A quiet week.

Woke up last Saturday morning in mid sentence with myself....." if the pictures would be better with white frames?"  Obviously thinking about the Boundaries 2 opening event set for the afternoon and whether my pictures would stand up for themselves next to the other 10 exhibitors.  Pondered all morning and asked Amo what she thought on the way there.  As I walked in the gallery the first words out of my mouth were "Sharon should the frames be white?" She responded with "We were discussing the same thing yesterday... and yes." Bleugh.

Bearing in mind that after months of concentrating on MY painting this is meant to be M's week and I am supposed to be cosseting him, this is how the rest of the week played out:

Sunday ordered new frames on tinternet using notes made during organising stuff for showing and started painting the 3 frames I had.  Made some chocolate chip cookies to try and earn some brownie points.

Hated Monday (4th July) a bad day in my calendar.  We always used to celebrate with a huge fourth of July party (thank you Walter) and also my sister's birthday (she would have been 62 this year).

Tuesday my frame pieces arrived nice and early, fixed them together and rushed off to have glass cut. Lovely Mike managed to turn them round in 45 minutes. Also spent some considerable time filling my new box with my pastels.


Wednesday set off good and early (for me) 9 a.m., to take new frames to L'Artishe in Swanage. No- one there - for good reasons - one of those emergencies that always occur when you don't have time for it, so came home a very unhappy bunny. Sixty miles and three hours wasted.





Thursday, set off much later after having phoned ahead to make sure someone was there.  My painted frames were perfect - yes the paintings did look better, BUT the new frames with glass were all too small.  AAAAGH. (I later discovered that I had ticked the wrong box I needed glass size not exact size). Went out and bought a saw to cut the back boards to the correct size, then had to cut each pastel drawing in its mount down by 1.5 cm all round. I finally finished at 4pm.  Hung everything and yes it does look better, but there really has to be an easier way.




Friday - morning - committed (haha) to hanging the local art exhibition in Tarrant Hinton Village Hall. Gilly Hesketh and I worked like stink for 2 hours and were quite pleased with ourselves. The exhibition is only on for two days but they had around 60 visitors in that time and raised quite a bit for local charities.



Friday - afternoon -severely exhausted, did not know what to do with myself and going back to bed was not an option. Set off across the yard planning to get out some tools and set to in the garden which has been sadly neglected this year, but instead of turning left into the garden shed somehow managed to turn right and into the barn where my prepared painting boards are stored. Lightbulb moment, I think I'll do a painting!!!!! I know there is one rattling round in that head of mine just waiting to come out

This was the board at the end of Friday - quite eye popping.








Saturday around a visit to Chettle village Fete






And Sunday  - the view out of my window, 6 foot tall cow parsley - I have never seen anything like
it, besides they should have finished flowering over a month ago.


Several other things happened during the week, but I think this is quite long enough.

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.

Busting out of my skin.

On Sunday 15th May I wrote:

After a winter of painting mostly small pictures I have a huge urge to paint something enormous. I'm challenged that right now I need to finish my series of smaller paintings for "Boundaries" and can't afford to lose concentration on that.

Some of the "Boundaries" images are bursting out of my brain clamouring to be made up.  I can feel the bluebell wood as a vertical 4' x 2' with more detail in both the trees and the bluebells.

The recent sky motifs with silvered winter wheat are screaming to be rendered - also 4' high.

I also have to do the cherry blossom - NOW whilst they are in bloom.

What to do????


It was quite cathartic writing that - I realised that I just needed to get on and do - rather than thinking about it.  It is now Wednesday and I have just added what I think are the final touches to a painting that incorporates most of the above.

Every spring for the last several years I have tried to paint the cherry blossom.  It only lasts a day or two and is like lace blowing in the breeze.  I finished this with a healthy slather of white using a tiny painting knife, which gave much looser petal forms than the brush did.  This is a spot on our daily walk with the dog - still on PF thus only two people (or the favoured few) get to see it.  The winter wheat is just beginning to form and the awn glints silver in the spring sunshine.





I feel like singing and dancing (even though it is raining today) think I shall now go and paint wheat fields and bring some more sunshine into my world.

Getting ready to exhibit.

This has been a busy week - again.  Started off well have 2 small paintings on the easel prepping work for Boundaries in July and 4 on the floor next to it that need finishing glazes for Dorset Art Weeks.   Then I decided that I would spend my time better hanging the work I want to show for DAW and that way clear out my mind.







Had to paint a couple of extra walls in the shed/studio and the hanging system using fishing line is too complicated, but have managed to hang 17 oil paintings, 24 watercolours and 23 pastels.

(I ache in places that shouldn't and on the last step off the ladder yesterday I twisted my knee, but such a a feeling of satisfaction - I could conquer the world!)

This is how I work - laying everything on the floor and then have to scramble around choosing things that will hang well together - its rarely about the image and almost always about the size and shape - so that you end up with a harmonious whole on the wall.

The watercolour wall needs some adjusting to its bottom row so that it lines up and doesn't stutter along.

There's still quite a along way to go - prints cards signs and the biggie - working out prices, but I can do that slowly over the next couple of weeks.

The facebook page set up for the North East Dorset Artist Trail section of DAW is going quite well. I have managed to post something about every venue - the last one goes up tomorrow (Monday 2nd May). Hopefully when we get together on Saturday I will be able to demonstrate to the non believers that social networking is a good thing. I don't think many artists understand that it is all a question of numbers - if you get 100 people to your studio one or two may buy something - if you get 1,000 10 or 20 may buy - that makes a huge difference to the cost of opening your studio to the world.

A funny week.

It's been a funny week, two meltdowns and two lessons learned - (I think).

First the meltdowns: On Tuesday I decided that with Dorset Art Weeks (DAW) looming (six weeks to go) I HAD NO WORK to show. Not withstanding the fact that since the New Year I have created nearly 60 pastels, countless small drawings and around a dozen small to medium size oil paintings.  It's no good you know, on planet Karren normal things don't make sense and for a whole 24 hours I was totally panic struck. By Wednesday I had taken the proverbial big breath and pulled a few things out to reassure myself, that whilst none of it was up to scratch, the walls would not be bare.

Meltdown number 2 came on Thursday when the postcards I had had printed arrived and they were not postcards but regular opening cards.  Aagh - I wanted them to give to other artists so that during DAW they could have them on display.  We always swap small items so that we can point visitors on to the next venue, and as they are free people love to pick them up and carry them away - it may not bring them to your studio this time, but they may remember you next time they are planning a trip around.  I spent all day mentally fussing about what to do - what a horrible waste of money on top of the uselessness of it all, and I still needed something to hand out.  Eventually the smarts kicked in and I emailed the printer. Dearest Chris Oldroyd got back to me immediately and accepted responsibility for the mistake - the postcards will be with me on Monday and he reckons I should be able to sell the cards anyway.






Well what did I learn?  First of all over a much needed and lovely coffee break with my friend Amo (check her blog out at Amanda House "View from our Hill") she's a fabulous textile artist, but I digress!!!













She reminded me that although I have painted/drawn something I don't need to display the whole thing. She grabbed some mount corners and proceeded to cover up parts of the pastel I had taken to show her. Doh! Lightbulb moment. It's simple really.





The second thing I learnt this week was also on Friday - I experimented drawing with a pen.


 I have to admit I don't like drawing, not with a pencil anyway and it's something I always avoid if possible.  I love using charcoal, but make such a mess it puts me off. Well I have decided that I love pen and ink.















The odd thing is that I am much less hesitant, more decisive and consequently the lines I produce (right or wrong) have a quality about them that says of course that is exactly how it should be.
 And the bonus is that I find it quite satisfying.




The lesson I will never learn is to think before I panic, but then I wouldn't be me.