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SEPTEMBER NEWS For Updates, Special Offers, Announcements.....and an insight into what's going on in my world.
Week 39: 29th to 30th September  Tonight I've done something that I've never done before....... I NEVER oil paint in the evenings. I decided that I really need to paint both 'Beautiful Daisies' and 'Falls of Thunder' so that I am really familiar with these projects ready for the workshops next week. This morning I watched the waterfall scene while I was catching up on the ironing. Unfortunately I was so busy all day long with other things that I didn't have time to make a start on my painting. With a really busy agenda this week I've no alternative but to paint at night and it's been really enjoyable. Following the DVD, Darrell put together his composition in a very different way to the way I would do things, which means I've learned lots of new things just in this one exercise. As a value for money DVD, it really covers quite comprehensively your clouds, your distant/mid/foreground trees, your rocks, water movement, falls, mist, waterspray and many other aspects. I think those of you who are booked into the Friday 10th October Class are in for a treat. There's still some spaces left if you'd like to come along. Here's my effort:
 A bumper package has just arrived from Darrell. I now have the master copies for 4 new Pet Portrait Projects - all of the canine variety. We have 'Duke', a splendid black labrador; 'Jasper', who looks like a small spaniel; 'Danika', a boxer and finally little 'Chicklet', a white terrier. These are available with immediate effect at a reduced price of £11.50 each, (they were previously £13 each). On top of that I also have 'Magic Mountain', a layered mountain/waterfall/lake scene; 'Falls of Thunder', a monochromatic waterfall scene; 'Mountain Falls', a monochromatic mountain/waterfall scene and 'Beautiful Daisies', a pretty candle/floral composition. It'll take me a little while to set up the shopping baskets for these items, but if you're familiar with the images (which can be seen on Darrell's website) you can go ahead and make your purchase on the Special Offer's page. I'm offering 2 for the price of 1 until 7th October, 2008.
Another painting sold at this weekend's 'Art for Fun' Art Group Exhibition. I wasn't expecting that so it was an added bonus. I'm afraid I didn't get much done at this week's Art Group as I spent most of the time chatting and catching up on news. It seemed most of the other members felt the same and it was good spirits all around as we were given the details of the monies raised over the weekend. With a raffle, the coffee/tea/cake stand and the commissions from the painting sales, it was a brilliant result from a one day event. I understand the weather was brilliant and there was a steady stream of lookers. Week 38: 22nd to 28th September  After one of the most relaxing and scenic breaks, we're home again, 2000 plus miles on our clock and you wouldn't want the diesel bill. But well worth it for the options, freedom and comfort that motorhoming can give you. For example, we liked this quiet spot on the road from Pitlochry, so we pulled over and enjoyed elevenses, cakes, a read of the paper and a photo shoot in the brilliant sunny weather. Those camera batteries I was looking for, several days prior departure, continued to hide themselves so I brought myself a new camera and tested out as many different features of it as I could whilst away. I'd been meaning to upgrade cameras for a while and it seemed the apt time to do so. I've returned home to a painting sale, several class bookings, a bumper load of internet sales and it's been quite nice to spend the day getting on top of everything. So rest assured, your orders are all made up and sitting on my dining table ready for despatch first thing in the morning. I can see from an email that I've a parcel on it's way from Darrell Crow Studios, which should be here by mid next week - I'm crossing my fingers that this will contain loads of DVD goodies for me to offer to you all.
 Here's an little unexpected update for you regulars: I write this from the shores of Loch Leven......and when I say the shores, I mean that quite literally, as a shot through our front windscreen here will show. This is where we are spending the day and night, in the pretty and unspoilt village of Invercoe. We pulled onto this beautiful campsite this morning and have been busy exploring the area all day. Sometimes we didn't even have to venture that far. I sat and watched a magnificent heron stalk his pray and swallow a fish about 3 times the size of his head, all from the driver's seat of the cab, with binoculars in hand and a cup of tea on the dashboard.
Whilst I am on vacation, if you are interested in booking a class - my contact details are 079500 32557. Alternatively you can leave a message on 01473 311938 or e-mail me on info@ayoubart.co.uk. But........landline and e-mail messages will not be accessed until 29th September. Week 37: 15th to 21st September  More news just in from Darrell - the final image for the remaining workshop scheduled for Monday October 13th at the Lambe School in East Bergholt will be 'A beacon in England'. This is a rather pretty and gentle seascape, I think you'll agree. So there we are - all set!
I've just had some wonderful news in from Darrell. He is kindly offering free gifts to all students who attend any of his UK workshops next month. You will receive a free gift for each and every workshop you attend. I've just posted directions to the East Bergholt venue. You can view details of his classes by clicking HERE. We still have availability on all the East Bergholt Workshops. Only 20 days to go till the first one............. I'm just taking a break in between baking bread and cheese scones and making lists for our house (chicken, cat and fish) sitters to let you know that all internet orders received between now (19th) and the 28th September will be processed on the 29th September. If you have any art queries meanwhile, do feel free to post any questions in my art forum, Sue's Arty Party, you can be sure that you'll receive some answers from several kind souls.  Well, it's time to give the new motorhome a longer run. After Saturday's class we'll set off for an 8 day tour. We've decided to give Scotland a look, which actually realises one of my ambitions, 'to tour around the Highlands in a motorhome'. Work colleagues from my office days will remember me telling them that a break like this would be high on my list of favourite holidays. Hopefully this time next week I'll be waking up to scenery like this. Now, if only I can find my 2 spare camera batteries, which are bound to turn up somewhere in my studio, I'll be able to take loads of photos for inspiration. I'll be sure to find some time beforehand to bake some fresh bread, fruit loaf, cakes and cheese scones plus a tub of home-made soup so we can pull off road at scenic spots and enjoy a snack - well, Alan can........me, I'm on quite a strict diet. No haggis for me I'm afraid.
 Richard Wright, Pink Floyd: July 28th, 1943 to September 15th, 2008. Great Gig In The Sky Quote: '.......And I am not frightened of dying. Any time will do; I don't mind. Why should I be frightened of dying? There's no reason for it—you've gotta go sometime.
Week 36: 8th to 14th September  The softer and more flexible Alexander Landscape Brushes are really going down well with students, who are noticing the difference immediately. Today's class in particular, (Picnic Spot, seen here on the left), the ease with which the grass bank and highlights went in was brilliant. The foliage on the foreground tree was also tapped in with the corner of the landscape brush and the effects on all the student's paintings were really delicate and lacy, very natural looking. Even if you are a heavy handed painter, the results with these brushes are gentle and detailed.
During today's class we ran alphabetical lists on Pop Groups/Singers and Cars. Both lists got completely filled although we did have trouble thinking of a car that began with 'U'. Thinking that Alan would be the ideal person to solve this, with his history in the motor trade, we were bitterly let down. The best he could come up with was 'Umber (which I think is Cockney for Humber). We got there in the end when a lady excitedly blurted out a car make halfway through painting her tree! What would you have said for a car beginning with 'U'?   I've been working on a couple of Pop Art commissions. One of the subjects is not that well known to me, so I wasn't 100% sure how easily recognisable the finished piece might be. I posted the finished image in a busy little forum (which has nothing to do with art). There's a few youngsters on the forum and it was their input I was after. Luckily, the very first post recognised Tupak Shakur immediately. The second celebrity is pretty much recognised whatever the age group. Bob's not quite finished yet, but he'll be the ideal project to take along to my local Art Group, which starts up again next week.
 
I raised a few eyebrows this morning. As I settled into my chair at the hairdressers, the stylist, Bub, asked me 'So.........what's new?' I told her that I had just got a couple of new girls. 'Are they laying yet?', Bub asked. I replied they're a bit young, but they'll be ready in a couple of weeks. Bub's assistant spluttered and asked me outright if I was a pimp...............! Heaven knows what the other clients must have thought! As you can probably guess, I'm talking chickens here. On the left you can see my 2 new girls, a beautiful black lace hen and a spectacular white and toffee hen. They're a bit shy at the moment, but no doubt they'll settle into their new home over the next few days. You can see our other 4 girls on the right. This scenario is pretty much what greets me at varying times throughout the day. Behind the door that they so patiently wait outside is their food! Do you think they're trying to tell me something? I received some rather lovely news from student Pamela yesterday. Very quietly and humble, she told me that she'd recently sold 2 of her oil paintings and received a commission. Diane, another student has been asked to oil paint a New Forest scene from a photo too. Cherry is having prints made of her work also. In an e-mail a few weeks ago, another student told me they'd been asked to re-produce a couple of their paintings for friends. Just a few success stories and hopefully some inspiration and motivation for you to get your brushes out. With Christmas (there, I've mentioned it again!) looming, these oil paintings really do make wonderful and unique presents. All you need is to master a couple of techniques and you will be well on your way to producing your very own compositions.  Today I thought we'd work our brains while we painted. I had a sheet with the letters of the alphabet on a table, with a pen, and announced to the students that I'd like to see the name of a country by every letter before the end of class. It's a little something to do on the way to the cleaning bucket and an ideal way for the people who are quick painters to amuse themselves. So here's the results of today's exercise: Africa; Bali; Canada; Denmark; Egypt; France; Germany; Holland; Ireland; Jamaica; Kenya; Lebanon; Misty Bottom (don't ask........!); Norway; Oman; Portugal; Qatar; Russia; Sweden; Thailand; Uruguay; Venizuela; Wales; Xiamen (not strictly a country, I know.....); Yemen and Zambia. It proved to be such good fun that after lunch we ran a second sheet, this time we had to list body parts. I'm afraid I can't print the list but it was funny putting it together. So, Capel Crowd - watch out on Sunday, I'll have a little quiz for you all to take part in too so get your thinking caps on.
 Hertford is just a short distance from Alan's mothers. On our way home from our weekend away we popped in to share some home made fruit loaf with a cup of tea. Alan's mum makes the most fabulous Christmas pudding I have ever tasted. She takes a huge amount of time with the preparation and makes puddings for all the family. We were devastated when she announced she'll be making no more puddings. Quite rightly, she told us that it's someone else's turn. So, I've picked up the gauntlet. She passed me her well used recipe on yellowing pages which look as if they could be 50 years old. Now, people that know me will be aware that Christmas in our household doesn't necessarily fall in December - it can happen anytime! I just might be tempted to have a couple of trial runs at these fabulous puddings - and while I'm at it, I might just get a Christmas cake started too. How aromatic is my kitchen going to be?
Week 35: 1st to 7th September  Sometimes it's nice to leave things to chance. Saturday afternoon we took off in our motorhome, heading for Hertford. Why Hertford. I hear you ask. Well, it just so happened that one of our favourite Floyd Tribute bands 'Think Floyd' were starting off their Autumn Tour there. Not only that, but they are also performing the legendary classic 'Atom Heart Mother'. We didn't have tickets, we didn't even have a place to stop the night. As we neared the destination I decided to contact a pal of mine who lived not too far away. It turned out she and her pal were interested in coming along too and we made plans to meet at the pub closest to the venue. We found a pretty campsite less than a mile from the theatre. Our good friend Lewis, of Think Floyd, left us a couple of complimentary tickets at the box office too. Unfortunately, due to unforseen circumstances, the band couldn't perform 'Atom Heart Mother'. So I guess that means we'll have to keep our eyes on the gig guide and catch them at another venue, which means another weekend away in the motorhome. Tough life sometimes.....
 I've made the switch. The Bob Ross 1 inch and 2 inch landscape brushes that I had been using in my classes are now gone. As from yesterday, students broke the seals on their brand new Bill Alexander landscape brushes. We've been enjoying these softer, more flexible pure boar bristle brushes for a while in private lessons and now's the time to kit out the classes too. The feedback from yesterday's students was very positive; students could feel the difference immediately. They come up drier once they've been through the beater rack too. If you'd like you own Alexander Brushes, they are currently only £12 for the 2 (or £5 and £8 each). All prices include postage and packing to any European address. When I receive my next consignment I'm afraid this cost will go up as the supplier, Alexander Art, has raised their prices - their first increase in about 3 years I believe.
 Just incase you hadn't discovered it already, the Class Schedule page has been updated. The Green Room and Capel Village Hall now shows what we'll be painting till the end of 2008, Heartlands shows subjects up until December 2008. There's some new subjects on offer and quite a few new subjects still under development. I've also added a new web page for the Darrell Crow Workshops that are taking place in October 2008. One of his classes has filled already but there is still availability on the other 3 workshops.
There's a new thread started in Sue's Arty Party that might be of interest to you. Sue's New's readers are aware that we're currently enjoying mini breaks in our motor home. Alan came up with an idea that might just be feasible. It's aimed at other campers - whether tent, caravan or motorhome owners. It just could mean a free oil painting lesson if you bring all your own equipment...... visit Sue's Art Forum for details, your input as to the feasibility of this idea would be welcome.  A new month and another couple of Special Offers have ended, yet another couple of Special Offers have also just started. For one month you can save yourself £20 on a mini Tall Ships DVD Set or a mini Pet Portraits DVD set. CLICK HERE for details. Both of these mini sets include the basic technique DVD's plus a full DVD project on the subject chosen.
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Copyright © 2003-2009 Susan Warne. Wet on Wet Classes /Apollo Studio Accomodation / Alexander Art
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