Hello Sunshine

The weather arrived and so did I....South of France? Pfft...nope North Wales, the cool set would head for North of this place to find the most comfortable coast, the wildest beaches and the best surf, just the right side of swish for me and I fancied getting to know my own little Island a little better, it was so picture postcard unspoilt coves and wondrous for my artistic juices to re charge oh and perfect for Montee the studio tech and his Buddhist outlook on life.

It was a blooming marvellous time for letting ones hair down....spreading ones wings or as I like to do on my hols...let me arms out

Below me with bubbles (like you do when you're camping)

BACK TO WORK NOW HESKETH!

Look Again

It's time to boldly go where you haven't been for sometime: yes my latest work has returned to Arteology in Colne, while mainly painting has been my work style of choice, with this show it's my drawing making a comeback in a larger form. The appeal is that you can pick up a descent size piece  for a much smaller price and Lesley and David (at Arteology) will do you a deal on the framing - but I like them raw on the wall with the bull clips but hey come and see.....and you'll also get to meet "Nursy" one of my biggest paintings to date!

The Half Way Through Show: Out Of My Head

Continues until Sat 2nd August



breaking through and opening the show!

www.arteology.co.uk

So with a lot of the work done before it goes of to London later on I will now take myself off in the Campervan  for a couple of weeks. Now did I pack them shorts with the flowers on? No...I thought I had, oh dear well at least I'm planning ahead to avoid sartorial stress...ho ho.....I will have it sorted by weekend then Boom! Wales here I come.






But before I go, more shots have come to my attention from the CAC Summer Ball

John and Nicloetta                                                       Anji and Brian

Cat in the Hat working it

My fave, Clive, Sister and I

To just end on a sad note I found out yesterday a pal of mine Steve Pickles, artist, my college lecturer and friend has died, he lost his fight with cancer ....pancreatic..a real bastard. I am so sad about this horrid news, and was waiting for him to get better and kidnap me again (I knew he had plans to)

RIP my friend

The Razzle Dazzle Ball, Chelsea Arts Club

WELL

WHAT CAN

ONE SAY?

Sister and I

Clive...Smashing

Rival?

Sarah kept the drinks topped up

 Caught me a Sailer

 Nicoletta (above) and I set out to have an extraordinary evening.....yes you could say we did, we both don't remember getting home and I found my hat on top of the wardrobe!

Anthony Lycett

I was thrilled to find out that the photographer Anthony Lycett wanted me to be part of his "The Studio: the home of Art" project and he agreed to come up North and take my picture. Now I've seen some of his fabulous photos which threw me into a state of confusion as all of you that know me will know, that I like nothing better than to dress up but this project of Anthony's is all about artists and their space
INFO:
"What do we define as a studio? It is a space full of ideas, creations and dreams. What we see is the personalities of the artist, the nuances, which doesn't just emanate from their work but is greatly influenced by their unique surroundings" Anthony Lycett



So I was thinking boring old ambulance suit as always, but all was suddenly sorted when I received the email saying....now Joe you will dress up, and all I could think of was Yay!

Photo from my shoot in Pendle, click on image to view better.

He was a lovely chap and his girlfriend Sophie was a delight, she even helped with ones hat! They then went off on a Pendle Hill jaunt but also making the most of our wonderful witchy whereabouts for more super shots.




Next up, the C.A.C Ball on the 21st June, the theme is Dazzle so watch this space to see what you can do with a prison suit, some painted shoes and a few cans of coke.

It's an outrage!

Vout-O-Reenees

Miserable faces on the Tube, negative tweets really getting to you? Well get yourself down to                  Vout-O-Reenees

 Theres's only fun to be had! And that's just what we did on Thursday eve to celebrate the openning of the most fabulous new club in London!

Above and below, founder members Molly and I following the yellow brick road

 Checking out the loo's and and getting things sorted before the rest of the guests arrive

Below with John and Molly in the garden room as we await the rest of the new members.

Molly cut the red ribbon and the evening was off to a bang (below with her daughter Sophie Parkin, club proprietor)

 Us girls fashionably in a cupboard, just take some banging bright fruit-bowl effects in a cloakroom and come out with a  personality.....what goes on in the copboard stays in the cupboard

So Hurrah for the new club and the super work Sophie and Jan have done with it, and now I'm very excited about my show with them at the end of September early October. We had an amazing night and lots more of them to look forward to!



Next I was off to Appletreewick for a weekend away with the fairies for my birthday camp, well I hate posing on my own so I grabbed my bearded clan....... say CHEESE!

Sunny Delight

 Spoil yourself, go on

Canary yellow is the shade of the summer that suits all skin tones, chirpy reds and shades that range from rainbow goddess to fabulouse mad old bat, but why not have some sun fun with fuss free frocks and over the top hats that make this spring,..........SPRING, thats what we did over the weekend by saying goodbye to Black and the Mill artist were all over it. Below, the ladies had yet another day out for Wendy Woo's 60th doo, who's real who's not and who will ever know?
            

Wendo in the chirpy red (middle) yes and it was a hat off!

So it's probably time for an update, for the rest of the month, so this is the countdown (as I've been a tad slack)  deep breath.....

Simon W Desmond came up North






CHEERS!









We went to visit John




            


Silverdale












I got Simon stuck in a cave






Tide wasn't really coiming in (check out his face)








 
Simon took my work down South for my new shows and then I went down the week after for Easter Hat at the C.A.C (far to many boring bonnets for my likeing!)

My Hat: Red Bunny
















Iv'e had a write up in O magazine
















And I'm now getting ready for my biggest painting to date and clearing the studio a little to build the two frames that will lock together,,,,,practicality is key, thank god Lesley from Artology came for a visit the other week, I was forgetting about the door size, but these babies will split and go back together...job done!

                                                                                              

Spring has Sprung?

Even though the weather is coming up roses this doesn't mean it's any warmer in the mill, us girls are really proud of these super warm looks, great on every skin colour, vintage wool hats, practicality is key as it still feels like winter here, so if you're coming for a visit, dig out yours pronto!

Below: a hat collaboration, the new buz words are, easy comfy and everyday warmth.

Take a message: Benny from Crossroads (who) just called and he wants his beanie back!

Studio tec Montee not taking any chances!

Also this week I've taken to displaying my work on Saatchi on line, please do have a look although I haven't got to the point of putting them up for sale yet (complications) but if you tick "not for sale" art you can view my page.

This is my new finished piece title: Man Size

and new drawings, hopefully I will like two of them enough to put in the spring show at the Cross Gaites next week

But don't just buy for spring, these puppies will keep on working your walls season after season, without losing any of their wow factor, so if you should find yourself thinking "I wish I'd got that drawing off Joe Joe's ages ago" you can just buy now....or shall we say next week when they go up, te he, Toodle Pip!