Hmmm, not got any better at this have I. Hanging head in shame. Can you up-date a blog in reverse order? Not sure but I'll give it a try.

Well since my last aged post I was part of an exhibition at the Stockbridge gallery in, well, Stockbridge. Fab gallery, they specialize in dog paintings but for the purposes of this show entitled "Hare of the Dog", they had my hare paintings on display.

Following that I had a painting in the "Bath and West show" exhibition.
Just as the B&W closed Dorset art weeks started and I went in with Irene Timms group at St James church in Shaftesbury. It was quieter than previous years but successful all the same.

I then took part in a fete at the Bison Farm in East Knole, not for my paintings but to give a spinning demonstration and also corn dollies. I was interested in learning to spin last year and joined a wonderful group of very talented spinners. I now have my own wheel and people are often interested in demonstrations in this ancient craft.
The corn dollies I taught myself how to make and have given demonstrations to my daughters school and at country fares.

A couple of weeks ago I was part of an exhibition in Shaftesbury art centre, "Portrait of Shaftesbury". The brief given was to paint a portrait of a shaftesbury person, living or not, known or not in their natural environment. I painted Michael, a local character who works in Somerfield in the town. He's always so friendly and ready to pass the time of day whilst diligently going about his business. He agreed to let me paint his portrait and for that I was awarded a "highly commended" in the exhibition. Their will be a write-up in the Blackmore Vale magazine on the show in the next couple of weeks.

Yesterday I delivered paintings to the Sherborne art club open exhibition which runs from Saturday the 24th of July until the 1st August 11am to 5pm at Digby Hall, Hound Street Sherborne.

I'm currently working on a painting I hope to enter in to the Marnhul Festival on Saturday the 24th July. It's a lovely event with all the attractions of a village fete but with live music in the evenings and a beer tent to boot! I feel a headache coming on ;-) hic...

I'm often asked what I paint and that used to be an easy one to answer, landscapes and hares, mostly. HoweverI have been increasingly moving in to figures often focusing on my daughters. Sometimes using myself as a model, not out of vanity but as a practicality. Seldom are these straight portraits, I like to include animals and elements of fantasy.

My modeling is still very busy, I try not to take a booking for each day as I need to paint. I always get booked a long way in advance and now actually have bookings for 2011! However the long awaited summer hols are nearly upon us, one of the many joys of my job are not many art classes keep going over the summer so I can be home with my girls.

Right, must away as this painting won't paint it's self! I will I will I WILL up-date my blog on a regular basis from now on, scouts honor.
Bye for now xxx