Tempus Fugit

... or, in other words, Time Flies. It certainly is doing for me. I looked at the number of posts I've made on my blog so far this year ... 7. We're halfway through the year and I've managed only 7 and I missed the month of April completely. I decided to throw together a quick post just so that I don't miss June as well.

This week, for the first time in a very long while, I actually found a few hours to do some painting. I had a go at this anemone which I found in the Reference Photo section of my forum. I used the layering technique I learned about a while ago but applied my own thinking to the method rather than follow 'instructions' rigidly. I felt much more comfortable doing it this way and I'm not disappointed with the result. I've still got a long way to go with it but I definitely felt I was understanding more.

On another matter, I've finally dragged myself kicking and squealing into the 21st century ... I've bought myself a tablet ... a Samsung Galaxy Note 8. There are many reasons why I preferred it to other tablets, one being it's built-in pressure sensitive digital pen. I've tried a few doodles and doubt I'll ever do any serious drawing with it, but it's great fun and I'm now on the lookout for the best drawing software to go with it. Don't be surprised if you see some digital doodles posted here from time to time. I'm also hoping my new tablet will help me get round your blogs more often as I'll be able to use it at times when I can't normally get to my PC.

Our local Art in the Park exhibition ended last week and I had to go and collection my "Fuchsia 'Winston Churchill'" painting. No, it did't sell, but I'm not disappointed. There was a time when I mistakenly thought that a person couldn't be classed as a proper artist if they didn't sell their work.  Since then I've come to realise that it's not how much we sell that makes us an artist but what is in our heart. We should be called 'heartists'. lol.


I had taken my camera with me to the park, as always, and on the way back from the exhibition I detoured to the lakes. An enjoyable half-hour with my camera resulted in scores of photo's to be scrutinised once back home and I'll close this post by sharing 3 or 4 of them with you.

Thank you for stopping by and I hope to get to YOUR blog very soon.

My First Exhibition

I've never entered any work in an exhibition before. This is partly because I never seem to find out about exhibitions until it's too late but mainly because I've never felt my work good enough to show. Positive feedback through this blog and from visitors to my web site and forum have all helped me reach a stage where I feel I am ready to put some pieces in front of the viewing public. .

Here in Northampton we have an annual "Art in the Park" exhibition. It is hugely popular and artists come from all around. Some time ago I made some enquiries through our local council who run the event, and a very nice lady took my name and address. I hadn't expected to hear any more but, a couple of weeks ago, details of the exhibition and Entry forms landed on my door mat.

Due to budgetry constraints and renovation works at the venue, the size of the exhibition has had to be cut back this year. The organisers are going to try and take one painting from each entrant on a first-come-first-served basis. If there is any room left over after that, they will take a second piece again in order of arrival.

So, after much thought I have decided that "nothing ventured, nothing gained" and so last night I sat and completed the Entry forms. I'm far from certain about what I ought to exhibit but I finally decided to put in my pen drawing of Northampton as my first choice and my watercolour of Pateley Bridge as my reserve second choice. Now all I have to do is get the forms into the right hands before the closing date (Friday) and that is today's mission.

I do lack confidence in my work so I'm quite nervous about taking this step yet at the same time I'm quite excited about it. Can't wait ..... I think!!!