Sue's DECEMBER News - For updates, special offers, class info and an insight into what's going on in my world

Week 53: 31st December

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Just dropping by to say a last few words in 2007...........  Hope you all have a very, very Happy New Year and all the best wishes for 2008.  Thanks to students, readers and customers for all your support over the last year.  I wonder what's in store for us next year?  To quote T S Eliot; 'For last year's words belong to last year's language, and next year's words await another voice, and to make an end is to make a beginning.'   

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Week 52: 24th December to 30th December

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I'm always interested, when I check my website stats, to see where my hits are coming from and how you guys are finding me.  The majority of the google word searches are expected, but there are always the odd ones.  I've mentioned before that I used to get regular hits from the word search 'brick laying in Dubai'.  I'm sure I disappointed one poor soul who, on Christmas Day, found me by searching 'Wine Sales'!  I was suprised to see the hits to my website didn't drop off over Christmas, but in fact increased by approx 75% - now that is quite an incredible upsurge.  It indicates that folk are spending their free time on the net.  I had a significant peak in internet traffic at 4 in the morning Christmas Day, followed by a second substantial peak at 3 in the afternoon (shame, you should have been watching the Queen's speach).  The most amount of traffic peaked at 10 in the evening.   The Christmas day hits were, in no particular order, generated from the UK, 23 of the 50 American States, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, France, Germany, Afghanistan, Romania, Austria, Australia, Canada, China, Spain, Norway, Malta, Ireland, Israel, India, Japan, Lebanon, Czech Republic, Egypt and last, but not least a very apt Turkey.  It'll be interesting to see how this data compares to New Year's Day traffic. 

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The brushes, paints, easel and canvases are now back in the studio for a few days.  I've managed to complete a pretty wildlife painting today, a project that was left for me when Darrell visited here in October.  I'm reasonably happy with it despite making a silly mistake very early on in the painting.  I didn't let it put me off and decided to work with it, a challenge in itself.  Soft brushes were used, as the technique with this particular wildlife project is akin to floral painting.  The feathers were done by double loading a soft flat brush and really were the easiest thing in the world.  I will make this my mission to re-paint in the New Year but in a slightly different way - as I look at it I can see several things I'd like to change.  It'll take a couple more goes before this is ready as a new painting class subject.  I'll pop a larger image in my gallery  for you all to see.  

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A bit of good news for anyone who doesn't own the Darrell Crow set of Basic Techniques of Oil Painting (Landscapes).  Darrell is allowing them to remain at the sale price of £65 for a little while longer, giving a saving of £15.  This price includes postage and packing to any European address.  On his website, the closure date for this sale reads as January 10th.   You'll find the shopping basket HERE      He also has brilliant news on the Tall Ships DVD set.  3 extra DVD projects (2 discs each) are now included; the Schooner, the 5 Mast Bark and Pirates Ahoy.    There's news also of the final 2 DVD projects in this series.  Quote: 'Mighty Clipper is completed and we’re simply awaiting Pirates Ahoy. I made a last minute decision to reshoot this entire lesson. Instead of a day-time Pirate scene, we’ve gone to a night time Pirate ship scene. It’s now in editing and should be ready for us in about one week. I think you’re really going to like this.'   The shopping basket has been adjusted to show these additional items, meanwhile I shall mark the Tall Ships DVD set as temporarily out of stock until all discs can be despatched together.  Hopefully, that will be in only a couple of week's time, allowing for the time it takes to receive the master copies in the UK.  Here's a reminder of what my own Tall Ship 'The Flying Cloud' looks like, just to whet your appetite. 

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Today, after packaging and posting my internet orders, I settled down to a countryside painting.  I'm calling this one 'Round The Bend'.  I had the 'Rose Cottage' DVD playing in the background the previous night whilst ironing and the inspiration has come from that.  'Yeah, but where's the cottage?' I hear you ask.  Well, as Bob Ross used to say 'It's your world.......'   I thoroughly enjoyed the whole creation of this painting and managed to experiment whilst doing it too, with the introduction of 2 new colours to the palette.  Thinners was not used once, the blender brush was used, but not to blend and the majority of the foliage was done with the fan brush.  A new knife was tested with fantastic results and I will be placing an order with my wholesaler next week to make sure I have plenty for classes (and for sale from the website too).  Now, my next mission is to develop this painting so it can be used as a painting subject without changing the composition too much.  The Rose Cottage DVD is available HERE , just scroll down.  It's just £ 5.50 (which includes postage and packing to any European address) should you want to try this for yourself at home.  I'll pop a larger photo of this painting in my Gallery  so you can get a better look.

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This morning was spent sorting out my studio, I needed to make more space and I had to organise my ever growing brush collection, plus a stock take was a little overdue.  But........this afternoon the paints and brushes came out.  I've been experimenting with some new oils and some new colours.  Here you can see an exercise in a new turquoise I've picked up.  The oil is quite soft and would be ideal for florals, but I think I've managed to control it in this little landscape on canvas paper.  It works well with my own mix of turquoise too.  I expect Steffi will claim this painting as it matches perfectly with the accessories in her bedroom - a week before Christmas she decided to get the paints (of the emulsion variety) out herself and her bedroom has been totally revamped in cream with a small dash of black trim and a smattering of bright turquoise, cream and black cushions.  My easel and all that goes with it will stay set up for the next 2 days as I have lots more things I want to try out. 

I'd just like to take this opportunity to wish all my students, readers and customers the very best wishes for the holiday season.  May this Christmas find you loved, happy and warm.  (..........and I hope your stockings are filled). 

What were your first words this Christmas Eve morning?  Mine were 'Fancy a swim.........'  Within minutes (before even so much as a cup of tea) we were in the car heading towards the Belstead Brook Hotel.  It seemed several people had the same idea and the pool was the busiest I'd seen, with a total of just 7 (!!) other swimmers.  It seemed really strange nodding to fellow swimmers whilst passing each other doing lanes, wishing each other a Merry Christmas.  With a relaxing soak in the hot spa we felt fully re-charged.  It's the most unusual Christmas Eve morning I have ever spent, that's for sure.........  but it set the pace for the day, a little self indulgance.  I got my brushes out earlier than anticipated and using just the one colour, I promptly painted my toe and finger nails

For the first time ever I really have left everything till the last minute.  I used to be soooooo organised.  With 2 failed Christmas shopping attempts behind us, we finally set of on Thursday afternoon and managed to get everything in one very relaxed, casual and civilised trip.   The wrapping is done and dusted too.  We even had time to call into Tesco's for a few indulgences.  We're not able to wait until Christmas Day for our special Christmas breakfast (as recommended and demonstrated by Darrell Crow back in October).  So, this morning we feasted on toasted bagels, chopped Bermuda onions, cream cheese, capers and smoked salmon.  Thanks Darrell, you inspire much more than just art !  

I've just concluded the last class of 2007 at Heartlands in Gipping where we painted 'First Snowfall'.  My day started just great with a 30 minute drive through the country lanes in the brilliant sunshine.  You can imagine I saw many 'Ever Green' images all around me.  Marion, the venue owner, spoilt us with her home made organic cheesey flapjacks which went great with our mid morning cuppa.  Today's students had all painted with me before.  They complimented me on my new uniform (and matching hairdo) and they enjoyed very much using the new brushes.  I have made a concious effort to make changes since my ACI Alexander Certification and am really pleased it shows.  With the introduction of a price increase I feel students need to see they are getting quite a different deal for their money.  There's still plenty more new brushes for today's (and subsequent) student's to discover too......but all in good time - it's impossible to use them all in one class.  I took my 'Ever Green' along and as a result we've swapped the February 20th, 2008 class painting subject from 'Make A Wish' to this popular birch wood scene instead.  At around 1.30pm a student pointed out that this time next week we'd all be eating our Christmas lunch!  How scarey is that?  With hugs and kisses at the end of the day we look forward to meeting again in the New Year.  Despite being on my own, I managed to take a couple of snaps today.  Above you can see Doreen and Di tackling their birch trees (and a very good job they made of them too).  In the blue corner is Cherry - one of the bravest 'no-messing' painters I have ever met.  You tell her something, she does it then puts her brush down and folds her arms till we all catch up.  You can just about see some of the lovely beamed character at Heartlands, a converted stable. 

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Can this really be true?  At the weekend I sent out a newsletter.  In it I mentioned my Alexander Certification, which was awarded to me on 26th October.  Now, at that time I was busy with the Darrell Crow Workshops.  However, the next AyoubArt class I gave was on the 2nd November.  A reader has pointed out that I have given the first ever Bill Alexander painting class in the UK.  Fancy that.........!  

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Finally, the new brushes are on the art supplies page , with shopping baskets.  The new additions are 2 soft flat brushes - ideal for foliage details and tall ship details.  Although these are soft brushes, I use these sometimes in my landscape classes for water line details and soft detailed blending.  Next we have a superior bristle filbert brush and a superior 1 inch oval brush.  There's the sable liner brush I've been telling you about - this is doing very well indeed in private classes plus there's a fine script liner brush - which makes wonderful fine twigs and branches.  I have 2 new bristle fan brushes, large and small and finally there's 3 different sizes of hog bristle flat brushes - the ideal workhorse for rocks, blending, buildings.......   Best of all, none of the prices will break the bank.  (You can see a student using one of these brushes to dab on subtle little highlights, below.)   In addition, I've put together a nice little brush starter kit which includes only the SUPERIOR range of brushes (plus a little free gift from me), giving you a saving of just under £11.    

During today's private lesson the phone rang several times but I let it flick over to the ansa machine.  This evening I've just picked up my messages and taken several bookings for 'Ever Green', the January 20th Painting Class in Capel.  There's 6 weeks to go before this class so if you're interested I'd get your £20 deposit off asap.  Cheque made payable to Sue Warne and sent to Apollo House, 10 Windmill Hill, Capel St Mary, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP9 2JF.

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Week 50!!!  Already???  Me thinks Alan and I need to hit Ipswich Town on Thursday night and take advantage of the late-night shopping.  It's a lovely atmosphere, beautiful light display, not too busy, some hot food stalls with traditional chestnuts......I wonder if we can do everything on one single hit, it'll be nice if we can.... 

Today I launched several new brushes, a class fact sheet to accompany today's painting project,  a new uniform, and even a new hairdo!  From today things change a bit.  From today we push the boundaries a bit; we work much finer details now and they are relatively easy to do.  Today's bravery test, if you like, was the addition of 2 quite prominent seagulls.  Using our Mahl Stick for steadiness these were easily accomplished, once fears were allayed and deep breaths were taken.  All of us enjoyed admiring each others finished sea birds, complete with little beaks, eyes and feathers.  The whole class were really encouraging of each other.