DONE... that wonderful feeling when the biggest to-do list no longer matters. We hung Boundaries 2 yesterday and I am really pleased with the result. Looking forward to some housework

This is my bit -


haven't taken photos of the other 10 artists involved as they weren't quite finished, will take more at the open event on Saturday afternoon.

Not quite sure how I got to this stage - the weekend was manic no head space at all. Woke up on Sunday morning to the glorious smell of slow roast pork permeating the house, reminded me of when I was small and Mum would always cook our Sunday roast overnight. Favourite Son and Daughter in Law arrived with 2 gorgeous grandchildren in tow. Lovely day spent building a very bright plastic castle in the garden and watching cows being delivered. There's always something exciting going on at grandma's house. Then the shortest time spent reading quietly, love doing this.


Monday - the final push to list, label and sort all the stuff for Boundaries. Almost there when I dropped two framed pastels (with glass) didn't break the glass thankfully, but several hours later noticed that I had badly dinged one of the frames. Spent ages reframing it (luckily I had another drawing almost the same size). But - why when you are stressed to the max do jobs become more difficult - put that darned thing together 8 times and each time there was another bit of stuff under the glass. I was working on a freshly ironed sheet in a still room and my hair was fastened back - just where do all those bits come from? So there is still one small speck but its just too bad will have to do.

On top of all that M was not well, had to drop everything and go fetch him some potion from the chemists, he looked grey but improved as the day progressed.

Tuesday, up and away with the sparrows. Had to be in Swanage by 10am left the house before 9, that's almost the day before by my count.




The usual hurry up and wait, but the hanging went well, had a quick lunch with my friend Andrea (who is also exhibiting) then back home to spend the rest of the day looking like something from a zombie movie.  I am so tired - porridge for supper.








Why do people always photograph my bum? I know I duck away from having my picture taken, but this time I wasn't even trying.









Today I am not arting, I am actually looking forward to housework, ironing, dusting, scrubbing floors it doesn't matter anything as long as it is not art related, the last few months have been so stressful I don't want to pick up another brush or pastel until .....at least tomorrow!


       


                                                              My favourite picture of this week.

Open Event Saturday 2nd July 2016 hope lots of people come to see us, have a drink and talk to the artists. I am very proud to be part of this

The day after a LONG open studios....and a week later

Dorset Art Weeks is over and I am shattered. After 16 long days, having visitors look at my work, explain my thought processes and working practices and generally being nice to people (so far outside my comfort zone it doesn't exist) I can barely stand up.  Feeling somewhat desperate today, just glanced at the work I am proposing to take to L'Artishe Gallery in Swanage for the Boundaries 2 exhibition starting July 1 and I am not one bit happy with it.  This show is supposed to be new work so my dilemma is 1. do I rework that which I thought was finished or 2. do I start again using the frames I have already prepped and hope I turn out something reasonably 'good' in the time available?

I know I must do something not remain in this almost catatonic indecisive state. A Plan is needed....

As the gallery space is still in good order (I haven't even started taking work down and packing it away) I think I shall spend the next hour or so hanging the unsatisfactory finished work, looking at it as dispassionately as I can and thinking.

So it's a week later and how did that go..

I hung the aforesaid pieces, decided the pastels were OK but the oil  paintings yeuk. (not exactly an artistic word but just fits my state of mind).

Then avoidance tactics set in. I washed and polished the kitchen floor, tidied two weeks of clothes that were strewn around the bedroom, started to pick up the dining room where all the prep work for Art Weeks took place. On Tuesday am went to a meeting in Swanage to discuss Boundaries 2.  Managed not to let on how panicked I was about my work.




Came home, proverbial and metaphorical kick up the.. and set to work.






Cut and sanded several 12' x 9' boards ready to repaint the offending ones.  Have worked like crazy all week on these 3 pieces whilst at the same time trying to keep hold of the images for my next project.







 In each the reworked example is on the right.  I think these are a great improvement.





Now all I have to do is start my next project, write my artists statement, start my next project, decide whether or not I will take cards,  start my next project, or prints, start my next project, pick out the watercolours that may be ok, Start My Next Project.

 Mustn't forget to invite everyone to the Opening Event for Boundaries 2. (SATURDAY JULY 2nd 2pm - 4pm) A chance to meet the artists etc.

Have I mentioned that my head has been boiling all week to get going on the next thing....

Getting there - thoughts on Dorset Art Weeks

We are exactly half way through Dorset Art Weeks, and so far it has been great.  My visitor numbers are substantially up on last time (2014) and if the sales continue at this level they will also be up.  Mind you I am getting there the hard way (one card at a time).  One of the great things about Art Weeks is that we get to meet so many new people.  Being an artist is a solitary occupation and for 16 days every two years we have the opportunity to meet people from many walks of life and all age groups and see first hand other peoples reactions to the blood we pour out over everything in the studio.

Dorset Art Weeks is one of the biggest such events in the country, we have 299 venues this year and I think the artists participating are over 800.  One of the things that keep being talked about by my visitors are the number of good textile artists that are showing. So much NOT tea cosy knitters, these people have taken stitching to a level most wielders of needle and yarns wold never imagine. (See "View from our Hill" blog by Amanda House).  I am not tempted to change how I work, but am thrilled for the recognition these hard working people are being shown.

One of the biggest changes since I first started showing in DAW (2010) is the development of our group on facebook.  This closed group provides us with a forum for everything arty. From who locally does the best framing, to where to get a meal or cup of coffee in a part of the county you don't know so well.  There is no backbiting or negativity, just a warm wholesome family feeling of belonging to. Something bigger than you own little world.

Have been holding off on this post as I thought I had sold my large seascape, but the man who promised faithfully to come back Saturday morning and then Sunday afternoon still hasn't turned up.  I learnt some time ago to never consider an item sold until you actually had the money in your hand, but hope is a mischievous feeling.





Instead I am pleased to say that this small oil painting of cow parsley in evening light has gone to a new home.  A lovely young eastern European couple presently living in Verwood.  He has just taken up oil painting and it was great to give encouragement, especially after he had shown me several of his paintings. The delights of modern technology, when I was young we had to haul our actual work around now you just reach into a pocket and pull out a phone.










This past week has been most productive, because I am more or less tied to the gallery space I have been working away. Assembled and painted 10 frames ready for Boundaries in July. Several small pen and ink sketches and work on a few small oil paintings which may also find their way into Boundaries

These are all quite small for me, 12" x 9" which makes them quite a challenge. It does mean, however that I can paint them in a much shorter time

Looking forward to the next 7 days of Art Weeks, lots to do and lots of people to meet.