JOHNATHAN MILLER PORTRAIT .... by TONY BIRKS-HAY

This is a photograph of a portrait head made by my friend Tony Birks-Hay.  It is a wonderful example of where sculpture and painting meet, as I look at it I can see the planes that Tony would paint....  I think it is beautiful ....  This is 'in the clay' it is being cast in bronze at the moment.  www.tonybirks-hay.co.uk

COLOURSCAPES of RAJASTHAN.... come with us......

Yasin Zagar of Indus Experiences and I are just putting the final touches to our painting trip to Rajasthan ... and can't contain my excitement any longer so I am putting this up on the blog.....  

The painting above is actually of some women from Karnataka - and was made when Robert and I were on holiday in Goa .....

I dont have any pre conceived ideas about what and how I will paint and draw in India proper.   We shall go to the National Museum in Delhi as one of our first sorties - I love to draw in museums ( did some really interesting things in Cairo Museum for instance ) and it seems like a good place to start and acclimatise ones self ... and also I want to learn a little about this amazing county!   Museums are a good place to start! 

I will have to have a lesson in how to blog from my iPad .....  and mmmmmm. lots of other exciting things!  More very soon - and oh - I nearly forgot - well will have to talk about that in another post!

A NEW SLANT......a bit of fun.... a few knitted flowers....

I have been advised to keep my blog entirely professional ......  stick to painting and keep it impersonal ...but - after a long time I am getting bored with the restrictions .... so here is some sillyness ---- and my knitted flowers????

You like?

and I have more ...many more, in bright and also pale pink and roses too....

another time maybe.

SENSU BRUSH STYLUS for IPAD - FREE

I have a £40 Sensu portable artist brush and stylus for touchscreen devices here in Dorset, available free for you -

I was sent it by the editor of The Artist magazine in order that I write a review about it.   I have tried and cannot honestly say that I can really endorse it - its probably just me being difficult ( unusual you might say!)  anyway - Dr Sally Bulgin has asked me to try to find someone who can collect it and write a 700 word piece that is broadly positive + 3/4 drawings made on the iPad and you will also get paid…

The catch is - she really needs the copy by the end of July.

Please circulate this to as many people that you think might be interested ….. I have raided my addresses book but do not feel like sending to everyone!

Thanks v much and enjoy the sun!

SAATCHI GALLERY - a wonderful drawing

A friend sent me this drawing - taken with her clever little iphone !  of a fantastic experience she had at the Saatchi gallery ....   I dont know who the artist was and wish I did...  it almost makes me willing to leave peaceful beautiful Dorset to go and see it.  I am sure it will good for me!

More blogging soon - re paintings delivered to Winchester and also ....  more excitement ....

CREATIVE COVERAGE... Just to let everyone know that I am no longer represented by this organisation...

..... if there are any images of me or my work they are in breach of copywrite.   I hope by this time that Tim Saunders will have removed all of my images & information from his website.    

MOTHER-TO-BE..... and a first for me....

This is a painting of a young woman I know .... it is painted from a photograph,  ....

I have never done this before ... and it has taken a long time for me to finally give it a try.   The little girl who was 'on the inside' will be four years old this May!   And she has a little brother.  The young mum - who wanted a painting of herself - was too tired to sit for me when I arrived with my paints, so we agreed that I would take photos and see what happened....

The picture is still in the early stages ....  and I am unclear how much of a real protrait will be possible ....   we will see....  it may turn out just to be a pleasant painting...  which is done from a photograph and thus has no real ... life or validity...

                                        Third stage 

The second stage .....  

 This was the first stage .... but the figure was not placed correctly .... too big for the canvas so I had to rub it out and begin again...

Beech Wood with Bluebells... 80 x 80 cm

This is another 'not quite finished' painting - also a photograph taken in electirc light so it isnt brilliant.....   why am I so impatient?  

    Beech trees and bluebells - unfinished - 80 x 80 cm

  .....   Dunno!  don't care!  Off to play the piano in a mo - just time to say I had a lovely chat with Wendy Barber last night - and we both talked about having to accept that 'outward bound' painting is a thing of the past ... If I use my energy in girding my loins and going out - I dont have the energy to paint! 

So working in the studio becomes the norm....  and we both agreed that the years of going out mean that the landscape and our response to it is deep inside us, and painting inside allows something else to happen..... a very interesting discussion that deserves much more time and thought than I am giving it here....  more later,Wendy please note...  I really valued out discussion and look forward to speaking when you return from Texas!   

Check out Wendy Barber's blog .... I am sure if you google that you will find her - .... more anon I promise!

the LITTLE GATE & BEECHES...

This painting is not quite finished .....   but very nearly so I thought I would put it on the blog ....  more later.... its been another busy day!   Lots of painting, playing the piano and boring office work......

ESSENTIAL-PHOTOSHOP-ELEMENTS.COM/LESSON 2

http://media.essential-photoshop-elements.com/Lesson2_TheMenuBar.mov

this is a link to the very useful link that Rob Frost who did my website has directed me to .... so I now know how to re size the pixels in images of my paintings ....   does that make sense?   Rob can be contacted -   www.orionit.ltd.uk
www.robfrost.co.uk   

I guess the web will offer information on almost anything - we have used it for skinning and gutting a rabbit ( the dog caught) and the meaning of biometric - a discussion this pm on identity cards and big brother ....    what an amazing world we  live in ....   unless you live in Syria or Mali or ........

I give thanks that I was born when and where I was!  

A picture of my knitting to go with this I think!

People are often surprised to learn that I knit .....   I dont know why ....   I dont follow patterns as such - just make it up as a I along ...  and am learning all the time of course.   Sitting with my feet up, cats and knitting and a story or play on the wonderful beeb....    or iplayer ....
Who else loves the radio?

Renowned British colourist to showcase her art to the world....

This is a cutting from the Saudi Gazette .... it was put in on my behalf by Tim Saunders, of Creative Coverage....     it coincides with a picture of the Poppies IV that has appeared in Box Magazine - an online 'lifestyle' magazine - the article is by Emma Moir....  just so's you know!

DO YOU KNOW YOUR ART?

http://www.theboxmagazine.co.uk/magazine/.....     this is an online lifestyle magazine and this was written by Emma Moir of Box Galleries.

CATS POSING in the CORKSCREW WILLOW.....

I cant believe that I am posting this - its bad enough that I - Robert and I are besotted with these ridiculous animals - and here they are intruding on my professional world....    But there you are - I adore them, and they are very good at posing!

TROUBLE with PHOTOSHOP .....

Maybe the reason I have been so dilatory (?sp) in blogging in recent months is sometimes dosnt technology get you down?   Trying to do this logo f'rinstance...  and the one above - I have tried to put some text beneath it - first using Pages - but I couldnt find how to crop the page - so half of the 'image' would be white, and then in photoshop .... and the uploader cant recognise a psd ...  so I am on the look out for someone to give me a few lessons please... also about re sizing in photoshop so I can upload images to my website, using Contribute..

any ideas?

End of a successful show in Wimbledon...

and on to the next ...   Studio 106 Gallery,  Dawes Road from this Sunday, 27 January....  more information very soon.

COLLYER'S BROOK Springhead.....

This is one of a series of recent paintings - I have it hanging on our kitchen wall!  More paintings - maybe of snow- to follow!

                      Colllyer's Brook, Springhead 75 x 60

HYDRANGEAS in Wimbledon.....

This painting ... which is about 30 x 35 cm is one I did at our last house in Shaftesbury ...  and Emma Moir has chosen it for a pop up exhibition she is putting on next month in Wimbledon....  

I rather like it actually...  I didnt have a photograph of it but Glen Ines of www.picturecentric.com in Shaftesbury had scanned it so it is available as a reproduction print from him or me as well ....  

Seeing it - it reminds me about painting flowers ...  I love that blue too - with the alstromeria I think ....  I shall have to buy some flowers and paint some eh?

TWO PAINTINGS TODAY!

Well, I started two new paintings today - Robert my husband always says " that's it, its finished ...  he said that with the first one - below ....   I dunnno, maybe he is right - I find it impossible to leave it when the painting underneath ( one of the road rage paintings I did a year ago) is still so strongly showing and it feels too unresolved ......!

The springhead one with reflections - he insists that I dont do anymore to it - except I am allowed to finish off the water in the bottom left ...  

Since a few post ago I have had some feedback and I really appreciate it - if you feel like commenting on this, please do .....  I dont suppose it will change what I do - but its interesting all the same, and may encourage me to look at my work differently, which is always useful...

Tall Beeches, 90 x 60cm stage 1

Tall Beeches, 90 x 60cm stage 2

Fontmell Brook at Springhead  75 x 60cm

BEECH TREES and RED PATH 90 x 90 cm.....

This is a nearly completed painting - from a photo taken with my little iphone! this photo is also taken by my iPhone ...   when I brought the wet painting into the kitchen....   which now smells delightfully of oil paint!

Well - I just love my life...   painting is such a pleasure - and hard work of course, but I find hard work easy .....   jewish/catholic guilt probably!!!!

beech trees & red path 90 x 90 cm

I dont know if anyone reads my blogs....  I never feel as if they do - so - if you do please let me know that doing this isnt a totally useless activity, please!

I only add that because I did meet someone who admitted to reading it.  And that was Rita Yates - who is a very fine printmaker .... I will find her info and add it to my blog!

a last glass of wine and then knitting and bed!

OCTOBER PAINTINGS ..... hooray!

I realise that it is quite a long time since I have made any posts .....      and I am delighted to be back! This new painting is linked to others I have made about trees .....   I will add them to the foot of this post.  

                                   Hills through the trees  65 x 90cm 

I am really pleased with the new crop of paintings I am working on, or have just finished.  Here is the first.     It is a group of trees I walk through on one of my lovely daily walks ....  the hills in the distance are Hambledon and Bulbarrow ....  I have Melbury on my left and this field is my ....favourite .... fantastic views all around.   It is truly beautiful.   

                                                         Trees in the snow 60 x 90 cm 

                                           Winter Trees  60 x 90 cm