A Fun weekend

There was a dampner put on the end of last week in finding my studio is riddled with, yes DAMP! Mr Simon Desmond was already on his way up North when I discovered the horrid black speckles on the back of most of my paintings. He now awaits a meeting with Mr John Miller as what the Heritage trust will do about it!

A coffee at Turners a slip of wine later and a big fat cheer up!

The rest of the weekend went a treat, the Pendle Beer Festival had lots to offer and we even made it in the snow, well with taxi's and buses at a stop, creative juices a flow, yes I know, we'll run in brogues! nothing could stop us!

So the snow kept us in on the Sunday but only for us to make up for it on Monday, with a big surprise birthday meet with my good friend John

SURPRISE, the balloon was as big as him.

John thought we came up trumps with a spot of birthday cake to start with, then a super day out in Morecambe.
You cannot beat the Midland Hotel this time of year for afternoon tea, Simon thought we'd ended up at Lake Geneva with the candy-coloured mountains creating a skirt like effect around the sea.

WoW is that Sean Connery?

Dancing should never be a chore, Simon Desmond had to have a little push for this but you can't go to Morecambe without meeting Eric. Hmmm Monteee's not impressed!

We finished off in Arnside for a fish and chip supper, It's all about making life easy you know!

Happy Birthday John.X

Preview night

A Pendle Investigation exhibition started on Saturday in Pendle, the Arts council work that is to tour the country started off with a bang. People were overwhelmed with the giant paintings hung from great hooks in the gallery space, and some got quite emotional with the over all feeling of power and injustice.

The evening was a great success, as you can see it was full of folk, there was a great atmosphere, people seemed to get it (going off the comments during the show) and even with the Red Witch brew flowing, nobody fell over!

Video

1st New Show

You can imagine the running around now going on for this first view of my Pendle Witch exhibition for the arts council, catalogue isn't quite done but we are soo close!

Please come and view on the 28th and try our RED WITCH brew! ALL WELCOME, see you there!

Busy Weekend

This weekend went so fast as I had some wonderful guests to stay, it was Sandra Higgins first stay in Pendle and at first she didn't know what she'd let herself in for with all the 400th anniversary talk of Witches. We soon cut loose in the area but had much a stare from the local folk as they assumed Ab Fab were in town!

Sandra and I in my studio looking at the work for selection, Perjury below was of interest

Pic taken by S. Desmond


A quick call at Turners was in order to warm up after that and then off to visit John Baldwin in Silverdale, the evening ended in a curry then up to the Woody, a secret bar in the woods, lets not talk about red beards and pulling!

Food and Fun

Winter Warm up

MY GOD it's cold in my new studio! It was cold before in the mill, but with the extra space it's something else! So this weeks main game was first, to stretch and prime my first canvas in the new place and then, well ways to keep warm, and yes the layers get more and more.

1) Lots and lots of cups of tea, Green if possible, you know, keeping up the detox for Jan.

2) STAR JUMPS, yes on camera!

But just when you think, you know maybe you can't go on, in pops a good friend with a supply of Lancashire pies, now check these out for a warm up! John Boldwin with Oswaldtwistle finest!

New Start New Studio!

Thanks to the help of Simon W Desmond I've taken a much needed bigger studio in the mill, it's funny how these new paintings looked soo big in the other and now seem quite small, MUST DO BIGGER!

Stiil manoeuvreing things yet but I'm really looking forward to starting my first 2012 piece (hopefuly Friday)

Before I got the keys I was out and about with Stevee the camera cat and here's a view from his spookee world,

What fun we had at Bolton Abbey

But then it was time for home

Biggest Baddest Catch Up

I was going to ask Santa for a few things before the 25th but I must admit I have been rubbish with this blog for the last month in fact not really any good since my camera busted!

I have still been keeping up my visits to London, taking in as much modern art as possible and meeting interesting people, the next to the last trip below, Simon thinks mine would look better in the Saatchi than this!

But here he is with a Turkey oh and me

The Christmas Open Studios went down a treat! We had Mary by the tree, Paul Hartley played a super tune and the artists all came out in Super Xmas stylee

SEE!

But then Santa did pop to mine and obviously he thinks I've been very good this year (don't say a word) and brought me lots and lots but the main thing is he got me a new studio technician. He's called Steven and he's my new studio photographer but when he feels fit, also small movie maker!

A cat that likes do take his own shots! Designed by Lisa Larson world famous ceramist and Steven/Necono is made from one of her original designs. The FUN we're gonna have!

Xmas day pic of when he met Nevill the window frog, It's his first wonky money shot!
Talking of Xmas money shots

                                           CHRISTMAS CRACKER!

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR, over and out!