georgiepaint

Helen

2012-01-25T04:59:00.000-08:00

Helen. Oil on canvas, 2012

This one was a bugger to paint - took ages to get right.

New This Week

2012-01-20T14:22:00.000-08:00

Dottie May's currently being featured in Saatchi Online's homepage collection "New This Week" - thank you very much Molly Jo Shea (art consultant). I almost deleted the email informing me of this before reading it because I didn't recognise the subject line... I delete a lot of emails without opening them as I get loads of unsolicited ones telling me I can feature on all sorts of homepages or be hung in galleries, for a fat fee of course. I also get many emails offering me viagra and other meds I've never heard of - do people really buy that stuff from weird randomers?The NHS will prescribe viagra you know!

I think I wrote about the phone call I got a few months ago from a company selling google ad space? They went for the hard sell, promising such incredible returns... If something sounds too good to be true then it probably is. Either way I wasn't about to fork out to find out, they were going to tie me into a contract to boot. No way.

Cleaning

2012-01-17T12:11:00.000-08:00

Been cleaning.. Amazing what a tonne of crap I accumulate in the studio.

Pinky wink

2012-01-11T12:10:00.000-08:00

Only made a couple of resolutions this year, the first, to value my work more and stop being so negative about it (and stop taking the Stanley knife to it). The second is to spend less time sitting in front of the computer idly wasting time. That's a biggie as sitting idly wasting time in front of the computer is a speciality of mine.. Discovering Twitter didn't help, although I've become quite sickened by it all of a sudden which is probably a good thing. I'll end up either leaving (and then re-joining like I did with Facebook) or, even better, I'll just leave it and use it occasionally. I don't know.

Biscuit Factory

2011-12-30T12:54:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple of images of the Young Artists of the Year exhibition at the Biscuit Factory in Newcastle. Naturally I've only included the two photos including my piece.. It was all excellent though. Bloody brilliant to have my work included too, I needed a boost!

Choccie

2011-12-29T12:43:00.000-08:00

Been ill. Am better now though, so let the painting commence...

Stuff

2011-12-09T14:03:00.000-08:00

Snippets

2011-12-05T12:50:00.000-08:00

No posts for a couple of weeks, that's due to over-posting on my other blog.

Was a little disappointed about the Turner Prize, would have loved George Shaw to win it but fair play to the other guy! Really interesting work anyway.
Lovely and cold on the moor, had our first snow - I love the snow, especially now I don't have to worry about driving to work in it. That used to be a horrible feeling, getting in the car, heading off down the road, tensing up as I started down the hill.

-Spell check's just flagged up 'blog' and 'prize'.. Blog!? This is a bloody blog! Prize? What? You don't know the word 'prize'? Bizarre.

Chaps

2011-11-19T11:05:00.000-08:00

Getting there

2011-11-17T02:06:00.000-08:00

Really happy with how the new work is coming along. Snatching spells of studio time where I can and finding it a lot easier to focus and work. Thank goodness for that.

Fuzzy

2011-11-06T12:00:00.000-08:00

I've finally figured out how to get good monoprints.. They seem to benefit from simplicity rather than trying to cram in all the 'detail' of my drawings, also, less is more in terms of ink.
The new paintings are flowing along nicely, it's so much fun working on them. Yes, they're still looking crude but I'm at a middling point with them, this time next week things will look quite different. Ha ha, I hope so anyway.

Green

2011-11-01T02:15:00.000-07:00

Mrs Bateman's Garden

2011-10-26T02:38:00.000-07:00

Kind of crude at the moment but it's taking shape. Lots to do to it.. I'm sure you can see where I'm heading anyway! Yes, the garden. Perhaps gardens in general, not boring gardens, soulless gardens, soulful gardens. What's attracted me to gardens as subject matter?
It's hard to say, I think a feeling of wonder, of the magic of these places. Man-made, personal, private. The placement of plants, lines cut into hedges, always a wildness ready to burst forth. I particularly like the contrast found in formal gardens, the formality with the wild..
I find I'm becoming increasingly drawn to colour and form, shapes and movement, sounds, scents, and the feeling of being outdoors as time slips by and the seasons change yet again. It's difficult to define the feelings evoked in me by the garden, by the outdoors, they're deeply personal. I aim to visualise my impressions, to let the paint take up where my words fail.

Fairly

2011-10-22T07:24:00.000-07:00

We went to Wales last weekend for a couple of nights. It was great to get away and smell a bit of different air! Driving in Wales is bloody distracting though, I kept trying to read the road signs, you know how Welsh words are - flippin' incomprehensible (in a good way!).. I love Welsh accents, my favourite series of Traffic Cops was based in Wales. Other Welsh things I like include: Welsh cakes, slate, their big hills and the lamb... Oh, that lamb.

I had to sit outside in the cold for a 5 minute spell once we'd got back to the cottage on Saturday, I was feeling very very queasy. You know, I'm 28 years old and haven't ever really experienced motion sickness. It's horrible, kind of like morning sickness, this feeling sweeps over you and no amount of staring into the distance and breathing deeply makes it go away. Anyway, I took a lot of photos of the area at next to the back door, all slates and strawberry feelers and ferns.. Gorgeous. Will be using elements of the images for my new project. I'm really enjoying my research, particularly today when I realised my Dad's garden was perfect. Because he's a landscape architect rather than just a gardener, his garden is rather more structured with colour blocking, texture, unusual plants and all sorts. I'm going to take my sketchbook with me next week.

Mono

2011-10-12T01:44:00.000-07:00

Have been monoprinting again. Think I'm slowly getting the hang of it! I love monoprints, I like the looseness of them and the mystery of them, you never know exactly how they'll look..
Currently just drawing and exploring and thinking and writing about the new project. Sorting it out so it's right when I start painting... I'm really enjoying it!

Change

2011-10-05T01:35:00.000-07:00

I changed the design of the blog. This is a Dynamic View called Flipcard, I've set Flipcard as the default but you can toggle the others in the bar at the top. They're supposed to drop down but I can't make them even though I've done what Blogger asked, having pages enabled.. Not worth getting wound up about in my opinion. Let me know if you know how to fix this (I think I've enabled comments now..)

Anyway, Ive been feeling really directionless recently, directionless in the studio, with my practice in general. It was quite a moment when I realised what was wrong and that it was that I didn't really know what I was doing any more. I found my problem and now I'm fixing it. I thought back to college and university and what I was taught there. I realised I had a specific focus immediately I started painting again, but that that focus had drifted and as my studio time became more disjointed, I wasn't producing anything I was really happy with. I like a body of work to sit together and sit well together if that makes sense, and all my paintings at the moment are so different and not really exploring anything any more.

So! Back to the drawing board, big change in focus, pile of crisp new sketchbooks, drawing pencils sharpened, notebook full of research into painters whose work relates to my new theme... We'll see how it goes, I'll try and keep the blog updated as I go 'Old School' and re-learn how to take a project from start to some sort of conclusion. It's definitely going to be a long term thing, not a quick resolution, I have a lot I want to achieve.

One thing I was worried about was the change and how it'd affect me in terms of sales but I'm barely selling anything at the moment and a stagnating practice is never a good thing.

Turner

2011-10-04T01:23:00.000-07:00

I've been researching painters and have only just read this year's Turner Prize shortlist.. God only knows what I was doing when the list was announced, probably madly turning the house upside down in preparation for James.
Anyway, I was really pleased to see that George Shaw is amongst those nominated! He's a fantastic painter, manages to imbue his works with a sense of magic, well, in my eyes anyway. Here's an article on his retrospective at The Baltic. I hope he wins.
A few years ago, Dad, Sam and I went to Manchester Art Gallery to see a touring TATE exhibition called Art of The Garden. It was incredible, pretty much all paintings, and one of Shaw's paintings was included.
Not the one I've googled below, couldn't find the one that was in the show but this gives you an idea of Shaw's work. Below that is The Badminton Game, a perfect, dreamlike piece by David Inshaw, one that my Dad wanted to take home with us.

Naps

2011-09-25T07:09:00.000-07:00

Should be getting a bit more done from now on thanks to Gina Ford. Hello structured nap time!

Express and Star (West Brom)

2011-09-09T08:11:00.000-07:00

Here's the picture taken on Monday. Rich said to me "Why are you holding your painting like a boom box?"!

Public

2011-09-06T09:17:00.000-07:00

James and I took my painting over to The Public yesterday. The drive started out well, kids back at school and all that - yes! - then I ran into M6 difficulties.. I adore the M6 when it's working, but when it goes wrong it's bloody awful. Luckily I was recently presented with a TomTom by my Mum, just randomly, I hadn't mentioned needing one or anything. Thank goodness for TomTom, I really couldn't have navigated there via Walsall by myself!
Once we'd arrived, I bundled James into the Moby Wrap and we pootled over to The Public as the rain lashed down and I regretted not bringing James a hat to wear.. Once inside James marvelled at the reflective interior, the neon lights and silver cladding - it's a wonderful place to take a baby! We took the lift to the 3rd Floor Longroom and had a good look around while we waited for Gemma of Innate Projects. When she and her co-curator Allen arrived, it was with a fellow artist in tow and a photographer from the local paper. The other artist and I ended up in the photo to accompany the article, I was told to sit on the floor like a naughty schoolgirl and then rest my painting on my shoulder.. We had a giggle about the way local papers style the photos they take, Gemma said she'd been photographed peeking round a corner in the past. Ha ha..
The exhibition runs from the 7th - 18th September. The Public opens daily from 10am - 5pm (Sundays 11am - 3pm)

Pie

2011-09-01T02:14:00.000-07:00

Slowly plugging away in the studio, still enjoying the greens.. Have a couple of shows coming up, No.1: Paint at BLANKSPACE, Manchester, and The Public Exhibition at The Public, West Bromwich. Both exciting and interesting in different ways.. BLANKSPACE is an exciting contemporary space in Manchester run by Blank Media Collective.
"No.1: Paint is the first in an exciting series of medium-specific exhibitions to be held at BLANKSPACE. Celebrating the unique nature of paint, this exhibition will showcase work from 24 varied and distinctive emerging artists from throughout the UK."
The show at The Public is with Innate Projects, who I've shown with before..
"INNATE Projects is an evolving gallery beyond physical limitations exploring contemporary art. Our aim is to bring a range of innovative and thought provoking contemporary art to the general public."

Our little rabbit Pie died yesterday, poor old girl.. She had a big tumour in her tum so the vet put her to sleep. I'll miss her company about the house! The little rascal..

Rowan

2011-08-22T04:22:00.000-07:00

Finally got myself in work mode and got something finished. Titled Rowan, this one's on board and measures 80 x 138 cm. More to follow.. It's baby time now!

Week In The Life - Sunday

2011-08-10T00:21:00.000-07:00

Well, Wednesday's here! That was quick... Here's Sunday's post..
It was a lovely quiet sort of day, did a small amount of work, tidied the studio a bit, spent lots of time doing baby things and planning stuff.
This week's been good though, I've finally figured out my camera , so that only took two years! I only figured it out from memory, remembering my trip to Canada and staying with Matt's photography friend who kept enquiring about how he'd set his white balance. Turns out, on these cameras you can tell them where you are, so, I'm inside under tungsten lighting, or outside in daylight or cloud.. And the camera suddenly knows the colours! Sorry to sound like such a clot, I didn't complete my photography course at uni and I haven't been listening to Rich when he explains things to me. I'm one of those idiotic people who has to figure out things herself.. I'm really going to have to learn to listen to others.

Week In The Life - Saturday

2011-08-06T09:06:00.000-07:00

Did some work today.. God, it's sporadic at the moment! Still working on the piece on board, am trying not to overthink it too much, settling down into spontaneity and gesture.. How very retro of me!
Anyway, hoping to spend some time in the studio again later once James is in bed. Still feeling rubbish though, but that's no excuse..

Week In The Life - Friday

2011-08-06T08:56:00.000-07:00

Friday was pants for working! I'm still feeling pretty rough and Rich had the day off so we went to look at fridges; I really quite enjoyed looking at the fridges, how sad am I? Very.

Week In The Life - Thursday

2011-08-05T00:55:00.000-07:00

Thursday was a day for collecting inspiration for work, as I wasn't feeling so well and James was cranky.. We took a trip down the road to Little Moreton Hall, where I enjoyed the beautiful Cheshire countryside, the colours and shapes of the hall, a really well suited textile installation piece in the Long Gallery, Cecil Aldin illustrations of the hall, and the super-old wall paintings they found in the 1970s. Not to mention simply the building and grounds in general!

It was a great way to clear my head. I didn't seem to think much as I walked round, it was really relaxing in that respect, and pretty quiet for half term - I blame the weather. James didn't notice the hall much, he slept the whole way round as he was snuggled up in the Moby wrap.

Week In The Life - Wednesday

2011-08-04T04:00:00.000-07:00

Wednesday was an odd day, lots of paintings returned from places, one pretty badly damaged, a couple with white paint flecks on them!!? Seriously? Yes. The damaged one, Dee will have to come off the stretcher, I can't fix the damage.. It's bad enough when a piece has had a small knock but a big one like that and scraped off paint? No can do.

I had a very long cold call from a company trying to sell me ad space on google, other artists beware, they use high pressure sales tactics and are very fuzzy about the details of the 'non contract' they're semi-tying you into. Every time I asked a simple yes/no question I got a very long, seemingly scripted answer full of jargon.
If you want ad space on google you can buy it directly from google, google it! Also, if you don't use google Analytics I'd recommend that too, super useful in figuring out boosting traffic to your websites and tracking how your changes are working.

Wednesday also included a trip to my favourite supermarket, Aldi where I again marvelled at how cheap the bill was. I urge everyone to give Aldi a go, it's not like it was 10 years ago, the quality of the food is excellent. Try their smoked salmon, it's sliced really well and is delicious. I've tried smoked salmon from other supermarkets, and the same amount you'd get from Aldi is double the price and badly sliced - sliced like a work experience kid would slice!

Week In The Life - Tuesday

2011-08-03T01:11:00.000-07:00

Mixing paints, painting work and baby James amusing himself on the studio floor (wearing his bib like a superhero). The drill I tucked away there, intending to eventually put it away as I was worried it might fall over onto James's head.
I am starting to understand the camera and managing to get decent paint pics with proper colours. Think the zoom lens helps, I usually use the wide angle one.

Week In The Life - Monday

2011-08-02T02:05:00.000-07:00

A seven-day documentary project, Week In The Life is an annual opportunity to capture the simple everyday details of your life with photos and words.

Studio version! So, we start with work I've had back from exhibitions, needing its mirror plates removing.
Paperwork to fill in and post off for a show.. Resin letters in the studio.. Paintings, blues on the palette & two photos of stored paintings. My son is crying, so I can't write more. Look forward to seeing what Tuesday's photos will be!

Leading into the next

2011-07-20T13:48:00.000-07:00

Working in oil on board at the moment, thinking about gesture and all sorts. Enjoying the scent of turps and the gooey, soft texture of the paint.

Laurie

2011-07-17T08:46:00.000-07:00

Been watching a lot of TV recently while feeding James, he doesn't like me reading while I'm feeding him and it's too tricky anyway.. Trying to turn pages and all that..

'Laurie' - Oil on canvas, 70 x 120 cm - I was going to be a Laurence if I'd been a boy, good name that one!

I feel compelled to recommend you watch the following! History Cold Case (BBC 2) and Fake or Fortune (BBC1).. Both of these programmes are 4 parters, both are fascinating! I love the iPlayer (when it's not being clunky).

TTFN!

Cherries

2011-07-04T06:37:00.000-07:00

Laptop's dying but painting's going pretty well, especially seeing as how Mister Baby takes up so much of my time.. Made a batch of jam this morning too, think I'm turning into Superwoman or something.

Chips

2011-06-25T05:56:00.000-07:00

It was all going very badly this week and then it all started to go much better last night. I'm pretty happy with the above piece, a little one, 30 x 30 cm, it reminds me of all the rain, I was watching the rain at points while I painted the last layers.
The second image down is a bit bigger, 70 x 120 cm, and has been impossible, well, again, until last night. It's starting to take form now, especially in my mind.

I had a late birthday present of oil paint, really good quality oil paint too, I got very excited by it!

Cakes

2011-06-19T08:19:00.000-07:00

New piece, Flora, 50 x 100 cm. Super pleased with her, it's good to be painting things I'm really happy with again as I haven't been so happy with things over the last few months.

Very nearly finished this one, Elspeth, a 30 x 30 cm sized piece.. Always tricky at that scale.
Finally, super birthday mugs from my sister Sam! Love them.. She, James and I went for a walk round Biddulph Grange gardens the day after my birthday. I had a bit of a grumpy day on my birthday, was pretty tired and James was cranky too so that didn't help, oh, and I didn't get into the Stockport Open exhibition so that annoyed me too! Thought I stood a good chance there, big head.. Ah well. I had held off popping to the shop for chocolate all day thinking I'd have a birthday cake and then I didn't get one. It was very funny (in retrospect) as I cried when everyone left! Yes, I cried about cake.. How selfish, after all those lovely presents.. Quite embarrassing really but not so embarrassing that I won't recount it here!

Votes

2011-06-08T05:52:00.000-07:00

Had an email the other day from jgallery who'd selected my work for an online vote to be their artist of the month - I'd forgotten I'd sent them an image! Anyway, if you have the time or the inclination then have a look at the 5 artists and vote for one of them.. I've already voted for myself.. Like you do! - jgallery -

New work

2011-06-01T02:15:00.000-07:00

New work and a goofy picture of me (c. 2002) that I have on my studio wall. I was looking at it yesterday and it made me laugh... How I loved that coat! Think I've still got it somewhere, just in case I ever had a hippy daughter, although I'm sure James could wear it if he ever felt inclined to..

Jools

2011-05-27T00:18:00.000-07:00

Did a bit more to this one.. I love it now!

Chops

2011-05-24T07:13:00.001-07:00

Been sorting out the work to go down to Oxford. This means, for a couple of pieces, sorting out edges - because edges have to be painted! Then there's wrapping for posting, as you know, my favourite task... Have been waiting all day for my two rolls of new wrapping to arrive, card and large cell bubblewrap. Every time I sit down to feed James I worry that someone's going to knock on the door!

This one was so dusty, it's hung in our living room since I finished it in 2009. I like that it's hung there, watching over us, gathering dust as we go about our lives.. Gave it a good clean and enjoyed its surface as I did so, looking much brighter now and ready to finally hang in a gallery. I was going to hang it in my show The Courtyard but I was a bit preoccupied and forgot to take it down and then due to its size I never thought to exhibit it anywhere else or even enter it in anything.. Sometimes my confidence gets knocked with pieces if they don't get in to shows, although I'm not convinced that's what happened with this one.

Oxford

2011-05-16T01:06:00.000-07:00

Long absence.. It's been a really busy few weeks because of James (above). He's great, I'm starting to feel more settled with him and his ways and a bit more confident. It's going to be fun balancing him with the painting, yes, FUN! Not hard.. No, it won't be hard!
James and I went to Oxford last week (with my fab Mum as the driver) to meet with a gallery there about my possibly working with them. It sounds like a really exciting opportunity, I just hope it comes off - so I'm not getting excited yet. They're going to take about 8 pieces to test in their Witney gallery, gauge the reaction, and we'll go from there.

The gallery in question is Meller Merceux, they had work up by Paresh Nrshinga whose paintings I know from the good old Internet.. They're also going to be working with Victoria Horkan, a fantastic painter I also know through the Internet, who's also really nice to boot. Was disappointed to find her paintings weren't at the Oxford gallery, I've wanted to see one of those in the flesh for ages!

Garden painting

2011-04-21T08:46:00.000-07:00

Painting in the garden.. Getting there, perhaps a few tweaks tomorrow.

Burn

2011-04-19T04:30:00.000-07:00

Finally framed Lottie yesterday but I don't like the frame at all, the whole thing looks a bit like a window or something.. Time for a re-think, or, possibly, a burning!

Finished this pink piece today but, as ever, the colours are not right.. It's not pink enough! I'm sitting opposite the painting as I type, and the camera's bleaching the colours out. Bugger, Rich isn't home for another 6 hours! Ah well, I'll go and have a break and then get back to it in the studio, back to the little 30 x 30s. Then we'll have a fun time with the camera later!

I ordered a copy of 2010's Marmite Prize catalogue which arrived this morning.. Not only does it smell incredible (my only weird pregnancy thing is loving smells, really loving smells), but it's absolutely rammed with awesome paintings! So many talented painters... It's fab.

Touch

2011-04-14T02:13:00.000-07:00

Sitting at my desk a lot at the moment.. I've been trying to get things finished before the baby makes an appearance, baby will take up a lot of time and focus, I know.
I hate leaving paintings unfinished for extended periods of time, and find them really difficult to go back to and start working on again.. You kind of lose touch with painting if you stop for a while, at least, that's what I found when I started again after my degree show.

'Dawn', study piece in oils on canvas-wrapped board, 23 x 48 cm.

Saturday

2011-04-09T11:38:00.000-07:00

Print in a frame. It looks good in its frame, I'm really pleased with it even though I would prefer for the lines to be a little more delicate - I've said that before, if I remember correctly.

Table. It smells amazing, it's bloody gorgeous, chunky, solid, user friendly.. Never have I been so happy with a piece of furniture! We sat at it for hours today!

Dalek print! I've had this screen print for about 6 years and only got round to framing it the other day... Dalek's a graffiti artist from America and his Space Monkeys have always appealed to me.
The best thing about today was that when I filled the kettle this morning, I spied a Bullfinch on the bird table! Exciting!

Print again

2011-04-07T08:56:00.000-07:00

Been figuring out the Fine Art capacities of the Print Gocco system this afternoon.. I need more bulbs! The line quality achievable is excellent, it's just a case of getting the source image spot on and packed with carbon!

I haven't made one of these bad boys since I was at school (it's a lino cut if you don't recognise it).. Remember the fun of gouging bits of flesh from your hand as you made these? Ouch.
We were each given a piece of soft cut lino in our packs from the print course so I sat and worked on mine this afternoon.. Interesting, I can see the potential in it.
I'm finding that everything about printmaking feels so considered, like you can't always just steam on ahead, scrawling away, well, unless you're monotyping (which I've decided I love). It's interesting, this discipline, quietly sitting crafting something.. So different to the instant result of painting or drawing - it's really making me think in different ways.

Greens

2011-04-05T07:17:00.000-07:00

This one was looking ok for a while, then I did too much. Oh well, I'll let it dry and start again in a few days..

I like where this one's heading however. Lots of glaze medium, so a wee bit difficult to photograph at the mo.

Cake

2011-03-30T09:22:00.000-07:00

Monoprints made using that carbon sheeting stuff. I prefer the messier inked-up method, simply for its line quality, but the carbon sheet technique's alright too. You could sit on a train and make monoprints.. It's also a case of seeing how my drawing style translates to a new technique/medium.

My first experiments with my newly acquired Print Gocco system went really well (in my opinion anyway)! I love the subtle differences in each print that I press out and am now in the process of figuring out, again, how to translate my drawing style to this new medium.

J'taime Justice!

2011-03-25T23:52:00.000-07:00

Just discovered Justice are finally back, their track Civilisation backing another typically awesome Adidas advert that makes me want to work out Jane Fonda-style, get my sweat on/dance around like a maniac.. I don't mind Adidas, they score well in terms of how they source and make all their wares, much higher than other similar companies.. Plus, their Campus trainer is a classic..

Camera

2011-03-24T04:24:00.000-07:00

Pressing buttons, toggling things I don't understand, hoping for the best. That's the way I take photos of my work, that's what the above is! I remember being at college doing my foundation course and starting photography, I detested it - it was so hard! At college I pretty much permanently had a hangover because I loved being drunk so much. This was generally bearable, but put into the dark room it became very unpleasant.. Not that I wanted sympathy!
I have lasting memories of frustratedly trying to get my film onto the spool in such dark as I have never known, the type of dark where you can't even see your hand in front of your face.. My film spent a lot of time on the floor. Then there was the heat of the dryers mixed with the scent of the developing fluid.. So overpowering.
Chucking the film away wasn't an option, you had to show you'd followed the processes in order to pass.. I think I was lucky enough to persuade Rachel to put my film on the spool for me.. I know someone did it for me and have a feeling it was her. Ha ha, she chose my university for me too. I was incredibly lazy about those sorts of things. I knew I definitely wanted to go to uni but hadn't a clue which one and no desire at all to travel around looking at courses and uni spaces. So I just asked Rach where she thought was good for a painter. Loughborough it was! Job done, had an interview before the UCAS ones started and it was all sorted.
I remember this great pile of prospectuses on the central table in the Fine Art studio and everyone flicking through them. Putting your portfolio together was such a big job too and was taken very seriously by the tutors. I expect this was because they had practically a 100% success rate at Newcastle for getting us all into our chosen further study. They were a great bunch, they all really cared, and I feel that that was reflected in the work produced by the students .

Deutschland

2011-03-22T03:13:00.000-07:00

Feeling better today.. Been very weepy all weekend, which really isn't like me. It'll be because Rich is away installing stuff in Germany, he usually puts things in context for me and helps me re-assess when I'm going into painting meltdown!

Can't seem to be able to get my camera to properly recognise the colours in the above piece, the tiny one. I often use a rather fluorescent pigment and the camera absolutely hates it. You can get it to understand what its seeing, but Rich usually does that.. I rely on taking the piece from room to room and trying it under all sorts of different lighting.. This usually works eventually but is a pain when it doesn't. Perhaps if I actually read the manual I might get somewhere.

Learning print

2011-03-19T09:18:00.001-07:00

Today I went to the Borough Museum in Newcastle-Under-Lyme for a print workshop. It was organised by the guys from New Generation Space and was fab, I got a lot out of it..
Sometimes I think it's so important to get out and actually see/speak with other artists. I've been getting myself so wound up over the last few days, just worrying about sales and what I'll do when the baby gets here. It can feel almost like being in direct competition with other artists sometimes.. That depresses me, I like to feel happy for others when they're doing well but it can be hard when I feel as though I'm going nowhere.
The course was great though, I love watching how all the different artists interpret the techniques they're shown. There was none of this professional angst, just like-minded people learning new skills.

My main problem is that I aspire to be so much better than I am, to be as confident and skilled as Katy Moran or the awesome Heidi Locher, but they're on a whole different level, much more than professional artists, they're important artists, the type galleries want to acquire for their collections. You see, it's all very well selling paintings, doing commissions for people, giving galleries your money to show your work (which I generally don't do, although I get contacted about it a fair bit).. I don't know.. None of it's really not doing anything for me, my painting is so important, it means so much, and I can't seem to separate this stupid sales worry out of my mind and just push the boundaries of my work, quietly sit and paint. Maybe then read, look at my practice in context, understand the history of abstract art that little bit more. I look a lot, I love looking at work by other painters.
I think there's this incredible pressure for young artists to 'do well', to win prizes and awards, most importantly, to sell.. All good things to do, by all means.. I need a to get a grip and stop fretting! And no, I haven't had any rejections recently or anything.. Who knows where all this has come from?

Flora

2011-03-17T02:35:00.000-07:00

Been working.. Finally getting there after days of layering and thinking the painting would never be finished. More work to be done, but the end is in sight!

Pop off

2011-03-12T03:12:00.000-08:00

My Teal Hares print by Dee Beale came! I love it to bits.. What a printmaker she is! The owl on is by someone I can't remember, it's signed on the back though. She was at one of the book fairs, the Manchester one..

Lovely Polly.. Sometimes if a piece is in storage for a while or if I have it in my possession for a while I forget what I loved about it and sort of lose faith in it. I pulled Polly out yesterday because I wanted a piece of that size, and she's beautiful. I will enjoy looking at her everyday. I'd forgotten all the different tones, flashes of colour, tiny sparkle of gold, the pencil lines and the general feel of cloud it has.

Hello little palettes, I won't neglect you for much longer. xx

Overture

2011-03-07T01:28:00.000-08:00

Remember my new found love for Saatchi Online? Well, after sorting out my page, I entered a piece in the Showdown.. God knows why, because I rarely like what wins, which means my style of painting hasn't got a chance in hell. In some ways it seems to be a bit of a popularity contest, something I've always been a bit wary of, because failing means I am unpopular! What can you do though if it's not really in your nature?

"Jennie

Your Current Showdown Standing: 537 out of 3777 entries.

Remember to keep voting and encourage others to vote for you.

Only the top 128 entries advance to the Final Showdown."

This is what it currently says on my page and if I'm honest with you, I'm quite pleased with my position (although it may just be down to the date I entered)! I wonder how much work it would take to get my piece into the top 100... Too much work, I don't like forcing myself upon people.

Print. But not giclée, never giclée...

2011-03-04T02:46:00.000-08:00

I was reading one of my favourite blogs yesterday, a knitting one, needled, and its author, Kate mentioned a print she had hanging behind her in one of the photos. It was by British printmaker Dee Beale whose work I absolutely love, as of yesterday anyway!
It got me thinking about print and printmaking and how affordable it is for ordinary people (and I include myself in that generalisation). I've always felt drawn to print, well, apart from when I was at uni with all the equipment and support at my fingertips that is. I have made steps to address this, so we'll see where it takes me and my work.

Oh, and I'm not talking about giclée prints, I bloody hate giclée, nasty soulless crap that it is. If I wanted a photocopy of a painting I'd go to IKEA. It's not art, it's mass production.

I shouted that at you then! I meant it though.. Don't make me come over there!

Chibi

2011-02-27T01:45:00.000-08:00

Have just been sitting in bed with the laptop and my teapot at my side, doing self promotion.. One of the chefs, the technology-shy one was chatting to me about my work and asked if I had any photos of it on my phone! Can you see my phone in the photo? No, it doesn't do pictures! I was quite surprised that he had a camera phone though, turns out his sons had bought it for him.. My Dad gave me one but I lost it in the house somewhere, I keep expecting to find it but I haven't done so yet.

I re-discovered Saatchi Online the other day, and my God have they made that site over! It's really sleek and user-friendly all of a sudden, I'm seriously impressed. They did just tell me 'I might like'... a painting of a vagina! Erm, no, but thanks! Still, vagina paintings aside, it's a vast improvement on the old site which felt like an afterthought and was pretty shit to be honest. I used to call it Blaatchi but won't be doing that anymore, well done web team!

I also re-discovered my painting from last year, Laura. It has such gorgeous pinks in it with turquoise and flecks of gold.. I have hung it above my dressing table so I can enjoy its charms!
Pam Corbin's cake book was delivered yesterday, I'd forgotten I'd ordered that! Lay in bed reading it last night... Oh cake, how I love you. I wanted to eat all the cakes in the book and will enjoy gradually working my way through the recipes over the years.

Crackling

2011-02-23T14:13:00.000-08:00

The top photo is what I should be doing, getting the commission finished, probably using bigger source images... But instead I have this mad urge to be in Pat's room, painting it and getting it ready. There's two months left till Pat is due to arrive, but Rich is working so much at the moment that I was starting to worry that it'd never get started and just cracked on with it (secretly). It's pretty time consuming!
Pics of the tiny paintings to come - yes, I'm still working on them, honest.

Raisin Wheats

2011-02-19T00:09:00.000-08:00

It's been a funny week here, sort of super stressful but not if that makes sense. I blow things out of all proportion sometimes and being pregnant hasn't helped much. I've become quite intolerant of OAPs in particular, they have all bloody day to shop, so why are there so many of them in Aldi when I've finished work!? Well they spoilt it for me, and I normally enjoy my bi-monthly excursions to Aldi..

Here's my Noyaux, the dress I finished about 4 months ago when I wasn't showing baby so much. Baby was a secret then and actually when I wore the dress in Canada, Kate's wedding photographer told me she thought at first that I was just a bit fat. Ha ha! I can't believe how tired I look in the above photos.

I am working on lots of tiny paintings, in-betweeny paintings and a couple of larger ones. Trying to do lots simultaneously to keep a similar feeling flowing through the work although I don't really know if it'll work, I get ideas as I'm working on each piece and often just go off on one.. They seem to be getting further and further removed from having any sort of actual starting point as such - great when I found it difficult enough to explain them when I first started out!
Nicola said to me when she came to view her piece that she didn't think they needed too much analysing, that each piece told a story. Would that everyone thought like that...

Brine

2011-02-14T09:44:00.000-08:00

Here's that hat I knit the other week, it's a Ysolda Teague pattern, a freebie called Lee. I was told to rest by the midwife last week so I've been doing lots of knitting... Three cardis on the go (what a horrid number!), a bag and a hat too.. I'm painting, as ever, commission round two's nearly done and my own stuff's going well.
Took two pieces over to Liverpool last Monday for the exhibition Twinned, happening at the Egg and the Contemporary Urban Centre. I like Liverpool and have shown at the Egg before, it's a cosy & quirky space! Sometimes I feel like I shouldn't be worrying about taking part in exhibitions but it feels weird not to. That said, last year was nice, I took a step back and stopped doing so many shows.. I wasn't really getting anything back from them, at least I don't think I was.. People generally buy my work through Newbloodart, I've actually never sold a piece at an exhibition, so with fuel costs, application costs and the general stress of showing/delivering/meeting and hanging, it was good to wind it down somewhat.

Buttons

2011-02-09T11:17:00.000-08:00

I'm supposed to be doing all sorts of things, studio work, wrapping paintings, maybe a spot of hoovering... Got sort of sucked into the computer though after finding an awesome blog by equally awesome painter Robert Phoenix. Wow, so much to read, so many links to follow, so many pictures to look at and admire.. I love people who are really passionate about paint, people who are less paranoid about selling their work as I can be, people who just paint. Gives me a healthy reality check, inspires me, gets my brain going, excites me, makes me want to explore my own practice some more and avoid that rut I'm scared of!

The painting above's commission round two. Basically I started this commission in something of a rush, picked up what I thought was a square stretcher frame and off I went. Client comes to view and immediately says "It's not square!" (holy crap georgie, you painted it on a 92 x 100 cm frame)..
Ha ha, I was lucky though, she was happy for me to re-do and I must say, the composition makes so much more sense with the addition of that 8 cm. Won't be making that mistake again.

Etienne

2011-02-01T09:37:00.000-08:00

I love sitting at my desk painting, it's working really well for me at the moment, what with my being so tired. This little pinkie is titled 'Ella' for Ella Fitzgerald, one of Rich's favourites on vinyl. I wasn't listening to Ella while painting it though, I was listening to Etienne de Crecy, purveyor of fine French electro. My Dad introduced me to Etienne de Crecy, he really likes that sort of music, and we both agree that Tempovision is an album of genius.. I never get tired of Tempovision!

Honey

2011-01-28T09:53:00.000-08:00

Matthew uploaded all his edited images from our trip to Vancouver yesterday. I have, obviously, whipped a load off the net with the good/bad 'right-click, save' function. I never quite know what I think of it in terms of copyright and the fact that it could allow someone in an art factory to copy your work, but hey, where there's a will there's a way. If they're that determined, there's lots of ways a person could nab your images apparently. Hence why I don't watermark mine, why bother, it looks crap on paintings! Above is Matthew and myself at Tim Hortons with a large cuppa each. We were getting ready to leave and I had to run back and get another for the road... Their tea was good.

Erica and Kate, the brides. They had lovely dresses in shades of chocolate brown and pearls of white and brown. Kate, Matthew and I met at high school and have spent many hours together, as friends do. I've never seen Kate as happy with anyone as she is with Erica, I think that's all anyone wants for those they love, that they're truly happy and find someone who really understands them. I always think of that song by Róisín Murphy, 'You Know Me Better', one of my favourites as it really strikes a chord with me. It's the best feeling in the world to know someone knows you so well and loves you in spite of all your flaws.. I have a LOT of flaws, I can be quite a terrible person, very angry a lot of the time, impatient, mean, impulsive, irrational..

This is such a forced smile, I hated this walk and would much rather have spent the day in the hotel room. Basically it was just a walk from Fishermans Wharf to the Golden Gate bridge, simple. I just didn't understand why we had to actually walk to the damn bridge! "What's the big deal? I've seen the Humber bridge, England's full of bridges!". Seriously, it's just a bloody bridge!!!!!!!
Being pregnant makes such a massive difference to walking, so that was the main problem. I'm normally a very brisk walker, the annoying kind who everyone else lags behind. I've found though that if you walk quickly when you're preggers, the pressure of the baby in there presses on your bladder and makes you desperate for the loo. So I walk slower now, unless I'm behind someone who's annoying me, so that's pretty much anyone!
There were so many joggers too, in their gross lycra with their stupid dogs. I hate dogs, I hate joggers, Matthew began to hate me!

Super-Liz, Matthew and me in the rings at Whistler. Liz was a great host, taking us everywhere, all over Vancouver and about Whistler too. Guess who didn't like Whistler? Ha ha!

Knitting at Erica's house before getting dressed up for the wedding. Kate and Erica had paid for a professional to do everyone's hair and make-up, mine had been done here, yes.

Been fairly busy in a roundabout way since getting home. Doing lots of sleeping, working and trying to get back into my patterns. The little painting above is a sketchy sort of piece, just a tiny one. My work's getting a hell of a lot more gestural and fluid as time progresses, with the gesture coming from my brushes rather than from marker pens as it did 4 years ago. I like this, this control over the paint that I'm really beginning to get a handle on.

Had a super-fast response from Staffs Moorlands re: my grant application.. I thought, "Well that was too fast for it to be a yes, David Cameron's got to them already. What a rubber-faced goon". Upon opening the envelope however, out slid a cheque! I love Staffordshire, I really do and not just because they've given me a grant. I love the council's perfect bin collections, their quirky summer flower displays, all the places to go and things to see. I like how people call you 'duck' and I love listening to all the subtle funny ways they say their words as they're talking to you. Some people don't like a Stoke accent, I'm so glad I'm not one of them...

Having the new pigments (part of my NGS bursary) has meant I've really enjoyed myself in the studio. It's so fun mixing up even better versions of the colours I love, magic!

Home, wonderful home

2011-01-19T02:56:00.000-08:00

I can't tell you just how pleased I am to be home! I don't travel well, I don't like touristy stuff, I don't like being away from home. I'm one of those people who'd much rather see places on the TV than actually go to them and I don't mind admitting it.
My favourite bits from the whole Vancouver/San Fran experience were: Arriving at Manchester Airport yesterday, visiting Liquidation World (a shop which sells ridiculously cheap things), seeing my friend Kate get married (the reason I went), every visit to Tim Hortons and having a bath at the hotel in San Fran.

Here are a couple of pics I've whipped off Liz Kearsley's facebook page. Liz went to uni with Matthew (pictured) and put us up while we were in Vancouver.. She writes a blog (and writes well), which you can find here.
We're at Whistler in the photos, I am absolutely freezing, Liz and Matt were off for a bit of winter sports action, I was absolutely knackered and had to wait for our hostel room to be made up. I went into Whistler with them, bought an American pregnancy magazine and a cuppa then took the bus back to the hostel and spent the day in bed. It was brilliant and the hostel had a cafe so I had a couple more cups of tea, big ones! The Americans are pretty weird in some ways, the magazine had a focused article about not worrying too much during your pregnancy and was conversely rammed with articles inciting worry.. Reading between the lines. They talk about health a lot but all the foods are so processed (even the bread tastes sweet), that it's easy to see where some of the health problems come from. They add to everything, it was hard to even find orange juice without added vitamins.. Why would you need to add to orange juice? And vitamin water... I do not get it! If you eat a balanced diet there's no need at all for supplements!!!!!!!! Sorry, America stressed me out a bit.. In the city pedestrians had right of way over the cars, what? WHAT? Why? Pedestrians are slow! I'm a pedestrian, I can wait! Why are you letting me go? I seriously couldn't get my head around that.

I kept calling the whole place America, the Canadians Americans and offending them... It's called North America isn't it? They have almost got the same accent too. I suppose it's like the Welsh and the Scottish though, I'd never call them English, so in that respect I understand them taking offence. Oh well.
I have decided only to visit Germany in the future as Rich assures me that things make sense there. I like the idea of that.

Canada

2011-01-10T18:53:00.000-08:00

I'm in Canada at the moment and it's great. Been here for about a week now and have done lots, seen lots and have drunk lots of tea funnily enough! America's rubbish for tea, they hand you a cup of hot water with a bag on the side.. No, no, no. Canada, however, have this chain called Tim Horton's where you can buy steeped tea, actual DECENT tasting tea! I was so, so pleased when we landed in Vancouver and our friend Kate told us we were in for a treat and then took us there. They do little tiny doughnut balls called Timbits.. They are incredible, doughnuts are one of my many vices, Sainsbury's raspberry jam filled especially.. Hello Timbits!
We've been in Whistler for a couple of days, I couldn't ski or board because of baby, but I really enjoyed the scenery. I'll be raring to go once I'm home - the night before leaving I sized about 7 canvases in a flurry of activity. Think I needed to take my mind off travelling, I don't like travelling, I like to stay home and watch places on the TV rather than experiencing them firsthand. This may seem to some to be rather sad but it's just the way I am. I love coming home, I love being home, I love empty weekends at home especially.

Mary Poppins

2010-12-29T12:47:00.001-08:00

The long dark piece is a very old one, 2004 I think. It's lived at Rich's parents' house since he graduated because he wanted it in his room but has discoloured a fair bit due to the processes I was using at the time. I've had it back because one of my favourite collectors wanted it for a long empty wall in her house. Today I cleaned it up and re-did the discoloured bits - this proved to be quite a fun task!

I feel like Onslow from Keeping up Appearances when I'm wearing my vest & sweatpants, just need a baseball cap and I'm set. Look a bit like him too with that gut! I was lying on the studio floor after I'd got to today's finishing point with that piece and I can see the baby's movements under my skin. Very strange, in a nice way. We were pleased with today's studio progress baby and I.

Stupid gormless wide-open-eyed pose aside, this is what I found in the mirror after an hour in the studio. Blue face. I always used to get paint in the corner of my mouth where I'd been holding my brush as I painted. Paint ends up in the strangest of places sometimes.

Bob

2010-12-22T12:17:00.000-08:00

Am I the only one really not getting into Christmas this year? I feel like Mr Scrooge, except I'm actually pretty generous, but in terms of sacking off Christmas, well...
But didn't Scrooge want to work over Christmas? I'm sure he did.. I don't agree with that! I like taking time off, sleeping, drinking cup after cup of tea, watching Traffic Cops, Road Wars or Street Wars on Sky. Mmm.

Couldn't paint if I worked for Mr Scrooge, it'd be too bloody cold. Poor Bob Cratchit.

More paint

2010-12-18T01:50:00.000-08:00

Good news this week, I've been awarded a bursary from New Generation Space in Stoke. I actually thought my application had come to nothing and had just forgotten about it, so this was a great bit of news to come home to after an arduous week at work.
I've been ironing a few bugs out of my website this week, bugs I put there by being unable to understand simple website things!!!!!! I struggle with simple html, as we have already established by my moaning about it here from time to time... Anyway.
As far as painting goes, I'm actually starting to panic slightly about Christmas and the knitted gifts I've been working on, so I've called a halt to my studio work. I like having no pressure to paint, although pressure produces really surprising results and can be fantastic. Ha, but with a cold, up the duffer and with Christmas pressies to finish I don't think I need it!

Here's a self-indulgent photo of my expanding gut. Got to have photos... I knit the dress too!

Percentages

2010-12-11T07:18:00.000-08:00

Today I am sitting looking at a website called Maths Help. Why? Well, I'm trying to fix my pricing structure for my page on Newbloodart because every time I sell a painting and get the remittance for it I am quite saddened by what I come out with, considering it encompasses materials, postage and most importantly, my time. My time, as priced by myself, is currently worthless.. I've said it before and I'll say it again, painting is not my bloody hobby! It's going to be my career and it's so important that it pays.
I also think that low prices devalue the painting's 'worth' in the eyes of a customer if that makes sense. So someone who knows what they're looking at will think "Well why's that so cheap? Must be painted by an amateur..".
The main prompt for this interest is that Newbloodart's commission rate has inflated this year from 35% to 48% (as of the first of Jan 2011).. This is fine, they're doing a great job, the site looks fab, sleek, no clunky bits, plenty to look at, great selection of artists and so on. I just need to factor this whopping chuck of a percentage into my prices.
So if you're considering making a purchase then you'd better get your skates on, or just get in touch and commission me. Failing that, there's plenty to look at and purchase on my Folksy site, Folksy's commission rate is light as a feather and reflected in the price of the work for sale there!

Poppet

2010-12-09T09:27:00.000-08:00

I discovered Baklavas today, no, not the kind you wear over your head, the sweet filo nut treats! Guess where I found them? Yes, it was Aldi!
Painting above's getting closer to being finished, I'm so tired at the moment that I'm not really getting much done. I've trapped 6 mice and it was pretty gruesome but at least I can't hear them in the walls any more.

Mice

2010-11-29T23:56:00.000-08:00

I gave the studio a real overhaul the other day, no pussying around my mess as I usually do, actually throwing things away! I kept finding things, old tubes of paint, old palettes, a box full of different lengths of string, about 70 Jiffy bags... Yikes. I kept saying to myself, "Who do you think you are? Bloody Francis Bacon?". Have you ever read the book about his studio? It is a fascinating read, here's a Guardian article about his studio and the exhibition they made from it, lifting the items in layers, documenting everything then re-creating the whole thing... The book is excellent for someone like me who likes to quietly make my own mind up about something by looking myself. It is a picture extravaganza!

I sorted my drawing table so I can actually sit at it, so that should be better for my back. Previously I'd just crammed stuff under it, so much stuff! I was getting annoyed with all the stuff and how it had started falling back out.. Hurt my back clearing it all out, but it was worth it.

What? Inhumane mouse traps? After I switched off the light on Sunday night I started to hear funny sounds in the wardrobe... IN the wardrobe! Our wardrobes are built in and cavernous. Every time I started to settle down and fall asleep I heard scratching and shuffling in another part of the ceiling or wall... I started to hope for my alarm clock to go off.
When I was younger, my Dad introduced me to the genius of Alan Garner's books and last night's scratchings immediately made me think of The Owl Service. My Garner novels are soft with wear and creases from reading, I sometimes like just to pick them up and flick through them when I'm browsing the bookshelf.
After I'd bought the traps I suddenly started thinking of how cute mice are and Beatrix Potter's anthropomorphic mousey characters filled my head.. She had a real talent for catching something of a mouse's character in her drawings, that cheeky glint in the eye.. I had to stop my sentimentality, man up and bait the traps! Unfortunately, mice carry disease, and being up the duffer I don't want to risk any harm to the bablet. Rich did not like the traps one bit, so I set them up when he wasn't around.. He's more of a softie than me!

Not crap, just cold

2010-11-26T04:09:00.000-08:00

Rough tinies I'm working on in the studio.. It's so cold I'm finding it hard to work - what an excuse! But seriously, oil is such an expensive way to heat the house I try not to put the heating on unless it's absolutely necessary. Managed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday but caved in yesterday, today I managed till 12pm. So not bad going really!

Feeling ok today, been to the butcher and the veg shop, so the fridge is full of meaty treats and the shelves are creaking with veg. I like going to the butcher's shop on a Friday when it's full of goods, all nicely displayed. I usually go after work as it's nice and quiet then and Saturday's bread has been delivered, they have the best bread, fresh on a Friday, I pretty much always have to tuck into a sandwich when I get home. All this homely stuff really makes a difference to my ability to paint, believe it or not. Something about order and stock and all of that making me feel secure and unstressed...
I'm going to see the midwife in a minute, so I'd better get my notes and urine sample together and skedaddle. Come back to a nice warm studio!

Crap

2010-11-24T01:37:00.000-08:00

Been really frustrated with my paintings over the last week after sorting out for one to be shipped to London for a Sunday viewing, Saturday delivery.. The tracking shows that it went out on the van on Saturday morning but they were unable to deliver for whatever reason. So £70 down the drain, no sale, customer lost.. I am considering burning the painting when it gets back but I was told that's probably just my hormones making me react a little more strongly than usual.

I am so sick of my paintings this week, especially after realising that I might as well just give them away because I'm not making any money on them. After taking off commission, postage and materials all I'm left with is pocket money. I looked at everyone else's prices on Newbloodart and I'm way below the curve. Easily remedied but would people still buy from me? In my current mood I would say no, but thinking more rationally I'd say probably. I'm going to give the Council's Arts Grant scheme a go and see if I can get some help with materials.. Time for some knitting to take my mind off it all.

Tilly

2010-11-16T10:23:00.000-08:00

This will be called Tilly. I'm getting close to the finish with it now, sometimes a piece can go either way, it can take a few hours' work or it can go the other way.. Overworked and broken!

My parents have a little terrier called Tilly, she's a good egg. She's very funny!

Lunch!

2010-11-14T02:52:00.000-08:00

Look at tiny Nerys.. Nerys is the bottom one, 60 x 180 cm, finished yesterday in a whirlwind of 'taking my mind off everything'. It worked.. To some extent.

I always faff around for ages while taking photos of finished paintings.. Usually the bedroom is best, with just the right amount of light. I find that taking them outside and trying to photograph them there leads to them looking washed out and bleached..

Chicken

2010-11-13T03:40:00.001-08:00

Newbloodart have 6 pieces for a viewing today which I'm really nervous about.. It was a short-notice Thursday night thing to organise, 3 biggies, 3 not so bigs, a bit of an odd combo, but then not so odd once I'd laid them all out next to each other... Our internet was down that evening, I only found out about the viewing thinks to my compulsion to check my emails the moment I get home and thanks to Rich's i-phone... Bobbed over to my Mum's to use their internet and thanks to Interparcel I got a TNT Saturday delivery for all 6 pieces for £120.. Bargain!

What it is that slightly freaks me out about viewings is that they're pretty serious, you know, someone is considering spending a lot of their hard earned cash on your work and they're going to really look at it, judge it, and then make their mind up and if it's no then you're out of pocket x2 for the postage there and back. It reminds me a little of trying to get work into an exhibition, but with greater financial ramifications.. This is going to be my career and I have to make it work, everything also has to be of the highest quality, hence why I switched to 100% oils earlier this year.
Kitty's also off to be judged next week, so that angora yarn I want is going to have to wait, Kitty's postage comes first...

Stuff

2010-11-07T02:41:00.000-08:00

I look at this piece and sort of find it a bit disgusting.. It looks like it was painted by a child! I'm considering ripping it from the frame and starting again. We'll see.

There's the flyer with Celestine in the middle of it and a flyer for Flora McLachlan's solo at Obsidian.. Her work is beautiful and her prints are very affordable.

Bhopal Medical Appeal

2010-11-05T02:46:00.000-07:00

I was adding my work to a new site today and writing a little about my painting Azid, the one I made for the Skullduggerous show in March this year. Anyway, I wanted to see how the Bhopal Medical Appeal were getting on and they've just raised £185,000!!!!!!! How? Well, this was another project Colin told me about back in January where they were going to get the super-artists to decorate water pots. Check the list!
"Full list of artists taking part in this project includes: Anish Kapoor; Antony Gormley; Barry Reigate; Conrad Shawcross; Gary Hume; Gavin Turk ; Harland Miller; Jason Brooks; Keith Coventry; Langlands and Bell; Marc Quinn; Mat Collishaw; Mona Hatoum; Patrick Hughes; Paul Fryer; Polly Morgan; Pure Evil; Simon Periton; Sir Peter Blake; Stephen Webster; Subodh Gupta; The Chapman Brothers; Tim Noble and Sue Webster; Tracey Emin; Yinka Shonibare MBE"
See the pots. I've dropped on this pretty late, the auction was on the 11th of October and I have a feeling they'll all have sold, but still, isn't that awesome?
I feel really strongly about Bhopal, and the fact that in this day and age it still hasn't been sorted. I mean, I KNOW that DOW never owned or operated the plant, but why couldn't they step in, man up and just clean up the site? Sure, that's spending money on something that's 'nothing to do with them', but really? Is that a good enough excuse? Wouldn't that be such an amazing thing for them to brag about on their site? Perhaps they feel that they've been so stubborn about it that they can't back up now, you can always backtrack though, people always admire someone who knows they've been a bit of an arse but can admit it and move forwards.

Salad

2010-11-04T10:08:00.000-07:00

Painting in my civvies. Naughty. Finally felt energetic enough to start tackling my big painting - that brown has got to go!
Alas! Today at work I was told to work in the dishwash and have consequently aggravated the lower back problems I've been having.. It's so, so annoying, shuffling about looking as if I've soiled myself!

Obsidian Art Gallery

2010-11-01T13:07:00.000-07:00

I really liked Obsidian Gallery, it was packed with lovely things, all sorts of prices, editioned prints, cards, sculpture.. It was exhibition changeover day yesterday, so the walls were pretty bare but you certainly got the atmosphere of the space. I particularly liked the layout of the display boards, they sort of enticed you to walk around the space and explore it.

The show, Winter Wonders is running from this Thursday until the 2nd of January.. Doesn't January seem far away?

Obsidian Art

2010-10-31T03:13:00.000-07:00

We're off on a drive today, down south to Obsidian Art Gallery in Bucks. Obsidian were one of the first galleries with a selection process that I applied to in 2006, they showed my painting Kitty Blue and were fab, really helpful, full of advice and so on. This exhibition is titled Winter Wonders and will include my paintings Celestine, Roisin, Erin (not Nia because she didn't arrive back from London in time..) and Calvin.
I'll get some pictures!

Dinosaurs

2010-10-15T11:36:00.000-07:00

Back to my 5 x 5ft piece.. Finally, it's been putting me off the studio.

Little Red

2010-10-13T10:08:00.001-07:00

Here's a little something I've been working on. It's a tiny little painting and super-varnishy. It reminds me of Little Red Riding Hood, I just picture her when I look at it. I remember running through the woods in the snow to meet my friend Kate. It was so still and silent, but then I came across two people who exclaimed that I looked just like Little Red in my lovely red coat. I wonder what Little Red's actual name was?

I found some super-gorgeous photos on curator and artist Jenny Waterson's website the other day. Jenny curated my show at the Waterside Arts Centre this May/June and did a pretty fab job.. It looked amazing. I find hanging shows so hard but some people just have the knack.

And one last thing. I had an email from fellow artist Jacqueline Taylor. Jackie had been given a magazine called Stylist in Birmingham and was convinced that the painting featured on page 5 was one of mine. She did a little bit of detective work and it was Celestine! The mag had a bit of a pink theme for breast cancer and Celestine was there to represent Newbloodart, my favourite selling site. Jackie recently found out she's been awarded funding to complete her PhD full time for the next two years! Well done Jackie!
The idea of a PhD makes me feel super sick so I admire anyone who has the brains and the stamina for one!

Pop

2010-10-11T11:19:00.001-07:00

Feeling great today after a nice big tea of pasta bake and a pint of orange flavoured pop.. I've been tidying the house, there's nothing like a good tidy, especially when listening to Daft Punk's Alive, a CD I bought the other day after discovering I'd completely missed it first time round.. Where was I? It is berloody brilliant! Rich and I always go on about how incredible the Punk are and yet both of us must've been under a rock.

Right, what the hell's the mask in aid of? No, I haven't switched back to crummy enamels or household-type paints.. I have a thing in my tummy and I'm worried about poisoning it with varnish and turps fumes.

What? Yes, it's one of those.. A vomiting, pooing, crying, mini-person - and to say that I am excited would be an understatement. Practically everyone at work knows now so it's starting to seem much more real and now I'm pretty much at the end of the first trimester I feel safer talking about it. I am already very aware of the impact this little one is going to have on my painting, for a while at least. I have seriously never been this tired before and would much rather slump on the sofa in the evening rather than go into the studio. Anyway! I don't want to go on about babies on this blog but I do want to go on about babies somewhere so I've set up another blog for that! It's here.. I'll probably tire of it eventually although I love blogging, it's like having an online diary full of pictures and you can download your blog to disk if you like. Modern technology eh? I do enjoy it..
Nothing beats the smell of fresh air though and I just looked out of the window at the crescent moon which is glowing red..
Unusual, amazing, inspiring..

Bloody post!

2010-10-04T10:02:00.001-07:00

I have been stressing out in my car, having a shout.. I then scuffed it up the side of the house and now it's at a weird angle and I wonder if I'm going to be able to get it out again in the morning without scuffing a different section of it up the damn house. I hate our drive!!!!
Why all the stress? Posting paintings, that's what! Bloody Parcelforce, my favourites, are having server problems and can't do card payments and I drove all the way there and I wanted to post it on Friday anyway but couldn't and then I tried doing it at home and it wouldn't work, so then I tried MyHermes, who won't take it because it's too big.. It's a bugger when you have to work because nobody's home to wait with the parcel and they won't collect it from your greenhouse for fear of litigation if it "goes missing". I was so pleased when I found out I could drop parcels off at Parcelforce's Hanley depot, it's so useful, I can dash up there in the car after work and it's so easy!

Ugh. I have a huge list of things to do and all these piles of papers to be sorted out, done and posted off and all I really want to do is knit the next cardigan I've got lined up! It's a fun cabled one, cables are super-interesting to knit.. I started it last night but ended up ripping it back because the yarn wasn't right.

I will be back with positvity and pictures shortly!!!!

Piggy

2010-10-02T08:35:00.001-07:00

Just working on things in pinks and browns, experimenting with all my red pigments, seeing the different ways they all work. It's fascinating if you're into stuff like that at all.
I've been very, very tired recently and as a result, haven't been working at my usual pace in the studio. It's a bit of a pain in the arse, I like being on the go and seeing my paintings develop and finish themselves.. Seeing them going nowhere is rubbish!

Well I finished my distracting dress.. It's super warm and I'm really pleased with it.
Have been loving the Eddie Stobart series that's currently on 5, not quite Traffic Cops but a close second! The BBC are annoying me with Traffic Cops, they move its time slot around willy nilly and are always changing the day they air it.. I can't impress on you just how much I love that programme, seriously, it's slightly abnormal!

Brushes

2010-09-23T10:05:00.000-07:00

I've been tidying the studio again as it seems to accumulate junk at a right rate of knots. All those brushes were rock solid.. I'd just chucked them into a box, gradually letting it build up rather than chucking them out. I always used to use "Harris No Loss" brushes, they're so cheap and quick to get hold of. The bristles do come out, but I use the brushes really vigorously and they're designed for walls rather than abstract paintings.

Pickle

2010-09-18T01:37:00.000-07:00

Back to normal again. I opened ArtReview, looked at the pictures and adverts and put it down again.. Anyone want it? I swear I learn more from Vogue than ArtReview..
I've been looking at pictures by Dan Hays, the guy who painted the hamster cage, remember? John Moores, ages ago? (1997) I had a tiny postcard of it on my wall when I was doing my GCSEs but hadn't actually seen it, and had no idea of the scale it was painted on. It's bloody huge, 171 x 246 cm.. I only re-found his work because I was looking up the Marmite Prize judges.
I was looking at the John Moores past winners, and they're practically all men. Why is that? There are plenty of female exhibitors, but bugger all female prizewinners. I'm not complaining, I just find it curious. Would I be a better painter if I had a Y chromosome? Do men take more risks in their work?

Sod it, I'm off for a croissant.

Foggyo

2010-09-16T09:07:00.000-07:00

Feeling very cynical about everything today, especially about art stuff. ArtReview sits unopened on the side in the kitchen, full of all its waffle and blah.
Enjoyed an article on Ed Ruscha from last weekend's paper.. That was probably the highlight of my day. I really like reading about proper painters and how and why they do what they do, especially if they're old and have had a lifetime of doing it. I find it calming and inspiring. I mean, I get stressed out by how mediocre I am, trying to keep up with all the clever, brilliant painters of a similar age to me, and it really doesn't matter. All that matters is that I continue to enjoy pottering about, painting what I paint and not worrying too much about what it all means.

Picture above is getting torn up later to make way for something else. I need the stretcher and it's damaged anyway from when it flew to Berlin that time. I like tearing up paintings, it's a bittersweet sort of enjoyment.
Wow. I'm boring today aren't I? Work's got me down, rent work. It's just ridiculously busy and I hate it, but that's nothing new, I've always hated it. I am filled with hate while I'm there, literally. You wouldn't like to know what I'm shouting at the customers in my head..

Cars

2010-09-10T09:13:00.000-07:00

I'm having a great time right now, watching a programme called Car Wars I recorded from Watch last night. I was scrolling through the channels and, "Car Wars!? Why have I never seen that before!?". The BBC make the best traffic police programmes, in my opinion, perfect down to the last detail, and always with Jamie Theakston narrating. Yes! I like Road Wars on Sky1 too but I don't like the American footage they bulk it out with..

Time for a crumpet!

Caramel

2010-09-05T02:06:00.000-07:00

Again, a week with not much work being done. It's funny how things get in the way sometimes.. I've been a little off-colour, in a good way, if that even makes sense.
I got 'Mo' out to check all the edges, as she's been shown a lot and paintings do get wear and tear, especially if they have been looked after by me. I'm better than I was, but still have some room for improvement. Mo needed some new paint for rubbed edges and was soon as good as new.
I'm so boring paint-wise at the moment! I will do better. I know what the problem is too, I put all the paintings whose edges needed doing into the studio, and now when I go in there all I can see is this horrible job I have to do! Ha ha. Typical.

Not finished yet..

2010-08-27T12:04:00.000-07:00

I've been beavering away at all sorts over the last week.. Some painting, some wrapping, some knitting, lots of sandwiches, some screaming at Wordpress because I can't work it.. "Why do you keep moving my words? I hate you! "

Pottering

2010-08-19T09:22:00.001-07:00

Finally decorated, got rid of the pink and then put Mildred up. I love Mildred...

Pottering along with these, they're reminding me of Christmas at the moment..

Marmite, I love you! (Painting - not the foodstuff)

2010-08-14T06:10:00.000-07:00

So it's well established that I love the fringemk painting prize but, please, let's hear it for the Marmite! I finally figured out why my drawing was in the 2008 catalogue after I ordered it from their website. In "Essay that goes at the start of the catalogue" they explain about the prize and the catalogue.
"...What's needed, provocatively, is just a painting (any size - and 'however you define it') and a drawing. And, as it happens, £10 - but that's more democracy in action, a contribution to the printing costs of the catalogue with every applying artist's drawing included, a comprehensive record of this year's entries."I laughed and laughed when I read the essay and felt quite happy. I love that they do that and that they don't look at where you studied or at your past achievements. It's all about the painting. I like the idea that they actually look at each painting..

Whenever the weather allows me to, I've been stalking butterflies, trying to get pictures of them. This one caught my eye as I walked to the garage this morning and flew away once the shutter clicked. I like butterflies, they're so pretty and papery.

fringe

2010-08-11T09:09:00.000-07:00

My FRINGEMK catalogues came today - Anita in the admin office was super-fast!

Swimming

2010-08-05T12:35:00.000-07:00

Watched Wild Swimming with Alice Roberts last night (iPlayer link). I'm quite a fan of Alice Roberts, and this documentary was brilliant, so inspiring and she drops the science in without you really noticing it.. She's such an engaging presenter! Here's the BBC blurb..

"Alice Roberts embarks on a quest to discover what lies behind the passion for wild swimming, now becoming popular in Britain. She follows in the wake of Waterlog, the classic swimming text by the late journalist and author, Roger Deakin.
Her journey takes in cavernous plunge pools, languid rivers and unfathomable underground lakes, as well as a skinny dip in a moorland pool. Along the way Alice becomes aware that she is not alone on her watery journey."

I thought about swimming while I sweated through the lunchtime dish washing at work and I remembered a place I'd once gone to with my friend Matthew. It's down a track off the Cat & Fiddle road and turned out to be quieter than I remembered! All I could hear was sheep - bliss. I had secretly packed a t-shirt and bikini bottoms because I could remember this pool and I wanted a wild swim!
When I was in it was fine, but getting in was sort of difficult! Dip, stand up, dip further, stand up... Brrr. That funny hot feeling when you get out, wow, that's great.
On the way back to the car we saw a HARE, a buzzard, a couple of partridges, lots of sheep and a handful of kestrels. The hare was the best though, I've never seen one before and they're such amazing looking creatures, so odd and elegant.

Just found out from the Outdoor Swimming Society that this place is called Three Shire's Head and is "A series of water falls and plunge pools (known as Panniers Pool, a reference to the pack-horses that once used the bridges) where the counties of Derbyshire, Cheshire and Staffordshire all meet at the 'Y' shaped junction of two converging rivers in the beautiful peak district."

Kenneth

2010-08-03T11:00:00.000-07:00

Another giant roll! Why did I never think of these giant rolls before? Makes wrapping so much easier..

WALL·E

2010-07-31T05:11:00.000-07:00

It turned into a good week painting-wise. Found out today that Miriam, my beloved, has sold. Excellent news, a little sad that I have to let her go but hey, that's how it goes..
I finished/semi-finished three pieces.. They need a bit of hanging time for me to be absolutely sure I like them enough not to paint over them in a year's time but I think they're getting there.
Watched WALL·E last night for the first time (had a Pixar blu-ray splurge after Toy Story 3), and wow. Didn't think I'd like it because it was a robot story but, wow.
Tonight is Up, tissues at the ready! I was just thinking that the only Pixar films that don't make me cry are The Incredibles and Toy Story. "What's there to cry about in Finding Nemo!" I hear you shout.. When Marlin's fish wife and their eggs are all eaten, that's what!!! Toy Story 2, when Jessie thinks they've left her behind on the plane... Monsters Inc. when Sulley has to say goodbye to Boo and when Mike rebuilds her door... I always sneered at crying women when I was a teenager, never knowing I'd turn into one.

On Tuesday I decided that I simply HAD to have a bag of Revels, so we walked up to the shop and on the path there was a little body... It was a Goldfinch and it was alive! Weird though, it wouldn't move. I didn't want to leave it on the path, mainly because of all the dog walkers and the cats I see about the place, so I picked it up with my cardigan to move it off the path and it wouldn't let go. You're not meant to touch birds are you? I didn't think you were, hence the cardi-scooping. We put the finch, who still wouldn't let go of the cardigan, into a little box and popped it high up under a tree in the garden and left it alone. We must have frightened it very much and I was convinced that it would die from shock.
I came out after about an hour to have a secret peek and the finch flew away when it saw me! Hooray!

Cyan

2010-07-26T14:40:00.000-07:00

Super-small and medium size. 30 x 30 cm & 90 x 140 cm

I think it's time to sleep now!

Sunday

2010-07-25T12:09:00.000-07:00

Sun

2010-07-24T04:09:00.000-07:00

We went to see Toy Story 3 last night and it was absolutely brilliant. So brilliant, everyone in the cinema clapped when it finished! I love Pixar's stuff (especially Monsters Inc.) and was a bit worried when Toy Story 3 was announced, just story-wise, I couldn't see much more mileage in it. Shows you what I know.. Gets your bottom lip going at a couple of points though, sitting there, quietly trying not to cry is hard!

Back to this beastie after a bit of drying time. Mixing, daubing, blending, staring, going to the kitchen and coming back.

Peppy Bismilk

2010-07-21T14:07:00.000-07:00