I need staff....

Got up this morning with only one thing on my list - write this blog.  As if that was going to work.

I have started organising an exhibition for Spring 2017 with fellow pastel artist Caroline Ireland (sounds good considering I only started on this particular journey 3 months ago). Anyway on the back of one or two fairly successful drawings have decided I can only get better!!

Then I remembered that Monday I have to take 2 paintings to Shaftesbury Arts Centre for their annual snowdrop exhibition,

                                        and 2 paintings to Swanage for the 100 cubed show at L'Artische.

They are now all gussied up in their going to market outfits (framed with hanging fixings), checked for foreign objects on the surface and any aberrant marks removed/hidden. Forms all printed out, filled in, and attached where necessary. Now all I have to do is think up some titles.

A very busy week this week. The pastels drawings are really taking up my time - I love the mark making, and the colours.....  

                                                                                   I usually photograph my pin board once a month,
                                                                                  here is the end of January..

                                                                           









and this is the end of the first week in February!

Have been spraying the pastels this week - I finally gave in and ordered some fixative.  Memo to self only spray outside (almost asphyxiated the whole household) - even after the windows had been open for an hour couldn't get into my workroom for coughing.  A little disappointed with the results of the spraying, the whites disappear and the bright colours take on a plasticity that I am not too keen on.  Went back into the images one by one bringing back the highlights and recolouring some of the really dark areas, much happier now.  Have ordered some acid free tissue paper, it should arrive Monday, so that I can make covers for each drawing for storage.  I will keep them separate from the watercolours and in a suitably sized box so that they can't slip around. That should help protect the delicate surface. I cannot imagine how Degas managed to keep the freshness and light in his pictures.  I know he used many layers and sealed each one except the top one.  I already use several layers but have only sprayed at the end I shall experiment with intermediate fixing next week.

Now where can I advertise for a helper...?