May 31st:  Back to work now after a really fabulous and very refreshing Bank Holiday weekend.  I had marked off the holiday in my diary a while ago, giving myself the full 3 days off.  

I packed in as much as I could and my time off included a stay in a funky boutique hotel, scallops (a first for me), shopping, champagne & strawberries, movies, pimms, pampering, chocolate,  false eyelashes (long story),  a scorpion, starbucks coffee caramel frappacino, more shopping, breakfast in bed,  But not necessarily in that order.

My weekend ended in hilarious chaos when, upon my return home, I decided to give my chooks the salad bits from the fridge.  One chicken bolted out into the garden and the other 3 escaped as I opened their coop to chase the stray one back in.  Tearing around the garden with a broom in one hand trying to herd them in proved unsuccesful.  Considering the cats were also loose, playing hunting games in the garden I really wasn't sure how things would end up.  In the end, I gave up.  An hour later, both cats were on my lap and the chooks had marched their way back into the coop, all by themselves, to eat their treats.  I'll know next time it happens ......  

May 27th:  .............and speaking of guest tutors from the USA - Joyce and I are in preliminary discussions regarding another seascape seminar for Spring next year too.  Joyce will be in Europe anyway teaching her certification programme and it just might make sense for her to hop over here for another course.  

May 27th:  Speaking of portrait lessons - I am receiving several enquiries about the Valerie Stewart Seminar next May.  I know, you're all waiting for a price.  I will work on my calculations and will release a price and the full details of how you can book for this exciting seminar next month.   Watch this space ......

May 26th:  Just getting the studio prepped for this afternoon's portrait class......  I thought, while the paints and brushes were out I'd do a little more work on the base layer of this piece.  

My student is actually on the final stages of her portrait of Robbie.  I loved the pose so much, she kindly gave me a copy of her photo reference so I could do him for myself.  I laid down the basic underpainting during a demo whilst teaching another student who was painting his neice.  Unlike landscape paintings, I don't paint the same subject as the students.   There's still time to do a few more refinements to my basic stage of Micheal Jackson - better crack on now my tea break is over. 

May 26th:  One of my regular, intermediate students recently posted a load of images through my letterbox with a view to using one as the next painting subject.  Some were suitable for a single class, some were not.  We decided upon a simple yet dramatic landscape and I took her step by step in the way I would tackle it.  I showed how I would make my colour selection - what works and what doesn't.  

I'm happy to paint from a photo of a student's choice but it's not a service I would offer to a complete beginner as I am not familiar with their particular skill levels of painting or their speed.  Also, as I don't experiment with the painting subject prior the lesson, I can't guarantee the end result.  Having said that, each time I've taught this way both students and myself are more than pleased with the end result.  If this is something you'd like to try - give me a call on 01473 311938 or drop me a line and we'll see what we can do.

Meanwhile, I've added a couple of class dates for this painting on my timetable page.

May 25th:  Why did the chicken cross the road?  No, seriously...why?  At the weekend, on my way to class, I saw a random chicken running around on the very busy A14.  Last night I saw not one, but four chickens running along the edge of the road on the way home from my office job.  Ooooo!  Last year, when a chicken was found wandering lost at the top of our road, we managed to catch her and she joined our little flock.  So that's one saved.  I love my little chooks, funny little birds.  I love them better when I haven't had time to go shopping though.  Thanks to them, although the cupboards were bare, I knocked up a Spanish omelette for a delicious dinner with some spicy sausage, potatoes and onions - and had enough eggs to boil up for egg mayonnaise sandwiches for the following day's packed lunch for both myself and Stef plus a couple more fruit cakes.

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May 24th:  Stef, seen here relaxing in a hammock, now has a couple of discs and a memory stick full of even more photos of her holiday.  We've enjoyed going over those this weekend.  Daughter number one is about to jet off to some very exotic locations for a month too.  Mother's just come back from a cruise ......  Sister's just had a weekend away ......  So you can guess what I'm thinking.  What about me?  I want one.  Browsing the internet, I can smell the sun tan lotion as I find all those palms, sea and soft sand calling my name.   But, that phrase 'based on 2 adults sharing' is really beginning to 'P' me off.  

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May 21st:  A huge thankyou to these ladies for letting me change the date on this private class.  Originally I was supposed to give the class last Saturday - and thanks to the date shuffle I was able to enjoy the Roger Waters concert.  Some of these ladies had painted with me before and some are complete first timers.  The whole event was very laid back and a lot of fun.  With a 40 minute break for lunch, we had ample time to enjoy our meal, check out each other's paintings and have a chit-chat.  A husband of one of the ladies called by to see how we were doing and ended up staying and watching us work.  Lucky for us, he was able to take the camera and take a group shot.  I think the smiles say it all.  Thanks ladies of the 48th Comm Squadron Key Spouses Group - you made me feel so welcome and it was a pleasure to teach you all.   I hope you managed to learn a little Arabic along the way too, just be careful where you repeat it  :)  Yella Yella ........ 

May 20th:  Finally  -  I'm all Skyped up with a webcam with a built in mic.  Rather than text message my contacts, I can actually speak - and best of all, it's totally free.  It didn't take seconds to configure and guess who my first test call was to?  Our favourite seascape painter -  Mrs Joyce Ortner.  It was good to touch base with Joyce and catch up with our news and plans.  So - if you'd like to add yourself to my Skype list, my username is ayoubart.  Just search it out on Skype and give it a click.  My next call will be to my friend Val in Portugal - I'll be able to show her my unusual cats - one's on my lap and the other is perched on my chair behind my head.  Looking forward to talking to you all soon.

May 20th:  This morning I popped out to feed the fish and couldn't believe how many new babies have seemingly appeared overnight!  I know from experience they are a devil to catch and they know just where to hide to prevent me from scooping them out in a net.  The pond's really looking lovely and clear and from my office window I have a perfect view of the bright yellow irises which have just opened out.  I'd take a picture if my washing weren't hanging in the background.  I'm sure you all don't want to see my frillys.

May 19th:  At the moment I have a lovely lady who has been coming to me for evening portrait classes.  She's been painting a celebrity portrait - and while she's painting I have the relevant CD's playing quietly in the background as we're both fans.  Yesterday evening we were tempted to burst into song, but as neither of us can actually sing it probably would have alarmed the cats.  'You start and I'll join in', said Debbie.  'No - YOU start and I'll join in', says I .......  Anyway, maybe we'll get vocal next week.  Debbie's happy for me to show you her progress so far.  She's doing a fine job and my daughters are enjoying watching this one come to life.  We have worked on this project for 3 sessions already and have some shadow work to do in the next session.  We agreed to work at a slower and finer pace with this portrait, so it may be completed next time - or it may take a further session after that.  We decided, quite simply, it will be done when it's done.

May 18th:  Actually, a picture paints a thousand words........so here's an example of how extreme the colour differences can be with 'Venetia'.  Both the painting below and the one here on the left are created using exactly the same palette of colours, exactly the same brushes, exactly the same method. 

May 18th:  Yesterday was a bit of an experiment.  The painting subject was 'Venetia', which is normally painted over 2 days.  However, my student was intermediate level and we had decided to attempt to complete it in one go.   Plus, it would save on an extra trip as my student had to travel a fair distance.  Well, the experiment was a success and I am pleased to be able to offer this painting subject to intermediate students as a 1 day class at a cost of £65 - or a private lesson option for £85.  The class does go on for a longer time than usual, obviously.  There's some lovely techniques to learn in this composition and a different way to use the liquid white is shown too.  It will put students in good stead to paint many more landmark compositions.  If this is something you'd like to try, give me a call on 01473 311938.   I've added a couple of new dates, (including a Sunday date for the workers) to the Class Timetable for this beautiful painting subject. 

May 17th:  My 'office boss', also a Floyd fan, was asking how the concert at the weekend went.  Sat there in my 'teacher' t-shirt I filled him in with some of the highlights.  I was also telling him how we popped over to the Southbank and took in the Tate Modern Gallery before the show.   I told him we viewed sculptures of sheep dung on wires, (didn't realise what we were looking at till we read the adjacent sign), looked at large canvases of red paint splashes,  saw a plain sheet of white paper glued to a wall ........ and were amused by people sitting watching a film of a plastic bag being blown around in a street.  He's decided it's a place he really must visit as he found this stuff as amusing as I did.  All I'll say is, he's out spoken and will openly comment on what many of us might be thinking.  I'd love to be a fly on the wall when he makes his trip.  All I'll say on the matter is - it's a good job you don't have to pay to go in and you can read into that whatever you like.  A beautiful Monet and some Warhol saved the day for me.  Sad to see there are no longer any Dali pieces on display, not that I could find anyway.  I have to say, with 80% of the art there, I just didn't get it.  Pollocks  -  I nearly forgot the lovely Pollock abstract too .........

May 16th:    Due to a total lack of self control on my part I might have to start making some class rules.  In yesterday's lesson a student bought me a boxed Cinnabon.  Covered in caramel, toffee and pecans too.  There it sat in it's turquoise little box, looking all pretty and innocent, calling my name.  I managed to resist it until I had totally cleaned the studio and the brushes.   As I sat down with my feet up and a cuppa I decided it was the perfect time for some indulgence.  And it was good.  However, after googling said sin and discovering  just how many calories it contains I know I need to work hard today to burn off the excess, else I shall end up the size of a house.  

So - new class rule : Any one item left in the class which contains sugar, fat or over 150 calories  will seriously effect my hips because it will end up being eaten (and thoroughly enjoyed).

Meanwhile, as a deterrent I shall frame and hang this on 'The Wall'  


 

May 15th:  As I pulled onto my driveway at 2.30 this morning I was still buzzing from the day's events.  The tickets were purchased a year ago so you can imagine how much time I've had to relish in the anticipation of the ultimate Roger Waters show ............ 'The Wall'.  To get in the mood (not that I needed it), I played the CD during my drive, which gave me goosebumps.  Our seats were brilliant, very close to the front indeed.  Perfect.  The whole show was just hypnotic with brilliant special effects and puppetry not to mention the phenominal powerful stage presence of the man himself.  

'Mother do you think they'll like this song?'  he asked - yep we loved all of 'em.

May 14th:  I've been a little bit spoilt these last few days.  While my car is in the garage having repairs I have the use of a courtesy car.  A lovely little 2011 Fiesta.  My main worry, when picking it up, was that the boot wouldn't be long enough to take my main easel as I had off site classes to do.  So, when I picked up the car, I took the easel along just to make sure.  Easy job, it slid in with plenty of room ...... which has now got me thinking about updating my current motor.  There's nothing wrong with my car at all, it's a proper little work horse and also looks good and sleek.   But having air con, stereo controls on the steering wheel and other little extras will make it hard to return back to my old faithful.  I did have a dilema the other night when I left a demo in the dark.  I just couldn't find the headlight switch ..... but I managed to find it after a few minutes, which saved me having to ask (and saved me from illustrating a typical 'blonde moment').

May 13th:  Aside from my thumb piano I have another unusual musical instrument which I like to play first thing each morning.  It's called a 'Wrinkleys'.  When I wake up,  I have 2 little bumps at the bottom of my bed.  During the night my little wrinkleys burrow themselves snuggly into the folds of a fluffy bed throw.  I first grab one bump and gently vibrate it and a lovely little high pitched chirrup emits.  I then move to the second bump, give it a little tremor and another squeek emits.    I'm not sure what key they sing in but it's an amusing little sound to wake up to.  I mustn't squeeze them too hard or they will definately B Flat.

May 12th:  I'm smiling as I think of my random working hours.  Before 6 this morning I was in my studio cleaning my brushes from the last night's class.  As portraiture classes are only 3 hours long it's possible to teach this clever technique as an evening lesson.  And it works really well as we have the light and bright evenings with us now.  Ideal if you work full time.  But - after a long day I was just too tired to clean up last night and just shut the door on the studio and relaxed with a glass of wine (and one of Sue's cookies).  A quick 30 mins in there first thing and everything's cleared down ready for the next lesson.  As my demo piece I thought I'd paint my eldest daughter's boyfriend.  I'm showing him the step by step stages on facebook so he can see what goes into it's creation.  If you'd like to try a portrait workshop, day or evening, do give me a call on 01473 311938.

May 11th:  Last night I had a demo evening at a local(ish) art group.  It's the first time I've demo-ed where the whole audience, (about 40 of them) were seated in very plush arm chairs!  Very comfy indeed, I didn't want to get up again after the half time interval.  The demo was for 2 hours and I showed 4 mini landscape scenes and finished with a complete standard class painting.  It was a longer demo than usual and I was able to cover many different techniques including seascape and florals.  It was a late night though and I just didn't feel like unloading in the dark - so I better crack on and get the brushes cleaned, the boot cleared out and re-loaded ready for Thursday's class.  

If you'd like me to come and visit at your art group (or any other kind of group) as a guest speaker, do give me a ring (01473 311938) - I can 'perform' from 30 mins to 2 hours, so something to suit every pocket.

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May 10th:  It's been fantastic catching up with all Stef's adventures and especially going over the photos.  How technology has changed things.  In my day we'd come home from holiday with several reels of 35 ml film in plastic pots, 36 photos per film.  We'd have to take them to the chemist, or post them to TruPrint and wait a week for them to be developed.  These days we can just slip a disc into the DVD player and watch a slideshow on the big screen.  She's brought me back a rather unusual present - a Kalimba - otherwise known as a thumb piano.  Neat little thing made from a highly sanded and varnished coconut shell.  It's tuneable apparently, not quite sure how.  It has a lovely little sound to it. 

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May 9th:  I shouldn't wish the time away ...... but today I am.  I'm really looking forward to coming home from my office job later this afternoon as I can't wait to catch up with all the news from my daughter, Stef.  She has just landed from a 15 day holiday of a lifetime.  She'd forfeited a holiday last year and saved like mad so she could enjoy a brilliant time this year.  She's been swimming with dolphins, cliff jumping, walking on the sea bed (sea trekking), zip wiring, swiming through caves, 4x4 driving through the jungle (apparently she drove),  she's had lobster steaks, champagne dinners, massages, she's had a python wrapped around her, rafting, limosine into town for shopping,  speed boating .......  and much more.  What an experience !  Personally, to tear herself away from the room would have been an effort - each and every room in the hotel has a jacuzzi (that's not her in the photo btw) and a private bar stocked daily with drinks and nibbles.  There's an onsite circus, a variety of clubs a vast array of restaurants.  Definately a holiday to remember for the rest of your life.  I want one !  The next 7 hours just can't fly quick enough.

May 8th:  After I wave everyone off after a class, I normally sit for a few minutes at my computer to wind down, catch up on any emails - even pick up phone messages  :)   I daren't stay at the PC for too long as the longer I leave the brush cleaning, the more I don't fancy doing it.  But today, as I cleaned and conditioned my landscape and portrait brushes in my little outside studio, with the sun shining through the window, I reflected on just how lovely a job I have.  It brings some brilliant people into my life and I appreciate the banter between old regular students and brand new students and marvel at how well everyone mingles together in a class.  I'm so lucky, aren't I?

May 8th:  Last weekend you'll remember I mentioned student Sue and her amazing cookies .................  This weekend I am in cookie heaven again - and so too were my students.  Sue arrived for class with not one, but 2 giant bags of home made choc chip cookies - proper cookies, not like the packet biscuits you get in the shops.  But it didn't end there - she also made me a single giant choc chip cookie the size of a large saucer.  And it didn't end there either - she also divulged the recipe, which I will treasure and also pass onto another student who was equally impressed.  If that wasn't enough she also brought me 6 packs of Crisco, (similar to Trex), an essential ingredient from the American commissary store.  And that's not all .......  She also managed to source dried strawberries and brought me two bags of them.  Sue remembered me telling her last week how my daughter, Stef, often bakes her boyfriend some white choc chip and strawberry cookies.  Unable to find dried strawberries, Stef would purchase a couple of large boxes of breakfast cereal that contained dried strawberries and sit there and pick them out for the cookie recipe.  (Labour of love, I know).  Think how thrilled Stef will be when she sees these.  We'll have cookies coming out of our ears soon.  Good job they are freezable, else I could be so tempted to munch one each time I pass the biscuit barrel.

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May 7th:  Totally refreshed after a good night's sleep, I was up and about just after 5 this morning.  It was a lovely fresh, mild and still morning - very quiet.  Well I suppose it would be at that time.  Ideal for a bike ride actually.  I could do my circuit and still be back in plenty of time to prepare for my classes.  First though, that all important cup of tea.  It actually saved me from a soaking as I had barely taken a sip when the heavens opened.  Some 2 hours later, it's all dry again but sadly the clock is ticking against me now.  Maybe I'll finish the day with another cuppa and 10 mile lap instead - weather permitting. 

May 6th:  Brilliant news just in .............. Anita, one of my students from last weekend, has just sold one of her oil paintings.  I bet the paint is barely dry.  How fantastic !!

May 6th:  I think, I'm not 100% sure, but this weekend I have my first student wanting to paint a celebrity portrait.  Another student will be opting for a cute youngster and I haven't even made up my mind yet who I shall paint as the demo piece.   I'll have to give it some thought before I fall asleep tonight so I can sort some reference material first thing in the morning.  For now I'm going to put my feet up with a cuppa.  After a day in the office, followed by grocery shopping, unpacking, getting the washing in, sorting out the cats, answering my phone messages, watering the pots and tubs, mowing the front lawn I am done for the day.  Looking forward to meeting my weekend students, both old and new.

May 5th:  I wish that photo in yesterday's entry was one of my hanging baskets ...... but hopefully mine will be full and tumbling with colour soon enough.  I enjoyed my trip out to the garden centre yesterday and could have spent a small fortune.  I made a colourful selection and have filled a few bare spots in the front flowerbeds and now have 4 lovely hanging baskets and a few ornate standing pots on the patio too.   I was being watched the whole time by my 2 mischevious
cats, who perched themselves on the windowsill in the full sun.

I even figured out how to clean and operate the pond filter and now have a sparkling clean pond too.  The waterlily leaves have surfaced and there's loads of new growth on the exisiting pond plants too.  No sign of last year's frog though.  I reckon he hopped it ages ago.