An Auction for The Darlington Parkinsons Disease Group

Earlier this month I was asked by the Darlington Parkinsons Disease support group to do a painting demonstration. I gladly agreed as the group has supported me and my family during my fathers illness. They are a lovely happy group of people including sufferers, carers, Parkinsons nurses and professionals. Apart from education and information the group meet socially enjoying a varied program of talks and demonstrations and also provide regular physiotherapy sessions for their members. Trips out and evenings down the pub all very important and good fun. Many of these things need funding so I have decided to donate the finished painting to their fund raising efforts. I shall be auctioning it on my web site and all proceeds will go to the group. If you would like to make a bid please contact me via e-mail on my contacts page leaving your contact details and the amount you would like to bid. The auction will run until December 6th and the winning bidder will be contacted after that date.

'Never mind the rain' original acrylic on stretched canvas 60 x 60 cm

Friendship, Fun and Fairy Cakes

 

I have just got back from a lovely week in Cheltenham where I have been exhibiting with a dear friend Carole Bury. Our two person show was a chance to reunite in the town where we both studied Art. Our work is very different but complimentary in that we both draw from childhood experiences and present day emotions. Carole's thought provoking drawings hung alongside my celebration of all that makes us smile and the response from visitors was uplifting and motivating.

It was such a happy week and an opportunity to catch up with lots of old friends from our college days and eat fairy cakes all day long!

If you are not familiar with Carole's work take a look at her web site  www.carolebury.com 

 

Fossil Fish Ring monoprinted and embroidered tissue textiles by Carole Bury www.carolebury.com

On my way to Cheltenham

 

This week has been so busy getting last minute things sorted for the Cheltenham exhibition. I am so excited about returning to the place where my Art College days were full of adventure, exploration, fun and hard work. We all shared the same passion for our subject and never once resented the long days spent together in the studios. I have so many happy memories of the various flats I shared, jumble sale wardrobes, my old bike and nights spent in The Cotswold Pub. Next week I will get the opportunity to meet up with lots of friends from that era that I haven't seen for years and meet many more new ones, I can't wait.

Yesterday I picked up a collection of eight pieces from the framers, I never fail to get a thrill when I see my work completed and ready to hang. It is rather like seeing your children dressed up in their first school uniform ready to set off to school on that first day. A mixture of pride and a little bit of separation anxiety knowing that they will be off to their new homes before long. I get very attached to my paintings as you can tell,  all my thoughts, energies  and emotions are combined in every one of my pieces so I suppose it is understandable.

So after lots of running around, packing and re packing, I felt the need to chill a bit and often the best way is to settle in the studio with some moody music and let the colours sooth me. I often find on these occasions that I am not aware of what I am painting until I look at the finished thing. Funny, it is always water that I return to, that must be my Pisces character talking.

' Velvet Waters' happened yesterday.