Thursday 16 September 2010

15/09: CHUFFED AS A MAGGOT!!

I don't understand that expression, but 'Chuffed as a Maggot' was a favourite saying of one of the girls who worked for me in a 'previous lifetime' and it sums up how I feel at the moment!!

David and I visited Richard in Homerton Hospital (London) yesterday afternoon and we were late getting home.  When I checked our emails  I was amazed to find a message from the UKCPS 'Chairperson' telling me my 'Daydreaming Tiger' picture has been awarded UKCPS 'Reserve Best in Show' the 9th International Coloured Pencil Society Exhibition (Stamford, Lincs) which opened yesterday.   The picture was a practice piece which was destined for the bin but salvaged, cropped, professionally framed and entered for the h*ll of it.    

I can't quite believe the email yet ... so I postdated this post until I see more evidence!!   I would have been over the moon to have received recognition by way of a 'commended' award ... so, still expecting to receive a message stating that a mistake has been made .....

This is the Daydreaming Tiger - without frame:

26 comments:

  1. Congratulations Sue, I liked this portrait straight away. The hints of the eye colour in the fur help make it special. Sometimes we're our own worst critics. A worthy contender which deserved a prize, well done.

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  2. Thanks Peter ... its a nice prize too (£300 cash) which will buy a few more pencils :o)

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  3. I can see why he won! Such lively, clean colors, and what a great expression on his face.

    CONGRATULATIONS!!! Go treat yourself... you deserve it! :-)

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  4. Congratulations Sue!!! This is wonderful. So full of life, I cant think why you didn't have faith in it. I love the colours and the fur is beautifully rendered.
    Well done, ooooh all those lovely pencils!!!!!

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  5. Thanks Teresa and Bev

    Following my stepson's motorcycle accident in April we set up a website to keep Richard's friends updated of progress. Via the website friends/family raised about £1500 in donations (including Gift Aid)for the London Air Ambulance.

    Now a friend will run a Marathon in Richard's name to raise further funds for them (they rely very heavily on donations to keep them in the air). Richard should be able to leave hospital very soon and continue therapy as an outpatient. His eyesight is permanently damaged and at the moment he has no short term memory .. but things could have been a whole lot worse

    So part of the prize will go to sponsor her run/Air Ambulance. Then I'll have great fun buying lots of the pencils I've had on my wish list for ages!!

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  6. Congrats Sue..well deserved....I liked this straight away when you posted it some time ago....luv all the colours in the fur.

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  7. FANTASTIC, Sue!!!!! Congratualations, well deserved!
    The composition -- expression and colors as mentioned are just great!
    Good for you!

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  8. Thank you Angela. I waited till I saw the official website notice this morning before posting this ... just in case!!!

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  9. Congratulations Sue - doesn't it just go to show you should never throw out any piece of art, because someone else may view it quite differently to how we see it. I can't believe you were thinking of throwing it anyway - it is gorgeous!!!!

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  10. You are definitely on a roll this year with your art....can you now officially add some letters after your name?

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  11. Thanks Karen - you're so right about people's perceptions. There are many more works in the exhibition that I would have voted for ahead of mine ... so it always boils down to the preferences of the judging panel. Although several 'animal' related pictures received Highly Commended status, mine was the only animal one awarded a prize - so this year it seems floral/still life/people pics fared better.

    Ha Ha Kay. I've officially earned signature status (the criteria is having pictures accepted in 3 out of 5 Open International annual exhibitions and I've done it in 4 years). So I can use the letters UKCPS. I can tell you're impressed :o)

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  13. When you least expect. Congratulations Sue. well deserved. so you should be chuffed.

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  14. Thank you Dors
    Nearly as good as moving into a beautiful new home in Australia :o)

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  15. Congrats on the win!!! It's a gorgeous tiger portrait. What support did you use, out of curiosity?

    Nancy

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  16. I don't understand the expression "chuffed as a maggot" either but I do understand why you received the award!

    Way to go! I'm so "chuffed" for you!

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  17. Thank you Nancy. The support is black Canson paper. I struggled to get the vibrancy I wanted and resorted to using more layers of fixative than normal. It gave me the extra 'tooth' I needed between layers.

    Cheers Jan. I still can't believe it. When I look at the other entries on line there are so many I like better than mine but I'm certainly not complaining!!

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  18. An artist can be ones worst critic. Give yourself credit, you did a wonderful drawing and you deserve an award.
    Well done!

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  19. Well done on the award, Sue, and thoroughly deserved! I think you've done particularly well because the competition was really fierce this year, so many great pictures. I loved your tiger when I first saw him...and he's so 'Uncle Albert', lol!

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  20. Thank you Fay ... how true!!

    Hi Janet. Thanks so much - I keep looking at all the fantastic entries and wondering 'why me'? but hey .. judges' decision and all that :o) My tiger was the only animal picture to get into the prizes it seems - although several got highly commended but it differs every year doesn't it.

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  21. Thank you Fay ... how true!!

    Hi Janet. Thanks so much - I keep looking at all the fantastic entries and wondering 'why me'? but hey .. judges' decision and all that :o) My tiger was the only animal picture to get into the prizes it seems - although several got highly commended but it differs every year doesn't it.

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  23. This is so beautiful. I can see why it got the award.

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  24. Well done, that is top brilliant. It is always something when the world says yes to you, isn't it.

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  25. Thanks Nancy and Keith :o) I'm still grinning 4 days on!

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