Drawings - Royal West of England Academy Annual Open Exhibition.

I have just arrived home having delivered my two drawings, Pond Petals ii and iii which I am thrilled to say, got through to the second round of the Royal West of England Academy Annual Open exhibition.  I posted them earlier in the summer because I created them for my show at the Open Eye Gallery.  Fingers crossed I get through to the next round and obviously I am hoping my pieces will be hung and sold!

I had to deliver them to Birmingham where there was a man with a lorry waiting to collect all the submissions.  It's quite scary handing over your work when you have spent hours and hours creating it and spent no small amount on the framing. 

I had never driven in Birmingham before and it's a little like driving in a very mini Dallas or LA.  Cities are always confusing when you don't have a clue where you are going and I had to do a few U-turns as I searched for the appropriate exit!!  Thank goodness for my trusty iPhone.  Without it I would probably have ended up in Fishguard (Wales), which actually would have been rather nice.  

Here are my drawings and a couple of photos taken on my return, through the lovely Leicestershire countryside. 

Pond Petals ii - Graphite 15 x 25 cm

Pond Petals ii - Graphite 15 x 25 cm

Did I show you my painting of Eddie...?   I don't think so.  As you know I look after him from time to time and Barry and I like to take him to the beach.  He is so handsome.  When I get my own dog, I shall do some more I think.  It's good to do something different from time to time.  Bye for now.

Another session of catching up!

Hello everyone, 

Can you believe that it is now July and the last post was in April? 

Three beautiful years came to an end when I handed in my Final Masters Project on May 16th and left the print room for a while.  It has been such an amazing experience and I am thankful to everyone who supported me during this time, especially my husband, Barry McCuan.  I have to say that the Print room at Cambridge School of Art, Anglia Ruskin University is absolutely wonderful and I am going to be dragged kicking and screaming from the print room when it is finally all over in September!   John Williams, our genius of a technician has added to the fabulous experience with his technical prowess.  Not only is John a wonderful technician, but he is also an inspired artist in his own right having graduated with an MA from Camberwell School of Art a number of years ago.  So anyone thinking of doing an MA in Printmaking.... Cambridge is a great choice!

Barry arrived a few days after I handed in my project and we drove down to Cornwall and had a lovely few days down there.  I needed the break before we came back to sort out my Dad's house.  It has been really tough,  and the newly discovered underground water leak hasn't helped!   Hopefully it will be fixed soon... it has only been five months since I first reported it.  Lovely insurance companies!!!!!

Painting on Chapel Porth beach

On the Coastal path above Kynance Cove, Cornwall.

We had Eddie to stay for a week or so and we took him on a little painting trip into Norfolk searching for a poppy field, which amazingly we found.  I think it might have been the only one!

Eddie the perfect painters' companion!

I have managed to get a small amount of painting done, mainly in my sketch book, but now I am back in the print room preparing for our MA show.  There are just a few more things I want to add to my installation, but here is a sneak preview!

Entomology - etchings

Will be back sooner next time!

Summer Meadow and Pond

39 x 55 Oil/Linen
Available at Ventana Fine Art


Well, this will most likely be my last posting for a few weeks as I am off to England. I can't wait to see my family. I shall be doing some oil pastels, and maybe if I can get to use my Dad's computer I will post some if I am happy with them. I love the immediacy of oil pastels, especially when painting outside and my work becomes quite abstract and bright... very different from my usual paintings... maybe I need to think about that!

I will be back soon!