Popular Pop'in

During yesterday's pop art class, students painted a mixture of subjects - both celebrity and family members. It was a first time for all students and all of them were just a little doubtful as to how well they would do. That's when you just HAVE to trust your teacher....... Relax, put yourself in my hands, leave the worrying to me. It's what you are paying me for. Pop art is such a cool way to make a unique and personalised gift for someone special. Many of those who have learned it have received requests to paint more....and more.....and more. So, bearing this in mind and being well aware of the 'C' word that will be upon us in a few months, I am adding more Pop Art Classes to my class timetable. Your Pop Art session can be spent in several ways. You can start the work on a particularly complex and large portrait, or you can complete a 'normal' one. If you can't finish a Pop Art in the one session it is very, very easy to continure working at home - and several students have done this with 100% success. On the other hand, I have some students who use their class to prep several canvases with the sole purpose of working on many of them at home - enough to keep them ticking over for a few weeks. It's a great way of taking full advantage of my equipment. I only take on a few students at a time in a Pop Art class, which means it's a very intimate and friendly session - probably the next best thing to a private lesson. If you'd like to give it a go - click here to see the details of my next session. And if you can't wait - there's always private.

Old friends

A couple of weeks ago I had a visit from students who are more like long lost friends than customers. They first started painting with me a few years ago, travelling all the way from York. It was great to catch up with all the news and chat, and of course, it's the first time they've seen me since I lost all the weight too, so they had a very new-style Sue teaching them today. They left with a goodie bag of Victoria Sponge, Cheese Scones and Cinnamon Fruit Loaf, (well it stops me being tempted). I'll be seeing them again in class tomorrow where they will be swapping from the acrylics and Pop Art to more wet on wet traditional oil painting. After this re-union I caught up with another student who I haven't seen since 2007. It was great to catch up on news, but most importantly, we'll went over the ins and outs of becoming an Alexander Instructor. Fingers crossed we'll have another member from Europe enrolling on the course.

Pop Art Portrait - Kings Of Leon

I forgot to take a photo of one of the Pop Art paintings I made for my eldest daughter's Christmas present. I managed to rectify this today by popping over to her house and seeing the painting hung in situ. With a spotlight by the side of it, hung on a plain wall, it really looks fab. Apparently everyone who has seen it has passed a favourable comment on it and one friend wants to book a Pop Art class with me so she can paint it for herself. For those of you who are wondering who this fab four are - it's the King's Of Leon. A few months ago my daughter was singing the band's praises to me. I told her I didn't know what all the fuss was about as I could take them or leave them (preferably leave them). Her reply was 'Mum, not liking the Kings of Leon is the ONLY un-cool thing about you. Well, things have changed since then and their latest CD is permanently in my car, with another copy of the same CD in the dining room (thanks to a generous Santa). They are now my baking background music and it's one of my most played CD's. Hopefully, that now makes me a cool mum........ I've put a larger version of this painting in my gallery HERE so you can view a more detailed image. It is gallery wrapped (which means it's painted right around the canvas edges) and measures 20 x 8 inches. This 4 person Pop Art portrait is for sale for £85 (includes postage and packing to UK mainland), should anyone want one.......or, for a £65 private class fee you could paint your own - or any other celebrity you care to name.

Art Popping

During the week I've been working on some more Pop Art Portraits. I've had several celebrities in half finished states dotted around the house. Today I managed to complete a few of them. I'm always open to suggestions as to who you'd like to see portrayed in Pop Art. So if you have any ideas, do drop me a line on info@ayoubart.co.uk, I'd love to hear from you.

Here's one of my finished pieces - entitled 'Golden Years'

Lap work

Today I really wanted to have another day in my studio but unfortunately the very wet weather and a severe power cut put paid to that idea. But all was not lost...............I have several Pop Art projects on the go at the moment. With half finished celebrity faces laying all around the house, they are a great thing to pick up and work on in fits and starts. As these portraits are made using acrylics, I can work on my lap. So, although I wanted to work on a rather special oil painting project, instead I've completed 2 Pop Arts. Hopefully, fingers crossed, I'll be able to work in oils tomorrow, while the creative mood is still with me.

Incidentally..........................I am able to teach these Pop Art Portraits to beginners. If you're interested in painting your own idol's portrait this way please contact me on 01473 311938 for details. Alternatively you can view other student's work on my website HERE

Pop Art

As well as teaching the wet on wet oil painting technique, I also teach pop art. Pop Art is made in acrylics and is only available as a private class. I can take up to two students maximum for this to allow for 100% personnal guidance. The Pop Art classes also run for approx 5 hours and the subject can be either taken from a family photo or a celebrity. If you wish to paint a family member, I will need the photo sent to me by either e-mail or post a week in advance to make sure it is suitable for Pop Art. If you wish to paint a celebrity I will need to know the name also a week in advance. This allows me to play around with images for the best possible representation. Tomorrow's private student wishes to paint Robbie Williams so today, in an exercise to experiment with colour mixing, I have painted my own Pop Art version as a guide. He's hanging on my lounge wall to dry and his eyes follow you everywhere! If you'd like to book a Pop Art Workshop, drop me a line on info@ayoubart.co.uk or call me on 01473 311938

Pop Art - Can you guess who it is yet?

Another painting subject was introduced in December.........POP ART. 2 students booked a private class so they could make their own portraits of their idols. The painting subjects were selected a week before the class as I have to be 110% sure that we can produce a good Pop Art image. The ladies had a ball making these images but were dubious that their finished results would remotely resemble the superstars. At the half way mark I simply took their canvases away from them, moved back several yards, held them up and waited for their gasps of delight, which duly followed. It is VERY hard to visualise your Pop Art when you are working at such close quarters - but put a few feet between 'you' and 'it' and all becomes clear. Can you guess who these stars, shown above, are?

Here's one of my own Pop Art commissions, sold just before Christmas