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I do wish spring was here, so I could at least sit outside and enjoy the sunshine, a few daffodils, nice cuppa and biscuits while I doodle away in the sketch book, it would be nice to see the end of the white stuff now, wouldn't it?

This week has been an inveitable one of non-productivity painting wise, something I have to reaily accept at the moment.  I say non productive, but it hasn't stopped the ideas for new pieces forming in the non-drowsy moments I've managed to find.
It's a bit frustrating to not just get on with things, but I guess this is part of my learning curve, patience was never my strong point.

I still have 6 new pices of work around the studio , all in thier various states of painted clothing, waiting to be dresses in their finery, I don't like leaving them like this for long, always eager to see what will transpire for the next layer of paint.  But at least I have a good starting point for next week (maybe friday???) from which to step off from, always a good thing I feel.

Anyway, I'm just rambling along here, making a small contribution, feeling like I'm doing sometihng at least a little productive :) Hopefully the next post will be full of more radient entusisam, paintings having been completed, biscuits all eaten and maybe even the sun putting in a welcome appearance... we'll wait and see.
Cheers for now,
Mxx

How much fun can one person have whilst painting?  Answer... tons :)  Having rearranged the studio a little this morning (to be nearer the radiator!), a new canvas has found it's way onto the easel for the next painting to be drawn out.  It's very encouraging to have  three pieces grabbing my attention. 

I have a little notebook next to me to jot down all the interesting ideas that seem to be tumbling into my head, sometimes just titles, sometimes narrative, often finished paintings that require a little artistic note, all great stuff.

It was quite blissful sitting in the studio this morning, beautiful Northumbrian sunshine streaming in through the window, if you squinted hard enough you could nearly imagine it was approaching spring.  Well, that's probably thrown a spanner in the works! 
I do love the spring, all the daffodils and lambs and of course my birthday, that truly is the start of a new year for me and always fills me with so much enthusiasm for the year ahead.  I'm looking forward to sharing lots of new bright bubbly paintings with you over the coming months, although a few will be kept locked away, just to tantalize you a little :)

On that note I shall go back to the easel now the next layer of paint has dried and endeavour to bring the ladies out of hiding.

Chat to you again soon,
Mxx

Firstly dearest reader, apologies for not updating the blog sooner.  Sometimes things don't go quite according to plan.

I have been deliberating for some time as to whether I should put my news on my blog, but it only seems fair to do so.
Unfortunately I was diagnosed with cancer of the lymph system in January, a bit of a bummer to say the least.  I am now receiving Chemotherapy and feel much better for it, the trademark red hair has been replaced by some jolly funky scarves and hats..... any ideas for fun headgear?
The prognosis for this is very good and I am determined to make a speedy recovery, all aided by my amazing family, friends and staff at The Freeman Hospital in Newcastle.

Life has slowed down a little and that in turn has provided me with the insight I have needed in my work and I am actually being much more productive now than I have for the past year.
My family have indulged me the pleasure of being allowed to paint in front of the living room fire, which is jolly cozy!  Inspiration for the cheeky things my ladies are getting up to is coming from all angles as I reassess the world around me, even dreary hospital stays are providing huge amounts of painting possibilities, good things can come from gloomy ones if you look hard enough :)

So, even with that small bombshell, the dust has settled and I am planning my year ahead.  Possibilities of solo shows are on the horizon and I am forging a new collection of paintings with that in mind, I'll keep you posted as to dates etc as they arrive.

I will be showing work again at The Newcastle and Gateshead Art Fair in October with The Art House Gallery based in Kelso.  If you haven't been yet, go, it's an amazing space.  The entire current Michelle Milburn Collection is residing at the Art House as we speak, and Tony and Yvonne will be delighted to spend some time with you.
Any equiries as to the availability of paintings would be best directed to The Art House.

Work was shown with The McNeill gallery at the beginning of January where several of my pieces were launched in the Beryl Cook Exhibition.  Although it collided with all the dreadful snowy weather, I have been reliably informed that interest was high, so I'm chuffed about that too.

I'm terribly excited about the year ahead despite the blip, I hope you will continue to follow what i'm up to, I'm not about to vanish off the radar just yet!!

Thank you again for dropping by, I'll be back online very soon with the latest painty updates from the cozy living room studio!
Mxx

I can hardly believe Christmas has passed and we are embarking on not only a new year, but a new decade. Such opportunity awaits, so exciting!
What better way to begin than with the countryside offering itself as a blank canvas.  We are currently snowed in, and have been off and on for the past to weeks.  Snow is such a powerful cleanser, I can't help but have a good feeling about the year ahead.

I've been a little quiet of late, recovering from an intense and hectic year, flu finally caught up and forced me to put my feet up, but you can't keep a good man (or woman) down for long, and I'm already planning my diary for 2010, albeit incorporating a slightly more sensible timetable!

The New Year has already offered up a hugely exciting opportunity in The Beryl Cook exhibition at The McNeill Gallery in Radlett, Herts, who will be showing my paintings alongside the work of the great lady herself.  What a way to begin the year.

I have the beginning of a new collection which I will be working on over the next few months and the studion is full of canvases in varying sizes. I can't wait to get stuck in to see how they all turn out!

On that note, I will wish you a happy, healthy, prosperous 2010 to everyone, lets make it a good one!
Mxx

 

Good afternoon dear reader, I am back!

I've had a very busy productive couple of weeks painting like a little demon getting six new pieces of work ready to go to The Art House in Kelso.  There have been some rather frantic days and late nights, not helped along by children with fluey bugs and very broken washing machines.
Neverthe less, the new paintings were delivered yesterday and met with much enthusiasm. They will be on show from 4th December at The Art House for the opening of the beautiful new Gallery building.  You HAVE to visit, its wonderful!

So, life, whilst being busy has also been 'interesting'.  As I mentioned the washing machine broke.  I was adamant I could manage to handwash everything for a week or two until I had time to pop out for a new one.  That resolve latest about 20 minutes, and I ordered one online. It proved to be a mistake however, and to cut a long story short, one non delivery and one overpayment later I found myself going out in the dark, in pouring rain into Newcastle to collect the damn thing myself.  The new machine is very nice!

Anyway, during all this chaos, I managed to send my paintings off without having taken some good photographs of them.  I am most dissapointed with myself, and appalled that i can't share them with you, I will try to rectify that if it's at all possible.

On a brighter note, I have cleared the studio (it has a nice wooden floor, it's been a while since I last saw it!), unwrapped six beautiful pristine canvases and am about to leap into action to get them all prepped so I can start the new round of work.  I'm so excited that I have proper butterflies in my stomach.  The difficult part is choosing which one to paint first, there are so many ideas.

My horoscope for today mentioned I should try to get all my ducks in a row concerning work, not how prophetic can that be!  On the way home from the gallery yesterday I passed a road called Duck row.  Do you think someone is trying to tell me something, or am I just going quackers? So on that note I shall take the advice and go and get quacking.

Take care for now folks, I'll be back soon :)
Mx