Open Studio

The value of old fashioned publicity: the printed leaflet.

I have just taken part in the first weekend of Saffron Walden Open Studios and had a marvellous time showing people round my studio and garden.    

Handmade cards of original acrylic sketches from my sketch book

The studio with cottage garden in front- a mix of vegetables, flowers and some sculpture thrown in the mix.

Some of the paintings on display in the studio

Looking through the wisteria, Acyrlic.  One of the pictures that sold this weekend.

As a recent (and enthusiasitc) convert to twitter, facebook and blogging I was surprised just how effective the old forms of publicity still are.  Taking out the people who are my longstanding supporters and friends the majority of footfall (and some buyers) came because they had picked up a good old fashioned printed leaflet which Saffron Walden Arts Trust had had printed so smartly.  So many of the people who arrived had obviously studied the leaflet and chosen their route and made the effort to find us, clearly with out the use of SATNAV or an iphone.  I thank them even though I am sure they will never read this it was a delight to meet them all.  So printers don't give up!

The well produced leaflets,

complete with handy map for those of us without an iphone!

Unfortunately I can not open next weekend but lots of the other studios are open again.  I do hope that the leaflets continue to attract visitors.  If you would like to visit my studio please visit my website and contact me through that.  Many thanks.

Waiting for the sun in my front garden

It is 8.30am and I have been out in the garden enjoying the morning sun and the birds singing.  Amongst the wood pigeons and the sparrows I heard, and then saw a cuckoo, which was a first for here.  Our unclipped front hedge is just so popular with the sparrows and obviously the pond has added to the attractions for birds (along with the un-netted fruit which we share with them).

Painting furiously over the past few days in preparation for Saffron Walden Open Studios but thought I would get this done quickly whilst waiting for the sun to come round on to the irises by the pond.

The other thing I am still trying to finish which doesn't get the sun until the midday is the wisteria and I am up against time as the lovely warm weather means they are opening up right down the cascades of flowers and appear to change by the hour or quicker!  Needless to say all very impressionistic, in fact I have in a book some lovely vague Monet  paintings of wisteria which inspired me to have a go at a whole  wall of wisteria...as you can see an impression.

My wisteria is Pink Ice, initially I was so disappointed it wasn't the purple variety but I have grown to like it and it does have a really glorious scent.  This is a close up small study I have last week.

This painting along with some others you can find at the Darryl Nantais Gallery, Linton, Cambridge

Yes I finally plucked up courage to go into a gallery and hey presto the first one I went into said yes please we love your paintings.  What a boost in what has been challenging year so far.