Flying Barn Owl painting - Sold at the White Dove Gallery!
This piece was the last that I painted in my old home, where I was living downstairs in the one room, and painting from my scooter! I really enjoyed creating this one, trying to recreate the beautiful glow of his wings. This piece sold on his first day on display at the excellent White Dove Gallery, in Shenton. Im always delighted to exhibit and sell new work at White Dove, partially because the galleristsTtim and Lorraine have been the most wonderful support to me recently. I owe them a debt of gratitude, for sure
A new home beside the forest - and a new lease on life and work!
What a year last year was, and it led to a massive life change in mny ways. I now find myself living with my three girls in a lovely little house right next door to Sence Valley Forest Park. I have been here for a month, and have a new workspace right at home here. The greatest sound here (apart from the girls barking) is birdsong. The morning chorus is tremendous and we all go out into the garden and listen, using the Merlin app to identify unknown voices. You can hear birdsong echoing through the forest next door.
I had already begun a new series of bird paintings before the move, and the inspiration here is helping things along! And the sky here is wide and such a deep startling shade of blue in the evenings. I’m trying to recreate that stunning blue in some of my pieces.
I have returned to my love, oil painting now too, as I have a space that I can close the door on, in case of fumes. I’m really excited about what Im going to produce this year.
Large New Highland Cow Painting for Sale
This big guy is Lochnagar! A colourful Highland Bull surrounded by the suggestion of an atmospheric wild meadow full of tall grasses, seedheads and flowers. This new piece is my first large painting this year, and was created from my scooter 🤩
He is available to buy on my Originals page.
Highland Cow Art For Sale (Copy)
Here is my latest Scottish Highlander, created this week. He is back-lit and glowing against a backdrop of deep burgundy, pink and red. He will be available for sale soon on my website. Please message me if you’d like more information. Original acrylic painting on stretched canvas 60 x 80 cm
Foxy Fable - New Fox Painting
This is my most recent painting, a fox portrait with an unusual composition, in Autumnal colours. 50 x 50 cm acrylic on stretched canvas
Kingfisher preening his feathers - new original painting
‘April shower’
My newly available Kingfisher painting. I love painting these tiny, bright birds, the colours are quite incredible!
'Red Squirrel - A New Original Painting
New Original Painting For Sale
Here is ‘Pippin’ my new red squirrel painting in acrylics. He measures 50 x 50 cm on stretched canvas with painted sides. Check him out here:
'Puddle Ducks' a new Mallard Duck Painting
A new original duck picture for sale
This is my newest painting, a portrait of two Mallard ducks on a chunky box canvas 50 x 50 cm. Ducks are some of my favourite birds, so they are a total pleasure to paint.
New paintings ready for release this week!
New horse Paintings for sale!
New Horse Portrait
‘Rubin’ is one of a new collection of paintings, the first since my accident - so they have all been painted on my bedside easel, in acrylic paints. This guy is 50 x 50 cm and will be available for sale after my current Bank Holiday Weekend exhibition has closed.
A Big Horse Canvas
My original painting is sold, and I have released the expressive horse picture ‘Mazarron. as a canvas print, in several sizes. A splashy piece full of texture and movement, I used inks to create a feeling of movement and energy flowing across the canvas. This is a Spanish horse, so I named him after the beautiful seaside town where Mum lives. Having been surrounded by horses all of my life, I enjoy painting the beauty and grace, I hope to create more in this series.
A new owl painting !
Flying High!
New work begun today, trying to work with minimal equipment as I had to work from bed. I used ingenuity and a Zimmer frame to reach my paint box which was somehow across the other side of the room... And used fingers instead of a paint brush. Where there is a will there is a way. I have bought a new easel that fits in to the table and drops down to accommodate bigger canvases, so I think I'm fully ready to get back to work. Tomorrow I'll sit in the chair to finish this piece( hopefully)
#barnowl #animalart #birdartist #suegardner #licensedartist #newart
Easter Gift Guide
I thought it would be a lovely idea to put together a useful gift guide for smaller items in my print shop this month. I have some lovely bags and little books and prints which may fit the bill. Check it out here and if you enjoy it please feel free to share or Pin the page!
New Beginnings
I thought it would be a lovely idea to put together a useful gift guide for smaller items in my print shop this month. I have some lovely bags and little books and prints which may fit the bill. Check it out here and if you enjoy it please feel free to share or Pin the page!
Geese in Bed
Having been hospitalised for six weeks after my accident, I'm now making a good recovery and hope to be walking again in the next week or two. For now, I am sketching in bed and planning a new, bird-themed collection!
Sketching with pens
The goose is one of hundreds I photographed, while we were on holiday at Dunster Beach last September. He was making a display of himself in the sunshine after they all landed as a flock. Each morning they would land in small squadrons until hundreds of birds were gathered on the lake. They chased about for an hour, cackling, gossiping, socialising. Presently they fell to preening, and washing, and then dozed peacefully for the rest of the day.When evening came, they took an hour or so to form again into their groups, tension gathering. Suddenly as if on a secret signal, they began to lift into the air, group by group, a cacophony of honking and the tremendous beating of wings. I stood on the bridge each night and watched them leave, flying so close overhead you could almost touch them. Even after they were tiny dots in the distance, their voices continued to ring in my ears. I loved it! And I wanted to create a series of paintings inspired by these wonderful birds.
Perhaps I'll start it now, from my bed! and dream of those beautiful Summer evenings as I get out my sketchbook...
Watch the geese here!
Woodland Stag Art Workshop - my first date back!
Create your own colourful Stag painting!
This fun and absorbing workshop has three spaces still available! Dont worry if you havent picked up a brush since school! Step by step instruction and lots of personal attention enaures that eveyone takes home an amazing unique piece of art like this lovely one here!
Click here for booking details Paint a stag!
Temporary contact for Sue
My regular email is having technical trouble so I have set up a new email as a temporary measure. I can also be contacted via my Facebook, Instagram, Linked-in accounts. The new email address is hellosuegardner@gmail.com. Please note, responses may take a little longer than usual while I'm in hospital.
A bit of a set-back
My partner and I had been looking for a fun form of exersize for ages, because we both need to lose weight and get fitter - Drs orders. I suddenly thought about Pickleball and so we went along to a session with our local club, as a sort of trial.
It was great! Fun, funny, challenging but low impact. Great! Unfortunately just before we finished I was stepping forward to stretch for the ball and my leg hyper extended and broke, and down I went.
So I've been in hospital since the 27th Jan working my way through a sea of pain, faintness and sickness. Initially the foot was in danger because the artery was damaged in the accident, so I had a major operation involving the orthopaedic and vascular teams. I have four pins into my leg bones. I'm screwed into an external frame which is holding those four pins steady and safe.
Soon I'm hoping to transfer to a rehab unit and from there, home. I will be off my legs for another six weeks then will begin the process of getting upright and walking. At some point I will need an operation to reattach my cruciates, but not now.
I simply can't wait to get home to my dogs, I have never been away from them like this, it's awful really.
As regards work, I'll have to find new dates for my February and March workshops, however I have plenty of spare weekends so this shouldn't be an issue. I'll get in touch with everyone over the next week to confirm changes.
I'll have to adapt my painting practice dramatically while I am immobilised.
Mark and I have decided to hold a very big sale of my existing art originals to raise funds to support me while I cannot work. This is going to involve very big discounts, so might be an ideal opportunity to acquire an original piece. At the same time helping me get over this set back, so I can continue to do the work that I love.
I'll release the special sale to my email list first, so please join it if you are interested 😊
Creamy White Cow Canvas Print - New Release!
Peachy Queen Canvas Prints are Available
Mixed media oil painting and digital painting, from my original piece and now available as a beautiful canvas print. My canvases are made for me by an expert picture-framing team, using sustainably-sourced materials. The water based inks we use are guaranteed to stay vibrant and gorgeous for 100 years
Mixed media oil painting and digital painting, from my original piece and now available as a beautiful canvas print. My canvases are made for me by an expert picture-framing team, using sustainably-sourced materials. The water based inks we use are guaranteed to stay vibrant and gorgeous for 100 years
'Fast and Free' Hares- Painting Workshop at White Dove Gallery, Shenton!
March 9th 10 am - 3 pm £70.00 Booking is through Tim at White Dove Gallery Phone: 07890 002127
At the White Dove Gallery, Shenton
Address: The Old Village Hall, Shenton CV13 6DP
All the materials needed for the day are provided, Spend the day with me painting, learning and socialising with a small group of friendly artists and take home your own unique and beautiful hare painting. Tea. coffee and cake included!
This workshop is suitable for beginners and seasoned artists alike. The focus will be on creating a painting with looseness and movement, using acrylic paints and acrylic inks. Simplify, free up your style and let the paint do (most of the) work! I will demonstrate the steps of my process throughout - I work in layers, so while I encourage you to paint spontaneously- there is plenty of time to relax in between layers. Hares are so beautiful: Shaggy yet elegant, scruffy and sleek, lollopy and engaging- they lend themselves very well to this type of painting technique.
A beautiful location in which to paint, light, warm and airy surrounded by inspirational art! This is a lovely opportunity to relax away from it all, whether you are already an experienced painter or someone who fancies trying out a new hobby.
Wear clothing that can cope with an accidental splash of paint, and get ready to have fun, relax and learn.
This workshop is suitable for 18 and over. Please be advised that the workshop is upstairs at the gallery.
Ready To Run - A New Hare Painting
Ready To Run 20 x 16 “ acrylic painting on stretched canvas
Link to watch the painting taking shape
Here is my first painting for 2024, now available for sale £600. This guy features in my first video of the New Year ‘A Painting Makeover’ which can be found at the above link. This piece will be on my website very soon.
Big Lion Painting - Aurelius!
A Roaring Success!
I love this big guy - he dominates any space. When people see Aurelius for the first time, their first reaction is ‘Wow!’
He has been exhibited at the beautiful Atkins Gallery this month and, while I was there, I enjoyed seeing a group of visitors taking turns to have a selfie with Aurelius.
Although the overall scheme of this piece is cream, gold, black and brown, there are little touches of blue and purple here and there in his coat, which is picked up here by the grey-blue furnishings.
