Painting Class for Art Group

I had a lovely drive to the village of Fressingfield on Monday. For about the last 20 minutes of the journey I was surrounded by pretty, rural countryside with chocolate box cottages - and to top it all, the sun was shining brilliantly. The ladies of the art group there enjoyed an oil painting lesson. Learning the many special effects we can make with various brushes, they all returned home with lovely paintings (and all so different too). The venue was right next door to the pretty Fox and Goose Pub. It's rumoured that Johnny Depp was in the area a few years ago, house hunting. It seems that while he was scouting for a home in the area, Johnny went into to popular Fox & Goose Inn. But he didn't have a reservation and all the tables in the 18th century inn were already taken. If it were me, I'd make room - wouldn't you?

The Women's Institute take to oils

We had a really pleasant drive very early Saturday morning to the venue of my class. Apart from the temperature, you'd think it was a summer's day. The venue was a lot easier to find in broad daylight than it was in the dark too. I'd given a talk on oil painting to the WI ladies of Mendham just before Christmas and they'd subsequently booked me to teach an oil painting class to their group. It was easier for me to go to them, than have them come to Capel. The group settled into the class so quickly and easily with their 'no messing' attitude. Some great paintings all round and everyone's really pleased with themselves. We've already selected the next painting project - everyone present wants to come again and there maybe a few extras too. Interestingly, a couple of ladies came well prepared with protective clothing. They managed, between them, to get oil paint on just about every surface imaginable. Which........in my book, makes you a proper artist.

You plonka, Rodney......

What a plonka. I loaded up my motor with my demo gear and various bits and bobs ready to set off to give a talk to the ladies of the Women's Institute. I'm pleased Alan offered to drive as it was a really foggy night. The venue was out in the sticks and the road conditions were sometimes a little hairy. We hit a flood that had my hands covering my eyes. We took 2 wrong turns (thanks to an ill-informed sat nav) but eventually arrived at our destination in one piece. Thing is..................we were 2 weeks early!!! Oh well, it gave the car a good run now it's finally back on the road.

A suprise at the WI

The ladies of the Stowmarket WI had a little suprise at last night's oil painting demonstration - so did Alan and I - and so did a lady called Colleen. As my sister and mother live close to the venue and as neither of them had ever seen me give a 'talk' I asked them along as guests. The WI welcomed them into their group and they were already sat down and settled before Alan and I even arrived. I recognised several familiar faces within the audience and was delighted to re-unite with a workmate, Colleen, from my office days, going back a good 10 years or more. Colleen knows me only as a Credit Manager, totally unaware of my artist alter ego. So, Colleen's suprise was to see the new me enjoying a very, very different career. Our suprise was the fact that it was the Stowmarket WI's 25th Anniversary. Instead of the usual tea and cakes we had champagne and celebration cake (much to the delight of Alan who somehow managed to find himself with 2 glasses of champers.) But I think the best suprise of all was the one I gave the ladies, and hopefully my family too. During the talk I referred to several of my paintings which were on display. I explained how they had come about, the inspiration behind some of them, the simple technique behind others. I was explaining how we would make falling snow and asked the audience if they would like to see a painting with this effect. 'Yes', they enthused......and as I pulled out a painting from behind the table there was a loud 'Ahhhhhhhh'. 'What do you think of this?', I asked. 'Lovely, beautiful....' and several other very positive comments were passed. 'Well', I said, 'This painting isn't mine. This painting is from one of my students. This painting is from someone who defied me to get a decent picture out of her, determined to be my first failure and she's sitting right among you all - my mum!'. I hope the audience reaction confirmed to mum just how far she'd travelled and how well she had done on her art journey.