I had a wonderful day at the gallery this week, painting a sheep in oils, and chatting to all of the lovely visitors. Fiona Marks was also in attendance, telling the stories behind her beautiful paintings that feature important women in history. We enjoyed it so much that we are going to do it again on the 19th Dec! See you there? See previous post for all the details.
A Stampede of Colourful Highland Cows!
Here are some of the photos from our lovely Highland Cow painting workshop at the weekend. The gallery is a wonderful space in which to relax and paint, with plenty of artistic inspiration all around! Everybody did terrifically well and got on like a house on fire too!
Painting a Colourful Highland Cow
Learning to Paint a Rainbow Highland Cow!
Today is my painting workshop at the gallery Creative Melbourne, in Melbourne Derbyshire. I set up the space yesterday afternoon so that all of the easels and canvases etc are ready to go when we all arrive this morning. We shall be making very vivid Highland Cow paintings I am sure, as Im taking 26 different colour tubes of paint including some sparkly pearlised paints. It will be a small group of six, today painting up in the mezzanine gallery, which is a lovely space to work in, above the art gallery itself which fills two floors below.
Spare Cake
I have baked two cakes for the occasion. Partially because I’m never sure my cake will rise! So I did a ‘spare’ and they both rose beautifully so now we have two. ‘Spare cake’ is surely one of the happiest phrases in the English language.
A Big Hairy Beast
We will be basing our painting loosely on this big colourific chap above, although each piece will be as unique as the artist who paints it. We typically have at least two or three total beginners in my workshops, which is always exciting. I haven’t met any of the artists joining me today, so I will find out about experience levels once everyone arrives. Some attendees are coming from a little farther afield today, so I hope everyone has had a nice journey to get here. I will post photos from the day’s activities later on.
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Colourful Background for my Stag Painting
I decided that my ne stag painting needed some more colour and interest. So I have added another layer, and used some beautiful new Autumn colours in the foliage. I will add another layer with some leaves and other botanical shapes once this layer is dry. I hope to habve this piece ready to display at the Melbourne Festival, which is taking place on the 16/17 September
A woodland encounter; stag painting in progress
Paint your own cow!
My Colourful Rainbow Highland Cow Workshops are always popular, and I have been asked to hold a half day session at Sharpes Pottery Museum in November. This will be a step by step painting workshop, on how to create a colourful highland cow from start to finish! Dont worry if you have never painted since school, beginners and more experienced artists are all very welcome / I simplify the process, breaking it down into fun steps. You can have a pre-drawn canvas too, to allow you to relax and focus on your colour choices.
Book online, the Saturday afternoon workshop/class is £60 including all your materials, and refreshments - just bring yourself. This is an ideal pre-Christmas treat and would also make a lovely girft for a loved one. Why not team up for a friends’ day out?!
Paint a Highland Cow - Half Day Course
Arts trail weekend is coming up!
Everyone on the arts trails and artisan fairs are talking about Creative Melbourne Gallery in the heart of South Derbyshire!
Five of us are returning for a second year for 2023 Derbyshire Open Arts!
If you haven't yet visited this might prompt you
CREATIVE MELBOURNE GALLERY is Venue1 on the Derbyshire Open Arts trail
And you are invited!
Gallery Event - Derbyshire Arts Trail Fixture - 28th/29th May !
Some of the artists taking part in the art trail weekend this year
Painting workshops Leicestershire
Look at this wonderful forest of owls, created by students at my recent Owl painting workshop day at St Helens Heritage Centre in Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire. Believe it or not, this was the first time that half of the group had picked up a paintbrush!
The venue at Ashby is a lovely one, a brand-new building with lovely facilities and french windows leading out to a beautiful garden. This unique building stands at a site of historical significance, as evidenced in the wall displays throughout detailing the links to Ashby’s heritage and honouring some of the historical people. This was the site of a medieval vicarage, although there are archaeological finds going back to the Stone Age
We always enjoy the painting days at St Helen’s, and I have organised some more for next year, including a two-day course on painting hares. Gift vouchers for the workshops are available to buy online for instant download. here
Big Cats Workshop at Sharpes Pottery Museum - a 'Roaring' Success
This was a good day, with a full compliment of ‘ workshop repeat offenders’ :D and amazing results! It particularly tickled me that the vigorous brushwork was triggering peoples' personal exercise monitors into asking 'Are you working out?'
Adding the block colours and then the markings, one step at a time
Beginning with the simple shapes - building a framework
A painting course in Derbyshire.
Derbyshire Art Workshops
This was only the second art workshop to be held in the new space at Creative Melbourne Gallery. Upstairs above the main gallery floor there is a mezzanine that runs all the way around. This is a light-filled area ideal for painting in. We had a lovely day, everyone was very friendly and chatty with each other and it was a mixed-level group, with half beginners and half improvers. Everyone left with a beautiful and very colourful painting in their own style.
I have had some very nice feedback about the workshop and the venue, and hope to hold another one there in 2023.
“Such a fab day with lovely people and loved our Highland cow herd”
“Just a short note of thanks for a most enjoyable day.I felt that I learned so much. You really are an excellent teacher.Time went so quickly.
Nearly forgot the cake was delicious.
Thank you again.”
“Very enjoyable day, many thanks Sue”
Some photos from the Festival
Participating in Melbourne Festival 2022 was a great experience. My location was in Hourlier Wines, a father, and son business that specialises in French wines. The beautiful timbered brick building and elegant bottles provided the perfect setting for my colourful glossy oil paintings.
New colourful Highland Cows and Melbourne Festival at the weekend
Introducing New Multi-coloured Cow Paintings
Two big and bright New Multi-coloured Cow Paintings., I’ll be taking at least one piece to Melbourne Festival at the weekend.
I will be hosted by Pierre Hourlier Wines, at Melbourne Hall. I hope you will come and say hello if you are passing. There is a lovely cafe next door.
There will be 150 artists exhibiting at the art trail, it takes all weekend to visit the whole village. Artists are taking up temporary residence in homes and businesses throughout the Derbyshire villagevillage
Summer sale of original paintings
Sale of my demonstration art pieces, small acrylic originals
Sale of my demonstration pieces - this Sunday!
Summer sale of original paintings
I have gathered together all of the demonstration paintings that I have created at my workshops and demos over the past year. I have finished the ones that needed more work, and I’m going to present them for sale on Sunday. This is a chance to acquire one of my paintings at a preferential rate. These pieces are smaller than I typically have available, around 45-50 cm, some are acrylic, and some are acrylic with oils. There will be sheep, cows, hares, kingfishers, stags etc, with painted sides, ready to hang. There are around 30 paintings that will be available, and this will be on my new site, so Klarna pay in instalments is an option.
My mailing list subscribers will receive an extra discount code for 20% and will get 24hr early access. so its worth signing up.
My family members delivering Loch Venachar to the retreat manager
Ripple Retreat Donation
Bill, at Ripple Retreat
After a long wait, my Ripple Retreat Donation, (a painting) arrived at the Ripple Retreat in Callander, Scotland. Mum and Mike, Auntie Barbara and Uncle Alan very kindly delivered my painting to Lynn at the Ripple Retreat. Later in the year, the piece will be auctioned at their Autumn Ball to raise funds for the retreat. The centre offers respite stays for children who are cancer patients and their families, on the banks of Loch Venacher. The Retreat is managed and funded by the Scottish charity ItsGoodtoGive. My family were given a guided tour of the beautiful building and grounds and were very impressed with everything they saw. Alan and Barbara live in Callander, so the painting was a welcome addition to a family road trip.
There is another rainbow Highland Cow at the Ripple Retreat - a permanent resident named Bill the Bull, created by Artfe Sculpture
Varnishing the Ripple Cow, prior to her journey, I love the way varnishing seems to enhance the colours.
When I began the painting, I decided to keep a record as I went along, so I took photos and an ill-fated attempt at video. I am a bit more composed on video these days but here are some of the out-takes from a year ago. You can see why, in the end, I just took photos!
A lovely day at White Dove Gallery
I was invited to spend the day at the beautiful gallery in Shenton, painting and chatting to the gallery visitors. I really enjoyed myself. I may have done more chatting than painting in the end - luckily I had brought three ‘works in progress to carry on with, so I think I got away with it! I met some really interesting people and saw some friends that I hadn’t seen since before the pandemic, so the whole day was a joy. It’s nice because the gallery supports several local artists and makers, and I had the chance to meet artists as they popped in to visit. I always love the chance to chat with fellow artists, it really lifts my spirits..
This gallery is dog friendly, so every now and again, I would hear the pitter-patter of tiny claws and I’d grab a couple of wet wipes, clean my hands and get ready to make friends! I managed to meet a Spaniel, a Jack Russel and a Labrador- I saw another spaniel from afar but didn’t get a chance to pet him. I think most of the dogs were regulars as they all seemed to know where the cafe was!
I had delivered my new owl painting at the gallery on Friday, and he sold on Saturday so I didn’t see him in situ, however, I was delighted that he had so swiftly found a beautiful new home.
I brought some sheeting to cover any surfaces that might get splattered, and we moved vulnerable art pieces out of the way too. I brought my day-to-day palette and a small selection of paint tubes. However, it turned out there was enough paint already on the palette to last the day. Wet wipes and kitchen roll for quick clean-ups, a drop of Zest-it medium, and a few brushes although I only used one. But the most important thing was the cough sweets!
Right next to my little table was the cafe entrance, so I enjoyed a coffee and then had a delicious slice of Bara Brith for lunch. They make wonderful cake-always a vegan option available and plant-based butter too.
Above: Inveraray on the wall at White Dove Gallery. The gallery is open on the first weekend of every month, 11-4 Saturday and Sunday. The cafe is open and you can sit inside or outside. The space is wonderfully cool on a hot day, as I discovered!
White Dove Gallery , the Old Village Hall, Shenton, Leics CV13 6DP
Painting on location this Sunday!
Painting Demonstration at White Dove Gallery
My new owl painting ‘ Air Disturbance’ , and’ Inveraray’ the big Wildflower Cow painting to display at White Dove Gallery this weekend. I’m going along on Sunday to paint in the gallery, hopefully, see you there!
White Dove Gallery, The Old Village Hall, Shenton CV13 6DP
Getting small 'demo' paintings ready for sale!
I have decided to offer my demonstration paintings for sale. These are the pieces I paint for my workshops, and they are all smaller pieces, around 45-60 cm. Having completed almost a year of workshops now, I have quite a collection of these paintings. I have been going through them all and making sure they are finished, and then as soon as they are all ready to hang and varnished etc, I will have a sale event. Watch this space!
Patchings Festival 2022
I am excited to be exhibiting/demonstrating at Patchings for the first time this year! I have attended several times as a visitor amid much excitement and enjoyed seeing all the professional artists stands and watching them work, so its thrilling to be going as an artist this year. Here is the link, hopefully Ill see you there!
