Studio-to-be

How lucky am I to finally look forward to a WARM, well-lit studio. Since returning from Charles Reid's wonderful course, I have moved all my art materials into cupboards, drawers and loaded shelves all over the house, while my garage makes its final full conversion into a studio. It's all very exciting AND stressful. I want to paint, but am ending up writing about my painting.

Posted by lesley birch

The Sketching Party - Charles Reid Day 1

This was our first day of painting and the weather was so good we went outside. I watched Charles working and then sat on a comfortable bench nearby and thought I'd do some rough sketching of the event. I used Pitt Artist pens, watercolour and pencil and then worked into the sketch later on that evening. I was really only fidding about! That's what I do in my sketchbook. I ended up giving it the title afterwards. Charles used this to comment in the critique session, saying he liked the sense of pattern in it and the rendering of his figure in the background. I must say I was very flattered. It was all downhill for me after that though!!!!

Posted by lesley birch

What to submit to Cork Street Open 2013

Debating over what pieces to enter for the Cork Street Open. I entered last year and was lucky enough to have two shortlisted and one hung. I thought I couldn't consider it this year because of holiday dates, but now it looks like I have some time to get submissions together and follow through if accepted. Of course, there is always the dark cloud of rejection on the horizon, but I am feeling so fired up after Charles Reid's course that I can handle anything negative. Anyway, I've allready had a number of rejections this year - amongst them Patchings, the Bristol Art Open and another one I can't remember! But there are other exhibitions I am involved in, which balances it out. It doesn't mean I am no good and everyone has to have a chance. All par for the course!! Oh, the course of an artist's life never did run smooth!

Posted by lesley birch

To all Charles Reid fans

If you're a fan of Charles Reid's work, then do check out Peter Ward's wonderful blog at http://watercolourfanatic.blogspot.co.uk/. Here he details all the interesting elements of Charles' courses, including the one I've just been on. He shows the working process and even shows his own attempts.

Posted by lesley birch

After Charles Reid Course

It's now nearly a week since I returned from a course in Stow with wonderful painter Charles Reid. And what have I learned? Well, absorbing the elements of the course takes a bit of time and my brain has been in overload since then, dreaming about values, lines and washes every night. Even though I'm back teaching at school, I have found time to set up my portable easel in my garage/studio and practise some of Charles' advice via my sketchbook notes. So, I say again, what have I learned? 1. That I am rather careless in my application of the paint. 2. That I really need to develop a better understanding of values 3. That my drawing is quite good. 4. That I have a weird sense of humour! 5. That watercolour may not be the best medium for me - if I have to be so exacting. All this has been so valuable and my learning reflections will continue over the next few months.

Posted by lesley birch

Charles Reid

Just back from wonderful week's watercolour course with the incredible painter Charles Reid. What a privilege to see him working and so inspiring. Learnt a lot.

Posted by lesley birch

Shortlisted RA

For the first time I'm on the shortlist for the RA Summer Exhibition with two pieces - one my Edge of the World Series of prints entitled "Pilgrimage" and a smaller mixed media piece. The letter arrived this morning and I was expecting the usual rejection, but hey, through the first round. Fingers crossed.

Posted by lesley birch

a rest/studio home or away

had a much needed review and rest time from painting -- of course I HAVE been life drawing/painting - that's a necessary thing for me, but mostly I've been preparing for the big studio refurb. Good to hear comments from other artists about their studios. Should we work in our home studio or GO OUT somewhere else??

Posted by lesley birch

studio renovation

At last my garage is becoming a proper studio - with a bigger window and daylight bulbs. Very exciting. Should be finished by June. In the meantime, am preparing paintings for a solo show at The Dutch House in Crayke, just outside of York.

Posted by lesley birch

Patchings 2013

Just made the deadline for this year's Patchings Competition. Fingers crossed. I've been doing so much printmaking lately that I thought I would submit the most recent works from my Edge of the World Series of prints -- they're inspired by Michael Powell's 1937 film set on a remote Scottish island. The works, though, are not overtly Scottish, just very atmospheric and remote.

Posted by lesley birch

on the way to Scotland

taking newest paintings up to Scotland Art Gallery in Bath Street, Glasgow. Bought some great bags -- Stiffy Bags -- which are so easy to use for transferring larger artworks. Train booked. Looking forward to sketching and ipodding ont he journey.

Posted by lesley birch

acrylic v oil

working on bigger pieces now - well, big for me - up to 90 x 90 cms, and 70 x 70 cms. I do like working square. Using acrylic and spraying water on the canvas to spread it. Medium always helps to make the paint more creamy too. But I have one or two other works in oils and cold wax, standing drying. Can't make up my mind which media I prefer. I want to work in oils all the time, but I tend to experiment so much and white out, scrape back, glaze all in one day, that I can't wait for the drying time of oils. Never mind, I'm telling myself I don't need to commit fully to one or the other - as long as my studio is well ventilated for the oils.

Posted by lesley birch

exhibition Extended

Time & Place Solo Exhibition at 68 Gillygate, York is extended until Feb 10th -- Way Hay! Busy studio painting for Scotland ....

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up to me eyes in paint

two paintings on the go at the moment -- a biggie for me at 30 x 20 inches. I really need bigger brushes though!

Posted by lesley birch

Resolution - be in the studio, not online!

Experimenting with cold wax and oil on board and on canvas. Wanting to make the paintings more like my prints -- the wax can give it an ethereal quality, I hope. Joined an online ning group to discuss these techniques, but must ensure I am in the studio more often than online!

Posted by lesley birch

merry xmas

merry xmas to everyone -- i LOVE it, but there's always that wee bit of tension that annoys us -- because we feel this sense of forced enjoyment. I choose to ignore that and say, hey it's only once a year. Let 's enjoy a cocktail or two. Have you tried Lychees liqueur with champagne -- pretty gorgeous! Anyway, intentions to make great paintings this year ...

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exhibition time

Who said art was relaxing? Preparing for an exhibition preview this week and doing my labelling, cording up, picking up from framers, touching up the odd bit and bob, working on a new painting which MAY go into the exhibition - not sure yet.... it's all go.

Posted by lesley birch

Printmaking Again after foot operations

Finally got access to a very good big press -- today spent three hours happily printing away, using ideas logged in my sketchbook. What bliss! This is after a heavy summer getting injured feet operated on .... sketchbooked them though!

Posted by lesley birch

Harlow Carr 2012

Exhibiting with the Harlow Carr artists in the lovely RHS gardens at Harrogate. Busy last night putting finishing touches to work and mirror-plating, wrapping, drilling, making decisions ..... Some lovely work from other artists there until Sept 9th.

Posted by lesley birch

rejections and acceptances

Again, another weird time -- I've had several new paintings refused by my Scottish gallery because of the "palette" which may not suit their customers. BUT I've had a piece shortlisted for the Royal Society of Marine Artists and another selected for the York Summer Open at Bar Lane Studios. Plus two others shortlisted for Cork Street Open. This clash between gallery sales/customer likes and dislikes/fine arty stuff is something not to mull over I think. Best to keep doing what we do.... and an artist's work continually changes. If it doesn't then we are not developing. If we paint to please galleries all the time, then we're not being true to ourselves. But, heck, the framing for these pieces cost me!

Posted by lesley birch

preview in Masham, Yorkshire

Friday 20th July 7-9pm at The Gallery, Masham, North Yorkshire HG4 www.mashamgallery.co.uk -- This is the Edge of the World Exhibition featuring my work plus Gareth Buxton, Iain Scott Massie, Winifred Hodge, Pamela Knight and others. It's a lovely gallery and I'll be there for a glass of wine and a chat. Travelled up today to deliver my work -- a bit late, but the framers kept me waiting and so it was all very last minute. All welcome. The exhibition runs until August 31st.

Posted by lesley birch

my poor feet

The diary is filling up for next year with two solo exhibitions in the offing in York. I have also spent some time creating a logo for my website and this has taken a lot of time and thought, working with Jon my printer. Inbetween it all, I've had operations on my feet! Injuries from the past and so spent 3 weeks laid up in bed, sketching. Titles: feet bandaged 1, feet sore, Feet in bed, swollen feet etc etc!

Posted by lesley birch

Cork Street shortlist

I've had two pieces shortlisted for the above exhibition. Of course, I've still to get through the next bit! All a challenge and costs money, but it's worth it, I think. It's these new oils on paper I've been working on. The two pieces are The Midnight Boat and I Must Go Down to the Seas Again ii. Fingers crossed.

Posted by lesley birch

Picture in Patchings

I'm so happy that my picture "Land Lines" has been accepted for this year's Patchings Art Competition. I shall be delivering it personally next week and give myself a chance to wander around the place, which I love. The exhibition season is upon us now and I'm busy preparing for summer shows in July, August and September. Love this heat . . .

Posted by lesley birch

oils on paper and oils on board

So interesting how the different supports affect the look and feel of the paint. I really like when the painting builds up and the paint gets thick and luscious. Sometimes I use acrylics as a base and work over that. Sometimes some texture from acrylic gels are useful. But oils are new to me and although I'm getting in a bit of a mess, I do love them . .. aah the smell . ..

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sun at last

Now I can get out the studio and work outside, update me sketchbooks and even do some painting! My studio can be a bit dark at times and that makes it interesting when I take the paintings outside. I'm not a great perfectionist about studio lighting. Maybe one day I will be . . .

Posted by lesley birch

greetings cards

on my way up to John the Printer to get My Little Boat scanned so that he can make me cards for exhibitions in July -- Hope I don't get caught in traffic.

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all go

It's all go now, because my pupils have examinations and I have more free time to paint. Fabulous!! Bliss!

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doing a marketing course

This course is run by Kathryn Roberts who organises the Cork Street Open. It's an online daily thing, so I'm busy updating webs, blogs and thinking of doing a newsletter -- takes more time than the actual art and am busy painting inbetween it all as well as teaching! Nevertheless, in a fired up phase at the moment as the oil painting is really kicking in - especially last night. So the marketing course is feeding into the art!

Posted by lesley birch

101 things to learn at art school

just bought a great little book with so much wisdom. Written by Kit White, it's Inspiring and exciting.

Posted by lesley birch

Edge of the World Project

Busy working in oils for exhibition later in the year -- very enjoyable and am preparing in good time. Sketches in progress, photographs, thinking, reflecting, looking, making a mess, paintings being discarded, reworked, scraped back, knowcked back, whited out, reviewed, processed. Oils are challenging in a different way from acrylics and very messy! At least, the way I work it is!

Posted by lesley birch

Linear Progressions

Taking part in an exhibition until April 9 at Shine Business Centre, in Leeds - it's a selection of artists exploring drawing through paint, print and pastel.

Posted by lesley birch

On a Roll!

Have had a week free to paint and nothing but. All the sketchbook work and reading is now coming out in one big surge onto box canvas after box canvas. Many will later be reworked, but am really enjoying meself .... Preview tonight at Shine Business Centre in Leeds -- have four pieces on show. Looking forward to a glass of wine.

Posted by lesley birch

I must try that out!

How many times do you read The Artist Magazine , The Leisure Painter or your supply of art books and feel inspired to try some of the ideas such as painting birch trees, trying out oil bars or following an exercise in watercolour landscapes? Nita Leyland in her book "The Creative Artist" gives great advice - she suggests noting down these little nuggets of information as you come across them. Then store them somewhere such as a little box. I'Then, later, when you're stuck for ideas, dip into your treasure trove and see what comes out. I've done this recently and have noted down ideas such as: experiment with black ink washes and salt (see page 76 in Sumi Painting book). I've amassed dozens of intentions. Will let you know when I get around to trying them. It will take decades!

Posted by lesley birch

New Work

Busy deciding upon framing for new mixed media pieces for exhibitions in February and March 2012. Mystery of Time still surfaces in the work.

Posted by lesley birch

Planning and Staying Focussed

I'm coming to terms with list-making, forcing myself to plan new bodies of work in 2012. The aim is to STICK TO THE PLANS! Christmas present Oliver Burkeman's book "How to get more done" is a real practical help in making me focus. Am using a kitchen timer and already managed to stay focussed on the same task all morning. A miracle!

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resolve please!

Stupidly I've promised a large painting for an exhibition this week and of course, I've left it all too late. This is what I do! No pressure, eh? Anyway, this biggie will simply NOT resolve. This is because I'm transferring my Faith & the Sea series of small ink & wash pieces to a larger canvas. I've come to the conclusion that perhaps they are not meant to be large. They need white paper . . . Ah me ....

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learning is never finished . . .

There isn't a night goes by without me ploughing through my collection of art books and taking a pile to bed with me. Half-an-hour or an hour a night is spent reading and digesting ideas, pictures and words from the wonderful John Blockley, Emily Ball plus the old masters. I now need to plan my time trying out these exercises. Of course, I am never without back copies of The Artist and The Leisure Painter magazines.

Posted by lesley birch

postcard sketches

mounting up pen and ink postcard drawings from St Ives visit for Christmas Exhibitions - making more cards . . . busy

Posted by lesley birch

Christmas intentions

It's always busy over the Christmas season and I always intend to have new work ready for small exhibitions I'm involved in, but I'm always scraping the barrel. Two paintings took ages to resolve ... because I was rushing .... and I was having such a nice St Ives time, going on painting trips, getting into my head, drawing, filling up sketchbooks .... Nevertheless, I'm handmaking cards, good for the old thumbnail practice and brimming with new ideas. ... so little time

Posted by lesley birch

busy experimenting

Enjoying experimenting with mixed media -- gouache, acrylic, indian ink, chinese brushes, different surfaces -- Doing more life drawing and filled a sketchbook on a recent trip to Bruges using these media plus a Derwent water-filled brush. The time flew by and I emptied my brain of all worries . . .

Posted by lesley birch

sketchbooking by Lesley Birch

been sketchbooking all summer and now gathering together my ideas from my travels. Great fun and a good opportunity to focus on new work. I can begin to see patterns . . .
The beauty of a sketchbook is looking back over it -- you remember the atmosphere so clearly, the colours, the smells, the views . . .much more effective than a photograph.
I like to use 300 gsm acid free paper - either buying moleskine books or making my own. The best paper produces the most solid books and you can paint in acrylic and watercolour and inks as well. Fabulous.

Posted by lesley birch

life drawing discipline

Been life drawing twice a week now for over a year. Formed a group called The Donderdag Group, in York iwith artist friends. We help each other along. And it's helping my landscape work.

We get together every Thursday, book the model, paint and draw. On Tuesdays I go to St Peter's School and join in with Sixth Form with their life drawing class. My observational skills are developing, I think. And I do LOVE IT!!!! Had a good social last week, though with musicians and art people -- great stuff...

Posted by lesley birch

sorting out admin after summer work

many rejections, acceptances, exhibitions and amongst it all I've been embracing life drawing the past year - have a lot of work stored and out there. Hence the organisation. On the go - St Ives Project - Norfolk Project - as well!!

Posted by lesley birch

working in oil

trying out new pieces on paper in sepia oil colours. Really enjoying meself. Playing around and not worrying about exhibiting . . . at the moment . . .
delivered 3 pieces to open exhibition at Mall Galleries - cost me £48 for submission plus £75 return train fare BUT I got to visit the watercolour exhibition at Tate Britain plus Susan Hiller's work. Absolutely fabulous, thought-provoking, inspiring. . . Don't hold out much hope for these submissions, but it's all in the run of things . . .

Posted by lesley birch

Society of Women Artists - what to submit?

Off to London this weekend to submit for above Open Exhibition. Always meant to do it, but never had the time or appropriate paintings. Now I have quite a lot of work available, but what to submit? And how many? Consider the costs too . . . I'm in a quandary . . .

Posted by lesley birch

finished open studios, York

at last finished!! and now feel like giving up. Is it always like this for artists? It's such a long haul exhibiting, although I had some help with the hanging. I sold a number of paintings and was really chuffed that the former Head of the Fine Art Dept at York University bought 4 works and was extremely encouraging. Just what we need. But then, sometimes I don't always know what is good. I just follow me instinct.

Posted by lesley birch

Another palette change

working towards York Open Studios plus another exhibition "Mood and Matter" with two other artists. Didn't think I had enough landscape work as I've been busy enjoying life drawing for the past two months, but life drawing tutor/friend came around one Saturday morning and selected handmade prints from my files. Since then I've been in the Lakes and started a Colour & Mood Landscape Series. The palette is changing again. Have always mixed me own greens, but enjoying olive green and green-gold by Winsor & Newton. Fabulous.

Posted by lesley birch

ideas in me head

After recent exhibition with fellow artist Ailsa Read, local gallery interested in my work and some sales at Scotland Art up in Edinburgh. About to apply for York Open Studios, but don't really know if I can afford it - spent so much on petrol, mounts, framing, paper etc. Finishing up these exhibitions and moved finally from rented to house, but still no studio. Ah me.... nevertheless, feeling inspired and ready to rock with new ideas from summer studies . . . it's all in me head . . .

Posted by lesley birch

life drawing masterclass at Hospitalfield, Arbroath

just finished amazing 5-day residential masterclass with artist Rebecca Westguard - life drawing, painting in a studio from the 1800s and living in Hospitalfield, where many artists such as Peter Howson, Joan Eardley went during their time at Art School. We did whole-day poses in the studio, around the house which is an art and cultural centre left by Patrick Allan-Fraser in 1890, listened to classical and jazz while sketching a moving model. An inspirational, innovative course.

Posted by lesley birch

preview tonight

am on the bar tonight for preview at Harlow Carr, Harrogate 6.30pm-9pm - if anyone's in the area, do pop in - all very welcome. There are 19 artists and a good selection of paintings, ceramics, wood turning and carvings.

Posted by lesley birch

preparing for exhibiting

making cards, mounted work and juggling for Harlow Carr Summer Show, Harrogate.

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Working Small

Busy working on more Aqua Gold Works on lovely Arches paper -- These are all about rivers and streams - Fool's Gold, hidden treasures. These new works are in response to a London Gallery who have taken on my work. I'm producing small pieces at the moment, still on my kitchen table in my temporary accommodation until I move to new house. When I get into the new house, it'll be time for enlarged, bigger works. Think I'll do them on canvas, but not sure yet. Can't wait.

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busy bee

meetings with two London galleries in May - mixed media demo next week at Horsforth Art Club in Leeds - exhibitions coming up in July and August - pick-ups from galleries -- oh how I love pressure . . .

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art talk & demo

Just finished an hour's talk with painting demo at St Peter's School in York -- the audience ended up a real mix, from primary school children to sixth formers, to parents, staff and friends of the school. I'd prepared a powerpoint (which took me hours!) and had 4 blank canvases plus an old painting I'm working on. I used an easel and I held up paintings so folks at the back could see. Next time, I'll need to work bigger, but I didn't feel so confident doing that live this time.
Was very nervous to begin with but it all went well. Not only did I do the talk, but I decided to set up a small exhibition of work in the gallery -- well, you can't talk about your work without something on display. It was a real eclectic mix of work, coz that's all I have at the moment. At least it showed that artists change and move and, hopefully, develop.

Posted by lesley birch