CALLING ALL SPIDERS........!

I have put this on my Facebook page - while my blog was being updated .... and/but I like it so much that I am including it here.  Thank you   Nina Katchadourian....   she has done some amazing other things too .... no doubt I will show you them too .....  xxxP

MEDLEY for TWITTER....!

I obviously don't have enough to do - I spent time doing this for my ....profile page on TWITTER???

Actually its also a practise blog too......!

 

EXHIBITION IN SHAFTESBURY ...OPENING NEXT WEEK....

Adam Zombory-Moldovan invites you to the launch event of ZMMA's new Architecture Studio and Gallery in Shaftesbury.
Adam Zombory Moldovan came to visit me last week to choose a painting to go in this mixed show of artists he admires.  The show  is  curated by Anne Hitchcock and I think it will really be interesting...   it  is very good when people who have a real eye and also opinions about things visual take an interest in one's work...



 

 

It is an interesting choice?   The white abstract, that people may be surprised to find out was painted by me - is something that I do from time to time....  I have often said I feel that ...one of the points of being a painter or an artist is the excitement of doing things differently!  Experimenting....   trying something out and seeing if it works - or how it works.   Sometimes it just dosnt!  tant pis!

And sometimes it does, and one comes back to have another go - from a slightly different place...



 

 

VALUE OF TOUCH SCREEN TECHNOLOGY FOR PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA AND THEIR HELPERS…..

This morning I went to the Stour View Day Centre for the Elderly and Disabled of the local area,in Sturminster Newton.    Stephen Hopcroft  who is the centre manager had seen the article  about  my iPad drawings in the Blackmore Vale Magazine and asked me if I would go and give a demonstration there.

Stephen told me that the University of Worcester has done a study of touch screen technology and the benefits different apps have for people with dementia and their helpers .....  and identifies how different apps help to improve the quality of life for people .....   might be us one day!

The dreadful thing is BT class the centre as a service so they have to pay business rates for telephone and broadband ....  like so many things - awareness needs to be raised on this.  Maybe more later?

 

Phyllis Wollf and Robert Paley

Here is our joint entry showing our venue details in DAW 2102 brochure - we both have studios and work showing paintings, prints, and drawings - please do drop in



VENUE 281 in the DAW 2012 catalogue

Since Phyllis moved deeper into rural Dorset, under the mound of Melbury Hill her personal association with the landscape has become more intense, with an obsessive need to paint and draw the essence of Melbury. Using her distinctive palette she joyously records the garden and ponds they have created.” Tony Birks-Hay in ‘Colourscapes’, Phyllis’ book. Robert continues to paint his atmospheric watercolours and now he uses oils to movingly interpret the Scottish Highlands, Dorset and Europe. Studio and gallery in superb location. Pub and tearoom nearby, Bring picnic? Please contact for information about Commissions visits or classes.

Hawkcombe, Hawkcombe Lane, Compton Abbas, Nr Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 0JH

t. 01747 812610

Dorset Art Weeks

Please take a look at my solo entry which highlights the artistic possibility of the iPad in the new 2012 DAW brochure ... all welcome to see my collection of work created using this revolutionary piece of kit.

SEEDLINGS TODAY - TOMORROW'S PAINTINGS ....!

Today I looked at the seedlings in my greenhouse, and this year's cosmos are really ready to go out, likewise the sweet peas and nicotianas etc ....   but is it safe with all this wind about?  Robert thinks his broccoli is getting leggy....

 

Misty Melbury & Flowers 80 x 80 cm   SOLD

I also put some varnish on these two paintings from  last summer's profusion .....  they are now at the framers ...    This rain is so necessary, but it is a bit tough isnt it?   I am going be resident artist on an ark with Jane Garvey ( woman's hour)  .....   we arranged it on twitter!

August Border I oil/canvas 60 X 60 cm

LA GOMERA OILS

When  I was in La Gomera I thought I would do loads of oil paintings from the sketches, iPad drawings and photos that I had amassed during our week there.    As it has turned out I have only done three and not sure I will do any more ....    being so busy getting ready for DORSET ART WEEKS  and preparing for other exhibitions has taken up so much time that the memory etc has faded.  Which is a pity, it was lovely and we were both surprised - such a varied and beautiful UNSPOILT   island - so close to the dreaded Tenerife .....     The Villa Cortes was actually in Tenerife and was where we had to wait for four hours between ferry and plane....  fortunately I had my little iPad in my bag so was able to do some drawing!



VILLA CORTES I  - that crazy hotel   oil on canvas 75 x 60 cm



VILLA CORTEZ II  - that crazy hotel    oil canvas  65 x 50 cm   unfinished state

 



Petra Chico La Gomera    oil on canvas     60 x 75 cm 

 

 

 

HAWTHORNE and COWPARSLEY....

This is really a cause for celebration!  I am making my first post on the new website, AND I have just sent off all the information for our DORSET ART WEEKS invitation AND ...   I have also updated our entry on the DORSET VISUAL ARTS WEBSITE.



Hawthorne and Cow Parsley  oil on canvas 60 x 90 cm 

 I love the white blossom of these - they speak so much of rural England.   Over the years I have done many paintings of both subjects, this particular view is on the downs near Tollard Royal which I used to drive past nearly a year ago when I was visiting Johnny Bull, when he was helping me with my book, Colourscapes.

 

THE MINSTER GALLERY Winchester

Spring in the orchard 60 x 60cm  SOLD

Misty Melbury & Flowers 80 x 80 cm   SOLD

August Border I oil/canvas 60 X 60 cm   

I have just sent three paintings to the Minster Gallery  www.minstergallery.com - they seem to sell them rather quickly...  Its a lovely gallery - do go and see if you are in Winchester.  It is just opposite cathedral.

I will be changing the format of this blog and my website soon - the same old layout gets a bit boring doesn't it?   Here are some enlargements of the pictures - I think they will be a nice change..

Top new post regarding i-pad drawings

>MORE IPAD DRAWINGS

>

Hi there, this may be my last post from this site, before my new website is up and running...  Glen from picture frames.co.uk is working on it this very moment.  Very exciting developments happening - almost too many all at once!

                               Palm and Drago trees, El Paradores   iPad drawing

                    San Sebastian Harbour from the Ferry iPad drawing

MORE IPAD DRAWINGS

Hi there, this may be my last post from this site, before my new website is up and running...  Glen from picture frames.co.uk is working on it this very moment.  Very exciting developments happening - almost too many all at once!

                               Palm and Drago trees, El Paradores   iPad drawing

                    San Sebastian Harbour from the Ferry iPad drawing

LA GOMERA ROCKS!

We have just come back from a fabulous holiday in the Canaries.  It was a major surprise for both of us - a beautiful quiet hotel - gorgeous and varied scenery .  It is a unesco world heritage site.

The following three images are all views from our lovely Hotel, Paradore....

                                               The Middle Tree       

                                      From the Breakfast Room  

From Our Terrace

 If you would like one of these it is really easy to purchase them from me, as I  have set up a simple buy print/framing service with pictureframes.co.uk of Shaftesbury, who have looked after me and framed my paintings  for many years. I am including a brief bit of Info about the island....

After El Hierro, La Gomera is the smallest of the Canary Islands, with a surface area of 378 square kilometres, approximately 10 percent of which is covered by the Garajonay National Park which has been declared a Mankind Heritage Site by UNESCO. The Island, in the centre of the westernmost part of the Canary Islands, between La Palma, El Hierro and Tenerife, is the ideal setting for outdoor activities throughout the year. 

A walk though charming little villages will take you through the rugged terrain, with surprises in store around every bend in the road. The natural wealth of the whole Island is so impressive that it has, in fact, won the highest possible distinction as a protected natural space. 

Benign temperatures make it easy to enjoy activities like rural tourism or trekking. La Gomera is a wonder of countless beautiful tracks and trails.

And the trade winds, which bring welcome rains, have generated a lush vegetation of interesting native species that in turn encourage the formation of clouds that give its forests a certain other worldly charm.

BATTERSEA BRIDGE from CHELSEA HARBOUR

A quick drawing that I did when visiting a friend - we went to see the Hockney which was fabulous.  And Warhorse which was visually fabulous - the story was a bit thin....  and London exhausting!   Got back to Dorset and had to go straight out onto the hills and get my breath and perspective back!

The Thames is very paintable though ....   !  

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

only a little late!

FIELDFARE .... IPAD DRAWINGS in art studio and brushes....

the two drawings/paintings above were done on artstudio app. the one below on the Brushes app - the one that David Hockney uses.   We are going to see the show on saturday - very much looking forward to it.  I have to say that I prefer the art studio app - you can sort of mix the colours on the page ... ah well, its all fun!

My computer has not been behaving so it seems like a long time since I last made a post ....  But here are some more drawings, of a fieldfare that the cat brought in.  We don't think she killed it - it was totally un marked except for the cut on its breast....

SUNDAY EVE - EMPATHY DRAWING

Phew, what a day .... been learning quite a lot about twitter, and realising how difficult my hand is making life.... ah well

 - also just done an 'empathy drawing' I remember how Trevor Felcey ( RCA)  - a fabulous painter friend who is worth looking up -  talked about.    When (at the age of 35 ish I went back to college at the Byam Shaw, to own up to being a painter after all, or not...   after having three babies , being a Common woman from Greenham and employed as Dorset  Peace Worker by the Quakers...being arrested etc ) where was I?  Oh yes, on the top of a Clapham omnibus I remember Trevor  talking about empathy drawings and I told him about leaving my first husband, and running away with the painting tutor....   oy vey....  a long time ago.   

so ... Empathy drawings...  well one reason I paint I guess is because some things don't fit into words.....   talking to Elizabeth Speller.... are you listening?

empathy drawing on iPad one sunday eve ... 

FIRST PICTURES WITH THE BRUSHES app

One of the  things I am learning is that if I want my hands to do another 30+ years, then I have to take resting it/them seriously.  And doing 'proper' painting always involves my poor left hand ...   so the iPad has been a great stand in...

These pictures are fairly self explanatory - above is one cat! below the view of Frenchmill Lane that I lived with for ...30 years.  I did it whilst visiting a very dear friend.....    

Cats again, !!!

..and the last two - the snow that we had in North Dorset today - Coco looking our of the window at the snowy landscape,  and an  oak tree we can see from the house.   I hope the snow  settles and lasts for a bit... I love the way the landscape looks ... transformed magically, and the painting opportunities it offers.   

I have been using the Brushes app, with these drawings, because I thought the colour was better/easier ... but actually I am not so sure looking at what I have done with both apps ( art studio being the other) and I like the wet paint brush in a.s. .... and the easy 'fill' and there is something a tad cumbersome about the way the brush tool changes .... still its good to practise and be comfortable with both.  Not like pencil on real paper though, or paint! 

But I bet Matisse would have used it, and Picasso and maybe Cezanne and Monet too?  Whadya think? 

PHYSIO at SALISBURY HOSPITAL

I spent over two hours in the physio/plastic surgery dept of what we used to call Odstock today....  and had the attention of two very highly trained and committed therapists, who have given me exercises to do and made me a special splint ... so I can go on painting, playing the piano and making marmalade for the next 30 years, ....  I just feel so grateful for this service and ...whilst Megan was making the new splint I did this quick drawing.  I think that the colours on Brushes are much better and have been experimenting...  a waiting room drawing follows...

this is with ..art studio    

  and this is with Brushes, which, as I said, I think the choice of colours is much better....  as with all these things, one has to practice, which I will do!