What to paint on.

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This was  a self portrait from 1981 when I was still at college. If I remember correctly I painted it in the summer holidays on some wooden boards, which were held together with tongue and grooves. I painted it in oil paints, not having come across acrylic paint until a few years later.

This is one of a few slides I have from that time. It’s interesting to see how my style has changed and the methods I use now, compared to in the past. I don’t know what happened to it. It may still be somewhere in the house.

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Today’s craft fair

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Today I was at a craft fair in Penkhull. It was good to see some friends and I enjoyed the atmosphere. I hadn’t realised that it was Victorian themed, I should have liked to have looked a bit more  authentic.

The result was that I managed to cover my costs and made enough to go out and get some new canvases to do some more tiny paintingsthus afternoon.

I was pleased that a couple of Owl paintings and one of a Peacock butterfly sold. Its always good to feel that they are going to good homes. I know sometimes I’m too attached to them, but I can’t help feeling protective of them. I hope I can do it again next year. 

Trying to paint frost

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Brick built through glass,

Blue, crisp, cold sky.

Observed through ice,

Layered, feathered,

Hard and delicate.

Like royal icing,

Infinitely spun in shards.

Spiders Web of facets.

Glinting and clinking in the sun.

Breath burns holes in it,

A cold palm melts into a print.

Frosted glass?

Frosting on a cake?

Feathered moonlight,

Frost…

 

Angels

Guarding, guiding, helping, supporting.

Angels are (or not) mythical creatures, usually male. They fall into various types, angels and arch angels. Seraphim and cherubim. There are beautiful illustrations of them in icon paintings and renaissance art. I wish I knew more about the art and design of them in various  ancient churches. There are fallen angels which are represented in films. I feel attracted to the complex art that is created around them. The photos above play with the idea and I have tried to manipulate them to look like stained glass windows.

 

B(u)y me for Christmas! Exhibition.

I’m really pleased to have some of my paintings up at the Brampton museum and art gallery from 16.11.19 to early January 2020. This is an opportunity for local artists to sell their work in the weeks coming up to Christmas. If you feel like having a look I’d recommend it, there’s lots to see and to buy.

It’s going to be a busy few weeks. Not helped by my having a fall at the weekend. I haven’t painted as much as I wanted and I’ve hardly been out of the house. But I mustn’t let it stop me trying to get things done over the next week or so.

I’m going to do some more green, or snowy men, try and get some cards printed and get some glass jewellery finished off..

Watch this space x

Stall set up

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I couldn’t fit all my pictures onto the stall today, but I got most of them on, plus some prints.

I got up at 7.40 but dispite trying to be there at 8.30 it was after 9 before I got there….ice to scrape off the car and then slow traffic. I’m lucky it didn’t snow, it was forecast!

The village hall is an old school and we were in the main room. Lots of crafts and charity stalls. I won a few things in the raffle and tombola. We finished about two and then it was time to pack up and try and fit all my paintings in my boxes, that’s an art in itself.

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Pallette peel

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Acrylic paint peeled out of the tub I use to mix my paint. This is the underside. Yes I do like using bright colours. Also metallic shades. There is something about shiny paint that enthralls me..

IMG_20191108_184612and you can make interesting bright patterns that could be used on things like phone and tablet covers. All it takes is rotating the images and joining them together. Bright and breezy x.

Contact!

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Because I put the post about my art on Facebook the editor of our local paper has contacted me. That was unexpected.

He’s possibly going to write a feature about the paintings. Now is not the time to get nervous (which I sometimes do).

Fingers crossed I can remember what was the meaning behind all the paintings, it’s a long time ago! If they do an article I will let you know.

Copyright © issues

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I am a local artist in Stoke-on-Trent and about 11 or 12 years ago I painted a series of murals in the Bennett suite at the Leopard Hotel in Burslem. Recently my paintings have appeared on a book, on Midlands Today a BBC local TV channel, the Sentinel newspaper and on a ghost hunting website. All without my permission. I hold the copyright for the images and I would like people to contact me if they wish to use them. The image is my painting of my painting of the Burslem Riot of 1842. I’ve contacted the people who used them but only one has responded so I have given her retrospective permission. What can I do?