I am VOLUNTARY leader of The Arts Group In Eastwood, 19 members at present. That;s Eastwood,Nottinghamshire. Basically I'm a self taught artist with teaching qualifications. I have learned from books, observing other artists and trial & error. You can do it if you practice. I'd like nothing better than to spend every minute creating pictures. I use watercolour mainly, Reg thinks I'm best at that, although I like to try everything. My first paintings were oils, however I don't find them easy to transport or use in the great outdoors. I love pastels but hate the grubby fingers. Gouache is something I need to do more with. I'm just trying to get to grips with acrylics and I've produced some really nice pencil drawings. Subjects, I'll have a go at anything, I think I'd get bored if I tried to concentrate on the same thing. I've produced paintings ranging from 'Pits to Pansies with a huge variety in between. I married Reg almost 47 years ago. We have 1 daughter & 1 son who, in turn presented us with a son-in-law, a daughter-in-law & 3 beautiful grandaughters, We love them all very much and don't see enough of them. ~/~ I HAVE DECIDED TO BLOG AS OFTEN AS POSSI BLE, CAN'T PROMISE TO POST EVERY DAY BUT I UNDERSTAND IT CAN BE GOOD FUN. WATCH OUT FOR MY POSTS AND LEAVE COMMENTS. THEY MAKE THINGS MORE INTERESTING. ~/~ FEELING SAD. I HAVE GIVEN NOTICE AT THE SCHOOL AS THE EVENING CLASSES ARE BEGINNING TO TAKE THEIR TOLL. THE PREP TIME IS INTERFEREING WITH MY PAINTING TIME AND THE PAY JUST ISN'T WORTH IT. I WILL KEEP THE CLASS GOING UNTIL THEY FIND A REPLACEMENT OR JUST TO THE END OF THIS TERM. MY ARTS GROUP ALSO IS BEGINNING TO BE A HUGE TASK, ONE OF THE COMITTEE HAS LEFT WHICH LEAVES A COMITTEE OF JUST 3 OF US AND NO-ONE WANTS TO HELP SO I HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THEY AREN'T THAT INTERESTED. I'LL ALSO GIVE IT UNTIL CHRISTMAS AND IF IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER I WILL MAKE OTHER ARRANGEMENTS. I HATE DOING THIS BUT CAN'T SEE ANY WAY OF RECRUITING HELP. I ASK, BUT GET NO RESPONSE. PERHAPS THEY MIGHT RETHINK IF THEY READ THIS OR THE SHOCK OF ME RESIGNING MIGHT WAKE THEM UP. ~/~ I HAVE RECEIVED COMMENTS ON PAINTINGS IN MY GALLERY. SOME ARE CONSTRUCTIVE & ENCOURAGING BUT OTHERS ARE JUST 2 OR 3 WORDS, NOT VERY ENCOURAGING. I ENJOY RECEIVING COMMENTS ON MY WORK & IT'S GOOD TO KNOW THAT SOMEONE LIKES WHAT THEY SEE BUT CONSTRUCTIVE CRITCISM IS ALSO WELCOME. PLEASE FEEL FREE. ~~~ Arm improving, been for physio today I think she's pleased with my progress. Went to Yorkshire, Thwaite in Swaledale. Our favourite hotel up there. Did some paintings in the village & began a sketch which didn't get finished because a motoring couple fancied a drink & couldn't be bothered to drive into the car park. they deposited the thing between me & my subject. The female partner remarked to me that they had blocked my view & they both disappeared inside. Was I amused? Was I heck. Has this ever happened to you? /~ Got the metalwork out of my arm this week, still stiff & uncomfortable. Lots of physio exercises to do. 10 minutes in every hour. I wonder if typing counts. ~-~ Long time since I blogged, I broke my arm, not my painting one, it's not mending very well so I had to have surgery. I look like a building site with lots of scaffolding half way up my arm. It's sore & painful. I have to wait another 4 weeks for it to be dismantled & I haven't been able to paint because I can't concentrate on anything. Teaching has been impossible but I intend to try a restart this week. Keeping my fingers, (on the other hand), crossed. Wish me luck. ~/~ I'm pleased to say that I have 4 more students attending my evening classes. I seem to be quite popular. We're going to look at silk painting this week which is a new medium for my repertoire. Hope I've got it right. Reg and I are preparing for an Arts Week/Painting & Photography at our favourite lodging place in the Wye Valley. The hotel is called Lindors and we are quite excited about it as we haven't done this before, (leading the courses that is). Wish us luck. ~/~ I have been invited to set up my easel in our local museum gallery on Wednesday 5th.Dec., and paint. Hoping that there are some visitors to make the day interesting. The gallery is in Durban House, Mansfield Rd., Eastwood, Notts. Pop in if you're passing. Just two more weeks for my Arts Group meetings to the end of term & three more Evening Classes to teach at the Comp.(The class tried pastels this week. They all did quite well), before Christmas. Where did the year go? ~/~ Thwaite was fantastic although cold, the hotel was great, fabulous food etc. we enjoyed ourselves and met some nice people. Hoping to return soon. ~/~ Going to Thwaite soon, hoping to get in some sketching. Feeling that we have to breathe fresh air and see the dales once again. If the weather is good in Yorkshire, time spent there is great. The landscape is wonderful and makes me want to paint all day every day. (I wish). I will at least take lots of photographs to work from. My Friday morning group,The Arts Group In Eastwood Exhibition is hanging in The Rainbow Gallery at Durban House Heritage Centre, Mansfield Road, Eastwood, Notts. The works are impressive, even the beginners have done well. I may go in with my easel and spend some time working in the gallery, WATCH THIS SPACE. I'll let you know when. Drop in if you can and vote for your favourite painting. The one with most votes gets the prize. Back soon. ~/~ Just arrived home from teaching my Art Attack For Adults group, highly delighted with their efforts. I think they're beginning to learn that watercolour needs water to make it work. They have all wet their paper and thrown colour at it with amazing results. Have another class to teach in the morning, hope they do as well. We'll be hanging their exhibition this weekend, its a while since the last one so we should get a different selection, (I hope).~/~ Went to Southwell Saturday 20/10/07 for the Apple competitions, (WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT MINE)?, awards. Good to see so many entries from children. I will keep my eye on this for the future and encourage my students to enter & try to make it bigger. I hope others might be interested in doing this too. Not knowing much about it we didn't get there until after 2pm. so there was just time to see the exhibition & witness the presentation of awards which was enlightening, to say the least. The shop windows everywhere were dressed with apple themes which made us look in every one, however it was getting late. By the time we left the Bramley Centre & had coffee, shops were closing. We must go earlier next year. The weather was beautiful and that made for a perfect day for all concerned.~/~ I am VOLUNTARY leader of The Arts Group In Eastwood, 19 members at present. Teacher of the Art Attack For Adults Group (Evening Class-FULL with 13 students), at Eastwood Comprehensive School. That;s Eastwood,Nottinghamshire. Basically I'm a self taught artist with teaching qualifications. I have learned from books, observing other artists and trial & error. You can do it if you practice. I'd like nothing better than to spend every minute creating pictures. I use watercolour mainly, Reg thinks I'm best at that, although I like to try everything. My first paintings were oils, however I don't find them easy to transport or use in the great outdoors. I love pastels but hate the grubby fingers. Gouache is something I need to do more with. I'm just trying to get to grips with acrylics and I've produced some really nice pencil drawings. Subjects, I'll have a go at anything, I think I'd get bored if I tried to concentrate on the same thing. I've produced paintings ranging from 'Pits to Pansies with a huge variety in between. I married Reg almost 47 years ago. We have 1 daughter & 1 son who, in turn presented us with a son-in-law, a daughter-in-law & 3 beautiful grandaughters, We love them all very much and don't see enough of them.