Onwards and Upwards

 When I last said 'see you next week' I meant see you in two weeks time, as then this works right?

I like that I sent the previous blogs intentions and then managed to completely forget about it, along with posting on social media and writing a long overdue newsletter. But never mind, I did manage to create a new painting at the weekend which feels like it absolutely trumps everything else. I won't share it just yet as I haven't taken the photos of it yet, or sat with it, or completely settled on a title, but I promise it will be on the next blog post. 

I will just say that it went well. I went with a 'seeing how I feel' painting so it grew on its own. I also kept it relatively loose and easy as the first one back, not to mention not too big and under no pressure to be amazing. As it is, it actually came out rather well, says everything I needed it to say and unlocked a new colour palette for me. So I consider that to be a big success. 

It is onwards and upward from here. 

One step at a time.

 So, a year later.... time for a mid years resolution to blog once a week, or at least once a month if failing anything else. Lots of news has been missed in this last year, but for good reason! 

I am not very well at the moment, and haven't been for some time. The last three months have been especially hard going but it seems like I am finally on the mend albeit it far too slowly for my liking. I am hoping this means that some of my bad habits will improve, like not blogging or remembering to post on social media. These are two things I need to change. I also need to paint more regularly, but I have a plan for that for when I am better by restructuring my day slightly. I have good hopes for this and I am feeling enthusiastic about making lots of improvements. Once I am better I should have lots more focus and energy than I have had for ages which will make for longer days, longer working days and better productivity. After all, work breeds work usually.

I am sure my last few posts have been like this and nothing has changed, but lets see. You have to keep setting intentions and trying, even if it doesn't work or you don't manage. Just set the intentions again and try. You never know which moment of trying will succeed. 

It seems good timing that I belatedly put a new painting up for sale today. It was one I started in Spring, just before I got properly sick, that I managed to finish a couple of weeks ago. It is of the Magnolia tree, which always feels like a new start. The start of a new year, a new season, and maybe for me at this moment a new chapter. 

So here is 'Magnolia' 24" x 24" x 1.5" box canvas, available for purchase on my website. As always, thanks for looking, reading, waiting, or just randomly sharing this moment with me. Until next time, or lets go with see you next week!

(And the link if you want to buy)  

 

Millar's Eatery

I have 'to write a blog post' on my to do list. I have left it so long since the last post that I don't know where to start! 

I have had the Marlow Art Trail since, put some work up at Millar's Eatery for a 3 month display, had two commissions, sold a couple of pieces, started regularly doing reels, kind of, ordered new puzzles and I have the Cookham and Maidenhead Art Trail coming up in early September! Plus a few new paintings and the introduction of some affordable minis, the canvasses at least, I haven't painted any yet. 

So lets just start with a post I was meant to write at the beginning of July and pretend it isn't almost the end of August. After having Millar's Eatery at Coopers Yard as my fabulous venue for the Marlow Art Trail, they kindly offered to house a display of my work for three months starting in July. They enjoyed the art trail so much, the co owner also being an artist, that they decided to implement a 3 monthly rotation of displays, and after being on the trail, I got first refusal, along with my fellow displayers. 

Not much seems to be happening on that front so far as I was hoping to have had some sales by now, but there is still time. I am also tempted to switch the display around for the last month if I can work out what to show instead. It seems like the to do list is always three miles long and before you know it the time is up. It is fun though, to know I have some work up in the public domain, a bit more space in my house to breathe, and an extra potential outlet. I am trying to spread the load a bit more to reach some more potential clients. Exposure is everything. 

So,  if you are in Marlow, head down to Millar's Eatery, they do fabulous food, coffee, tea and cake. I will be going there myself soon! A, Meter House, Fieldhouse Lane, Marlow, SL7 1LW.

Spring is Coming

 So lets ignore the fact that I missed a week between posts this time, that is better than the month that went by previously. 

I successfully managed to get in to the Cookham and Maidenhead Art Trail, and the Marlow Art Trail is coming up soon too so I need to start getting my head around those two things, and possibly painting some local places. I have the tower at Cliveden first on my list. In the meantime, I have painted a small picture of some daffodils, and a canvas is waiting in my 'studio' to be started; Which I have on my list for tomorrow evening or Friday.

Other than that, the to do list is a mile long, so long in fact that it is difficult to pick a place to start. I have a few 'quiet' days coming up though so I am hoping I can get on top of a few things, and maybe win the lottery. 

But, whilst we wait for that to happen here are the daffodils for you. Daffodils have a special place in my heart. I used to help my Mum in the garden every Sunday when I was a child. One time I got to plant some double headed daffodils by the garden path. They have reappeared there every year since, usually flowering on or around my birthday. They have grown a superstitious quality as usually the daffodils match the kind of year I am going to have - lots means a good year for me, less, not quite so good. This year there were only 6, but 6 strong ones, when most of the other daffodils in my Mum's garden were blind. So I will take this as a good sign, it might be a tough year, but I will be strong. 

Cuba Tones

 As usual, my good habits didn't last very long, but there is s blog post happening now so that will do, I was meant to be doing one a week, but...! Not much has happened art wise recently, I have sold a few of my sale items, managed to stick to my social media schedule and painted a new picture! I had planned to start a new painting this weekend, but Milly Molly Migraine had other plans for me, but perhaps I will get a chance to this weekend instead. I have been organised today though, my two new paintings are online everywhere except my website, I have chased a potential sale and earlier in the week I applied to Cookham Art Trail, so I have been doing my job. 

It would be nice to have an unexpected painting sell though, those are the boosts that help keep me on focus. Here is to wishing, my birthday is soon, so perhaps the universe will give me a sale as a birthday present. 

Starts manifesting. 

 In the meantime, here is the new painting. It is another one of Cuba. I already feel like there will be more of these! I half wish I still had Havana Good Time too so I could have seen the three paintings together, but I guess that is what photoshop is for. So here, enjoy....

And just because I can, the three of them together...

Sale

 I thought I may as well jump on here straight away whilst I am having good habits and trying to be organised. 

As promised, the article about my interview is up and you can read it here

I have also just released a few items for sale. Some older paintings, mugs and puzzles are all available with a 10 - 25% discount for the next month. Please head to Etsy for more information! Etsy Store

That will do for now. Those of you subscribed to my newsletter, keep an eye out as there should be one landing in your inbox tonight!

Setting down some roots....

 I feel like it is probably too late to say Happy New Year now, I am usually good at doing the first blog post of the year, but obviously not this time. 

So what has been happening? As usual, lots and not much at the same time. I have had some steady sales of mugs, puzzles and cushions as well as the odd belated calendar. 'Barbados' has also gone on holiday for a trial at a potential new owners house. I am assuming they won't be able to say no once it has been in their house for a while, so that should be off the market at the end of the month. I have also been interviewed for an art blog in New York (!) so I will share that article once it is up. 

Painting wise it has been a bit slow this year so far, I made the decision to finally overpaint 6 works I have never been satisfied with. Two are complete already and I had intended to do the next one this weekend just gone but it didn't quite happen. In the pipeline I have a new painting of Cuba to do and some sunsets from my beginning of the year trip to Gran Canaria. So lots of potential. I have also just been reviewing my accounts. I realised I have signed up to lots of art things with annual bills and I need to make them work a bit better. If there is anything I can cancel, amalgamate or lose if it isn't working then that is all good. It is also a time to double check my stock, what is selling reliably, what is too much and maybe to sell out the current stock and refresh the merchandise. I am working on making my website more 'exclusive' and thinking of maybe using Folksy or Etsy as a kind of outlet store. The trouble with that is then making sure my website is 'seen' so that is still a thought in progress.   

I am finding it difficult at the moment to grasp the direction and list of things I need to sort out. It seems like there are too many things and they are all over the place. I want it to be more organised and easy for 2025. As part of this I have just set up a habit tracker for the month. Theoretically this should encourage me to keep an eye on my schedule and tasks. For example, blogging once a week and sharing a reel, completing a painting once a week and getting up early everyday, drinking water, eating well etc. It feels like I shouldn't have to do this really, but somehow it feels like it is easier to maintain and manage if it is written down and fixed. The trouble with being self employed is time management, as you never really have to do anything, so then sometimes by the time you have thought about what you need to do the day is over. I am hoping this way, with fixed weekly deadlines and tasks I will start to be more productive and more importantly consistent. Let's see how it goes, either way it will be worth a try. 

So after all those updates, I had better share the first painting of the year! So please watch below and see 'Fall' become 'Roots' as it was the first one I felt like I needed to alter. 

  I feel like it was quite a big improvement, so I hope you do too. 

Havana Good Time Somewhere Else

 The other main bit of news that I needed to share was that I sold the star of the show at the weekend! Not at the art fair, randomly this weekend. So 'Havana Good Time' is off and has found its new home with a local interior designer. 

This is very exciting, not only because the money was well timed, but also because it is my biggest painting sale to date! I, for once, will be sad to see this painting go as it was a strong memory, I have already saved myself a framed print of it though. It seems like a good excuse to paint another picture of Cuba soon as well. This topic seems to be doing well for me! I am keeping my fingers crossed that I can sell another painting before the year is out. I could do with a cash injection and the promise that the sales won't end once the festive season is out of the way. I keep swinging between the thrill of really pushing this and trying to sell some things and make it work, and the fear that it is impossible and I am making a terrible mistake. But I guess that is probably standard with these things. I think I will only truly worry when I have run out of ideas to explore as then it will feel like there is nowhere else to go or look. Well that and when I can't stand only eating baked beans....

So anyway, Goodbye and Good Luck Havana, I will miss you! 

Marlow Art Fair

 Gosh, well that has all flown by in a blur! I have even more news now, but I may need to share it across a few blog posts....

Lets start first with an update on the Marlow Art Fair, which was both good and disappointing in equal measure. The footfall was much less than expected and I hardly sold anything on the Saturday. Fortunately Sunday was much more successful and it made it monetarily seem more worthwhile. 

The best thing about the event was the feedback from some of the customers and the other artists. It was great to meet some like minded people and receive some wisdom from them as most had been 'arting' for much longer than me. Interestingly the organiser of the show said Havana Good Time was the best thing in the room which was a good boost.  I also received a couple of good leads for future painting sales, so I am keeping those contacts up my sleeve! 

They are already signing people up for the next art fairs, but as yet I am undecided about whether to join in. It is a good way to get my work out in the local area, but art fairs are not really my kind of thing.... but watch this space. My stall this year, was definitely hard to miss! 

It's calendar time!

 I am not sure where to start with this blog post. There is a lot going on at the moment, from all angles and I have a lot to do. 

I have joined Marlow Art Fair for the last weekend in November to showcase some of my merchandise so I need to get ready for that. I have also prepped and ordered my calendars and Christmas cards which have arrived today. I am yet to take a look at them as they are my bribe for after I have finished my work for the day. My new prints have also arrived so I need to make them and deliver the ones that have already been purchased post Norden Farm. Which reminds me I need to order some more mounting supplies. I have also entered a cushion competition, started work on a newsletter and signed up for online gallery representation with a gallery in New York. 

As well as having to buy more stickers, and think about which cushions to get for Marlow and whether to get any at all. 

And finally putting my remaining two paintings up for sale online and completed a card order for a hospital to use as condolence cards.

So possibly too much to think about, but all good things. incidentally if you would like to purchase a calendar, please click on the link here stock is limited so the sooner you buy the better!

 I think that will probable do as an update for now, it is Friday evening and I can feel my brain starting to melt. It may well be time to start the weekend.....

Living Life in colour

 How has it been a week now since I took down my exhibition from Norden Farm? It seems to have taken me that long to recover and get back on top of things.

What an experience! From the stress of getting ready, to the excitement of set up day, the pressure of opening night and the anti-climax of take down day. It’s been a rollercoaster and a privilege. I hoped it was going to be a good morale booster. The employees at Norden Farm started the ball rolling telling me how good the work looked in the space, that it was made to be there and struck with a boom of colourful energy. Everyone had a favourite, ‘Havana’ ‘Rum Punch’ ‘Barbados’ or ‘Wishing’ ruled the weeks, the prints rushed out the door, and now I am addicted. When will the next show be?

I can truthfully say I was not expecting to feel like this. Everyone that knows me, knows I am a behind the scenes person, more comfortable online, or via email, at least when it comes to my artwork. My paintings are my shield, my forcefield, my interpretation of everyday life, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about everybody seeing that. The paintings I did when I was cross, when I had really bad pmt, the raw ones that were processing something. Do I want someone to comment on them? But it was interesting, one particularly stormy, rain driven sea struck a chord - A thunderstorm felt exactly like someone’s week, so ironically, I didn’t feel vulnerable or judged, I felt like I wasn’t alone. Everyone understood my language, and that was something beautiful and strangely empowering. I struggle sometimes, wondering why I do this, well, not why I do it, I have to, but why I want to share it, but this exhibition made it make sense. I could see first-hand, especially with people new to my work that it did something; Reminded them of home, helped them focus their emotions, reminded them of a favourite vacation, made them want to visit a new place, gave them something to fall into, talk about, like.

Lightbulb.

I feel hard - good or bad, translate it into colour and leave space for you to connect with what you need or how you feel. It is a unique collaboration and I was grateful to be able to witness that.

It was still difficult at times, I don’t particularly like talking about myself or letting people in, but it was also nice to have a chance to do both those things. To answer questions and look at what I do through someone else’s perspective. Painting is something I just do and have always done so I don’t really ever think about it or what it means.

I also need to point out that this experience was also completely made by the amount of support I have had from all my friends, acquaintances, people of Maidenhead and everyone that left feedback, bought something, told their friends, helped me prepare, or stepped up in the Gallery. That was overwhelming. A friend from school, past work colleagues, current work clients, Zumba friends, new fitness holiday friends, neighbours, and many more besides. I couldn’t ask for more than that, or the belief everyone had in my work. It was just what I needed to wipe away some doubt.

So THANK YOU everyone for getting behind me and taking the time to come and have a look at my life in colour. (And a huge shout out to Lucile for her unwavering support throughout even when she was dying on her feet and to Chrissie for helping me take down the work on Thursday morning).  

       

Come September

 I am not entirely sure where September has gone. Wherever it has gone, it has made it there far too quickly. 

It is almost time for the exhibition, and I can't really pretend I am ready yet. I have been being busy and sorted some things out, but I guess it is impossible not to have a last minute rush however much you try to avoid it. The most crucial outstanding things currently, are; sorting the labels, deciding on the prices, actually working out the layout of the paintings to go up and I need to paint two more ideally. 

I have 5 days left. 1 of which is out for a Zumba event, and then possibly the day after when I am worn out and stiff. So realistically 3 days left. I am not sure how I feel about this. It should be fine, assuming I can paint this evening and possibly on Sunday if I need to, although really Sunday needs to be a painting preparation day, checking all labels, fixing the mirror plates on the back etc. 

Lets just pretend I am on it. 

So exciting times, and daunting times! 

You can read about the exhibition and find more info about the opening times here, and here is the flyer advertising the event, which is coming just in time on Monday! 

If I can borrow some luck, productivity and efficiency for the next few days I will be grateful! 
   

Tennyson Down

 I am not sure where the last couple of weeks have gone. It still seems to be impossible to stay on top of everything. I also realised that somewhere along the line my 'paintings for sale' page had disappeared. I hope not for too long otherwise I have been keeping that updated to no avail! 

I feel like I need an energy injection today and some 48 hour days, although it is Sunday so I should probably give myself a break. But I guess everything I manage to do is something I don't need to do tomorrow so...

I am frustrated as well as I made my friend a diary last year full of my paintings. She loved it and needs another one for next year. It came out really well so I thought I could have one and possibly make some to sell, but obviously now my printer no longer makes them! Nothing seems to be smooth or easy anymore. 

But before I get consumed talking about all these pitfalls and then about my upcoming exhibition at Norden Farm - more about that later - here is another new painting! A much safer thing to talk about. This one is of the Isle of Wight and more specifically Freshwater Bay after an amazing picnic and hike across the downs with my best friend. There were storms circling the Island all day that day but somehow we always managed to be in the right place at the right time and miss them all. I wanted the painting to have some of that electric sky drama, which is why the colours are more true to feeling than actuality. I was disappointed with this painting originally, but it has steadily grown on me day by day, and more and more is turning out to be just what I needed. 

Tennyson Down 40" x 30"

   

Paris 2024

 I am a bit confused today, I feel like everything is out of sync. Paintings are posted online in some places and not others, new paintings need to be done, stock needs to be checked and reordered, a new painting needs to be put up for sale, real life admin needs to be taken care of. I guess the problem with deciding to just paint is that then a backlog of the other stuff grows.

I do however have a useful list I need to do this week, it has 40 things on it so far but I have ticked off 14 items already, 15 once this has been written, and if I check my print mounting supplies and finish a new Instagram reel that will be 17 things, so almost halfway there (lemon on a pear).  

But back to the main reason for writing this reel, which is another new painting! This one is Olympic inspired as recently everything has been about Paris 2024. It has been difficult not to get sucked in one way or another - starting with the build up and the opening ceremony, a lot of which centred around the Eiffel Tower and the Olympic rings on the tower lining up with the moon. I have never actually painted the Eiffel Tower before so now seemed like as good a time as any. I had in mind a painting I have created previously of the Leaning Tower of Pisa which had the flag of Italy in the background, so surprise, surprise, here is the Eiffel Tower with the flag of France in the background.

I was quite pleased with how this one turned out, as whilst a bit quirky, wonky and not entirely accurate it has the perfect feel to it, so in that respect, mission accomplished! Tom Dean, the swimmer who won gold for the 4 x 200m freestyle relay in Paris for Team GB lives just up the road from me, perhaps he would like it as a souvenir! 

  

 

Flower Rangers

 Obviously you will have noticed I have had a bit of a break since I last posted. I was getting seriously bogged down with trying to work out what I was meant to be doing and what to do first. I half started so many things that it seemed a bit of a mess. (Most of those things are actually still half done).

Instead, I took a moment. 

I took the bestie to visit my hometown on the Isle of Wight and introduce her to my parents which was a well timed perfect break. I did some work for an art company that occasionally commission me to do random things sometimes, like spray-paint plastic squirrels and make plaster of Paris circles. I took the pressure off and took each day as it came, and finally reached the conclusion that to start with, I just need to paint. I need to remember how to art, remind myself that it is a big part of my being and stop worrying about social media, making money, updating this, updating that. 

Breathe first, re-artist myself, promote later. 

So that is what I am beginning to do. 

My card packs are now up for sale on Etsy, some sold out already, the date for my Solo Exhibition is almost booked in, I have painted two pictures and I have an idea for a third which I will start tomorrow. That feels better, and importantly I have been pleased with the last two paintings. A confidence boost is always appreciated. The first painting is a purely organic one, I picked some colours, I painted a background, I decided I wanted to paint some white lines on it, and found some inspiration in a flower tattoo online, and so this was born, and I don't know why but I feel better every time I look at it. So lets thank this painting for grounding me a little, and bringing me back some roots. 

'Flower Rangers' - 40" x 30" Acrylic on Canvas 

  

Pick A Door

 Finally the two most recent paintings are up online everywhere, well not quite everywhere, I haven't even started tackling Saatchi Online yet. It seems like there is far too much admin to do, website tweaks, putting paintings up for sale on new galleries and wondering whether to join NuMonday. 

But I suppose better to have too much to do and ideas of how to progress rather than being stagnant. I have some new prints to put up on Etsy and some card packs too so I guess that should be the next thing to tackle, plus I want to order some limited edition prints of my most recent paintings of Cuba. Speaking of which, here is another one to add to the collection. This one is all about the building, its dilapidated state and its charm, and more importantly all the different windows and doors that go together to make up its whole. This was one thing I liked about Cuba, the uniformity of the original façade being taken over by individuals and tweaked until it worked for them. It made it all more human and possibly slightly post apocalyptic but in an endearing way. 

Cuba, is all about the people. 

Thunder and Lightning.....

 I just read that a successful artist I follow has been rejected from the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 14 times, so I feel a bit more vindicated now that it isn't just me. 

After the previous blog post, the photoshoot was a success, my camera just about survived and I have a new one arriving on Friday ready to take pictures of my two latest artworks. I posted another reel that was successful, and one which very much wasn't so I am still learning on that front. I have also updated a few link errors both on here and my website as I deleted my DeviantArt and Society6 profiles but forgot to remove them from anywhere. So busy, busy. 

Other than that, not much to report, another painting trial to complete for an art company I freelance for and a large limited edition print sold but that is it for the moment. I need to order some Cuba prints and some Golden Temple ones as they keep selling out. I also have some card packs to put on Etsy, it seems easy to drown in the to-do list! 

But whilst I tread water, here is one of my latest paintings. This time inspiration came in the form of a thunderstorm, partly because I spent two evenings watching thunderstorms in Croatia a couple of weeks ago, and then returned to the UK to another one. So it seemed like they were on my mind, that and I tend to paint dramatic weather when I am unsettled, grumpy, frustrated or fed up (or all three). So here is my emotion purge that I still need to name....

 

Hell for Leather

 I was indeed happy to have my paintings back from the Beehive pub, much happier than I was expecting in fact - it was like being put back together. Fortunately I have been having a full flat clear out too so I had some spaces left for them to live, so I don't feel overloaded just yet. 

So, a lot is happening at the moment as I attempt to do art full time, which I haven't actually told anyone about. It has been an email writing day today, to English Heritage, Norden Farm and the National Trust to hope they will potentially collaborate with me, and/or display sell my work. I also finally made a reel, which is doing well with over 6,000 views so far and shared my Havana painting on a Cuba group so that also has over 350 likes and 70 + comments. I need a boost right now above anything else to feel like I am not making a horrendous decision trying to go full time. 

If only I didn't need money. But, I have a photography gig booked in, just helped with a kitchen redesign and I have a large puzzle order that has just arrived. It sounds like I am already doing well, but perhaps it never feels like it. I have a new painting on the go though and a new one finished that I need to share, reel ideas in the pipeline and I am thinking it might be time to write a newsletter. 

Its time to go hell for leather on this! 

The Beehive

 I realise I made a mistake earlier as I wrote my to do list in red pen, and for some reason I can't seem to read it properly. I am better writing in another colour and crossing it off in red. Perhaps a school throwback. But anyway, that isn't what I am here to talk about. Although perhaps I need to take a moment and rewrite it...

There, rewritten so I feel a bit better, although now I wish it wasn't on lined paper; it is obviously an OCD day. 

So I missed an important blog post about putting my work up in The Beehive in Maidenhead earlier this month, a well known and posh pub in the White Waltham area of town. I was lucky as the slot was meant to be for three weeks, but I got given six instead. I am currently surprised I haven't sold a few of the pieces, but perhaps bad timing, perhaps that will happen later, and equally there is still some time left to go, so I will hold firm to my belief that something will be finding a new home. It was strange to get ready for the show, a bit intense, a lot of work, last minute prepping and last minute painting. I didn't realise that taking the paintings from my house would feel like removing my forcefield. I felt vulnerable and bare, even after putting up other work on my empty walls. The last few years have been strange, wars, climate disaster, covid, and I hadn't noticed that I had painted myself some protection. Colour is my shield, and without it I felt lost, momentarily at least, then I was quite happy to have 17 paintings elsewhere and some more room in my flat. 

I did pop into The Beehive with some friends for a drink the other weekend though and it was good to see my painted friends, happily adorning the pub walls and feeling like home, so perhaps I will also be happy to have them back.     

Havana Good Time

 After the first painting of the year inevitably comes the second. I am well on the way to sorting out my paintings for 'The Beehive' display on Monday. It seems like there is a lot to do and not much to do. I suppose it doesn't help that I want to paint another picture to go up if I can, so that will be tomorrow and Saturdays job I suspect. 

In the meantime, painting number two is up on the website, my prices have been amended (on a piece of paper at least), frames have been ordered and sticky dots made ready for the name tags for all my work. I just need to write an artist blurb now which I am not looking forward to, well that and stick the stickers on the paintings backs, write the authentication certificates and sign all the ones going up on display. All while having a horrible cold. 

Hooray.

Not.

But this is a good warm up, I had a big birthday last week and all my friends and family clubbed together to buy me a two week exhibition space and opening night at my local gallery - Norden Farm, so I can't wait to get that in the diary! Hopefully I can have some more paintings of Cuba to show at it, which is the subject of my latest piece of work, and I have to say, even I am impressed with how this one turned out!