Last beginners courses

After 6 weeks of hard work my last beginners groups at Clevedon Craft Centre finished their final paintings.  So pleased with the results.  I hope they all take it a bit further and continue to draw and paint 

Onwards and Upwards

Its been a funny old month...... Once I had decided to leave the Craft Centre then it has been all steam ahead to start moving into my new studio and sort out the old one.  Some students have not taken my leaving well,  but I guess that was to be expected and also quite flattering, but the majority have been very supportive and understand that I have to do what I have to do. Many I will keep in touch with and some are even joking that they will record me saying little messages, to play back when they are painting,  the most popular seems to be " Stop fiddling", but other suggestions have been.. 'step away from the painting" and "is that a good idea?"

The room I am using temporarily as a studio is quite small but I am settling in quite well.  its a bit of a mess but you can see Fin has his blanket on the floor, so he can still sit with me when I paint.  His bed will of course eventually come from the Craft centre and  I think he will miss going into the studio more than I will.  

As you can see on my wall I have been painting already.  I did my usual stab at a portrait of Dear Mr Wellydog.  I am not sure I quite captured him ( the usual frustration)  but I, as always had fun painting it.  I have always found it hard to convince some students that my paintings quite often can look rubbish until near the end and go through a "I want to throw this in the bin" stage, so I thought I would document a painting to show them.  This just happened to be the next painting I did, so here are some of the stages, this painting went through.

and this is the final result 

I have also been thinking about the summer,  apart from not wanting to think about the cold and wet of the coming winter,  then I am determined to have an exhibition next summer.  I have  a bit of an idea so decided to explore some possibilities,  in doing so I painted a bucket and spade,  this reminds me so much of summer I think it will have to live on my studio wall to remind me of warmer days to come;

Nice chatting with you,  catch up soon

janice x

Something to think about

..........There's always some reason, to feel not good enough 
And it's hard at the end of the day ,
I need some distraction..... oh beautiful release 
Memories seep from my veins 
Let me be empty, weightless and maybe 
I'll find some peace tonight........


These are lyrics to a song 'Angel' by Sarah McLachlan,  I've heard so many different versions of this over the years but it has been particularly poignant to me in the last couple of years as my life has changed, as my Dad has declined due to dementia.  These particular words sum up my escape into painting and how it has become essential in my life.   My husband is my rock, always has been and always will be.  My children an everlasting source of joy, but its my painting that has become my addiction.  Whilst mulling this over I discovered that the song is in fact about the  Smashing Pumpkins touring keyboard player Jonathan Melvoin, who overdosed on heroin and died in 1996, so maybe thats why it resonated with me and describing my painting as an addiction, is perhaps not to far out there......

My Beginners 1st Acrylic paintings

Apart form one of my students none of these beginners have used acrylics before.  Some took to it lso well and I think will love using the medium,   I think a couple would rather stick to watercolours and pastels.... but didn't they all do an amazing job

The Giveaway is now closed

Thankyou to everyone who entered and


CONGRATULATIONS  to the winner

*******ALISON GOODHEW  *******

Giveaway

Over on Facebook I am running a giveaway as a thankyou to the 400 people who have liked me,

You can't  enter from here but if you pop over and like my Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/Wellydog

you can then  post on the Duck Photo

HERE

 with all the details of the Giveaway for me to know you want to be included.  One lucky winner will be drawn out of the hat on Saturday 16th November and win this lovely painting

Look what my beginners are up to

They all seemed to have funs with watercolour flowers, salt and cling film

and then later getting very messy with Pastels