I am still working away at the commission pieces. I did find time to do a couple of small works also though, but I have two more works to do. I will try to finish them in the next week though.
I am trying to get everything organised before I go away, but I have finished the main work that was needed for the end of the month. I will be busy next month with my trips because I have my fishing trip over in Galway for the opening of the trout season on the 15th, and my trip to the Van Gogh exhibition also. I know, it's a hard life... ....but someones go to do it.

I am still up to my eyes in work. I have had to change my websites over to another server. It then took days to get the email system sorted out since my old hosts locked me out of my webmail before I had transferred my saved emails and addressbook even though I had still 2 weeks to run on my account. The old hosting company took it on themselves to shut it down when I told them I wouldn't be renewing the contracts. Luckily I had the new host ready with the websites and I had changed the pointers over for the main websites before it was done. I'd have been furious if the sites were totally down for the three days it took to get back in. I am working away in the studio, mainly on commission pieces, but I want to start working on a few smaller works for sale. I will try to create a few quicker more affordable works for the summer. I have a feeling with the economy struggling sales may be down in general this year. Gallery sales were poor over Christmas by all accounts, even though I did quite well this year.
I will find it easier this year too with the reduction in my studio costs, though I'm sure I can find plenty to spend the savings on. ..........I usually do :)
I will get myself fully organised sooner or later, I should be able to finish off the front of the studio in a few weeks after the frosts have passed. I have a little bit of cementing to do and I don't want to do it while there is a danger of frost. I need to finish the commission pieces first anyway, earning is more important than spending at the moment and I like having reserves in the studio account.

I am still busy, but I have more or less finished the commission. I will have to start on the other couple of things I have to do asap though. I need to get into the art supplies shop though. I also need to get a new chequebook and bank cards though, and they are stuck in the postal system.....so until I get them delivered I can't really go shopping, because you never have enough cash to pay for the materials you buy, even when 'trying' to keep the bill low!!......kid in a candy store syndrome....I may try to get a days fishing in next week, I'm starting to get stir crazy just moving between the studio and the house. I didn't get into town, there isn't much point until I get my cards and sundries for the new bank account. The trials and tribulations of changing addresses etc. with the banking systems are bad enough, but changing banks is even worse. However it needed doing, there was no point in paying bank charges when I could get free banking elsewhere.
I had a meeting with a client earlier today, regarding the work he wanted me to do. Now I have a clearer idea of what he wants....... which always helps. I guess it's time to get back to business, I need to sort out my contact page on my website. It is totally #*^~# up! ARRRRGGGGGHHHHHH.

I have been busy. I am working on a commission that requires quite a lot of work and needs to be ready at the end of the month. It will be finished though, so I can now almost start relaxing. It is difficult when you are under time pressure. I will be much more relaxed when I am finished. In the meantime I have a trip to the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam planned later on, and I am looking forward to it.

Happy New Year

I haven't been posting since New Years Day, I have been a little busy painting. I am also in negotiations for a commission to design a number of concepts for promotion and packaging. It might be profitable. I have to start work on another commissioned work over the weekend too as the client wants it by the end of the month. I will have my work cut out for the next couple of weeks, but it is a good complaint. I still don't have anything to replace sold works on my website as what I had has all gone, and I have no other older works available than are already on it. I must try to create a few quicker works just to fill the site up again.

Serbian Exhibition Poster

I was sent an image of the poster from the Exhibition in Belgrade, Serbia. It is an interesting poster..... I am not sure of the relevance of the angels, but it is probably something to do with Christmas and the New Year.
It is nice to get copies of the posters as well as the catalogues from the exhibitions you take part in. I must start a scrap book one of these days. It is almost new-years eve so I will wish you all a prosperous new year.

Solstice Morning..

I have painted a couple of small works this week. I had a few enquiries for some "affordable" paintings as Christmas gifts. I will try to finish off one more before the day so I will be busy enough. It has been very cold the last few days, but the heating in the studio is more than adequate, I thought the metal skin may create a refridgerator effect but the double walls give enought insulation from the cold. I am on here while waiting for the heater to warm the studio before I start work, that usually takes about 30 minutes and it will be pleasantly warm when I go back in. The sun was hidden behind clouds this morning, but at least it is getting brighter now and I will have good light in about half an hour. It is winter solstice today, (a day later than the calender date) the shortest day of the year. From today on it will start getting brighter again, it helps shorten winter knowing summer is on its way.

Just over a week to Christmas and I am not doing much painting, a little fishing but mainly meeting people and attending end-of-year meetings and get-togethers. It's all go! Party season is upon us. Bearing this in mind, Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year!, just in case I don't post in the next week.

Only 3 weeks to Christmas...

It's December already, I have been busy. I had to pack and ship a few paintings, mainly to ensure delivery before Christmas (some were to the USA) and now I can get back to painting. I want to go and get a few more canvases etc. also, I am running low on them and want to ensure I get them before they are all sold out. It is surprising how much art materials are sold coming up to Xmas, obviously as gifts for people. I am working on an idea for a work based on Cruagh wood, up the road. We took the dogs up for a walk last week, the leaves had just finished falling and the colours were just at the stage of a deep russet reflecting in the light against the green timber.
















I may go up during the week with a sketch book.

another Tunisian coast seascape study, step by step

Blocked in

reworking the sea

into the shallow water

and next I work the rocks

some general highlights

more highlights to give the movement in the water and wave lines added

final highlights and details

about 12 inches square, acrylic on canvas. I am building up a collection of these small works, soon I will start on a large scale piece on the subject.