08/07: TWO NEW PASTELS - EARLY STAGES

I've switched from coloured pencil to pastel for the next two pictures.   I made a start yesterday on a horse portrait which isn't required for a few weeks but he has some intricate markings on his face so I'd like to really take my time and work on this in small stages (using grids constantly to check placement of markings).  I think its safe to post the initial stages as he isn't really recognisable yet.

Here I've outlined the horse using Derwent Burnt Umber and Titanium White pastel pencils, marking the most prominent contours of his face - these lines will blend in and disappear once the base layer of colour is applied.  As always I had to draw in the eye (I'm not an artist who can leave the eye till last as I need to build a rapport with the subject and the eyes really do add personality).  I then blocked in the light grey muzzle area but this will be refined in later stages.   I'm using Clairefontaine Pastelmat for this portrait in the shade they describe as Brown but which has a decidedly pink tinge.

As a little light relief I also started on a cat portrait which is evolving as I go along.   It is based on a mixture of reference photos and will probably change constantly  .....

I'm working on Fisher 400 sanded paper and the background has been suggested using a combination of soft pastels.  The background is based on a cat photographed looking around a door I think but I've turned this into a suggestion of curtain/material ... but it may change again.   The eyes are not as dark as my camera has suggested here - but there will be lots of tweaks and changes along the way.

So ... I had a productive afternoon yesterday but may not have time to work on them today .....  we are going back to Fuerteventura for 12 days tomorrow evening.  My stepdaughter and family will be house-sitting here while we are away so I'm spending the day washing/cleaning etc (as you do) and tomorrow will be taken up with visiting parents and my (retired) horse - it was all arranged as a last minute thing so I'm really looking forward to it .. especially as the weather is a bit grim here at the moment.

As mentioned in a previous post about Fuerteventura, the islanders find something to celebrate most months and July is no exception.   In Corralejo (at the North of the island where we have our house) 16th July is The saint's day of Señora del Carmen, the patron saint of Corralejo.  There will be a festival of dance, music and gastronomy with processions through the town.  The locals head to the beach and take to the sea in beautifully decorated fishing boats - lots of noise and colour.

Fuerteventura is reknown for its 'wind' and is a favourite destination for windsurfers and kiteboarders.   The 26th Windsurf & Kite boarding World Championship will take place from 22/07 - 01/08/2011 at the South end of the island.   We've never watched this event (and indeed will miss it this year) but I'm told its quite spectacular with top class surfers from around the world competing in various disciplines.   I'm more of a 'dipping my toes into the very edge of the water' person I'm afraid!

07/07: LEGLESS IN WHITSTABLE !

Well, can you think of a better title?

We had glorious weather at the weekend.  We live on the North Kent coast about 10 minutes walk from Tankerton Slopes and the beach promenade which stretches to Whitstable in one direction and Herne Bay in the other so we strolled into Whitstable which was absolutely buzzing.  We get lots of daytrippers from London as Whitstable is considered very 'trendy' with its working harbour and fish/oyster bars and restaurants.  The DFLs (Down from London folk) spend enough money here in the Summer months to ensure that the little shops survive throughout the Winter (unlike many of their counterparts in other parts of England where the supermarket giants have taken over).

Last Autumn when the New Economics Foundation (NEF) published its report on the state of England's High Streets, Whitstable had the most diverse high street scoring an impressive 92.1 on the diversity scale.

 Its not a beautiful seaside town and it has pebble beaches but Whitstable has lots of character and I guess its picturesque in a workmanlike way ... and we love living here

We just have to keep reminding ourselves that this is brilliant for the local economy ... and we get the beaches to ourselves in the Winter months!

I believe there are 6 or 7 sailing clubs within a 10 mile radius here - the ones in the background here are from the Whitstable Yacht club - the big race programme happens in August so lots of practicing going on I think.

The sea looked 'almost blue' at the weekend ... its back to its 'porridge colour' now our weather has taken a turn for the worse - squally rain showers and grey skies.   Never mind, the garden will benefit from a good downpour!  and what else would we Brits talk about if not the weather?

05/07: PORTRAIT OF 'POPS'

Can I call myself 'Artist to the Stars' now?

I was recently asked by a lovely lady, Janet, (an actress and scriptwriter) to portray her father 'Pops' who sadly passed away earlier this year.   The main reference photo showed very little detail as it was a family group standing under a willow tree with dappled sunlight creating shadows.  However with the help of some additional photos and my client's helpful guidance I completed the portrait yesterday and I'm told it made her cry.    Portraiture is a strange business when we can measure success by the ability to bring tears to our clients' eyes (equalled only by Solicitors and their fees perhaps) :o)

I won't show the reference photo(s) but Janet is very happy for the portrait to be shown here:

I used Prismacolor and Van Gogh Coloured Pencils on dark grey Clairefontaine Pastelmat for this portrait - a combination which I think works well to show off light coloured hair/clothing.

03/07: PLAYTIME!

As friends and followers will know, we have a holiday home in Corralejo on the Canarian island of Fuerteventura.   We love the people, the climate and the lack of 'red tape and political correctness' which seems to be crippling us in the UK.

Although it isn't a place for 18-30 groups seeking non-stop discos/drinking binges, it certainly isn't a dull place.  If there's one thing the Fuerteventura folk excel at its partying - and the whole family participates.    I think in a 'normal' year there are only two months (April and August) where there isn't a festival or carnival or some other celebration being staged.  Many involve lots of drumming/marching bands and/or firework displays on the beach

The biggest event is the annual Carnival which lasts for nearly two weeks (normally in March) and culminates in a huge (and very noisy) evening parade through Town which takes a couple of hours.  Then its down to the Harbour for dancing till daylight.

The floats are always spectacular (they have 12 months to prepare) but for me the most enjoyable bit is seeing all the locals dressed up and having fun - although the parades are always themed, anything goes basically.  If you have fancy dress - flaunt it!    This year the theme was 'old civilizations'

The floats for the 'Carnival Queens' are very ornate and the winning designs are usually on display for weeks before and after the event. The procession starts early evening in daylight but the floats really come to life once the sun goes down.   Bags of wrapped sweeties are carried by all participants in the parade and these are thrown out to children (of all ages) along the route.

Apologies for showing this pic from last year's (jungle themed) procession, but the owner of this beach buggy really transforms it brilliantly each year

and here it is this year decked out in Egyptian palace style with the owner dressed as Cleopatra - Men dressing as women seems to feature heavily in these carnivals - sort of panto I guess!

I think this was built around a supermarket trolley - very innovative isn't it?

Everyone enjoys dressing up

Well, maybe not quite everyone!

Not quite the Three Ugly Sisters ..... just David (hubby) with a couple of 'lady friends'

and these guys stopped off for some liquid refreshment at Casa Manolo's - our favourite Spanish restaurant/tapas bar.    You can just catch a glimpse of Maria behind the bar - she is the owner of Angel, the German Shepherd I featured in my Blog recently.

Hope that wasn't too many pics .... but I can now clear my files.  I always take far too many photos at these events in the hope of finding the perfect 'character' to draw at a later date.

01/07: COLOURED PENCIL ART

The deadline for entries into the 10th International Annual Exhibition of the UKCPS was extended to 2 July 2011 when Hobbycraft recently agreed to promote the exhibition throughout their stores.  From a purely selfish point I'm really pleased about the extension as my trapped nerve problem meant I hadn't been able to produce anything to submit to the judges this year - whether or not my work gets accepted I've entered every year since being 'introduced' to coloured pencils in 2006.     Feeling much more human the last week or so I've been able to re-work a couple of cp practice pictures and complete a head study of one of the giraffes I photographed at Fuerteventura zoo last month.    So, fingers crossed!!

I hope lots of you coloured pencil artists have also submitted work to the exhibition as its going to be the biggest and best yet.  The venue is Central Hall, Westminster and the exhibition runs from 19 September to 1 October.    If you haven't submitted works but would like to see what can be achieved with this versatile medium why not have a day out in London to view the exhibition - or book yourself on to one of the workshops.

The UKCPS will be staging two exhibitions during the event - its Annual Open International Exhibition for works completed totally in coloured pencil and a separate exhibition  for works showing innovative and imaginative use of coloured pencil  with other  media (the main medium must still be coloured pencil).   Throughout the event there will be demonstrations, 'Have a Go' area, silent auction and Children's trail, together with the best series of  coloured pencil workshops ever held in Europe – details and booking at
> www.ukcps.co.uk

This isn't one I submitted to the exhibition, but I was sorting through old photos and came across a folder containing about 50 photos I took of two beautiful Vizslas I was commissioned to draw as a 40th birthday present.  This is Tisca completed in coloured pencil.

I'm currently working on a 'human' portrait in coloured pencil but I haven't asked for permission to show progress pics so can't post at the moment.

30/06: WHAT DOES YOUR ARTIST STATEMENT SAY ABOUT YOU?

Intrigued?

I visited the Turner Contemporary Gallery which opened recently in nearby Margate (cost £17.5million).    Despite studying the Artist Statements and copious notes provided to explain the exhibits I came away non-the-wiser.   I just 'don't get' most contemporary art - I didn't even understand most of the Statements.

I came to the conclusion therefore that I'll never be able to write my own 'Artist Statement'  so am indebted to web designer, Joke de Winter, and David James Ross, for their tongue-in-cheek Artist Statement Generator.  

WARNING!  Please be aware there is a 'naughty word' in the heading which I'm unable to change so don't look at the site if you are easily offended.

Their site:

INSTANT ARTIST STATEMENT

29/06: A PORTRAIT OF ANGEL

I had intended to post some Carnival photos tonight but I'm tired ...... on Wednesdays David and I work as volunteers  at the eBay office of the Pilgrims Hospice Charity (actually David works there Wednesdays and Fridays).     There are 23 Pilgrims Hospice Charity shops in Kent, staffed by volunteers, selling items donated by the public to help fund the £9million required annually to run 3 Hospices.    Items in the charity shops tend to be sold at low prices so shop volunteers are encouraged to identify 'better quality' goods which can be marketed to a worldwide audience via eBay.   That's where we come in .... at the eBay office we photograph,  describe and list the items and usually realise much better prices for the charity than can be achieved in the shops.    Its interesting and great fun - and of course its for a brilliant cause.   It is quite intensive and tiring though as its essential to ensure we don't list 'fake' items or faulty goods etc.

Anyway, here's a photo of a portrait I completed recently of a beautiful German Shepherd belonging to Maria from Casa Manolo's restaurant in Corralejo, Fuerteventura.  The dog's  name is Angel (pronounced ahn-hel in Spanish) and is Maria's 'baby'

He was completed in pastels on Fisher 400 sanded paper.

28/06: NORMAL SERVICE RESUMED !

I've been away for far too long and have probably missed lots of wonderful posts but its great to be back.    On doctor's orders I had to severely cut back on computer/keyboard time and drawing at my desk.   Working at an easel was fine for pastel work but for coloured pencil work which takes much longer I prefer to sit/work at my desk (which aggravated the trapped nerve/shoulder problems)

But I feel soooo much better now and have lots of work to catch up on.

Very belatedly, here's a photo of Fluffy sitting next to her portrait - this was kindly sent to me by Fluffy's mum some time ago ..... but better late than never!

Lots of things have happened since my last post - including the annual carnival at our (second)hometown of Corralejo on Fuerteventura which is always an exciting week.  I took lots of photos and will post some tomorrow.   During our trip to Fuerteventura we also visited the Zoo/Botanical Gardens ... we've had a holiday home on the island for 7 years but have never before visited this attraction.  I have mixed feelings about keeping animals in zoos, but must say that I was really impressed with the beautiful surroundings and well thought out enclosures the animals lived in.  I took nearly 600 photos there and have lots of reference pictures on my 'to do' list.

08/04: FANCY BEING FAMOUS?

Apologies for absence ..... this is partly due to continuing spine/nerve problems with my neck and arm which finally drove me to obey doctor's instructions not to drive/draw or use the computer for a while.    This wasn't too difficult as we were on holiday at our home on Fuerteventura - however, I'm back home and bored.  I will be back at the drawing board on Monday as I have a couple of commission deadlines looming.

In the meantime .... all you pet loving couples out there may be interested to know about a new primetime comedy panel show which is being planned by Endemol (responsible for Big Brother amongst other programmes).  This is what they wrote to me:

Hi Sue,

We are looking for fun pet-owning couples who are very much in love, but have an ongoing tiff or dispute that they want resolved, once and for all! It doesn’t matter how small or ridiculous the issue may be – it could be an annoying habit, a strange hobby, or something silly that they just always argue about, perhaps their pets.   

Our celebrity comedy panel will watch each couple in action, listen to both sides of the story, and then ultimately decide who they think is right, and who is wrong. This is the chance to finally get your own way on an issue that’s been driving you mad!

We filmed a pilot of this show earlier in the year, and our comedians included Jack Dee, Jo Brand and Sarah Millican.

After looking at your site and looking at some of your work with pets, It would be great if you could place this information onto your website or include it in your newsletter or members’ mailing list, as this might be perfect for some of your customers. Or if you know anyone personally you could recommend that would be great as well.

Do let me know if you require any further information. I have also attached the below details as a flyer.

Best wishes,

 Daniel

 I couldn't find a way to upload the flyer onto my Blog so if anybody is interested in applying - or wants to nominate friends (!!)  click on the link below which will take you to the flyer (via my website) and shows contact email and telephone details.      Do let me know if you decide to go for it ....

Click here

11/03: SURPRISE SURPRISE !!!

On Wednesday afternoon I got the opportunity to meet 'Fluffy's Mum' when she was driven to our house by husband Terry to collect the portrait which he had commissioned as a surprise birthday present.

Terry wanted the portrait to be presented as part of a week long birthday celebration which he has organised.   He was very good at keeping the portrait a secret and poor Alexandra was quite bewildered to be driven to a house in Whitstable, told to brush her hair before leaving the car and then being introduced to a total stranger!

Terry had also arranged to have a beautiful oak frame made which complemented the picture beautifully and matched their furniture at home - what a very organised hubby!!

Here's a photo - I do wish I'd have taken it in a tidier area of the house - please ignore the background which is the 'odds & sods' area of my workroom.   If I was more au fait with photo manipulation packages I could probably remove the offending bits ..... but this is real life!

Cheers Alexandra .... I hope you had a wonderful week!

  

11/03: CATCH UP TIME

Firstly a huge thank you for all the lovely messages I've had over the last few days (both via the Blog and by email) - you're a lovely bunch of people

I was feeling a bit sorry for myself this morning and then read your messages ..... and then started following the news about the dreadful events in Japan and I felt ashamed of myself!

I have much more movement in my left arm now but still get constant aches/pins & needles.  I'm just impatient to get back to normal (whatever that is).

I was told by my chiropractor not to sit at the computer, or to draw, for a few weeks and I disobeyed him.  I paid the price by spoiling a portrait I was working on and having to re-start it.  So I'm going to be good now.  We go back to our holiday home on Fuerteventura on Wednesday so I'm sure I'll feel more cheerful once I see the sun again :o).   I have commissions to get on with immediately on my return so I'll be back at the drawing board and posting regularly again then .

01/03: NATIONAL FRAUD AUTHORITY - Report Scam Emails (or not)!!

I guess, like me, you receive lots of scam emails every day - sadly its an unfortunate part of modern IT driven life.   Most scam emails are instantly recognisable by their poor spelling and grammar (particularly the Nigerian ones).  However there are some quite sophisticated ones in circulation and I was nearly caught by one purporting to be from a person I know well - had I clicked the link to view the photos he was allegedly forwarding, my contact list would have been phished and used to bombard everyone in my address book .....


I use an excellent Spam filter but it always seems a bit of a waste simply deleting these messages that somebody has gone to such lengths to put together.  So I was very pleased to read on the BBC website (Saturday) that the National Fraud Authority is planning to track down these fraudsters.    They provided an email address to which viewers were urged to forward scam emails (one time only).   GREAT!!!   email@actionfraud.org.uk

So I forwarded two of the 'better ones'   ...... 5 minutes later they bounced back to me.   Trawling through the return delivery mail to ascertain the reason I was amused to see that one was because 'your email was detected as spam' and the other 'your email contained a virus'.        I tried sending two more ... with identical results - they were bounced back to me.      I sent an email to Action Fraud (minus any spam email attachments) advising them of my problems ... no response to date (3 days later).

David (hubby) tried sending some of his messages and got the same result.   However, he has had a response from Action Fraud saying that a small number of people are experiencing problems.     Now on their official website, 'Action Fraud' has added the following paragraph:

Got an email bounce back? A small percentage of emails you forward to Action Fraud may not get through because of the content of the email. If this is the case, you can send your scam mail to our freepost address:

Action Fraud - Scam mail
Freepost Action Fraud
4th Floor
Westminster House
11 Portland St
Manchester
M1 3HU

The emails received by Action Fraud will be forwarded to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau run by the City of London Police for collation and analysis. This will enable crucial intelligence to be gathered and preventative action to be taken. The activity will seek to disrupt the fraudsters and close down the links between them and the victim.

Dr Bernard Herdan, CEO of the National Fraud Authority who runs Action Fraud, said: ‘This is the first time we have been able to collect and analyse scam mail and emails in this way. Collecting intelligence is the key to us being able to disrupt the activities of fraudsters and target their networks for closure.’ 

Now

Now I don't know about you ..... but I found it very disappointing that Action Fraud/National Fraud Authority  can't find a way to receive these very emails they are supposed to be analysing ... yes I could print out the messages and post them but surely that defeats the object as a print-out won't give details of the message source, or the path the email has taken to arrive in my Mailbox.


Methinks this is another half-baked idea which will occupy a government department or three without really getting to the root of the problem.   Or am I just being cynical and niggly because I'm feeling under the weather and tetchy   

28/02: LAST POST FOR FEBRUARY

Apologies for absence ... I'm having treatments for the spine/nerve problem 3 times per week but am still having sleepless nights and feeling slightly sub-human. Apparently it will take 12 months + to 'put me right' but hopefully the immediate 'trapped nerve' problem can be resolved in a week or so.

Anyway, I finally put the finishing touches to the beautiful cat I worked on last week. The portrait has been approved and the recipient will be brought to Whitstable to collect her birthday gift in person ... hope she's pleased with it (!!)

I'm now working on another birthday commission.  It isn't actually required until May but in my current 'restless' frame of mind it is great to have something I can pick up and put down without any time constraints.  It is a double 'people' portrait in coloured pencil on pastelmat paper but I haven't asked permission to show progress reports on my Blog so it will stay under wraps for the moment.   

I am awaiting reference photos for the next two animal commissions - one is a pony and one a dog.   They will both be completed in pastel and I know I can post photos along the way as they aren't intended as surprise presents. I really find it helps me to focus when I post work in progress photos .... keeps me on my toes :o)

I've got another wildlife picture in the pipeline also ... time permitting I'd like to submit it to the UK Coloured Pencil Society Spring Exhibition at Keswick ... but not sure whether I'll have it completed in time for the deadline .... fingers crossed!

21/02: PAIN IN THE NECK!!

Well its actually in my left shoulder and arm rather than my neck.    The problem started 12 days ago as a lack of muscle strength in the left arm and has gradually turned to pain, lack of mobility in the arm and tingling fingers.      We had a busy week/weekend so I had to suffer (almost) in silence but having got to the stage where I'm woken about 4am each morning I took myself off to a chiropractic clinic this afternoon and have had lots of tests and X-Rays.  I'll get the results Wednesday morning and will start a course of whatever treatment is recommended.

David (bless) pointed out that as it isn't my drawing (right) arm I can carry on with the commissions.  However, lack of sleep and constant shoulder/arm ache means I'm not really concentrating so I'm having an enforced break until Wednesday.   I'm itching to finish the cat portrait but don't want to risk spoiling it in the final stages.

I'm spending  some time searching through my photo galleries looking for inspiration for exhibition entries.  The UKCPS exhibition rules state that any ref photos used must have been taken by the artist and I've got a huge collection but so far nothing has really excited me ... I've deleted lots and tidied up the files a bit though so its a useful exercise.

I seem to have lots of photos of things I/we thought amusing at the time but then filed away and forgot about.  This was taken whilst waiting to board the car ferry en route to France last Thursday.   The sat nav accurately predicted a huge expanse of blue sea in front of our car (it wasn't sophisticated enough to recognise the huge grey lump of metal as a P&O Ferry.

We travelled on P&Os brand new ship (Spirit of Britain) which came into service a few weeks ago - it was huge but we were disappointed to find that the only comfortable place to sit was the family lounge ... and that was full of over excited children running amok whilst parents looked on fondly!!!!  We couldn't find a quiet and comfortable area at all so looks as though we'll have to upgrade to Club Class if we use this ship again.

To cheer myself up I've just booked onto Mike Sibley's 3 day workshop in August 2011.    He doesn't usually get to my part of the world but this is being staged at Sutton Valence, near Maidstone in Kent, so less than an hour's drive.  

I doubt there are many people who don't know Mike's work ... but just in case here's a link to his Gallery pages.    His graphite drawing skills are second to none and I understand he is an excellent teacher so I'm looking forward to learning some new techniques and, well just everything really!

Sibley Fine Art - Gallery Index

18/02: CAT IN PASTEL ON SENNELIER PASTEL CARD - UPDATE

had a wonderful day in France - bought lots of wine and French cheeses and crevettes (which I've just spent an hour peeling and freezing).   We had lunch at a lovely little restaurant where the owner didn't speak any English so it put our skills to the test (David's French is far better than mine)!  I'm quite exhausted now but  have to be up reasonably early tomorrow to travel to London to meet others involved with the UKCPS Exhibition in September.

I've been given the OK to show Work In Progress pictures of the cat on my Blog so here are some more photos ... isn't she pretty?     I won't mention her name yet ... just in case it gets Googled and spoils the birthday surprise.

I sent this photo and the following one to my client asking whether he wanted me to centralise the cat and simply fade out the fur on her chest, or whether to continue drawing fur on her chest/leg area and take it right down to the bottom of the portrait.    He has asked me to centralise her .. so once I've done that the mounted portrait will look something like this

This was a photo I took part way along the process .... I thought I had taken more photos at the earlier stages but now can't find them - lost in cyberspace somewhere obviously!

I'm enjoying this commission and can't wait to get back to work on it on Sunday/Monday.

17/02: CAT COMMISSION - PAN PASTEL TRIAL

I'm about halfway through my latest commission - a beautiful long coated cat who shall remain anonymous for the moment.   My client has given permission to show work in progress pics  .. but I'll do that early next week

I recently received some sample Pan Pastels and tools from Colorfin LLC in the USA (many thanks to Berni for her generosity).    I had intended to wait until after I'd finished the current commissions before experimenting with the Pan Pastels ... but I couldn't wait!!  

So here's a picture of the cat's basic outline drawn in white and brown pastel pencil ... then I used the white pan pastel and applicator to 'underpaint' and it provided a fast and efficient layer which is perfect to depict the cat's dense fur - I'm using Sennelier Pastelcard as the base which is a sanded surface and I'm pleased to say that the applicator and sponge stood up well to the challenge - and with very little dust!

I think I can get away with showing this initial stage ... its unlikely the cat will be recognised from this

Now I have permission I'll post more pictures at the weekend - its a beautiful cat with the most amazing eyes.  

We're off to France for the day today (Booze cruise to stock up on wine).  Good old P&O Ferries are offering a return crossing from Dover to Calais for car and up to 9 people for just £19 ... and they are including a case of wine (6 bottles) and a BOGOFF (Buy One Get One Free) breakfast.     Too good an opportunity to miss, living as we do on the coast not too far from Dover!

on Friday we are off to Westminster for another meeting regarding the 10th anniversary celebrations of the UKColoured Pencil Society - the Annual Int'l Exhibition is being staged in London and is going to be a major event requiring lots of planning ... just wish there were more hours in the day sometimes :o)

16/02: CATCHING UP

A local lady saw some of my work on display at the Horsebridge Gallery recently and approached me with an unusual request and I have her permission to show this on my Blog now.   Her husband never met his Grandfather who was Gamekeeper on the isle of Jura (Scotland) for many years.  Grandfather died before my client's husband was born.  There are no photographs of his Grandfather in existence but elderly relatives had an oil painting of the gentleman and were persuaded to take photos of the oil painting (I understand they had to buy a camera to do this).   So I was asked to produce a portrait of Grandfather based on a selection of photos of an oil painting and a photo of my client's husband who is said to have similar eyes.  This was intended to be a surprise birthday gift for her husband.

I agreed to start the project on a 'no obligation' basis ... partway through we'd decide whether it was working out and she/I wanted to continue.

My client visited last week to see the initial stages and was happy with progress so at her request I added a background and finished the portrait.  It was very strange trying to interpret another artist's work - particularly as the original was in oil and therefore fairly 'loosely' painted.  I tried to take a 'middle path' between Grandfather's and husband's eyes/mouth shape and colour.    I've never met the 'subject' and nor have my client or her husband so it was a bit of a mystery tour  :o)

Anyway, my client collected the finished portrait today - she brought a frame from home that complemented the portrait perfectly so we were able to assemble it at my house and she presented her husband with the framed portrait at lunchtime.  I've now had a text saying he's really pleased with the portrait ... whew!!   I had offered to make any minor adjustments he might want - but as he didn't know his Grandfather its unlikely he'd know what should be changed.  

This portrait was completed in coloured pencils on Clairefontaine Pastelmat and I used Zest It solvent to help dissolve the pigment and give a more 'painterly' effect to combat the lack of fine detail.

This was the main photo I worked from ... I won't post them all

and a photo of the finished portrait (sorry it was taken late yesterday afternoon using flash so its not good).  I've erred on the side of caution regarding 'wrinkles' etc but offered to add more if required once husband has had time to think about it.    I wish I'd have thought to photograph the finished item today in daylight once it was in its mount and frame - it worked beautifully.

12/02: WHO KILLED JASPER PARROTT??? and other stuff!

OK ... the great news is that my client visited yesterday and was very pleased with the work I've done on the 'unusual' portrait.  I have the go-ahead to finish the work which will involve adding a background and generally tidying up the subject.    As I have promised to have it ready for framing next week I won't show pictures yet (it is intended as a belated birthday present for her husband so I'll wait a few days more).

In the absence of Work in Progress pics, I've put together a little Murder Mystery story - its very short as we're walking to the Marine Hotel at Tankerton Beach soon to enjoy a Valentines dance and Buffet.   A friend has started playing guitar (bass I think) in a 60s band and they are getting quite a good reputation.   We've been invited to 2 previous 'gigs' but haven't been around ... so tonight's the night!

So ... one dead Parrot.      Jasper Parrott has lived on our patio wall in Fuerteventura for 7 years but he had to be moved to enable the new patio doors to be fitted.     Within minutes I found him lying by the pool like this with his feet in the air:

Who could have done this dasterdly deed????   .... a clue perhaps? - the killer left clear footprints on the wall when making her escape

and then she came back into the house via the open front door, rubbing up against the furniture and looking as though butter wouldn't melt .....  our neighbour's very cute fluffy white moggy

David took Jasper to the rubbish bin for a ceremonial burial but en route he came up with a more fitting 'final resting place'.   He tucked Jasper securely into the trunk of a palm tree so just head and beak were poking through the palm fronds.   When we passed by the tree in the evening Jasper had gone ... whether to parrot heaven or to somebody else's patio we don't know.    RIP Jasper!

10/02: BACK AT THE DRAWING BOARD

We got home from our 'working holiday' in Fuerteventura last night - we're having building work done at our holiday home but because of adverse weather conditions in the first week, and one of the builders being sick, we didn't manage to get everything finished this trip so will have to continue the final decorating stages in March when we return.   Since arriving home it seems as though I have been 'glued' to my computer in an effort to catch up.   Whilst away I was able to view my emails (if they didn't have attachments) but the signal wasn't strong or consistent enough to let me access my blog or favourite websites.  So I've had over 500 emails to trawl through today and, fingers crossed, I've sorted most of them out now.  

Many thanks to my Blogger friends who contacted me during the last 3 weeks to find out if I was OK.   I apologise for not making it clear I would be away but its nice to know some of you missed me :o)   I hope to catch up with all your emails/messages over the next couple of days.

I have a client visiting tomorrow to review progress on a very unusual portrait I agreed to undertake for her.   As its way outside my comfort zone I started it on a 'no obligation' basis.   I'm about halfway through  and its decision time.   If she likes what I've done so far I'll finish the portrait ... if not, we'll call it a day and I'll use it as an exhibition/sample piece.       I'll be in a position to reveal more after tomorrow hopefully.

Then next week I will start work on a beautiful cat portrait ... its a birthday present for completion early March so I won't be able to show WIP photos for a while.

I haven't yet started work on my entries for the UKCPS Spring Exhibition and Society of Feline Artists exhibition .... so it really will be nose to the grindstone for a few weeks now.  

I'm finding it difficult to get motivated though .... this is what we left yesterday (these pictures are taken on the beach path 5 mins walk from our home in Fuerteventura)

Looking left from the beach path towards the town and harbour area

Looking right from the beach path towards the famous Sand Dunes - about 10km of golden sand blown in from the Sahara.  The area has been declared a Natural Park where no building is allowed

In an attempt to dispel the 'post holiday' blues we went for a walk to our local beach at Tankerton/Whitstable this morning ... but our sea was porridge coloured and the sky was grey ... then the drizzle turned to heavy rain which has lasted all day!!    I know where I'd rather be :o)

But I am looking forward to getting busy with the pencils/pastels again tomorrow.  

14/01: I'M ONLY A GIRL ....... WHAT DO I KNOW???

When we 'retired' and moved to Whitstable we agreed to sell my beloved, very pretty, Mazda MX5 sports car (limited edition, Garnet Red with cream leather interior) and just use one car!      To be fair, I don't enjoy driving these days - David does!   But access to our house is via a private drive which is very narrow with a 90deg bend so his favoured car (Jaguar) had to go - it just couldn't negotiate the bend in one go!!     Our current (shared) car is a QashQai which I love.  It looks like a 4 wheel drive, but isn't -  it coped brilliantly in the recent snow and ice.      I'd like to keep it for another couple of years but the Lord and Master has decided he can't live with a car that is more than 3 years old and needs an MOT so he's on a quest to find a successor and I hate most of his shortlisted contenders!

Apparently modern cars have to comply with EU laws regarding shape to minimise damage caused to pedestrians when we hit them.  Hence the rounded elongated bonnets making all 'new' car designs look so grotesque - so injured pedestrians can roll off the bonnet to the side of the car and injuries are less severe ??!!!

David's and my combined driving life exceeds 70 years.  In that time we've never hit a pedestrian - obviously we haven't tried hard enough.   Why is the EU now presuming to dictate ugly car shapes so when we do hit a pedestrian the impact will be less significant?    

I can only assume they've overloaded modern cars with so many buttons and gadgets and lights inside that  drivers are sufficiently distracted that they can hit the odd pedestrian and justify EU concerns?

Must admit one of the (Ford) cars David tested had a dashboard so full of gadgets, lights, buttons etc that I hated it immediately.    Haven't they heard of the KISS idea, Keep It Simple Stupid ....... or do all you Men out there sympathise with David and want as many gadgets as possible to save you being bored on long journeys?    There was even an ESC key on the steering wheel in case the driver got too bogged down trying to find a radio station or chat network  ............ REally!!!!!!!!!

I should state here that I am in no way minimising the distress caused to people who have been involved in vehicle accidents, or have relatives that have been involved.   I just don't understand why we have to accept these weird looking vehicles which are supposed to be pedestrian friendly but are chock-a-block full of distracting buttons, lights, gadgets which can't fail to distract a driver's attention from the road ahead???

Watch this space ....

12/01: TIDY ROOMS ARE OVER-RATED!!

All I had to do today was email the latest portrait to my client for approval, the usual meal preparations and then sort through my collection of picture frames and parcel up all those with scuff marks/dents etc to take to the charity shop.  I'm trying to free up space in my studio.

Easy!!

BUT we lost internet connection this morning ... I initially blamed TalkTalk as the internet has been crashing regularly over the last week but I think we are getting power surges in the area.   Talking to another artist who lives locally, she reported that her home had been without electricity for several hours during the weekend - our lights keep flickering but so far no loss of electricity.

When the internet connection returned I was very pleased to find several 'good news' emails.

Firstly, the portrait has been approved by my client and he will present it to his girlfriend on her birthday in February.  I won't mention the dog's name ..just in case it shows up in a Google search (stranger things have happened)!   The portrait was completed in Pastel on white Pastelmat paper.


Then I had a lovely email from the man who bought my Zebra picture yesterday.   He was sorry not to have met me in person but the picture is now hanging in the hallway of his Surrey house (he also said he lives mostly in the South of France amongst vineyards and sunflowers - lucky man)!!  I was really 'chuffed' to get his message - nice to know the zebra has gone to an appreciative home :o)

Additionally, I've been getting positive reactions from various art materials distributors in response to my appeal for sponsorship for the big UKCPS Event which will be staged in London this year.   So, many thanks to Colorfin (Pan Pastels), ExaClair Limited (Pastelmat) and Jackson's Art Supplies (gift vouchers) ... its good to know that they are prepared to help in this tough economic climate!!

Check out the UKCPS website for full details of the 'Celebration of Creative Art' event, Westminster, London.   I hope lots of my blogger friends will want to put in entries to one or both of the exhibitions this year.

Anyway .......... to explain the Blog Post Title .... After all the faffing around I really couldn't face sorting through the frames in my studio.  So I decided to have a blitz on my wardrobe instead and get rid of everything not worn in the last 18 months.  I filled two black sacks with clothes for the Charity Shop but now have a pile of 'not sure' outfits that I'll decide on tomorrow - I wasn't quite as ruthless as planned.

So the house looks like a Primark shop on a bad day (UK blogger friends will know just what I mean by that - clothes all over the floor and every other available surface) :o)  

Must do better tomorrow :o)

11/01: BITTY BITS

Today was the final day of the week long Showcase 3 exhibition - featuring the work of 17 local Whitstable artists at the Horsebridge Gallery, Whitstable (including me)!

I'm very happy that 4 of my pictures sold during the exhibition, most of my Business Cards were taken and I received a couple of very lovely comments in the Visitors  Book.   So it was definitely worth doing and I'm just sorry that nothing more is planned for the Group till 2012 as all local Gallery space is fully booked  for 12 months. Whitstable has a reputation for being a very 'arty' town and we certainly have a huge number of galleries and craft shops in the area.

One of the comments in the Visitors Book referred to our Exhibition as being a great showcase for 'Bubble Artists'.      Coming from the borders of Kent and S. East London as I do, I couldn't work out what this meant ... in rhyming Cockney slang a 'Bubble' is a Greek Person (Bubble & Squeak - Greek)!!     Then I remembered the old TV adverts for Aero chocolate ... does anyone else remember the ads - an actress (possibly Stacy Dorning) travelling on the train and talking about going  to 'Dunstabubble or was it Whitstabubble'??  I guess thats why the author called us Bubble Artists - We all live in Whitstabubble!

As well as two cat pastels and Snow Drop (White GSD) my Zebra picture sold.     This brought it home to me that the best judge of what I should put into a Gallery Exhibition  is David.

Everything he dislikes or tells me shouldn't be exhibited SELLS!!    What a brilliant foolproof method I now have of gauging public taste in Whitstable!

He didn't like the Zebra and I didn't bother taking photos of the final work ... so here it is before I put the finishing touches to it.   and now it has a new appreciative owner :o)

Its a dreadful photo but I'm posting it anyway as I know David will be looking in later and I just felt like making a point!   Bless!

On the strength of my sales in the exhibition he treated me (and him)  to a lovely meal out tonight :o)  

06/01: PASTELMAT AND PAN PASTELS

I can't post WIP of the current commission until I'm given the go-ahead from my client.

So, I'd just like to say how thrilled I was to receive an email from Bernadette Ward, co-founder of Colorfin LLC a couple of days before Christmas.    She had stumbled across my portrait of Noggin, the Mastiff I completed recently in pastel on Clairefontaine Pastelmat paper. Colorfin are the distributors for Pastelmat in North America and she asked if she could link my blog post to the Pastelmat Facebook Page.

Additionally, she is going to send me some sample Pan Pastels to try - I've heard lots about these innovative pastels from my American Blogger friends but they aren't easy to find here in the UK. So I'm very excited and grateful to Berni ... When I've had the chance to 'play' with them I'll post my reaction.

For anybody wanting to learn a little more about pan pastels, this is the link to their site
www.colorfin.com

So ... there is a Christmas Fairy

05/01: TWO SALES !!

No pictures, or long posts today .... I'm exhausted!

Two sales at the exhibition today !!!! One is Snow Drop - her 'dad' phoned me to say he'd seen the portrait and liked it. The other is a cat pastel.

So despite worrying whether my 'realism' style of art will fit in with the more abstract work produced by most of the other artists, I'm doing OK it seems :o)

Off to enjoy a glass of vino and put my feet up now