Where's It All Going To Go?

Entering the final few hours of my exhibition and it has been eerily quiet today. There was a brief technological break down that meant my iPod dock, printer and computer all had a funny turn at the same time.

In reflection, having this exhibition has been a fantastic experience. I am more than a little concerned about where it is all going to live now. As I have never had so much of my work framed before. Good job I sold quite a bit otherwise I would be covering my entire house with my own work.

What has this exhibition taught me?

• That people can access my work on many levels.
• Pretty art sells.
• Science and Nature are irrevocably linked with art.
• People definitely prefer the original.
• No matter how interesting the windows are, people will still stay outside looking in.
• People can fall in love with a piece of art and feel moved enough to tell you about it.
• Dead things are beautiful (sometimes)
• There are the 'Get Its' and the 'Not Get Its' and both are equally valid but one is definitely more annoying than the other.
• Not looking at my work and proclaiming it to be fantastic does not make me feel good.
• People in general are generous of spirit.
• It is hugely inspirational and humbling to sell works that you have made.
• Lastly, keep your framer sweet because the combination of their work and yours is when the magic happens. (Thanks Chris @ Sansom)

That's all really got to get ready and take it down now. Wish me luck don't forget that the Drawing Open starts on Saturday.

Last Day Is Looming!

iPad Painting

If you haven't been watching 'What do artists do all day?' can I suggest that you check it out on iPlayer. They are really interesting, the one this week was about Polly Morgan, she is an artist that uses taxidermy it isn't for the faint hearted. But it is very interesting and her work is compelling.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/search?q=What%20Do%20Artists%20Do%20All%20Day%3F

The Norman Ackroyd one is also fantastic. They are only half an hour long, but it does give you a great insight into what makes artists tick.

It is the penultimate day of my exhibition, I can't believe it has gone so quickly but I am already planning the next one.
It has been quiet today but it has allowed me to get ready the next exhibition which is the Drawing Open. I have some great artists involved, Sir Anthony Caro, Sheila Girling, Stephen Bishop, Martyn Brewster, Bonnie Brown, Katy Shepherd, Mark Lloyd and Brian Bishop to name but a few. It is an honour to have these people show at the gallery.
The exhibition starts on Saturday and the PV is at 6.00 so please feel free to pop in if you have a spare moment, I promise that you won't be disappointed.

Haven't really got much more to say as my brain is frazzled after having spent several hours typing out the labels for each individual artist.

If you are in Swanage tomorrow and you haven't seen my exhibition then please do pop in.

The Naked Birds Will Flying Away In Two Days!

Teaching this morning and it was fun, a bit of drypoint and collagraph. Always a good way to start the week.
I have had a few late entries to the drawing exhibition I think that you will approve when you see them. It has been another busy day at the gallery and I think that I was paid the best compliment of my entire show today.
A guy said 'if I had the money I would by the entire exhibition, because your work is fantastic!'. How nice is that?
It is funny that some people just get it and some don't. I suppose that I should quantify that statement. I am sure that I have before, so sorry for being repetitive.
Some people find the new work a bit gruesome, if you think about the subject matter then I suppose it is but I am not all about death. I look at the skulls in the same way that I have looked at shells. A nice drawing/painting of a shell does not make you think about the creature that is now dead, does it? If you think like that then shells are as macabre as skulls. I marvel at their creation, their structure, shape, form and the minute detail. I defy anyone to walk along a beach and see an interesting shell and not want to pick it up and have a closer look. Or am I alone in finding the treasures from the sea?
What about fossils? I could go on but I won't.
My exhibition has attracted some fans in the world of science as they realise that I have researched a subject visually that they have researched scientifically.
I am naturally curious, and know that there is still such a long way to go before I stop with the birds. I also have many more installation type pieces that I want to explore.
I may well book myself in for my next exhibition in 2015. That will give me time to do the work.

Three Days Until My Exhibition Ends!

Birdbox

SNOW? I cannot believe that there is snow, not here I hasten to add but everywhere else apparently. I no longer feel that Spring is round the corner. I am still firmly in thermals, and have got my two heaters chucking out their orangey goodness. I am contemplating getting another one to get a bit more heat into the gallery.

I think I mentioned yesterday that I did my first iPad class yesterday, I am now the proud owner of my students first two Ipad drawings. He printed them out and bought them in to me this morning, as a thank you. How nice of him.

I an help you unleash your inner artist, all you need to do is take the first step and that is getting in touch. I can tailor make a learning experience to fit your exact requirements.

There are just three more days left of my exhibition and I have to say that the time has flown. It has been very successful made me some cash which is nice. I get to keep all the commission, a small perk of the job. It has spurred me on to think about the new works that I can create as I think that there are still a few more skull drawings that can be produced.

The thing that people want to own the most out of the whole show is a piece called Birdbox, It is one of my favourites too that's why I have put a whopping great price tag on it. It is deliberately high. Do you like it?

I Keep Disappearing!

Ipad Drawing using just two lines, produced today.

Why? It's because I allocate the last bit of my day at the gallery to blog writing. That being said the last couple of days people have come at the 4.00 and wanted a nice long chat about me and my work. Which is all very encouraging and the last two ladies who came in totally got what I was trying to do and had nothing but lovely things to say about my work. Nice!

I taught my first ever iPad class today, a baptism of fire. No, not really it was great, a thoroughly enjoyable two hours. It is really one of the best things in the world, teaching that is. To see the spark of understanding in peoples eyes and then the dawning of the infinite possibilities now well within reach is just awesome.

If you have never taught, I'm guessing that it is similar to when your children do that first thing independently that makes you very proud and that you tell everyone who will listen about.

I have got many workshops lined up so if you want to put a spring in your creative step then you should come and see me.

I hope that regardless of the miserable weather that you have some great plans for the weekend. Guess what? I am just going to be here working, so feel free to pop in and see me.

569 Blogs Written So Far!

If you had told me that I would have written 569 blogs I would tell you to get a grip. No way! I have and some of you have read quite a lot of them.
I have spent the day procrastinating whilst actually working. I know how do you achieve that I hear you ask? Well what you do is you write yourself a list of things that you absolutely must do today. Then you put the kettle on, send some emails, make a coffee, doodle on said list page then tidy the studio, drink some coffee. At regular intervals look at the list, enlarge some of the letters with your pen, add more to the list, this includes direct copying of items from a previously written list that you didn't complete the day before. Check Facebook, update gallery status and the studio.
Complete one thing from the list that then generates several more things to add to the list.
I am sure by now that you get the picture.
In my defence, I have been trying to post pictures of my iPad paintings and drawings on the Studio Facebook page and computer says no. I thought it was the internet at work but it's the same story here at home. That is an hour of my life that I won't get back in a hurry.

I am pleased to report that the first part of my day was quite productive. I went to to see the emergent artist Kim De Beer. I say emergent but that's just to the local art scene. I find her work fascinating and I think you will too. The good news is that you will be able get some tempting tasters at several locations in the very near future. Most importantly at her solo exhibition at the gallery in August. It will be good and a breath of fresh air.

April is shaping up to be workshop month so come and see me and book yourself into a creative spring clean with me. You know it makes sense.

The Open Is Now Closed

Being your own boss is BRILLIANT! Not being able to delegate, not so good. The admin behind the scenes is monumental. The confusions inevitable and mistakes do happen. All the sweating and swearing will never stop the heart racing and the dry mouth that follows.
But honesty is the best policy, so just remember 'to err is human, to forgive divine'. Thanks to all the divine people out there you know who you are.

The Drawing Open is now closed. I have all the entries that I could probably wish for, my goodness it is going to be a good show. You must make a date to come and see it. If you are looking for something a little bit unusual then why not a drawing by one of the many fantastic artists who are exhibiting in this show.

It does not seem that I am getting enough time to write my blog during my working day so that gives you an idea of just how busy I am. I started a drawing last week with the idea that I would be entering it into the Open but that is just pie in the sky.