The Devil Is Alive and Well and Hiding In My Computer!

Battle of Stanpit Marsh - Andrew Piesley

In an attempt to remember everything I am going to write this without editing out the spelling as I go along. The first thing I'm sure you all want to know is how the Private View went. It was good I would have preferred a few more people but you can only tell people it's on, you can't make them drink. Or is that horses? Well, to make up for it there have been a fair few people through the door. Some nice feedback and quite a few conversations about the content of the work. Let's hope now that a few people come in and buy some paintings.
My website has been updated, you can check it out www.lartishe.co.uk
I want to get some more stuff on there but I need to earn a few more pennies before that happens. I would like to thank Neil @ ambrosefox.com for all his hard work.
I am a little disgruntled at the fact that this is the second time that I am writing this bit of my blog. I had actually finished writing it when the Internet Devil shoved his three pronged fork into my network and tangled all connections causing my blog not to auto save as it went along.
Now I am going to struggle to remember what I wrote. All that I can remember is that it was witty, concise and very well observed. No, that is not true, it wasn't. It was probably inane, dull and flabby. I am sat here trying to fight the urge to make some comment about knowing people like that, or that's a bit like me. Apparently, I'm no good at fighting my urges.
Breaking news, hot off the proverbial press I have enough artwork to set a date for the Charity Auction. I intend to focus all my energies on doing that tomorrow and then the publicity for it.
In other news, I have produced four drawings today and one of them was of something other than a bird skulls. Yes, you read it right. I just hope the person I did it for likes it.
I'm bored of typing now as I have been doing it for 27 years without a break. Well 27 minutes would be closer to the mark but it's all relative.
Same time, same place tomorrow if you're up for it!

My Blog Was..........

Ok so you might be wondering where I have been. Nowhere is the quick answer. But the worldwide web has been doing it's absolute best to stop me from posting my blog. The treachery and connivery! But now I am hoping that I can do it more successfully today.
Facebook wouldn't let me post it via my homepage it has banned me saying that I had written something abusive. Not bloomin' likely. I like to keep it clean so as not to offend anybody. We'll see if it works today.
It has been without a doubt two very busy days and hanging an exhibition is hard work. It is really important to make it all work together. Which is SO hard!
It is now up and completely  ready to go. I am just at home getting ready to be back at the gallery for 4.00.
I feel that with my inability to post a blog there's so many humorous things that have happened that I have now forgotten. Oh well.
Yesterday I think I broke some kind of record for hanging a picture. It took me nearly 45 minutes to hang and A3 drawing. There's a good reason that I don't hang work in the studio and that's because the walls are all useless. You drill a hole and before you know it a family of three could take up residence in the crater that you have unintentionally created. You hammer a nail in and after two hits it bends south and is rendered useless.
I kid you not. It was the most painful thing I've done in ages. Other than triple hanging images. That was on a pain scale of 1 to 10 a very well earned 9.5.
Well the Private View is in 3 hours so I best get dressed and down the gallery.

No Change There Then!

As it's now 8.05 pm you should have an idea of just how busy I've been today. I have hung the new Andrew Piesley exhibition 'To Begin Yet Again'. Which starts on Saturday at 6.30, if you're in the neighbourhood please do come and join us.
It was a day of sweating and swearing as multiple hangs are so difficult.That,and the fact it was actually really hot today 21 degrees. Lovely! Unless the pictures are all exactly the same size. Even then that doesn't necessary equal plain sailing. A very big thank you to my friend Lisa for skiving off work to help me. I actually know that her reward will be in Devon and Cornwall.
I am writing this on my new iPad and I have to say it's lovely as it does it's own corrections as I type and capitalises all my I's. Genius. But I am yet to work out how to put a picture in so it may well be an image free blog. I tried and I failed so now I give up. Back again tomorrow.

She Came, I Taught, She Conquered!

First class today, I was a bit nervous as I haven't taught in a while. It went well, I think, let's hope that she thought so too.
I have officially lost my workshop cherry. It felt good. I am hoping that I can get a recommendation from her to put on my website.
I have not produced a drawing since Friday so I am actually suffering from withdrawal symptoms.
I've found these cool pictures that are x-rays of birds. I am trying to think about to replicate the style in a drawing. I think there's some experimentation necessary.

I like the subtlety of line and the way the feathers have only partially shown up on the x ray.  

I would like to thank Do Michell for bringing the promised pieces for the charity auction.
There are a few more of you who have promised me work, I would be grateful if I could have it very soon.

There are days when words flow from my fingertips like water from a tap and there are days like today. It is more like extracting teeth without anesthetic with oversized pliers. I usually dash my blog off in about twenty minutes. I'm thirty minutes and counting.
Literary constipation is definitely what I am suffering from today. Not to mention the most horrendous amount of spelling mistakes which you are lucky that I am editing out.
Enough already, may the next blog get back to normal. Day off tomorrow, I am going to go and collect the work from Andrew for his exhibition this weekend.

Title, What Title, look At That Bird!

Today I will be mostly having the attention span of one the above creatures. For those of you those of you that are scratching your head and wondering what is this particular insect. You may well have just been bitten by one. No, it's not a flea it's a gnat.
I have been curiously productive but I'm pretty convinced  that it has way more to do with luck than good management.
I had a great time in Brighton. It went all too quickly but I'm wondering if my weekend away may have something to do with my impaired attention. Anyone who reads this and was there will be laughing their heads off right about......now!
I'm gearing up for Andrew Piesleys exhibition at the weekend. I have prepared all the small canvasses so they are ready to be hung. I have plinths for sketchbooks and a folder and stand for unframed drawings. So now to arrange the collection of the massive 7ft picture which is proving troublesome. I will be shamelessly plugging this all week, so get used to it. The Private View is on Saturday evening between 6.30 and 8.30.

First class tomorrow, I have been getting myself organized for that too. It's funny having to plan a lesson again. That was so last year. It is just like riding a bike, I've only fallen off twice but my safety helmet is still firmly in place.
I have now got nearly enough work to set a date for my charity auction. As I have said before it is NEVER too late to donate. I hope that if you haven't that there is a really good reason for not doing so. It may have slipped from the front pages but that does not mean there is no need for us to do our bit.

Isn't It Typical

Ok in the history of the gallery I have only closed twice for legitimate reasons. To organize work for shows usually. My average week has not seen many people through the door as Swanage is not in it's high season.
So today when I have close early so that I can head to Brighton there have more people in the gallery than usual. I'm sure it is all done just to wind me up.
I have my first class booked for Tuesday so wish me luck. I am nervous and excited. It's been a while but I'm sure it'll be fine.
Anyway, must dash as I have a train to catch. See you back here on Monday.

That's Me In The Corner.....Wearing A Dunce Cap

How do you know when you should just go back home and get back into bed? Apparently it's when you get to work and realize you've forgotten your phone. At first you think it's fine as no-one really rings you anyway. But wasn't today the day that you were supposed to phone to confirm a meeting with a friend whose mobile number is as mysterious to me as my own. Suffice to say it has digits in it. Then as you unpack your bag you realize that not only have you forgotten your phone but you've forgotten your wallet. But you think that's ok because you had put all your loose change in your pocket and that should be enough to get something for lunch. But you forget that at the last minute you decided to put those jeans in the wash and put all that change on the side and are in fact wearing different jeans with no change in the pocket. Still that's ok because I cleverly remembered packing some food like thing in my bag in a passing moment of being organized. I bet you all want to know what I'm going to be eating for lunch. Blueberry and Vanilla WeightWatchers Oaty Biscuits. Washed down with black coffee as I needed to buy milk with my loose change.
So as I sit here waiting for all those people who wanted to come in to the gallery yesterday when it was shut but obviously have got far better things to do with their time today. I am rejoicing in the fact that I have in fact made an April Fool out of myself today. No additional help needed from any outside source.
I hope that you didn't get suckered today.
The gallery is only going to be open for the morning tomorrow as I have to go to Brighton in the afternoon.
Catch me if you can!