on board that I covered with a stiff gauze.   It isn't anywhere finished, but I'm pleased with it so far.

Still on the escalator

The time seems to be going at warp speed at the moment, but I don't seem to be getting enough painting time.  Something has got to go.  I have cut down my exercises classes, but this week sees the start of my Artist Residency at Scarborough's Old Parcels Office, so that will give me the time needed to do some exploration, particularly on a large scale.

I didn't get in to the Open Exhibition I applied for, so here is one of the paintings I put forward.

'Solitude' acrylic on canvas 24 x 20 inch

I still think it's a good painting, and will be getting it framed to put on my wall.  If I can get it framed quickly enough, I could put it in to the Bridlington Art Society annual exhibition.