What's New Now 9/12/08

Well you know the job I got in September for a few hours a week! It looks like I'm to be made redundant !! I have been nagging the company to get my pay done properly through their pay office as they have just been giving me cheques each month with no pay slips, well it seems they have been trying to sell off the company and the possible buyer has agreed to take on existing staff but as I had not been put through the payroll proper yet I don't qualify!! so unless the new owners want a hand over period I shall be unemployed by Christmas I think I have managed to get the pay office to process all my payments proper so I should get a p45 at the end of it which is something I suppose I hope they get it all done soon because if the buy out falls through it looks like the company may go into liquidation and then I will have a problem sorting out the paperwork, at least my back is holding out and I should be able to look for another job, the trouble is jobs for a few hours a week only are few and far between. I have had one or two Jewellery repairs just recently which I love doing it's as interesting as actually making jewellery making people's treasured jewels wearable again for them.

FREE DEMONSTRATION 4TH DECEMBER 2008

Thursday 4th December 2008

Demonstration by EDWIN CRIPPS

snowscape in acrylics

free admission demo starts 7 p.m.

The Hythe Centre Thorpe Road Staines TW18 3HD

free refreshments

Also the official launch of the EDWIN CRIPPS

range of artist materials in connection with

Andrew Henry of www.01784artsupplies.co.uk

tel 07979391381

Whats new?

Well just before I had my back done I started a new job for a few hours a week, going back to work after 3 years is hard even if it is only for a few hours but the up side is that my back is so improved that I am able to do it. The jewellery has proved successfull although I have not yet broken even but still it funds my hobby. So between painting jewellery making and working (notice work comes last) I don't have a lot of spare time, but what time I do have I spend doing the blogs and walking my dog Charlie, yes thats something else I can do now walk the dog.

Edwin Cripps and Me combined effort

This snow scene in acrylic was done in a workshop with Edwin Cripps to be true Edwin did all of the sky and the trees to the left but the rest is mine loved doing the workshop

Back to the Back 21.10.08

It's 2 weeks since my last back de-nervation and I'm just getting over the operation, the anesthetic they gave me this time knocked me out completely and for 3 days I felt like I had a hangover, my hand was badly bruised where they put the needle in and since the operation my hiatus hernia has been giving me hell. I also had a few pains shooting through my back and some general back pain directly after the procedure this time but it has since settled down and the back is feeling good now. Must remember to ask if the anesthetic affects hernias and if they can give me less next time The right hand side was the main one to be done this time but he also topped up the left side so hopefully I will not need it doing again until April 2009

Painting with Springtime Nursery 29/9/08

Painting with Springtime Nursery 29/9/08

Painting with Springtime Nursery 29/9/08

Paint Brush Bonanza ala Edwin Cripps

The fantastic Edwin Cripps range of paint brushes have arrive these are my particular favourites they have a wooden handle synthetic

bristles with a distinctive black tip these brushes hold an enormous amount of water and release it only when pressure is applied. An altogether amazing brush endorsed by a professional painter Edwin Cripps and bears his name on the wooden shaft Available only from 01784art.com Andrew Henry see link

Margaret Robinson Retrospective Exhibition

Windsor Street Gallery

6a Windsor Street

Chertsey

KT16 8AS

18th to 30th October 2008

Art Exhibition 13.9.08 to 20.9.08

Art Exhibition

Edwin Cripps Artist of the absurd

Liam Pipe Pencil Drawings

Steve Letchford Watercolour Wanderings

At The Studio Riverside Art Centre 59 Thames Street Sunbury on Thames TW18 5QF

Saturday 13th September to Saturday 20th September

closed Wednesday

9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Virginia Water Art Society Exhibition

close up

Virginia Water Art Society Exhibition

Well this is me at the Summer Exhibition we had some wonderful weather and the exhibition was very successful lost of paintings were sold and lots of jewellery

Creativity gone Mad

Well my creative juices are running over I've taken up jewellery making. My daughters bought me a jewellery making kit, beads tools etc. so I started to dabble and hay presto I'm hooked. I started to explore the Internet for beads etc. and came across a couple of sites in China selling metal beads I liked the look of them so ordered a few, I was pleased with them when they arrived and made one or two nice bracelets and earrings etc. Then I discovered metal bashing wow now that was good, so I asked my dad if he still had his metal work tools and promptly commandeered them. twisting the wire and then thumping the hell out of it is quite therapeutic. Joking aside some of the designs I got from my daughters craft work book are really quite pretty. So for the last month or so I have been beavering away and took myself of to hobby craft fantastic place ! fantastic place to spend a fortune and I did! Well I hope I can recoup some of my expenses next weekend at the Virginia Water Open Air exhibition otherwise this hobby will turn out to be just as expensive as my painting hobby!!

My dog Charlie 13.5.08

Well! Charlie who is a tricolour King Charles Cavalier is now a quadcolour if there is such a thing. Yes he's been at my paints again! this time it was Phthalo Green so he's black white & tan with phthalo green lips chin chest and front paws!!! Thank god for baby wipes the paint that he stole from the art room was acrylic liquitex and like the very good mannered dog he is when he stole the tube he came to show me that he had stolen something an when he was sure he had got my attention he then bounded off to the bedroom with me in hot pursuit.. The paint wasn't the only thing he stole today, there was the sewing pin, you know the one's with the coloured ball on the blunt end, it's the second time he has managed to get his sticky little mouth on one of my sewing pins and yet he did bring it to me to show that he had got it before once again bounding off to the bedroom with me hot on his paws, the other thing was a reel of cotton, unfortunately he didn't own up to that one so by the time I discovered he had it, it was squashed flat and covered in dog slob. Charlie's steeling is obviously a cry for attention, because he mostly does it when I'm absorbed in something, so he steels something of mine, but just to make sure he gets my attention he runs up to me stops dead in front of me and puts his head on one side, then when he's sure he's caught me eye he runs off to the bedroom, if he thinks I haven't got the message he runs back to me with the stolen object and with a glint in his eye runs off to the bedroom again, he knows he's in trouble and will often get a tap on the nose for steeling but it doesn't seem to deter him.

Bridge at Nightfall

This is an oil painting I have just finished it's still wet and i'm not sure but I may do some more to it once its dried. It's certainly given me a good chance to experiment with oils and see how to work with them

Azalea

I don't paint many flowers but this was inspired by the Azalea we had growing in our garden it's in acrylic and was started during our Wednesday painting sessions at Runnymede Art Society and completed at home

David Hyde Demonstration 2/4/08

This is David in action at Virginia Water Art Society painting in Acrylic paints

David Hyde Demonstration 2/4/08

This painting is in Acrylic and was the result of a Demonstration by David Hyde at Virginia Water Art Society he used the acrylics like chromacolour in a watercolour way for doing washes and fror blocking our areas, also using light over dark as only acrylics can do.

Mother & Child By Patricia Lumley

This is a painting in Acrylic done by a friend of mine I love the fluidity of it and the simplicity of colours

My dog Charlie 1.4.08

Oh yes my dog Charlie now I could do with some advice. Charlie loves the post No! he really loves the post when it comes through the door he goes barmy running up and down the hall ears flying tail wagging when he gets to the letters on the floor he picks them up in his mouth shakes them tosses them up in the air treads on them with one foot and opens them with his teeth.
Now I've managed to control this behaviour when I'm in by shouting at the top of my unmelodious voice LEAVE IT CHARLIE LEAVE IT and he does, but when I'm out and the post arrives oh does he have a field day and then the letters become a jigsaw. He very nearly shredded my husbands passport last week not to mention the insurance cheque that arrived to refund some of the money we had spent on his ear problems. We did buy a letter basket but when we went to fit it on the inside of the door we realised we would not be able to open the door wide enough to get through as the basket bangs against the wall. We did think of an outside post box but have you seen the price of them? I did try posting stuff through the letterbox myself and so long as I also shout LEAVE IT CHARLIE LEAVE IT through the door he's OK, so I reckon I need to get a Dictaphone with a continuous tape and tape me shouting the magic words also this would have to be activated by the noise of the letter box opening. Oh well I think I'll just put a cardboard box outside the front door with letters written on it. What do you think?

Whats happening now 1/4/08

It's the 1st April and my back has been fantastic I am still taking the painkillers but I am able to do a lot more than I could before the decission now is do I cut down the painkillers and do less or carry on doing the things I enjoy and carry on with the painkillers? I don't think the operation will ever allow me to do away with the painkillers altogether,but while I'm still so active it's hard to even cut them down. oh well chin up all three of them .

Dachshund

Another Pastel Dog this time a Dacshund this was my second attempt at this particular dog the colouring was very hard to capture and I had to resort to very soft pastels to get the blending right.

Glass again in acrylic on a black background

This Acrylic on canvas reminds me of summer I love trying to paint glass esspecially on a black background

Tropical Seas

This one is Acrylic and I used the texture paste as shown to us at the workshop with Dee Cowell
I used it on the rocks tree trunks palm leaves and the waves not an over kill then! I like the effect but I think you have to be careful not to make it too thick and getting the hang of putting it on with the palette knife is tricky

Girl on Beach

Yes another pastel instpired by a holiday photo

Never To Old Never To Young to Paint

Tuesday 11th March Runnymede Art Society Went to Springtime Nursery to paint with the Nursery Children aged between 2 1/2 to 5 years old all pre school children the Artists from Runnymede were aged between 58 and 82 years old We painted scenes of the seaside. We showed the children how to create clouds by taking out some of the paint with tissues and how to sponge yellow into the blue see to make green the children and artists both had a wonderful time. This is the third visit to the Nursery and the room buzzed with the interaction between the artists and the children, some children remembered us from our previous visits and we full of excitement. Runnymede Art Society will be holding their Spring Exhibition on Friday 18th and Saturday 19th April where the work of these very young artists will be displayed alongside the work of the members of the Society which proves you’re never too young or too old to learn to paint. Runnymede Art Society meet every Wednesday afternoon where they paint together at the Hythe Centre Thorpe Lea Road Egham from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm anyone interested should contact Jean McDonnell on 01784 741599

Never Too Old Never Too Young

Dee Cowell Workshop

Dee Cowell came to Runnymede Art Society on Thursday 6th March 2008 and is pictured here with Reg Marsh. Dee is by far one of the best workshops we have had for a long time she worked so hard from about 9:30 am to 3:30 pm taking us step by set through the mastery of using texture paste with watercolours and acrylics also using slowing medium, volume medium and glazing medium she supplied all the materials for us to experience these painting aids she worked tirelessly with each individual as well as working with the class of 16 as a whole

Dee Cowell Workshop

Two of Dee's paintings I think they should be named bold and beautiful

Dee Cowell Workshop

Dee Cowell at work with the Runnymede Art Society members

Black & Tan Puppy

Pastel animals seems to be my favourite medium at the moment thanks to Colin Bradley We are hoping to book a demonstration by him next year at Runnymede Art Society

must get some more pastel pencils Faber-Castell are the ones used by him and I must admit I find them very good

Boxer Dog

Well this is the second picture of the Boxer Dog Jodie that I did for a friend I enjoyed doing the first pastel so much I tried it a second time and was pleased with this result as well

Edwin Cripps At Thames Side Art

Edwin Cripps Frog on a toadstool playing a saxaphone doen on canvas using acrylic paint fantastic demonstration amazing painting very entertaining evening hope to see more of this painter

Edwin Cripps At Thames Side Art

Jodie

This pastel portrait of a friends dog I did this weekend from a picture she gave us getting the beautiful colouring was tricky but I enjoyed the challenge

Ginger Cat

This is a pastel picture done in using Colin Bradley's method it's a bit like my Ginger cat Benjamin

Glass

This acrylic on canvas is painted from a picture I was in a magazine and the light reflections on the glass table and vase just fascinated me and I couldn't help trying to recreate them in paint if you click on the picture it will enlarge and you can see my attempt close up

My Ginger Cat Benjamin

If you think my dog Charlie is a pickle listen to what happened to my cat Benjamin. He came home one day with scratched ears .. nothing new there you should see the state of them, but I could tell he wasn't quite his self he growled at me when I stroked him now that's not like him so I took him to the vets and told them of my concerns, they gave him an xray suspecting he might have been knocked over by a car. They phoned to tell me that he had in fact dislocated his sternum (that's the breastbone) all the vetenary surgeons were amazed they had never seen an injury of this sort before Benjamin was very lucky the dislocated bone had not punctured his lung or yet his heart so no majour organs had been damaged. It was not an option at this point to operate because of the proximity of the organs it would be too dangerous, so we have to wait and see how he does. It's been over a week now and the vet says the bones will fuse in this position and hopefully he will be ok and indead he has been comming on his usual walks with me and Charlie he has also been climbing the gazeebo in order to tease Charlie and show off as usual so I guess he is going to be ok. (I did inform him he has just used 8 of his 9 lives in one go but it didn't cut much ice he still climbs the gazeebo to show off) That's my Benjamin

My dog Charlie

Poor old Charlie's had problems with his ears and now he's got no nuts!!
Well it all started with an ear infection in both ears for which I have been treating with drops but the vet said that he needed an ear wash and that would have to be done under anasthetic, so I thought poor old chap needs to be done so to speak because lately he has been taking rather a shine to his bedding, funny enough only after his evening meal, but anyway I thought we needed to address the problem so if he was going under anastetic for his ears then he might as well get the chop at the same time. So that was done this week poor old thing he doesn't know weather to scratch his ears or lick his wound!

What's Happening

Well the good news is I had my denervation op and all went well I was last to go into theatre as usual which meant I had to wait from 7:15 to 11:30 41/2 hours without any painkillers a bit uncomfortable esspecially as they didn't have a bed for me so I had to wait in the TV lounge, still I was greatful I got done at all. I was wide awake during the proceedure and it was quite funny just laying there listening to the surgeon and theatre staff chatting occassionally stopping to ask me if I was having any pain. The denervation didn't really hurt I felt the needles going in and a slight sting when the electric current went in but that was all not bad at all really. Now it's just a case of waiting a few weeks to see if it has worked. I go back in 4 months for a check up

Not only was Paul Howard an excellent demonstrator but he kept us very well entertained throughout with amusing stories

Paul Howard

Watercolour pencil demonstration by Paul Howard at Virginia Water Art Society 6.2.08
Paul Howard gave a brilliant demonstration on how to use watercolour pencils using varying techniques and lots of tips

This is our Chairman Joy Doleman with Sarah and this is Reg our resident tutor with Sarah

Sarah Janavicius

Runnymede Art Society members enjoyed a demonstration of Collage by Sara Janavicius today Sarah demonstrated various methods and techniques showing how everyday items can be incorporated in a picture and how to be adventurous and try new ideas

Girl in Pastels

This picture done in pastels made me really look at the subject the light paterns and shades The one on the left has better light and shade but the one below I think has better form all I need to do now is to reproduce the picture combining the best elements of each