JAPANESE VASE ELY PALACE

A few years back Anita and I were invited to paint in Ely Palace. Although we spent the day working in the grounds, inside I was attracted to two large vases on corner windowsills and took a number of photos. Here is the acrylic of the JAPANESE VASE as finally completed - my daughter having bagged the CHINESE ONE full of deep purples. It has only just been adjusted as a result of a comment by my husband who said the deep burnt orange flowers I originally created dominated the vase - then I realised why I was not satisfied with it - so voila here it is with the toned down blooms ready for submission to the Art Circle autumn show in the Forum Norwich.

CELEBRATION - title for my latest piece

Although I finished this in oils, in fact you could say its mixed media as it was originally started in acrylic a couple of years back with lots of different kinds of modelling pastes and Liquitex glass beads textured gel for the vase and wine glasses.

Over the past few weeks I have worked on it in oils and it has changed radically. I think the original idea of two people preparing to celebrate came from an advertisement but I added the flowers, vase and reflections and shadows. ... and it probably has no bearing to the original image now its finished.

Developed on a 20" square box canvas using Michael Harding oils and keeping my colour palette quite restricted. There was a period when I was inspired by the idea of painting scenes by a window from a row of pansies in bloom in little terracotta pots painted first in watercolour and then an acrylic version, snowdrops in the window and a couple of works I did for my sister in law with little white flowers with window boxes. I think I'll plan some more for a Christmas show I will have to prepare for later in the year.

Oh! yes, here's the CELEBRATION PAINTING:

... and here are images of some of the earlier window series paintings:

THE WINE BAR

I am preparing work for the NOVASTRAND II INSPIRATIONS SHOW Sandra and I are curating at the Belfry Art Centre in September. My theme is based on interior public houses that came about because I needed work to show that would interest any men visitors to my Open Studio weekends, being that most of my work was based on floral and gardens. All participants are offering items for display that inspired their works being exhibited based on their own theme. To date we have such diverse subjects as windows, circles, halloween, city landmarks, surfers , strand (shoreline), the seaside town of Cromer and cows!!!

The one I am showing you now was based on this earlier rather abstracted work which I always thought was not finished. Its never been exhibited and I had called it
THE PURPLE BAR -


On working on it, the painting became more realistic and I changed its name to
THE WINE BAR

On showing it to Sandra, she wondered if I could turn the strange original shape over the shoulder into a tea towel - voila

I have two others ready for the show I will post another day and there was one I had called THE SPANISH BAR I sold at Wells Next the Sea last year. Maybe I'll do some more based on Coltishall pubs, particularly the one that exhibits my local scene paintings for sale.

WEEKEND AT WELLS NEXT THE SEA

Been catching up at home since returning from 3 wonderful days at Wells next the Sea at Sandra's cottage, coinciding with the week long carnival. Sandra, our host, had to pop off two mornings to invigilate at the local art exhibition and we both went over to Kings Lynn on the Saturday afternoon, leaving Anita happily sketching around the quayside and cottage garden.

Here you can see how beautifully Sandra has revamped her cottage in lovely soft blues and creams. We sat round the fireplace from time to time just chatting together before and after visiting the carnival musical evening events. We had fun singing along with an amazingly good live Beatles sound alike band and even had a temporary tattoo each from a little teddy bear, stars and (of course for me) a group of three flowers. Here is the comfy sofa .......

Got up fairly early for me and spent time in the garden sketching. All the fruit trees were laden with quince, damsons, apples and pears. Here's a little group of apples sketched whilst eating my breakfast of croissant with real butter and Wensleydale cheese and cranberries and cup of coffee .....

.... and here's something that grabbed me from the first day - the contrast between the colourful boats stored at the bottom of the garden seen through the black wrought iron gate.....

Planned to sketch little objects in the garden in a double spread, but only managed this stone chimey pot acting as a plinth for a bowl of found very round stones placed in front of another apple tree on the other side of the brick pathway that divides the garden and runs right up to the cottage door.

Really pleased how much I sketched despite our various outings. Down to serious stuff now, preparing three water colour works for the NOVA Sherringham event in October under the theme of Reflections.

REHEARSAL AT ST NICS DURING ART SHOW

As I am going away to Anitas for a few days in the morning, I had to take a photo under electric light tonight to post so that the finished work has come up rather more golden than it really is. I did not put every figure in, which left me with the problem of deciding how to fill in the gaps between players and instruments, but I soldiered on. Needless to say, I had to add one of the wonderful church flower displays around the chapel and think it adds to the depth of the piece (it also covered a lot of area I did not know what to do with!!!! ) All in all, my first return to oil painting for months proves to me how much I love this soft, blendable medium.

Over many weeks now I have been returning to this oil painting on a 16" x 16" box canvas using my yummy Michael Harding paints and at long last have finished all the detail, which has taken ages. It is a scene I have wanted to paint for over 2 years now, ever since I photographed the players rehearsing in St Nicholas Chapel during the Kings Lynn Festival. The West Norfolk Art Association I belong to were having their annual show there and concerts were being performed during lunch times. I was invigilating when the musicians came in early to rehearse and I strolled down the aisle to capture them with my camera. I do so wish I had taken more, as I feel this could do with a pair for the 2010 Festival event.

Here are some of the stages

1 Just beginning to see how it would pan out using 4 different photos to combine a single composition

2 Blocking in the floor and the base of the organ

3 Blocking in the organ pipes and archways

I am really looking forward to a few days with Anita at her home in Cambridgeshire, especially using the new Atelier Interactive acrylic paints she bought me for my birthday. They do not form a top skin when dry and can be softened with water mist spray to blend in another layer and to also keep the paints malleable on the palette. Wonder how like oils they will be.

CORRECTED POST RE SNOWDROPS

In January 2008 when I was running a GALLERY as well as a BLOG site, I posted the above gold and cream version of snowdrops in my series called BY THE WINDOW.

Since taking the girls back home after three days with us over New Year so that our daughter could really celebrate without any family commitments and staying to celebrate their other nanny's 70th birthday, I have wanted to get my acrylic paints out and play. Here is the result of using an image in my archives of the original snowdrops and simply playing with colour and texture - and I even cut strips of a leather type fabric to create striped curtains. I added patterns to reflect all the other colours in the painting.

Here is this latest version. It was fun just doing whatever I fancied and they certainly look very different. More painterly I feel and less decorative.

MY GALLERY - SNOWDROPS

Just made an error by posting into my closed down GALLERY instead of my BLOG SITE. Don't know how to copy it across. Its about snowdrops - perhaps if you are interested you could link across http://sandfordcookgallery.blogspsot.com/ or tell me how to move it. At the top is the finished recent more painterly version .

CAN I GO OUT TO PLAY WATERCOLOUR

Back in the Spring I sold a painting that caused a stir at an exhibition because of its comic content. It was about two ceramic sheep sitting on a coffee table by a window looking out at a field of sheep enjoying life in the sunshine and I called it CAN I GO OUT TO PLAY? The idea actually goes back some years to a Fenland show entitled 'bums' when I only showed the backview of sheep. Another couple liked it so much they commissioned me to do something similar. So I agreed to keep the storyline but change some of the detail.

finished work - as usual click to enlarge to see detail

Back home in my study I could not believe I did not have a stored image of the original piece but fortunately remembered it enough to make changes, for example

-I kept the curtain colour as requested but added a pattern

-I changed the original equal sided curtains and moved the smaller table more to the left

-originally there had been a pot of geraniums behind the sheep on a larger table but this time round I decided on a pot of ferns in front of the longer and wider curtains on the right

-originally the ceramic sheep had been laying down and this time round made the little lamb much smaller than its mother

- finally I changed the terracotta floor tiles to soft greys and added shadows

All in all it is a completely different piece of artwork with the same comic theme and question for its title .

here is my working drawing

It took some time planning the composition, using different references for the sheep, ferns and pattern in the curtains. Everything else was made up.

first washes of the view through the window

first layer of the ceramic sheep and finished pot and ferns

My clients are back from holiday tomorrow, when I will arrange delivery or collection. Hope they enjoy it with double 3 inch cream mount inside a plain wood frame measuring 22 inches square. Can't believe I've managed to complete this 15 x 15 inch square watercolour since I got back from Italy last Sunday ... but I did have all my references ready and had given it lots of thought before I went away.

DERSINGHAM GARDEN WEEKEND

As I felt the need to have a break from actual painting, with all the work I created for the Rising Sun, I decided to spend the weekend going through my wooden chest of older unframed works and paintings in acrylic and watercolour pads. Two of the pieces I came up with belong to a series called THE TEA TIME SERIES but created in very different media.


I have a favourite water colour artist, Shirley Trevena, who does floral and interior still life work that is truly stunning and a style all her own. This first piece I found was when I decided to create my work combining my love or floral and still life, but without copying Sheila's lose style. I allowed the paints to run in places and even 'printed' patterns from embroidered/embossed ribbons I have in my collage box. I simply made it all up as I went along with hardly any drawing . The window effect came last - and eventually became a series in its own right.

This second one is completely different with lots of collaged ribbons, gold, linen strips from the edge of old cushions and acrylic paint. I think this was inspired by a visit to John Lewis furnishing department to see what colours were fashionable for the home - and it turned out this soft blue mixed with creams and browns. Sorry photo is a bit crooked, but I've packed it away now for the show.
The show is mid May at a little town/village in Norfolk near the Queen's Estate at Sandringham and they are having a weekend open garden event combined with arts and crafts. Most of my pieces I'm taking are garden and floral pieces I have mounted and put into sleeves, so I can keep them quite reasonable.... as framing really shoots the price up when you choose something to go with the work. Both paintings are 16 x 12 ins.

ANOTHER SKETCH AT ANITAS

click to enlarge

This sketch began because when I turned over the page in the moleskin sketchbook the thick colour from the fighting bronze hares on previous page had soaked through, so Anita gave me a sheet from her note pad and stuck it in. I then developed the little ivy sprays on this sheet outside the square, looked at her silk flowers in the lounge and added the poppy seeds and flower shapes. Then came the vase and finally the lace covered slipper to hold rings I gave Anita some while ago. So finally I took two of my rings off and drew them alongside.

At the time I was sketching at the dining table with Harry, who was drawing James Bond in a wonderful tuxedo plus gun of course, as they were going to see Quantum of Solace the next day. I borrowed his colour pencils and decided not to shade the flower shapes on the note sheet, added a few notes in the corner and it was complete.

Our Anita does encourage you to work fast - and I love the way the pages evolve as they go.

3 DAYS AT ANITAS

Everyone should have the opportunity I have from time to time to spend a few days with Anita at her home and with her wonderful family in the Fens of East Anglia in England. She is the world's greatest blogger and, more to the point, a maestro at sketchbook art. Such an influence I start using my moleskin sketchbook 10 x 8 inches from the minute I walk in the door!!!

All these sketches are from object d'art in her home added to the double spread throughout most of the first day. It was cold and I had just driven 70 miles across country so we worked in doors.

The fighting hares are a small bronze figure on her Victorian black fireplace.
The egg is a wonderfully patterned and coloured wooden egg on display on the sideboard.
The book cover is from her recent project of 27 local village houses which have been printed into a beautiful 38 page 7 x 7 inch soft covered book.
The apples I brought over from the Broads in Norfolk in a plastic colander.
The flowers are made from a potato stamp Anita created while preparing dinner!
Finally, there is one of Harry's guns in the middle.


What a collection. What a family. What a wonderful 3 days.

More to show you from a trip into Ely to deliver work to the Sue Ryder Fund raising event. I have an acrylic workshop tomorrow - so more on Sunday.

To see Anita's blog and wonderful artwork click on the link on the left.

this is my one hundredth post!! - SPREADEAGLE INN PROJECT

I visited my daughter and girls for couple of days this week and then went on to the Spread Eagle Inn where my decorative artwork is on display in the five en suite barn conversions. When I posted details of this project some weeks back I was asked to let you see the paintings in situ, so photographed them today. Surprising how small they look once up on the walls but remember they are behind double beds!! Worthwhile enlarging to see colour schemes working well together.

1 After the Rain in the Old Forge

2 Two Poppy Paintings in the Smithy Suite

3 Sculptured Tulips in The Carriage House Suite

4 White Orchids in the Stable Suite (the touches of soft green leaves match the cushions and lampshades perfectly)

5 The two paintings created for the Cartshed Suite

Arent they lovely rooms? Lori has such wonderful skills in decor and I think she chose the best paintings for each suite from those selected over a long email exchange. She actually chose 8 out of the 14 I then took over to her - number 8 is the Buttercups and Daisies in the lounge area of the Old Forge suite. What a delightful place to stay if you want a country retreat near Swaffham in Norfolk.. .. wonderful food too!! We are planning weekend acrylic workshops for next year as well!!

JAPANESE VASE COMPLETED

I've been working on this acrylic painting on and off over the last week and have this afternoon put the final touches. The flowers are from a painting I created a couple of years ago when a painting friend bought me these rather unusual coloured bronzy orange flowers. I thought the colours went well with the Japanese kimonos and linked with the orange background of the other vase painting.

So here it is -
Click to enlarge

I would usually use gold leaf for the handles but had run out and my local gallery and framers suggested I use Rub and Buff antique gold in a tube used for framing and antiquing. It works a treat and less expensive.

Im not sure how much the painting changed from its original posting over a week ago but I know I made more of the window and trees outside than I did on the first vase painting which had orange brick and tiles. I think the diagonal works really well and I enjoyed adding the soft shadows on the window sill.

So they are ready to take to Ely next week.

SECOND VASE FOR OLD PALACE ELY

This vase has a Japanese image and flowers all over and is a delight to try to create. It was photo'd on the windowsill with a corner window behind. With the first vase I created a burnt orange background to pick up the fact that as you looked out the window you only saw red brick or tiles. This time there is a blurr of foliage and sky so its a reverse in colours to the first vase I created for the Sue Ryder Exhibition.

I only drew it up Monday and could not wait to get down to the colour and detail. I have photo'd some of today's stages for you. As before, not sure how it will take me.

1 getting the background worked in with the flower shapes
2 close up of the figures I added on top of a layer of thick primer

Then before finishing for the day, I brushed in some lively lilies in the same colour I had used for the Japanese ladies' gowns.

Looks lop sided - hope its the photography and not my artwork!!!! Not always happy using photos but I could never have sat on the staircase in the Palace to paint them!!. .. but my references are not that clear so taking images from various angled photos which in some cases look bronzy and others a pearl like background. Wish me luck??

COMPLETED BLUE VASE - OLD PALACE

Dont think you'll recognise this acrylic painting from the first two posts. It seems the flowers have taken over!! I decided to use a technique I discovered some years back when I was creating the magic garden series as I felt the delicate flowers originally planned didnt work for me. So, as you can see, they are a lot bolder and using all the colours of my painting palette.

As I cant seem to get this above image enlarged, Ive edited the post and added the following two close ups:

well worth enlarging (which they do) to see how I create the flowers

So its changed radically and I think its become really 'me'. I always let the painting develop as it wants, so to speak.Would appreciate knowing your views. Probably that the vase is not now the centre of focus. .. but I dont mind that.

COMPLETED ACRYLIC PLUM DECORATIVE PIECES

Thought you might like to see the final result of the acrylic pair I was working on for the barn conversion project . Both much darker to go with the strong plum almost black cushions in the suite - hope my memory is accurate with this.
Click on images to enlarge
I added to the right hand painting the feeling of light through the lampshade touching edges of the flower motif, lamp base and cushion edges with the aid of a lemon glaze. I darkened the area of the glimpse of windowpanes in the top left to make it look like night, so there was a reason for the lamp being lit. I feel it makes the whole piece of work more narrative.

As regards the one on the left, I darkened some of the background to allow the flower motifs to stand out more and adjusted shape sizes to create more cushions and a feeling of curtains and small windowpanes to help with the theme for the pair as they will be hanging side by side behind the twin beds .

At last I am satisfied with them both, particularly the light I have been able to incorporate in this last layer of paint ..... and feel they work well together.

ACRYLIC ARTWORK FOR BARN CONVERSION

A lovely country pub recently converted barns alongside their premises for accommodation and I have been asked to provide artwork for the 5 suites. They were able to choose work I already have to fit in with the various decor colour schemes for the majority of the suites but I needed to

create new work for the fifth as the decor was in the colour of plums and purples. When I visited I decided to quickly sketch out designs within the suite from the patterns on the cushions and the shape of the lampshade and base and the back of the twin beds. I thought a pair of canvas acrylics sized 14 x 36 inches to hang behind the two headboards would be interesting. I created them both with Finity acrylics in lots of layers and texture, cutting back to lower layers for some of the patterns and added a pearl finish in areas and some shiny silk paints for the motifs .

The first images show the complete design and a close up of the silver in the bedhead, the squiggly patterns and McIntosh floral motif in the cushions .

The second piece depicts the shape of the lampshade and base as well as the patterns in the cushions.

I still have to do some tweeking, paint the sides of the canvases to match and varnish them both.

Hope she likes my ideas and colours when I deliver them all next week.

VISIT TO ANITA

First let me tell you how busy I have been this morning editing my blog by going through the posts and consolidating labels and then - clever me - I added the list of label links to my 'home page'. Ive been a blogger since January this year and learning all the time what you can do with it.
Corner of Anita's studio with our acrylic efforts en plain aire at the Old Palace Ely, both of which need a little more work - oh! yes and my lovely little automatic Astra I go everywhere in parked up outside.

Anyway this post is about my lovely visit to Anita's last week, as well as three consecutive days out painting(already posted the Ely and Peter Scott Lighthouse trips - yet to scan what I did at the wonderful Barnstable Gardens in Rutland) we were mad enough to sketch late into the night at Anita's lovely Fenland home. So here are a couple of my efforts from my moleskin sketchbook!!!!


1 2

1 Another corner in the studio
2 The charming fireplace with figures and ornate mirror in the lounge

THE FINAL RESULTS OF THE TWO WORKS IN PROGRESS

These are the completed 16 x 16 inch acrylic canvases I was working on last week. Unfortunately, the first one has come up somewhat pinky in colour in the photoing, but I really did use the same colours for both paintings. The second one has more collage ie the two pots themselves but they are both based on window backgrounds, one with the effect of lace curtains and the other with bowed Georgian style window. Ive added close up images to give you a better idea of the colour of the first painting and see the textures of both.