Giveaway!

After a flurry of recent sales I'm feeling generous!  If you've not yet 'liked' my studio facebook page, I'm giving away a signed limited edition print of 'Red House', posted to anywhere in the world to my 200th liker.  If you already 'like' me on facebook and feel a little left out, I'm also giving away the same print to my 200th blog follower.  Get clicking!

Red House /50

On the Turn

I'm delighted to hear that I've had my first sale at my solo exhibition at Opus Gallery in Ashbourne.  I had a beautiful drive through the Derbyshire countryside to deliver the work on Friday.  The landscape was ablaze with yellow so it seems fitting that my piece, 'On the Turn' was the first to sell.

'On the Turn'

Opus Gallery, Ashbourne

Going, going, gone

Remember this piece? It's called Valley Deep and has been my magnum opus. It was one of the first pieces that I had produced as a print just over a year ago. And now I have only 8 left. So for all of you who wanted a reminder.....there are only 8 left.....you can buy online here!

Introspection

I feel a bit out of the blog loop.  It's been a period of introspection and I've not felt brave enough to share it with the world.  I'm on hold a bit because of the studio build and that has meant  a lot of sorting out and sorting through. I've got to the bottom of 18 months of paperwork, filed my tax return and completed a huge to-do list.  The relief has been great.  What has happened has been a feeling of coming full circle and a creation of a space within me.  Into that space are trickling new ideas and new visions.

I can't decide whether I am being brave or stupid but my creative soul is moving me away from the landscape work and in to new realms.  It might be just a new avenue I need to pursue, we'll see.  I have a few conceptual ideas rumbling in my head, to do with love and connections and the circle of life....there's nothing like focusing on the big stuff!

Hands have become important symbols of the connections between me and my loved ones and so I am using them as a starting point for some visual explorations.  It might be some creative play, a reflective journey, or the start of a new body of work.....

After writing this I went on to read this.  I really relate to the need for peaceful introversion to recalibrate mind, body and soul.

The Mothership has landed!

WOO HOO!!!!! SO EXCITING!  

Autumn Sunset

Dame Laura Knight 'The Cornish Coast' c 1917

A trip to the Lakeside Arts Centre at Nottingham University is a must in the Autumn.  The tree filled campus lights up with the glow of reds, yellows and oranges.  The children love the playground at Highfields Park.  We love the coffee (!) and the newly enlarged gallery at the Djanogoly centre has allowed for more dynamic exhibitions to be curated.  We always come home inspired, the Lakeside programme tucked in to a pocket, ready to book up theatre and music events to sustain us through the winter. 

Laura Knight

And so a sunny autumn day found us at the Dame Laura Knight exhibition.  I knew her to be a local artist, born in Long Eaton to lace workers, but I didn't know her to be such a talented and prolific artist.   Dissuaded at art college for painting in a masculine style she wasn't put off and went on to produce a lifetime of colourful, dynamic work that challenged the visual norms of her time.  She was a prolific war artist and the first woman elected to the Royal Academy. For her depictions of the Nuremberg Trials, she was also made the first Dame of the British Empire.

Dame Laura Knight 'Autumn Sunset'

I loved the beauty and atmosphere of this painting, 'Autumn Sunset'.  Rich and evocative of misty autumn days, I think this piece will keep me going through the winter months.

What happened?!

Melbourne Festival 2012

I have no idea what happened to September!!  There we were enjoying the summer holidays and suddenly we're knocking on October's door and collecting fallen leaves on the way to school.  It's been a veritable whirlwind of highs and lows. Wirksworth Festival was great; great art, great people, great sales.  I felt in touch with myself and loved talking to people and living my creative life.  Then there was the reality check. The following weekend I had the Melbourne Festival but with a busy week in between, and a poorly child to contend with, I hit the buffers half way through the weekend and ended up in bed ill.  My hero?  David.  He stood in for me with a smile and promoted me really well and made some good sales!

My plan was to use these events as a chance to assess what was working for me and where I want to go.  As part of that plan, I attended a one day 'Creative Business Away Day' at The Refectory Table.  It was really worthwhile.  It has thrown lots up in the air and I am still waiting for the pieces to fall back in to place but ideas that I had had rumbling in the back of my head came to the fore and I was given some valuable methods for assessing and reassessing my business.  The upshot is I don't want to do anymore than I am doing but I want to take time to focus on each area of my business and achieve my potential.  So this week I've been curling up with 'Make Your Creativity Pay' and a big notebook.  I'm also trying to be smart enough to use my smart phone for all my social media but I'm not sure I've got what it takes!

So, the studio build goes on and I'm clearing out my current studio and finding homes for unwanted things.  I feel that I'm bubbling with ideas across all areas of my life.  My youngest started school this month and I'm relishing the extra time but my to-do list is long.  It's three years since I started my business and it feels like the right time to take stock and make a plan of where I am going.  I'll let you know when I've had my epiphany.