sea blue sky abstracts

Oh my goodness, have just watched the most amazing programme on BBC2 - 'South Pacific' - the first in a series to air on Sunday evenings from 8.30-9.30pm. I really want to go there (Hawaii preferrably). Sadly I don't like fish, well, I think they're beautiful, but don't like eating them. I do like unusual plants and they're found in abundance in the many archipelagos scattered across the region. Terrific photography, especially the underwater filming of monster waves off (sounded like) Pompeii Island, also the usual life and gory death in the animal kingdom - could have done without the carnivorous caterpillars and had to shut my eyes to the graphically recorded, predictably short lives of adorable Albatross chicks. Can't wait for next week's episode! I always like to add an image and today's shows bluebells and cow parsley growing at a nearby park.

Everything's looking gorgeous here, as it's such a lovely day. Shouldn't be blogging really - but I have got the door to the back garden open! Anyway, being desperate for some new togs meant that I had to go shopping this morning and on the way, with the countryside and colours looking beautiful - bluebells, cow parsley, red (why red when they are actually PINK) campions in the hedges and the lime green, warm gold and soft rusty reds of new leaves on the trees, was kicking myself for not having a camera to hand. What did create a sense of achievement though was getting what I needed, bought and paid for, in less than two hours. The top photo shows the view from my bedroom window (excuse the washing on the line) and the 'top rugby field' where I spotted a fox this morning, lying quite contentedly in the long grass for a while in the sun. That's all for now, time for a cup of tea, reading just a few more posts and then a walk with the dog.

Oops, I accidentally published this post with just a picture and nothing else - sorry if this caused confusion. Anyway, I have a few invitations to the Bristol Affordable Art Fair Private View available (should there be someone out there who'd like to attend) on Thursday 14 May 2009 from 6-9pm. Each invitation admits 2 people. Please let me know asap so that I can get them in the post. Alternatively the invitation can be used instead to gain free admission to the Fair between Friday 15-Sunday 17 May. I also have quite a few invitations which allow half price entry for up to two people from the Friday - Sunday. If you do go, please call on Gary & Sue at the Seascape Gallery stand (A9). They were in St Ives yesterday collecting work for the show and are hoping it's going to be as busy and successful as last year's event. Artists represented: Simeon Stafford, Irene McCann, Sheila Meeks, Lesley Ninnes, Siddy Langley, Jenny Wheatley, Julia Brooks, Jonathan Middlem

Yesterday was spent printing cards ready to take down to Art Space today, a job that always takes ages because the printer is not that fast and then labels have to be added, envelopes, wraps and finally price labels. I also managed to work on the two canvases for our 'Black & White' themed window exhibition, which opens on 18 May 2009. They are so much fun - blogging has influenced the evolution of these canvases, especially the decorative nature of various blog backgrounds and the methodology of so many talented, diverse makers - resulting in a mix of collage, charcoal, screen printing and paint work. There's still some way to go and I'm hoping that they turn out OK!

'Colour Fission' sold today. The photo shows the diptych before framing, otherwise reflection can be a problem. The painting - rendered in watercolour, gouache and acrylic on 300lb Arches rough w/c paper - is held in a white double window mount within a glazed white wooden frame and its new home will be in London!

I've had fun making these small paintings on primed mdf - unfortunately the colour and contrast are wildly inaccurate and probably an improvement! The largest is 11 x 8.5 inches and the smallest 7.5 x 6 inches. Starting from the bottom is 'Godrevy Breakers' - Godrevy is the name of the point and lighthouse pictured - the one above is 'Snow Peak', painting no 3 is untitled, next is 'Sunlit Sky', then 'Tropical Blue', another untitled and at the top 'St Ives Bay Rough Sea'. Some of the underpainted texture was created by slathering paint onto a square of anaglypta wall paper - a technique gleaned from Carol Parsons watercolour workshop held at Newlyn Gallery in March - and then pressing onto the board. I also used it on the surface of 'Snow Peak' and the untitled painting 2nd from the top, as well as 'printing' the pattern on the cut out paper shape which was then glued to the artwork.

Although not painting right now because I'm blogging (reading, commenting and posting actually, that's a bit decadent in the middle of the afternoon, don't you think?) I have been and am continuing to work on a painting which, with 3 others 'Aurora', 'Undercurrent 2008' and 'Colours of West Penwith' - see wall picture below - will be going to London at the beginning of May. David Upton, who has links with St Ives and whose parents and grandparents live in the area, has asked Art Space Gallery to provide artwork for his new seafood restaurant 'Coast' in Camden, North London, which opens on 7 May 2009, with a grand launch planned for 19 May. Loosely based on the theme 'Coast', paintings by Art Space artists will hang on the walls of both levels and the stairwell of the restaurant. So if you're in the area after 7 May, why not pop in and have a look. Have got to go now, to cut the grass - it's a jungle out there!

This is how my 'wall' looks at Art Space Gallery right now, but it will be all change on Monday 20 April 2009, when we all move on to the next space. Pictured (from left to right) 'Undercurrent 2008', 'Aurora' and 'Sunrise' at the top 'Colours of West Penwith' below.

Thanks to Pipany's Poltisko Memoirs I was inspired to make Hot Cross Buns. Her post brought back memories of making them when my children were younger and they're so much tastier than anything from Tesco's or the Co-op. It's hard to make out the crosses because the mixture was a bit wetter than it should have been, so the buns 'rose outwards' when in the oven! They still taste nice though, if a little doughy. The other photos were taken this morning around 8 am and also show the blackthorn just starting to come into flower and the colours were beautiful.

These pictures were taken a couple of days ago and the weather was glorious, though fresh. The beach is Porthmeor and conditions were good for surfing that day, especially when the tide was lower. Tate St Ives can be seen in the centre of the top photo. Don't be fooled by the canine's grey hair - she's a middle aged teenager, like me!

One of the 10 inch square canvases painted for 'Boats - 7 Perspectives' sold today. The buyer was delighted (and so was I!!).

The Chelsea Art Fair takes place this month (23-26 April 2009) in the ornate and beautiful Chelsea Old Town Hall, where 35-40 galleries will present the work of approximately 500 artists. Three of my paintings - including 'Tree Tops' pictured above - will be among those displayed on the Alpha Art Gallery stand. Check http://www.alpha-art.co.uk/ to view the others, just click the 'all artists' drop down menu on the left side of the Alpha home page.

Today - my new blog is up and running, with images and text added. No painting as, to supplement earnings from selling pictures, I also work elsewhere. Mondays at St Ives Ceramics selling studio pottery, see http://www.st-ives-ceramics.co.uk/ including the works of pioneers Bernard Leach, Shoji Hamada, Lucie Rie and Hans Coper to contemporary potters working in Cornwall, all over the British Isles and overseas, from Spain to Australia and Japan. Being a member of Art Space cooperative also includes a commitment to work 1 day a week in the gallery, on an 8 day rotation. Lastly, I work one day (on average) but more at the height of the season if needed, as a gallery assistant at Tate St Ives! Plans for the future include tackling two commissions: one for a school friend who has spent all her working life in Wales. Beverley wants a view of the harbour in St Ives in summer = warmth. The second for a couple from Bristol who want to mark their wedding - in St Ives in September. This commiss

All of the paintings below have been packed off to the framers, ready for Bristol Affordable Art Fair - 12-15 May 2009 - where they will be exhibited on the Seascape Gallery stand. http://www.seascapegallery.co.uk/

When framed this diptych will be held in a double mount and the 'black' line will be replaced by a slightly wider bar of white mountboard.

'Spring 2009'. Watercolour and gouache on Arches 300lb rough paper. When framed this diptych will be held in a double white mount, which will cover the 'black' line visible.

'First Snow 2009'. Watercolour, gouache and acrylic on canvas. SOLD

'A Soft and Lovely Night'. Watercolour, gouache and acrylic on canvas. SOLD