Ruth Slater - Artist

Final Days of Silly Faces 101

2012-01-11T21:09:00.000Z

One of the last days of the 101 faces by Carla Sonheim, I do like these ink dropper faces. I've been really inspired by different styles and techniques and might look at a change of direction.

Silly Faces

2012-01-09T21:51:00.000Z

I had an interesting time over the festive period with illness and hurricanes but I did manage intermittently an online art class. Carla Sonheim author of the Drawing Lab, ran a Silly Faces class each day last week. The class comprised of a warm up a drawing exercise and a painting exercise. The images on the left are just two of the pieces set. It has given me some good ideas but it was nice to draw for fun for a change.

Icey art

2011-12-19T22:07:00.000Z

On a walk to the beach yesterday I was struck by how each puddle which had frozen overnight was like a minature work of art.
Here are some of the different 'artworks' we passed.

New range of cards

2011-11-30T20:35:00.000Z

I've realised for a while now that I'm neglecting the dog lovers in my range of cards. Not any more! A lovely friend gave me permission to use her gorgeous dog as a model and here is one of the new designs. They will be available in the next couple to days in Brandish Bute in singles and a mixed pack of five different designs. Nearly forgot to give my model the credit due, huge thank you to Sue and her dog C xxx

Exciting New Shop Opening at Wemyss Bay Station!

2011-11-28T17:01:00.000Z

This Thursday the 1st day of December a gorgeous new shop will open its doors at the Wemyss Bay Station. The idea of Bobbie McCabe and friends the shop will stock the most beautiful and original art, craft and ceramics. All the stock is produced by real artists and craftspeople and made here in Scotland. The prices are realistic and affordable meaning you can have it all!

Pop along and see what would make perfect Christmas, Birthday and 'one for me' presents, I can assure you be made very welcome and while you're there have a browse in the Station bookshop you always find a treasure in that shop!

New painting

2011-11-19T22:12:00.001Z

Spent the evening finishing a piece I started months ago. Had the night to myself and just wanted to paint and here is the result!

Our Day Out

2011-11-15T21:11:00.001Z

Today I was lucky to accompany pupils to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. A great day, well behaved pupils, good weather and inspirational art what more could you ask for?

The photo is the view of the main hall from the balcony and a painter I love Alison Watt. Her drapes are sublime and the sensuous curves of the fabric draw you in. This picture was huge and really made an impact.

The Original Ballianlay Christmas Fayre

2011-11-14T22:11:00.000Z

The first Original Ballianlay Christmas Fayre was a roaring success and we had so many lovely comments, just makes you feel all warm inside!
Tara Timms worked miracles in a very small kitchen and ran out of some of her delicious cakes, particularly the ginger cake much to the dismay of later visitors.
The weather was a cold and sunny day which certainly helped and the hall was warm and inviting meaning people stayed to enjoy the atmosphere.
A huge thanks must go the ladies of the Ballianlay Rural as we most certainly traded on their excellent reputation.
Although very hard work the fantastic comments and positive vibe made it all worthwhile.

Ed Hunter Class

2011-11-06T21:08:00.001Z

I was very lucky to be invited by the Saturday Morning Art group to a class run by Ed Hunter. For those of you not aware of this amazing artist the picture to right is one of his.
He started with a demo looking mainly at tone of a seascape looking towards Arran. In half an hour he made us simply gasp with his mastery of light and colour.
After a faultering start I worked on a misty strip of the Straad which completely absorbed me for over three hours. Ed was so helpful and encouraging and it was a real luxury for me to paint in daylight and for so long at one go! It left me wanting to paint for the rest of the day and looking at everything in terms of paint colours. Sadly I returned to the real world and the next painting will have to wait...they're all in my head though. My painting will be posted tomorrow when I've got a decent photo.

Special Red Shoes

2011-11-04T21:36:00.001Z

This is my latest painting, inspired by my daughters shoes. Just a few final details and I'll be happy.

Phone development!

2011-10-30T17:07:00.001Z

I've made a great leap forward and can update this blog via my phone. I know for some this may be a minor development but it is quite a serious advantage for me and may well help keep the blog updated much more frequently, better not promise too much though!
This is the first example of a phone post, a collective noun book plate for a murder of crows.

Facebook

2011-10-28T22:08:00.000+01:00

Well I decided after speaking to my lovely website designer that enough was enough and I would have a Facebook page for my work. There is now a link on my contacts page and there will soon be one on the front page too, so if you're on come and have a look. Don't expect miracles just yet, I'm finding it challenging!

Commissions up to date, yippee!

2011-10-12T19:34:00.000+01:00

I was doing well yesterday I finished several commissions and here is the one I dropped off last!
On an antique saw the brief was to represent the gentleman's cats specifically the black one. I'm safe to show it as I know it was being delivered as soon as I left. I'm afraid I can't show the one I posted as the person might see it here before the big day.

The heavy mob

2011-10-02T20:19:00.000+01:00

This is a huge sculpture I'm working on which may take months yet to even start to look 'right'. It has been drying for over a year and I'm stripping it of its bark and excess mud to reveal its beauty. A few months ago when I posted I was gently working round it, today the gloves came off and the heavy mob moved in! We moved it with the tele-handler and pressure washed the remaining mud out. I looked like I'd done ten rounds with it by the time I'd finished.

A Successful Weekend

2011-09-30T19:54:00.000+01:00

Well panic over the weekend was a great success we had two hundred people through the door and some fantastic comments and feedback. Tara served up delicious cakes which looked like works of art themselves and we even got some sunshine. The image to the right shows my new driftwood pieces framed up with some card packs. Despite what any of us said a week before the event by the end of Sunday we had of course said we would do it all again next year!

New Chicks on the block

2011-09-30T19:51:00.001+01:00

These are just a few of the new chickens and ducklings from this season's hatchings. They will of course in time become my next models but for now they are scuttling round the garden/nursery with their very protective mothers. The duckling's mother is very confused as she is a bantam hen and can't stop her offspring diving in any puddle or guddling around in the wet vegetable garden.

Softly, softly

2011-09-18T21:47:00.000+01:00

Following on from the previous post this a slightly different view on canvas that we admired whilst sheltering from the rain. The soft landscape and curly haired sheep made it a very romantic country scene.

Caught in the rain

2011-09-18T21:36:00.000+01:00

Whilst at the beach yesterday collecting stones and shells we were caught in the rain, very heavy and cold rain. Despite seeing it coming we failed to outrun it and sheltered alongside a cottage at the Straad. While we were standing there this was the view (to the left) it was lovely and misty with sheep standing calmly watching us, watching them. I couldn't resist painting it on a long piece of driftwood I had, waiting for just such a scene.

Delirious Driftwood

2011-09-18T21:26:00.000+01:00

Well only four days to go till the set up at the Colintraive village Hall for Cowal Open Studios and the pace was fast and furious today.
I managed several small driftwood pieces, the Wren shown on the left and the hedgehog below. It hard not to do all my work in this way at the moment but I did get a few canvasses done too.

New driftwood painting

2011-09-14T21:19:00.000+01:00

Limited posts this last few weeks due to illness and frantic painting for Cowal Open Studios which is now only a week away! This latest piece is a door mouse curled up asleep in its nest. I've got five box frames arriving hopefully this week for which this is the first entry. I finished another triptych tonight of elephants in wire work style with a hint of silver. Check out the other artists involved in the open studios by visiting www.cowalopenstudios.co.uk

Tea bags and wax?

2011-09-08T22:25:00.000+01:00

This may look a bit odd but it was a technique from Jennifer Collier's workshop using tea bags. Emptying the tea bag of it's contents you then fill the tiny bag with interesting, flattish items. Painting wax over the entire thing means the contents become see visible and have an interesting finish. I have just made two Good Luck cards for pupils off to uni using the method. I feel it might be my new obsession and I'll try some bigger pieces when my batik wax pot arrives in the next couple of days!

Art Course

2011-09-07T21:34:00.000+01:00

I was very fortunate to be able to take part in an art course run by Specialist Crafts one of our department's (school) suppliers. Although it was a long trek via Livingston for an overnight stay the actual workshops were great. Jennifer Collier and Simon Packard were the artists and I have to say it felt like a day at art school again. Alongside is a book we made of samples with Jennifer. Trapping items between a variety of materials, teabags, tissue paper, materials and plastic. Below is sample of one of the pages. I can't wait to do some more and I'm ordering a wax pot tomorrow! I'll post Simon's workshop results in my next post...

Station Craft Fayre

2011-09-07T21:22:00.001+01:00

This is my stall at the Craft Fayre last Saturday. I had some excellent responses to my work and made some good contacts. The weather held up for us but unfortunately the station doesn't allow any signs so no one knew we were there unless they stumbled across us.
The local community were very supportive and the ladies from the book shop were lovely. A long day but worthwhile.

No posts?

2011-09-01T21:04:00.000+01:00

In case anyone is wondering why I've not lived up to my promise to post everyday, I've been preparing for the Weymss Bay Craft fayre this saturday and it has been particularly hectic. I can't even say that I'll get a break after the weekend as I only have three weeks to the biggy Cowal Open Studios aaarrggghhhh!

Gumbo in the forest

2011-08-27T18:02:00.000+01:00

We were walking through the woods today and look what we found! A giant toadstood and Gumbo out for a jaunt. I think with all the photos I took I might make a story board out of Gumbo's adventures...

Painting and recycling

2011-08-27T12:39:00.001+01:00

This is a piece of work which demonstrates why you should know when to stop. I had taken a lovely heavy envelope with beautiful handwriting on the front and drawn the poppies on top of the address, when Daisy and I were painting together. Whilst my two ladies were painting in the afternoon I picked out detail with sepia ink. Then in the evening I decided that I'd spray some textile fabric spray on to 'enhance' and that was game over! I lost the subtleties and the delicate drawing is now a bit of a mess.

This is Liz's painting of the poppies which is coming on really well, she has been away for a few weeks so this was straight in a the deep end. She embellished her canvas with cyan coloured foil to draw the eye to certain parts while she laid the background colour.

Poppies

2011-08-25T21:32:00.000+01:00

Poppies is the continuing theme of the class tomorrow. Last week Norrie and I were inspired by a beautiful wrapping paper with loosely painted poppies and tried to recreate it as a warm up exercise. We also worked into our acrylic paintings, mine long and very narrow and Norrie's square. I'm hoping the torrential rain didn't wipe out too many of the blooms although they do seem to be quite resilient.

Peas and Precipitation

2011-08-24T21:24:00.000+01:00

All this fresh pea eating has really affected my work. I couldn't believe my luck when I found two peas in one of the pods my Daughter and I were eating. I did have to discreetly move the tiny pod out of her reach as it would have rapidly been demolished before I got to draw it. I'm preparing new work for the Weymss Bay Craft fayre which will be held on the 3rd/4th September at the station. I'll be there on the Saturday with Amy Beverley's glass jewellery.

Whilst I was painting it looked like the Apocalypse was about to happen outside. Here is a panoramic photograph of the impending storm. It was quite spectacular with dramatic forked lightening illuminating the indigo sky before the torrential rain bucketed down.

Photography Fandango

2011-08-22T21:12:00.000+01:00

This was me practising for my photography class with my seconds years. In case you wondering why they are both at odd angles this was from Photo Silly by Steve Sonheim. You take twenty photos all at different heights, angles, and level of zoom. You then select the best in terms of composition light etc.

It's funny how the two images I selected are both from a low vantage point.

Anyway after the class was over you would wonder whether I had prepared at all! I managed to forget to check the batteries in the school's cameras, stupidly thinking they would bring their own. I mean why wouldn't they when I hadn't seen them before today. One delightful individual announced as he walked through the door that he didn't want to do this elective and he had been 'made to' and wanted to take the graffiti option, so nice to have willing pupils, eh?

As it turns out they managed some great shots and there is always next week...

Nature Framed

2011-08-21T19:58:00.000+01:00

If you read yesterday's post you'll know that I was working on this old sash window as a frame in the garden for my Acer tree. I am so pleased with the results and planted a couple of Japanese Anemones to accompany it. As we can see this from out kitchen window I'm hoping it prove to a relaxing feature all year round. It should draw the eye to a miniature painting in comparison to the large landscape we have the privilege to witness changing everyday. The view below was tonight's delight!

Framing Nature

2011-08-20T22:25:00.000+01:00

As you may know from previous posts I'm into recycling in my garden and my latest project is an old sash window as a frame for a lovely Acer I picked up in Largs.

Having a joiner for a husband does mean that his rubbish is my treasure and I'm hoping that this one will be just that. I roughly sanded the frame today while someone was having a long nap and primed it with quick drying grey primer. I then sprayed it with a crackle paint for a distressed look. As I finished this as light was fading I'll only be able to see the effects tomorrow morning?!

My idea is that when finished it should act as a garden frame on the wall to contrast with the stunning Autumn colours of the tree

Cupcake cards and gold foil

2011-08-19T12:18:00.000+01:00

Last night I got to the point where nothing I did went right so I changed tack and made tiny cup cake cards from recycled birthday cards. I gave up at fourteen when I was falling asleep on the job after 10pm!

This morning when I was looking for my butterfly cutter I came across some pressed hydrangea flowers and combined with a smoothed chocolate foil made an attractive tiny card. I think though they have a jewel like quality about them and might make them into miniature artworks for Cowal Open Studios.

Recycling Papers Part 2

2011-08-17T21:53:00.000+01:00

Part of my recycling paper craft last night and this morning was turning junk mail into envelopes to reuse. These were made from an eco company funnily enough and their beautiful colours make lovely bright envelopes. I even used their own order sheet for the addresses on the front.

Recycled paper delights

2011-08-17T08:34:00.000+01:00

I got so carried away with last night's artist endeavour that I forgot to post! This as previously mentioned this was the addition to the carrot and turned into a card, no folklore about these sadly...

So after looking for something else yesterday during my lunch break I found this pattern for a stunning origami flower. I adapted this to use with junk mail with (I think) stunning results.

I'll post the link with an acknowledgement to the source this evening when I get home.

Carrots and pea folklore

2011-08-15T20:19:00.000+01:00

Continuing my vegetable theme, tonight's delight was fresh carrot and after I finished that quite quickly I remembered that there was a courgette with a flower attached in the vegetable garden.
When I was making up the cards of the pea illustration I managed to find pea folklore (who would have guessed?!)

Apparently discovering one pea in a pea pod isn't annoying but will bring you good fortune and if you get nine you should throw one over your shoulder and eat the rest!!

Now I know where I've been going wrong.

Now I just have to find some for carrots and courgettes, the one for tomatoes is great, bet you can't wait!

Peas

2011-08-14T21:33:00.000+01:00

As we had been eating a copious amount of peas today I was particularly inspired to do a 'proper' illustration. I rendered this in gouache as it gave me more control and I was able to work in layers. The sunlight was really bright when I started which made the greens sing.

My star pupil!

2011-08-13T13:18:00.000+01:00

This is my youngest pupil, keen, attentive and very determined! I'm sure she'll go far.

Poppies and keys

2011-08-11T20:23:00.000+01:00

I got my landscape back yesterday from the shop. As this started its life as a tester for an acrylics class I'm quite impressed with the results. This piece will go into the Cowal Open Studios exhibition, one step further.

Finally finished the driftwood heart and added a final touch! I still can't decide whether to sell this or keep it...

The class subject this morning was poppies, the weather was storm force so there was no chance of drawing outside or even through the window. I picked two long narrow canvasses and started with some big, flouncy petals. Hopefully they'll work as a pair again for the exhibition.

Always at the coo's tail!

2011-08-10T18:37:00.000+01:00

Here is the 'coo' wire drawing from the image taken in the field the other evening. Due to the amount of rain today I'd be lucky if I could see any cows let alone photograph them. I turned this into a new card called At the Coo's tail.

New Wire work

2011-08-08T20:27:00.000+01:00

This is a new piece I worked on last night to unwind in front of the telly. I find it quite relaxing and if I get too engrossed in what I'm watching I can't really go wrong!
I'll turn it into a card and get it into Brandish Bute by the weekend.
Stumped for a title so if you've any ideas please comment below.

A close up to show that it really is just scribbles...

On the beach

2011-08-08T20:14:00.000+01:00

I wouldn't normally post personal photos but after taking this on the beach this afternoon I couldn't resist. My daughter had a great time even though she had to wear her waterproofs in August as it was quite cool and windy. We were collecting shells for her entry to this year's Cattle Show art competition, that is tomorrow's art activity!

To the right is as it looks the back end of a cow for a new card, 'Always at the coo's tail!' I'm going to work on that this evening along with a new wire work donkey illustration. I'll post the results tomorrow.

Driftwood Heart

2011-08-06T12:52:00.000+01:00

This driftwood heart is nearly finished and has been like a jigsaw puzzle to work on. The photograph below shows a twisted piece of root complete with moss that was perfect for the point of the heart. It represents many peaceful occasions on the beach collecting washed up driftwood with my family. I'm swithering at the moment as to whether to keep it for our house where it would fit in perfectly or put it into Brandish Bute.
I've also incorporated mussel shells and beach glass for flashes of colour in amongst the wood.

2011-08-06T12:34:00.000+01:00

This is a special present for someone (who I won't name) although I'm sure they don't know about this blog I would hate for them to see it before their special day. Painted on a piece of driftwood this tiny Wren found its perfect home when I was bargain hunting in Largs on Moday. I found a lovely little box frame and although it had some text on the glass it worked with the image and will hopefully be treasured for years to come.

This image (right) is by one of the ladies, Elizabeth Wren who I mentioned in a previous post from one of the classes. This is an oil painting of St. Ninian's Bay on a canvas about 10 x 8 and her first oil painting for about thirty years as she normally works in watercolour. Not bad I'm sure you'll agree. The classes have been a great success and pursuaded me to do a few more on a small group basis.

This painting (left) is by the other lady, Norrie Towers and is in acrylic and on a square board about 20 x 20cm. This was rendered from a a sketch drawn out of the window and completed in three, two hour sessions. Only the third painting the artist has ever done in acrylic and I think the medium suits her down to the ground!

Feathered Friends

2011-08-03T20:10:00.000+01:00

A beautiful scene here tonight with the four chicks being fed by their parents. At the speed they come in to feed it's really difficult to catch them with the camera. I'm thinking of entering another for the Country File competition.

Dry stone walls and lavender

2011-08-01T21:46:00.000+01:00

After a lovely indulgent day shopping on the mainland I worked out the next stage of my garden plan. I was lucky to pick up some bargains and some beautiful things I hadn't planned for.

One in particular an Acer tree with a sensuous curve to its stem and very bonsai looking. I plan to plant it an old trough against the wall and use an upcycled window frame minus the glass to frame it. I think as the dry stone wall is quite dark I'll paint the wall a subtle green shade within the frame to set off the purple/orange/red leaves and make it a living picture. I'll post a picture when I've managed it!

To the right is a genius find for my white scabiosa and above my first attempt a a circular dry stone dyke. For the experts amongst you the gaps are deliberate for some alpines and other treasures (honest!).

Stumpery

2011-07-30T22:13:00.000+01:00

Well deciding I'd like to complete my garden with a stumpery was the easy part, convincing my husband and father-in-law (who are required to help with it) is somewhat more difficult.
Whenever I bring the subject up I am met with sighing and shaking of heads. My father-in-law who gets rid of tree stumps for a living can't believe anyone would want to fill their garden with them and my husband is convinced they will harbour every undesirable creature under the sun.

I will persevere and despite being unsuccessful with the tree from the putting green at the moment, now I've planted the seed they might consider me when the time comes.

New Card Designs

2011-07-29T18:23:00.000+01:00

Well a quiet day on the creative front but I did get my card order organised for Brandish Bute and here are some of the new designs going into the shop tomorrow.

Sculpture update

2011-07-28T20:34:00.000+01:00

The piece of elm wood I'm using for a huge sculpture is ready for it's undressing. Now I think it's dry enough I can strip off all the bark and excess soil and discover the real shape of the wood. It's like unwrapping a lovely present that you get to shape and cr4eative something beautiful out of.
You can see by the telehandler moving into the place I'll be working on it just how big it is.
Tree was taken out as it had died and was becoming unsafe. This part was where the tree had grown up an embankment and the roots were exposed before the tree split into three huge trunks. The other parts of the trunks are drying at the saw mill in case this is too decayed to work with.

The limb shown is one I revealed this evening and the linear pattern is amazing, I do hope the rest is the same.

Inspiration from teaching

2011-07-27T13:36:00.000+01:00

I've just spend the last two hours tutoring two lovely ladies from Kilchatten Bay in techniques in Acrylics and Alkyd Oils. I find that in a small group you are able to see how people work and it can be very inspiring for your own practice.

We had to decide whether to choose the climatic conditions that they started their painting with, a bit overcast and dull or go with the bright, summery vision that greeted us this morning. They went with one each and both the results so far are looking superb. I'll keep you in suspense till next week when they will have finished them and post up the final paintings.

It's made me realize that I need to slow down and paint without the desperate need to finish as soon as possible. This was my start yesterday with a crow in front and below is today's efforts. See how it progresses tomorrow...

A Murder of Crows

2011-07-26T15:40:00.000+01:00

It's Crow city here in the studio. For such a bright sunny day I seem to be obsessed with painting and drawing dark, mysterious crow pictures. I love the shimmer sprays I bought at the SECC a few months ago, and although I'm sure they were meant for textile pieces they look great when worked into.
There seem to be loads of crows in the field at the moment so I have no shortage of models. These pieces will be part of my Cowal Open studio work at the end of September. See www.cowalopenstudios.com for more details.

Shells and more shells

2011-07-25T20:54:00.000+01:00

Feeling a bit uninspired I decided to head our after some art deliveries to a beach to collect more mussel shells. Here is the result so far of my slate and shell construction (left). I also had a restless night thinking of how to construct a stumpery. It now seems the perfect way to complete that end of the garden and will make use of the reduced sunlight in that area.
I am coveting an amazing tree in the centre of town which I know will have to come down soon. It would be the most amazing centre piece to the whole construction, watch this space..

Lazy, sunny Sunday

2011-07-24T11:48:00.000+01:00

A beautiful sunny day perfect for almost anything which is rare here in the West Coast of Scotland. When my little one wakes up from her nap I think we'll be heading to the beach, a perfect opportunity for her to pick up wet sand and throw it into the water (her current obession) and me to pick up mussel shells for my current garden project.

Based around circular designs this part forms the central part where all paths lead and contains black bamboo, ornamental grasses and soon thousands of discarded mussels shells to create a burst of colour (in my head!) My husband now just nods and sighs when I tell him what my current recycling endeavour is. Above is the first circular part made up of an old mill wheel, beach pebbles and sea glass and delicate alpines.

Embracing multimedia properly!

2011-07-22T13:05:00.000+01:00

Well the summer holidays are almost half way through for those of us in Scotland and after a break away I've decided to seriously tackle this blogging thing.
After advice on The Artists' Newsletter I'm going to try a short post each day on my latest creative endeavour! It may not always be artwork but garden landscaping, textiles or simple sketchbook ideas, I have to give myself the best chance possible eh?

This photo was taken yesterday on my beach combing walk. The rocks have inspired me to work on a textile piece

News for 2011

2010-12-28T20:45:00.000Z

Following a successful year I've decided to update all my news on this blog hopefully on at least a weekly basis. In 2011 I should have my art classes up and running by Easter and be selling work on the Artquid site.
A new range of cats are now available in Brandish Bute including the one below.

Living in a washing machine!

2010-11-11T14:55:00.000Z

Today must be the worst weather we have had of the winter so far, no photography today.
Having collected and dropped off work at the framers, there will be some new work in Brandish this weekend. The triptych below will be for sale featuring my favourite subject of the moment the hare!

This one of the designs above for Wire Work Christmas cards part of a set of five. They will be available in Brandish Bute from tomorrow and on my website at the usual price.

I'm working on some commissions right now so keep an eye out on my gallery page for the latest work.

A Quiet Day...

2010-10-18T22:31:00.000+01:00

Well a quiet day at Brandish on Saturday...spoke to some lovely people who were all very complimentary about my work and sold a few things which was nice. The champagne remained on ice that had been prepared for the celebration of selling the large canvas in the window, well they say it's quite fattening anyway (It didn't convince me either!).
The cat is one of the pieces I worked on in the shop for a new get well card, available from Thursday 21st Oct.

Good Luck for Hanne this coming Saturday with her hats!

Brandish Bute

2010-10-12T20:50:00.000+01:00

Today I set up my work in Brandish Bute as I' the featured producer this week. On Saturday I'll be demonstrating during the hours of 12 and 4pm. Pop in for a chat or to see how I prepare and image to turn it into a card.

Bull's Eye

2010-10-06T20:39:00.000+01:00

Having started this painting at the COS exhibition and got almost to the finishing point I lost my nerve and have left it for over a week. After doing some interesting b&w photography for a new project I felt inspired enough to work on 'Andy' again.

One last bit to go but as it's gone dark I can't drag myself off to the studio tonight so I'll finish it when Petal has her nap tomorrow!

Ettrick Smiddy finished!

2010-10-02T22:05:00.000+01:00

Well it worked in the end!

The show was a great success and I had a few lovely painting days.

A huge congratulations must go to the Cupcake Queen for her sterling effort and very delicious cakes.

For people who missed this show, I'll be showing my work in Brandish Bute from the 12th October for just over a week.

The bit I'm happy with

2010-09-17T13:36:00.000+01:00

On a metre square painting this section approximately 30cm by 40cm is currently the only bit I'm happy with... with a week to go till the exhibition a sense of panic is really setting in!

On the up side it is the last one and I have persuaded by fantastic sister-in-law to look after Petal this afternoon to give it one last go.

Not long to go!

2010-09-13T21:57:00.001+01:00

This will be one of the collections of work shown in the exhibition in two weeks.

Ray Beverley and I are now a mixture of excited and terrified!

His daughter Amy will be showing her stunning glass jewellery and Tara will be making delicious cup cakes and irish scones, yummy...

If you'd like to see what its all about join us at Colintraive Hall on Friday/Saturday/Sunday 24th-26th September from 10.30am-4.30pm.

We love to see you!

What am I thinking?

2010-09-11T04:17:00.000+01:00

So I've got an exhibition in two weeks, a very mobile thirteen month old Petal, my job as a teacher and a very understanding husband and I decide in my wisdom to start writing a blog!
I'm going to learn as I go and hopefully not make too many blog faux pax's on the way, I'm sure I'll be kept right...

Hestia's Larder: Hestia and .....mental deterioration

2010-09-10T21:28:00.000+01:00

Oooh! I can smell the fake tan already, nothing like a bit of spankly motivation for loosing weight!

Hestia's Larder: Hestia and .....mental deterioration: "Will she be this year's John Sargent? Scene 1: The ferry, heading for mainland and the glory of The Glasgow Boys exhibition in Kelvingrov..."

It's all Hestia's fault!

2010-09-10T21:03:00.000+01:00

Well after a motivational coffee and cake meeting with the goddess herself I hurried on down to a local retailer to check out Waldo Pancake goodies...coming out nearly £30 lighter!
Lovely things and that despite telling myself that they will be presents for others we all know I will covet them away for that special day...