October & November
Looking back through the diary I see that I did little in the way of painting with more time online and in the garden. At the beginning of the month I finished the Somerset Art Works Open Studios at Batcombe Lodge where I enjoyed spending time with Moxi, and meeting many visitors.
The Big Draw at Stourhead was a very cold rainy day unfortunately, though the artists set up their stations in the Gallery and enjoyed a day painting.
I spent some time with a few members from the A303 group responding to a still-life of colourful items. So good to work and chat together.
The Wokingham Art Group were happy to watch me demonstrating a painting in acrylics on board. I took the subject of trees from a photo taken at the Hirsel Estate near Coldstream with beautiful pollarded willows in apricot oranges – there is a lovely write up which can be found on the Wokingham Art Society website. where you can see the colourful under-painting and the start of the actual painting! It is still waiting in a queue of half completed paintings though.
Planning to finish some paintings before starting on any new work – Harlech Castle with rocky ground is nearly done, then Ludlow Castle above the river….
Meanwhile, my focus has been finding new team members to enable the Frome Open Studios to take place again next year during the annual Frome Festival. We have a good enthusiastic group so putting ideas forward for our 2019 new look.