The realities of life…
March 2022
I often scribble down notes as reminders when working in my sketchbook, only re-discovering them looking through the pages later. ‘There is consolation in the act of concentration’ are words by Simon Armitage our national Poet Laureate that I find helpful during times like these.
There’s no getting away from it - days may be longer and brighter but the world feels dark. The Russian invasion of Ukraine still rages and here in the UK the virus continues to disrupt people’s lives.
In the garden though, the sight of spreading clumps of species daffodils, primroses and cowslips naturalising in the wildflower mound and Chaenomoles speciosa ‘Nivalis’ flowering in the courtyard still lifts my spirits and remind me of just how much I have to be thankful for.
In the studio…
March print deadlines meant that a lot of time was taken up with finalising files for 2023 Garden Days calendars and diaries.
Details will be on the website soon but in the meantime if you missed out on 2022 copies there are just a handful still available to buy through the online shop.
“Early Spring Walk”
This is a preview of a new illustration I’ve been working on.
It’s made with watercolours using a dry-point technique in which the colours are built up slowly with tiny layers of paint. I plan to introduce it into my next calendar.
Exciting news…
Good news is that my application to Artworks has been successful and I have been accepted as a guest member for 2022. This is a group of professional contemporary East Anglian artists with 30 elected members and guest artists. New and original work is exhibited at Blackthorpe Barn and I’m delighted to be taking part in the upcoming exhibition from September 24th - October 9th this year.
Do email me if you would like an invitation to the preview night on Friday 23rd September.
I thought you may like to see one of the works I submitted with my entry.
Pastel portrait painting
For this portrait I used a new paper specifically made for pastels called Pastelmat. It has a slightly abrasive surface that holds the soft colour beautifully but still allows blending.
Suffolk Open Studio weekend…
Plans for 2022 Suffolk Open Studios over the weekend of 11/12 June are going well. This is the Sudbury trail weekend when visitors are able to have a look behind the scenes and see artists in action all around the town. It’s a great day out so please come and see my latest work and have a wander round the garden. There is no obligation to buy, it’s free to visit and I will be there to welcome you and share my creativity. We are holding a raffle with each participating artist donating a prize. Mine will be a piece of original artwork.
ALL proceeds of the raffle will be going to the Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund.
Thanks for reading. Happy gardening and stay safe all:-)
