April 29th:  I said I would ...... and I did.  I just had so much choice of paintings to hang in the Gallery that I didn't know where to begin.  So,  I just started with one and worked around it.  Now those of you with spirit level eyesight, look away as I'm sure you'll be itching to straighten one or two of them.  I still have a wall and a bit to fill but it's coming along nicely and I'm pleased with the arrangement.  I want to take my time with the next hanging session as many of the next lot of paintings are in a wide variety of frames.  Some carefull thought will need to be applied to colour co-ordinate them and have some kind of theme.

I shall take a couple of days off from the website updates now, so no more Sue's News entries till Monday ............. perhaps.

April 28th:  I slipped round for a cuppa and a chat with a nearby student friend of mine.  Seeing as it's still Easter season (ish) I took round a bowl of eggs from my chooks.  My friend had recently been on a mixed media seminar and was showing me her latest paintings.  Still in the Easter and egg theme, her painting subjects were beautiful free and loose chickens.  I totally fell in love with the paintings, one of which is already framed and hanging in her dining room.  She was explaining to me how they were made and within minutes she'd cleared a space on her table, set up 2 work stations and gave me an impromptu demo.  How nice for me to come home from her house with a very unexpected piece of art - and even better to be given a lesson in something new from a student.  I can't wait to get this little picture framed and hanging in my kitchen.

---

April 28th:  It's always worth asking for something that isn't necessarily on my website.  And questions like this has led to things like home visit classes, which are proving to be a delightful experience for both myself and students.  Another subject was raised yesterday when a long distance student wanted to paint a landscape and a portrait.  We've arranged for the landscape to be painted before lunch and stage one of portraiture to be painted in the afternoon.  Portraiture is only 3 hours per session and is a much gentler and laid back  technique.  It makes an ideal second half to the day.  If I think the student's energy levels are up to this then there is no reason why we can't do both back-to-back.  Not only that, it saves on petrol also. 

April 27th:  Since changing telephone provider recently, I've lost the (iffy) answer service facility.  But that will be rectified by this evening when my new answering machine is delivered.  You can rest assured all messages will be checked at least once daily.

---

April 27th:  Yesterday's student gave the re-vamped classroom / gallery her seal of approval and duly selected their next few painting projects.   

Today I'm teaching 'Sunbeams' - would you believe me if I told you I could cover all 3 walls (and some) with my demo versions of this painting?  It's right up there with a few others as the most popular composition to date.  It's an ideal subject for youngsters too, incase anyone had any children in mind for an art lesson - even if you do have to stand on a chair to reach the top of the canvas.  Sticking your tongue out whilst concentrating IS allowed - in fact it's sometimes essential. 

---

April 26th:  How did the weather know when Easter was over ?  After an absolutely scorching long weekend the sun has decided to retreat once more.  Hopefully not for too long though.  After a very busy start to the holidays, I enjoyed a much slower pace for the remaining 3 days.   As you can see from the photo my 2 house guests relaxed too.  Don't worry, they're wearing sun block.

Back to normal routine now ...... I'll see what today's student makes of the new layout in the classroom.  If the weather perks up a bit I might finish the day with a bike ride.  I have a couple of Easter bunnies and a rather large portion of legendary White Chocolate Cheesecake to burn off.

April 22nd:  It's been a well Good Friday here.  I'm dead chuffed with myself today.  For a couple of weeks, I've been itching to give my studio classroom an overhaul as I can now move a lot of bits into the adjoining room, the now empty office.  

Awake at 5.30am this morning and feeling extremely motivated I rushed breakfast and by 6am I had a paintbrush in hand.  It's taken me nearly 11 hours but I really did surpass myself today and totally painted the studio kitchen, the office and the studio classroom.  I then re-organised and cleaned all 3 rooms PLUS my outside studio AND my supplies store.   I now have a lot less paintings hanging in the actual classroom, which has opened it out no end and made it less cluttered.  I'm hanging most of my paintings in the office, now re-named as the Gallery, so students can wander in and see what they might like to paint next - much better to see the paintings in real life than on the website.  

I've made a start, as you can see here, but don't want to rush this.  With 3 full walls to cover I shall have fun planning what goes where.  




I kept some portraits in the classroom area but hung them quite high.  It gives students an idea how portraits can look at their varying stages of completion.  As you can see - there's quite a few more gaps to fill.  The wall on the opposite side is totally bare and I will keep it that way.  (You don't need a photo of a bare cream wall, do you.)  

My shelving unit now holds classroom stuff only - and the all essential stereo and CD's.  All the portraiture paints and brushes have now been moved to this rack too.   That frees up some space in the kitchen cupboards.  Spares and other class supplies are in a sideboard, all tucked away out of sight.




The Gallery is also now the place for art supplies and I've made good use of a once redundant sideboard which displays my stock items and holds the spare sales items.

There's even  a couple of chairs and a coffee table, which makes it an ideal place for students to have their lunch - away from their paintings.  Although with the weather the way it's been, we can always sit outside too.

I did anticipate this project to take the best part of 2 or 3 days and I am delighted I did it in one day.  This now means I get to have the remaining 3 days of Easter as proper holiday.  I have to say, I'm looking forward to that - after a spell of several 6 day working weeks I fancy catching up with friends and family and sitting in the sun - maybe even a spot of painting.

So - for now, you have a nice long diary entry with plenty of pictures, but it will have to see you through till next Tuesday.  Business and all that goes with it is firmly closed for the next 3 days.

Hope you all have a brilliant Easter break.......   Oooooo, I nearly forgot to mention ....... if you are in the Needham Market area at all, they are having their annual Art Show in the community centre - you can't miss the sign posts.  It's open until 5pm Monday.  Judging by the high standard of work that was already displayed when I dropped off my bits it looks like it's going to be a great show.  I'm looking forward to a good, leisurely look around.

---

April 21st:  It's been beautiful out on the bike these last few days.  The weather has been great and the countryside has well and truly woken up to the Spring.  Brilliant lime greens fill the bushes and trees, the bright yellow of the rape is almost blinding with a backdrop of baby blue skies - very uplifting indeed.  I've upgraded to a racing bike now, lent to me by my sister.  This means I don't have a shopping basket anymore and no longer take my camera out with me.  It's a shame as I see some beautiful animals and birds.  Pheasants mostly .....  Horses and pony's come second.  Yesterday morning though, I didn't have to travel far to see any wildlife.  I had 4 rabbits turn up at my doorstep ........  They are currently sitting in my fridge and we'll be eating them over Easter - and my cats can play with the little red ribbon & bells which are hanging from their neck.  (Thanks Tom for the lovely and unexpected gift.) 

April 20th:  This is a Sue's News entry I've been debating about writing for a month or two.  It'll answer a few questions that some have asked directly and some are probably wondering about.  So, the cards are on the table.......

I am now single and the journey has been more than bumpy.  This has caused a delay in answering some emails, as you can imagine I've had many other issues to deal with.  It hasn't caused a delay in class bookings or internet orders though.

On top of this I've taken on a part-time job as Credit Manager for a couple of days a week.  It's really great to be back in the office again, doing what I'd done for 20 odd years.  So now I'm doing the two things I like best.

Of course, my regular students are aware of the situation but the long distance customers might be wondering why there's been a lack of Sue's News entries and a delay in responding to general chitty-chat emails.

I look forward to the new challenges that lay ahead of me and can say, with confidence, it's pretty much business as usual.  In fact, I'll be looking to open up more weekend classes now.  

Now that we have the finer weather with us, I'm happy to start classes earlier than the usual 10am start.  I can kick off at 8.30am, 9am or 9.30am if  students  are happy to do this also.

Can I just take this opportunity to say, thanks to everyone for all the support given over the last few months.  I'm overwhelmed by your kindness and well wishes.

April 11th:  Here's a little something that might interest a few of you:  Sometimes, location permitting, I am happy to pack up my kit and pay a visit to students' homes.  This weekend I finally get to paint with one of my customers.  By chance she has moved about a hundred miles and is now reasonably close to me.  We've spoken lots on the phone and have become firm friends over the years and in a few days we finally get to meet each other.  We'll enjoy a brilliant painting session together, I'm sure.  If this is something that might appeal to you, give me a call or drop me a line and we can discuss availability and rates.  I supply all materials required and can provide tables too, if necessary.

April 6th:  Great to have the sunshine back again, isn't it - hot with it too !  I couldn't resist taking a snap of Crinkle (yes I changed their names to Crinkle and Wrinkle).  She found a spot that suited her just fine and rolled around enjoying the heat on her belly.

April 5th:  This week work commenced on the room just off my studio.  It's been totally stripped out and really is a blank canvas (pardon the pun) at the moment.  There's room for at least 3 more work stations plus my free standing easel and some storage too.  I'm not 100% sure what I will do with the room but one thing I do know, it needs a lick of paint on the walls, ceiling and woodwork.  With 3 blank walls I think it will make a nice showcase of my work and many of my painting subjects.  I'm looking forward to re-decorating it and then I'll have a better idea how best to utilise it.  Now - I know I have a nice pair of lined curtains somewhere in the loft that will fit the window a treat - more cobwebs!  Good job I'm not afraid of spiders, isn't it.

April 5th:  Seriously though - my poor front lawn was looking rather sorry for itself - until today!  I had an old Black & Decker hover mower pushed into the distant crevices of a very tight shed loft.  With a free day and an iron resolve I decided my mission would be to retrieve it.   It's been up there for close on 8 years, it too is over 15 years old and I bought it from my dad second hand.  I even managed to find the cable too.  Covered in cobwebs and dust (that's me not the mower) I wondered if it would work.  Guess what - it did.  So my lawn is nicely trimmed, edges neat and tidy and I feel a lot better for it.  Just gotta sort out the back lawn now - and with the offer of help from some kindly neighbours I'll just wait for another day off and some better weather.  I'm quite windswept today - literally.

April 5th:   Gotcha - April Fools :)

April 1st:  A regular reader of my Sue's News page has solved a dilemma for me.  A few days ago my very old mower died a death on the back lawn.  I've been overwhelmed by choices regarding a replacement, not knowing whether to go for petrol, electric, hover, cylinder, 40cm, 46cm ....... decisions decisions.  Combine this decision with my cycling exercise regime .......  and the answer is obvious.  So, thanks to my reader, who noticed this on ebay, I'm now the owner of this unique and effective little bit of equipment.  I must change that seat though, it's a little uncomfortable when I'm peddling uphill.