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Today I had an unusual but extremely enjoyable and rewarding painting session with Darrell.  We set up just the one easel and I painted under Darrell's verbal direction.  I had been flitting about during the 2 day Tall Ship seminar last week and was unable to actually take part so I am really happy to say I didn't miss out on this exciting new subject altogether, as you can see here.  The object of today's exercise was to instruct me to teach this subject here in the UK.  You'll find a larger image of this painting in my GALLERY   At one stage, Darrell gave me a list (quite a long list too) of directions and off he went for his afternoon nap and left me to it.  When he re-surfaced my ship was just about finished, or so I thought.........!  Darrell showed me how to add all kinds of extra poles and ropes and other fine details.  These extra details, plus lots more, can be found on the Tall Ships DVD series.  It's your last day to get them for the pre-launch price of £115 - Click HERE  if you wish to take advantage of this offer before the price increases.  After the painting session I asked Darrell how he thought I'd done........his reply was;  'You're Fast!'   

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Of course.......all these challenges, the fun and excitement in our painting world is really due to one special fella.  He would have been 65 today too!  Many of us owe our newly formed friendships, our success in the art business and our joy of painting to Mr Bob Ross - who is probably the figurehead most people associate with the wet on wet technique.  Happy Birthday.

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I have one impatient customer who is gagging to get his hands on his commission of Scarface.  Unfortunately, I have been so busy over the last few days that I have been unable to deliver him.....so Jody, you'll have to settle with the GALLERY  image for now - click on the image, it'll enlarge for you my dear.

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Today I had a day I didn't expect.  Today I finally got to have a turn at painting with Darrell.......but with a BIG difference.  For starters, there was just the two of us.....around the dining table......with hot chocolate.......and trail mix.......and jokes.  Between giggles we worked on a wild-life subject.  You can see the results in my GALLERY  - this is just about the best fun I have had with a paint-brush for a long time - plus - it's something I will put up as a class subject too.  I have to purr-fect it with bells on before I can do that though.  It'll be offered as a private subject first before it gets launched as a class subject.  I feel very inspired and fingers crossed we'll get to have another paint up before he departs.  I can safely say I have never had a lesson like this in my life and will not forget this for a long time.  Am I lucky or what?

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Week 43: 22nd October to 28th October 

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Where on earth have the last 4 days gone?  Our final workshop, the Darrell Crow landscape seminar, was our last class in the series and also the first class to end in the dark.  Darrell is not only a superb teacher, he also brings a class together in such a way that every one feels they've made themselves some great friends during the process.  We're provisionally planning our next year's dates and class subjects - but I think we can safely say the tall ships will return to port next year.  Many thanks for the flowers from painting buddies Jane and Marilyn and thanks again to all students who have taken part - your assistance in setting up and clearing away are always much appreciated.  Thanks also to all visitors who have dropped by to welcome Darrell and for the extra help with the refreshment trolley.  You make our job a very enjoyable and worthwhile experience.

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As we strolled up the path to our car with the sun bright in the sky, the 'feel good' vibe started before we even departed for today's class. The Floral class went really well and even finished ahead of time.  Fabulous results were easily acheived by all students taking part.  Once again, our students ranged from experienced Bob Ross Instructor to first timer.  I've had help with the refreshments over the last few days.  Jane and Marilyn had travelled in from Colchester to help out just for the opportunity to meet and watch Darrell in action.  Thanks ladies, much appreciated.  Today we had Peggy and Jan on the tea trolley and they were equally thrilled to meet with Darrell.  Another chap, George, who has been chatting and e-mailing me for several years turned up to meet with both myself and Darrell too.  George made a trip from London by train and then by bus to Capel just to say hallo.  Once he saw both Alan's and Darrell's Tall Ship painting he promptly placed his DVD order too and left with a carrier bag full of brushes and other DVD's.  You can see George in the suit in this shot and also one of the fabulous floral paintings from today's class. 

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The Tall Ships Seminar concluded today with some absolutely amazing results.  It is very, very hard to believe the fantastic results are from mostly beginners.  Darrell takes a complex subject and breaks it down into easy, simple to understand steps.  Here's proof that ANYONE can oil paint.  This is Alan's painting (yes, he did decide to have ochre sails instead of blue and yes, if you look close you'll see a pirate flag - which just about sums him up!).  As we ate our dinner this evening with Alan's painting dominating the dining room, we can honestly say it's been a great couple of days with some really great results.  Darrell's been showing me previews of some of the DVD's about to be launched and I can't wait to tackle a galleon I've seen.  Those of you who have placed their Tall Ships orders will not be disappointed, that much I can say.  

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The tall ships are underway.  It's great to see both old faces and new at the first tall ships seminar.  It's great also to put faces to names I've only ever seen on my internet orders.  The first session of the Tall Ships class was quite dramatic - which I guess is expected as it's a very dramatic painting subject.  Alan is taking part in the class and thoroughly enjoying it.  This lucky student, Richard, managed to get a little something extra in his painting - Darrell called it a seagull that had been hit by a harpoon - to an untrained eye it might look like an accident with Alizarin Crimson paint.  Either way, it's been laid to rest.  We finished the class by unwinding with a glass or two in the local village pub - a great way to end day 1.  Thanks to all the students who helped to pack away so we were out of the hall on time - we cracked it with time to spare.

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Well, congratulations to Neil - he was spot on in yesterday's competition.  'Nice cup of tea' were almost Darrell's exact words.  Thanks everyone who entered via the forum and e-mail.  By 2 o'clock early hours we decided we would have to retire and postpone catching up with our news till the following day.  After a hearty breakfast we set to work.  We've been shopping for a few extra supplies, we've had some mahl sticks made, we've prepared the Tall Ships canvases and Darrell is currently perfecting the Landscape painting subject for Sunday.  I've been sat at his side through this project watching just about every brush stroke and learning lots during the process.  Oh, Darrell's very impressed with Alan's kingfisher painting (see bottom of page).  His exact words 'GET OUTTA HERE...................!' 

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A battle of wit - just for fun:  Darrell's journey to the UK has started, Stateside.  I estimate, all being well, we'll walk through my front door around 11pm this evening.  As soon as the bags are set down I will ask Darrell 'What can I get you?'  If you'd like to hazard a guess at Darrell's answer then drop me a line.   If you can predict correctly you'll receive a £5 AyoubArt Gift Voucher.  Bear in mind the time difference (it'll be 6pm in his home town), and bear in mind he'll have been on the road/in transit for approx 12 hours.....and, most importantly, bear in mind he never misses a chance to surprise you.  From our brief exchange before he left home, I can tell you he's firing on all cylinders today!  Answers can be posted via my FORUM  or e-mailed to info@ayoubart.co.uk   Good luck guys.  PS:  He has no idea of this little game, I'll let him in on it when we share a nightcap and hopefully amuse him with your answers! 

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I've just been on Doll's House duty - or rather - grown up fussing in the Apollo Studio  in preparation for Darrell's arrival tomorrow.  It really does look inviting in there when the cushions are plumped and the bed is made.  Whilst waiting for the floors to dry I thought I'd sit down with a cuppa in front of the PC and publish my news page.  I was wondering if my new painting design 'Make A Wish' was a little too plain in colour.  I like it, especially the starry sky, but will students?  Phone rings - 2 bookings taken for one of the the 'Make A Wish' classes.  Letterbox rattles - a plastic bag from Make-A-Wish charity wanting unused clothes is pushed through the door almost simultaneously.  Talk about coincidence - how spooky is that?  They say it comes in 3's - so I'm about to make myself a wish........ 

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Yesterday evening I worked some more on the Scarface/Al Pacino painting.  The face needed to be completed and it is a fiddly job.  This time I worked in silence, no music.  An hour later it was done and dusted.  I stood it on my mantelpiece (as it is best assessed from a distance) and I'm really pleased with it so far.  I just need to work on Mr Pacino's left hand and we're about finished so it can be delivered later this week. 

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Some lovely news this morning....one of my students has received her first commission!  You'll perhaps remember Barbara of the cream and chocolate Bamburgh Castle fame?  She's been requested to make this in a different colour scheme.  I know that if anyone had told her she'd be doing this 6 months ago she'd have laughed. Congratulations Barbara.

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Week 42: 15th October to 21st October 

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I've just added the November painting subject to the Class Timetable page.  You can see a much larger version of the painting HERE.   I wanted something seasonal as we approach Christmas.  The painting was called 'Star of Wonder' but I decided to re-name it 'Make A Wish' for no particular reason.  I've been meaning to play around with some star effects for some time now.  I am offering students the option to paint this in lavender and lilac if they prefer.  You'll see on the Class Subjects  page, I'va also added a countryside stream painting.  This page is certainly growing.  With over 30 subjects to choose from there's something there to suit every taste and age.

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Anyone for mushroom foo yung?  We live relatively close to a large mushroom farm, which has it's pluses as we can have all the free mushroom compost we need delivered whenever we want - ideal for pots and tubs.  We find mushrooms popping up all over the place in the garden, I guess the spores must carry in the wind.  Alan was working in the back garden today and came across this little bunch - just so you can see the size of these things I've taken another snap of a mushroom by a tape measure.  It smells deliciously earthy but we're not totally sure if it's edible - if it is, there's enough there for a huge pot of homemade mushroom soup!  Now, where's that mushroom book......................?

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Here's a little something that might just be an ideal painting companion and it's arrival is more than timely.  I now supply a spot remover which can remove oil, grease, PAINT, make-up, grass, clay, inks, blood, sauce, coffee, rust stains, tar, fabric bleed, tumeric....in fact ANY kind of stain.  It's environmentally safe, it's bio degradable and has no chlorine or phosphates.  It's in a handy pocket/handbag sized container and ONE DROP will do the job.  Now here's the thing.....yesterday I had an accident with a tub of paint brushes.  The tub tipped over and fell against a cream curtain.  One of the brushes was filled with deep purple oil paint, which fell down pretty much the length of the fabric.  With my spot remover to the rescue I applied a couple of drops to the oil patches and presto - gone!  At just £5.50 (including postage and packing) if this little bottle helps you to save just one pair of trousers or top (or full length lined curtains!) then it will pay for itself.  I've just opened a shopping basket for it HERE. 

Speaking of ships - yesterday afternoon I had lunch at the noodle bar with my eldest daughter.  (Followed by some retail therapy.)  After an afternoon browsing we stopped for some refreshments just over the road from her apartment.  The Neptune Quay in the Marina area of Ipswich is a delightful promenade with many restaurants and bars.  A great place to watch the world go by.  This was our view as we sipped our drinks - it could almost be Mediterranean.  The weather doesn't matter as the bar front at Isaacs has the hugest of umbrellas with outdoor heating.  Just down the quay - if you really fancy a nautical theme - is the floating Brasserie 'Il Punto'.  It's a converted Gun Ship and serves the most fantastic french cuisine.  So if you're down for a few days taking part in the Darrell Crow Tall Ships seminars - you might just want to carry on the mood aboard this lovely boat.  See for yourself HERE   

I've just opened a shopping basket for the Darrell Crow Tall Ships DVD Pre Order Offer.  You can make online payment for these items by clicking HERE   Alternatively payment can be made by cheque/postal order or bank transfer, e-mail me for details if you wish to make payment by this method.  Just to remind you, this is a PRE ORDER.  This exciting DVD set is available 15th November in the States - we'll have to allow for the postage time from the States to the UK, so I anticipate, all being well, I can supply these items direct from the UK some 7 days after that.  Darrell has announced the price will increase to £140 on 1st November.  These prices include postage and packing to any European address.  If you are outside Europe please e-mail me for a postal quote.  info@ayoubart.co.uk  There is an extra special offer for the first 100 orders, so far just over 30 orders have been received and I'll keep you updated on those figures as soon as they're received from Darrell.  Details of the special offers can be found on my forum HERE  or in the text of the shopping basket HERE

Des is happy to let me show you his extra embellishments to the countryside landscape painting he made on Saturday.  He's added a little flock of sheep in the valley and I think they work really well.

Week 41: 8th October to 14th October

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Almost a repeat entry here!  The Christmas Candles painting seems to have hit the spot too!  Today's private students were originally going to paint a snowscene.  However, when I showed them the Candle/Poinsettia painting they both fancied having a go at it, even though they thought they might not be able to achieve good results.  I assured them that they could easily make this painting and to put their trust in me.  I'll do the worrying, that's what I'm paid for - their part is to follow the simples steps, relax and have fun.  Well, we have another couple of stunning paintings that can be used as a gift idea or a personal extra special X-mas decoration, ideal for a dining room perhaps.  What's more, we've discussed all the different ways this painting can be re-created too.  Imagine a white candle - imagine several candles at different heights, (Imagine Fork Handles!) imagine holly, mistletoe and/or ivy.......  imagine a leaded window in the background.  It tells me just how far a student has progressed when their creative ideas flow.  Speaking of which - I'm hoping Des will let me show you what he had added to his countryside painting.........

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I think the countryside scene I made yesterday hit the spot.  Today's private students will soon find themselves amongst such scenery when they go on their vacation in a few week's time.   They'll be travelling armed with brushes, canvas and paints etc ready to spend some time getting lost in the beautiful Scottish landscape.  Both students made very different versions of this painting and only one student opted for the poppies.  Some different colours are introduced in this painting too - bet you can't spot where the permanent rose is.  At one stage, Katie's painting resembled a mediterranean/tuscan scene, with tiered olive terraces.  We soon changed it to make it more traditional, but this 'Happy Accident' may just assist me in another project I need to work on............ 

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I've had a flurry of French and French Canadian visitors making both public and private comments in my GUESTBOOK .  It transpires that I've recently been written about on a French Art Forum and the readers have found their way to my website.  Consequently almost 50 free Darrell Crow Water DVD's were sent out to both countries today.  So, merci beaucoup mon amies.  Your DVD's are on their way and thankyou for your lovely comments.   Oh, it's probably an apt time top remind readers of the AyoubArt Toolbar.  At the bottom of each page on my website you'll see a little black and white logo that says Download Our Toolbar........feel free to give it a try.  It's easy to install and easy to remove.  There's lots of natty little features, icons and quick links to my most popular pages.  Personally, I wouldn't be without the e-mail notifier.  With several e-mail addresses, I can see at a glance what's coming in where.

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I’ve had a further play with my countryside project today.  I’ve been up hill and down dale with this one……and it’s taken a few attempts to create just the right base colour for the highlights to sit on without turning everything to mud.   By late afternoon, after several distractions, I was beginning to lose my flow with this.  As an after-thought I plopped in some drifts of poppies, just to lift the many green tones.  Mmmmm, I'm not sure.  There's areas of this painting I really am pleased with, and areas I really don't like.  Are we ever happy?  You can see here on the right the photo I was given to work from.  The change in the horizon line is deliberate as I was not at ease with such a vast expanse of plain sky. 

Whilst my bits and bobs are out, I thought I'd take a snap of my new brush holder, courtesy of Peggy's husband, John.  (See September post, Week 38 )  This is such a sturdy tool.  As you can see, it's made from waste pipe tubing.  It's both glued and taped for extra strength.  There's 6 holders around a 7th taller holder which has a wire handle.  Not once has this toppled over, despite the tall brushes.  This takes John approx 3 hours to make plus materials.  He is charging just £7.50 for this caddy.  If anyone would like one you can place an order through me on 01473 311938 or e-mail info@ayoubart.co.uk.  Due to the size and weight I will not post this item out, but they can be collected from classes.  It may not be the fanciest holder in the world but I wouldn't swap mine for anything.  Thanks John, I told you it'd get well used, didn't I.  What's that contraption in front of the holder, I hear you ask...........?  It's my much coveted Tube Wringer - another natty little tool that I wouldn't be without, saves me a fortune by getting every last drop of paint from the bottom of a tube.

I was speaking to a pal earlier this week about floral painting.  He has a canvas prepared ready for a rose project whilst I just have an idea of a bright flower spray in my mind.  Seems neither of us are progressing with the actual task.  Today though, I thought I would get out my floral brushes and have a go at some basics with a view to creating a new and different class project.  Whilst flipping through my many DVD's I stumbled across a Darrell Crow exercise that just seemed fitting.  The image here is based on his Christmas Candles/Poinsettias  DVD, which has been reduced to £11.50.  I'd forgotton what a warm and vibrant painting this is.  For the moment, this subject will be offered as a private lesson only and the cost will be an extra £5 due to the deep edge boxed rectangular canvas.  If you'd like to book this as a lesson please contact me on 01473 311938 or e-mail info@ayoubart.co.uk.  Alternatively, for £11.50 you could purchase the DVD for yourself (CLICK HERE ) and have a go at home.  I didn't set out to make a floral project today, I've actually been working on creating a countryside scene (no problem) with dry stone walls (problem).  It's not going great but I will not be defeated......!  Another project has just come along too.  Seems the small section of Pop Art at the recent exhibition was quite popular, I've just had a commission for Al Pacino as Scarface.  I'll enjoy this as Pacino is one of my favourite actors.

I meant to mention.....in Sunday's Oil Painting Beginner's Class we had several 'Arabic' moments.  As I was signing my name, one student said 'Hey, that's Arabic!'.  It transpired she had an Arabic tattoo, her husband's name, which she promptly showed me.  When her husband collected her, he too had an Arabic tattoo!  As another student was paying I noticed some Arabic lettering on his forearm - you guessed it - he too had an Arabic tattoo.  What's the chances of that?   (I actually had an Arabic moment when we were setting up the Exhibition last week....but I won't go into details.  All I can say is it's a good job there were no Arabs within earshot.) 

Our last Exhibition showing day is over - and we ended on a wet note after 5 fine days.  It's been a great experience, we've met some lovely people and all stewards have had fun during the event.  It's been lovely to see student's faces as they enter the Cloisters to see their work as part of a 'proper' exhibition and it's been their chance to encourage their family and friends to come along and share their experience.  I met a chap who left me with a comment that I shall pass onto all participants - I think it sums things up really nicely.  He is a fellow artist who specializes in very intricate work - the detail in his paintings took our breath away the first time we saw them on display at Needham Market Easter Exhibition 4 years ago.  He had spent the morning at a rather large exhibition in nearby Diss, he decided to pop along and see us straight afterwards.  He was all smiles as he strolled round our work, stopping and examining many pieces.  He said 'The work on display here would put some of the work I've just seen to shame, both on talent and price'.  The work he had just seen ran into £1000's apparently.

Week 40: 1st October to 7th October

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Part way through today's 'Peach Dawn' class I received a text from my sister, Bub, to say another of my paintings sold at the exhibition, so that put an extra spring in my step.  Bub likes to unwind from her business pressures by card making.  She has several displays of these in her salon and they are quite popular with the customers.  She took along her card making kit to the Cloisters along with a display of finished cards and managed to make about a dozen more, in between chatting to viewers.  She managed to sell 10 of her cards too, along with some of my DVD's, so another good day all round.  Today's class went well and there was several new faces.  One lady, Sandra, was most definately my ideal student - her only artistic talent was being able to draw stick men!  She had a fear of painting trees, yet her confidence built with each simple step.  By the time we put the trees in she had minor, rather than major, aprehension.  Her husband and children popped in during the class to see how she was getting on and were impressed with her results.  Sandra is a Capel Community member and we had a photo shoot together with her painting so we can have a little entry in next month's news mag 'Capel Capers'.   With a quote from Terminator, Sandra tells me 'I'll be back!' 

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Day two and all is well.  Things are running like clockwork so far.  Myself and my sister, Bub, took over the stewarding from Peggy and Jan at lunchtime.  Although there had been no sales by lunchtime, there had been many positive comments on the paintings and an interest in my classes.  Later in the afternoon one particular lady was taken with Robbie Williams, and subsequently he no longer looks out to the street.  I've also received a 'pop art' commission with a rather religious theme - I guess that's what you get when you exhibit in a Cathedral.  It's a chilly venue so we treated ourselves to a mug of hot chocolate from the Refectory - with the works, sprinkles, whipped cream and a flake.  It certainly warmed us up and I think another one will be on the cards on Monday, when I'm next on duty with my eldest daughter.  

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Day one of the Exhibition and our first sale has been made - woo hoo.  The weather is glorious and, touchwood, it is forecast to stay that way over the weekend.  On our return from hanging the extra paintings this morning, we spotted something on the roadside that made us stop and turn around - and as a result I now have my biggest (and most different) painting project ever!  More about that later........you know I like to keep you all in suspenders! 

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OH MY GOD!!! I didn't realise just how many paintings I had!!!  Even though I've been giving many away for charitable causes, I have several paintings on display at venues, my studio has racks of them and then there's the ones dotted around the house, don't even mention the ones stored away in the loft!  I think need to consider 2 things quite quickly - have another exhibition and/or do some craft fayre demos with a view to selling some.  Another morning of labelling and stringing, more painting deliveries arriving.  My dining room has become the main work area and just so I have company whilst I work, I've decided to hang a recent Pop Art painting (which I made just for ME).  It's spooky being watched by Roger.

He done alright, didn't he........?