Time flies when you're having fun right...? I have been at my easel all day today, since about 9am, happily cracking along with the paintings...food has been delivered by caring husband, empty plates and cups have been collected and I presume washed up... I've looked out of the studio window and it's dark!! How did that happen? Well, obviously it has something to do with the movement of the Earth and the setting of the sun and all that, but a whole twelve hours.... totally surreal!!

Needless to say I have achieved a lot today and I'm totally happy with it all, which is great. The ideas have been flowing like water and they have translated really well onto canvas, at least I think they have! The studio music has been on a loop all day, heaven knows how many times each song has played!

I listen to Napster whilst I'm painting, for those of you who don't know about it, it's a subscription music service that allows you create playlists or listen to their choice from your favourite genre. It's great to listen to in the background as I tend to begin by singing along (don't laugh, at least you don't have to listen to it!), then gradually the painting takes over and I don't hear the words anymore, I suppose it might work with white noise too, but that is something that makes me slightly uncomfortable.
Anyway, where was I, oh yes, music, today I have been accompanied on the piano by Winifred Atwell and Scott Joplin, on the ukulele by George Formby and had the whole entourage with Glen Millar and his big band. Totally wonderful. I have only recently discovered a real love for this era and it's music, I think I was born about 40 years too late! I really fancy going to one of those 1940's weekends where everyone gets dressed up and steps back in time.

So, Saturday is over and done with, Sunday beckons with more of the same I think, I wonder who will drop tomorrow for me to sing along with!!!
See you again soon, or should I say we'll meet again!
Mx

Hello again folks, I felt like a spot of wittering tonight, so I may as well witter to you!

If you've come to my blog through the website you'll have noticed it's all sparkly and new and there is a small penchant for little yellow rubber ducks. What's all that about I hear you cry? Well, those who have been privy to this new addition to the paintings think I'm barmy (no surprises there then!), the little chap has started creeping into all the new cheeky lady paintings and he's become a sort of mascot! He's something to look out for in all the new work, and you'll know if the letter or invitation you receive is from me as he'll be on there somewhere, but you might have to look for him!

So the new website, I rather like the clean fresh new look it has, I think it shows the work off wonderfully and very soon my nice little blog will be hosted on there too, yippee!! I have posted some of the new paintings up in the gallery section for you to look at, as a little taster, but you'll have to wait until September for the unveiling of the rest!

For those of you who like to tweet on twitter you can find me and tweet along too at http://twitter.com/m_s_milburn .

This week has really been totally directed at the 'business' side of my business, all the irritating stuff like dealing with unreliable couriers and trying not to forget all the things I have to do. The enjoyable part of it is designing the invitations and posters, the emails and the new portfolios, I'm really looking forward to getting those sent out in the next few days. Somewhere before the exhibition I am planning to put together a book charting my progress to date, all the way from my childhood triumphs in the art world to the latest exhibition, it's a fun thing to do and will be nice to look back on over the coming years, (I got a lovely book from Laura Ashley to put it all in :) ). I'm hoping I have time to do that, if not it will be available at the next exhibition... my mind is wandering in that direction already!

So, what next? Well tomorrow I'm off out to see if there is still a world out there, a day away from the old studio and the ball and chain that is the computer, so that I can come back on Monday morning all refreshed and raring to paint. It's nice to feel that everything is on track and know that I can meet the deadlines I have. It's really not very long to go now, just three weeks until I heave all the paintings into the back of the car and trundle off to Alnwick...ooo no time to have a wobble now!

So dear reader, I will let you leave your computer screen and go and put your feet up with a well earned brandy and perhaps some wafer thin mints, but don't get too comfortable, I'll be back soon hoping for another chat!

Take care until then,
Mx

The family 'holiday' (and I use that term loosely) is over for another three months and I can now get back into my stride. Having a week off during the preparation for an exhibition is probably not the way forward, my poor brain is so stuffed with 'things to do', 'things to remember', 'things to paint' that it's almost ready to implode and anyone visiting the studio would be forgiven for thinking I've totally lost the plot as I wander restlessly muttering to myself, scribbling illegible things on sticky notes and adhering them to the wall 'so as I don't forget'. I did manage to draw out a couple of pieces of work yesterday and got one under painted to an acceptable standard, now just need to finish the other five that are hanging around taunting me. It sounds like gloom and doom, but it's not really, just a bleary eyed artist wishing she'd had another couple of hours shut eye!

Babewatch. Copyright Michelle Milburn 2009.

I really am having so much fun painting these ladies, I can't wait to unleash them on the world! Invitations to the preview will be going out next week, so if you'd like to come along and enjoy the artwork, have some cake, a chat and a giggle, I'd be delighted to send you an invitation, just leave your details on the contact form on my website and I'll get one sent out or emailed to you.

Well, time for a coffee and cornflakes I think, then the day can start proper! See you soon,

Mx