Garden Party

Last Friday we gave a 'Lockdown 'party in the garden for our immediate neighbours. Everyone brought their own glasses and we all kept well apart. It was also an excuse to show off my new garden gallery (only one person at a time as it's not big) before it is requisitioned for more practical purposes like storing essentials etc.  My latest paintings and related objects were on view.
We all drank each others health and it felt like the night before the war.

In Lock Down

What a difference a week makes! Not only is Open Studios postponed for a year but I will have to delay the opening of Ted Coney's Family Portraits until life becomes more normal again.
Just to get  our priorities right, Hazel and I rushed out to buy more canvases to keep us painting during the long haul.  I know I should have been buying toilet rolls - as I do use rather alot of them in my painting for blotting, rubbing and cleaning.

Full Circle

Twenty six years ago was the last time I took part in the Cambridge Open Studio scheme, having tried it first ten years earlier when artists just opened their homes on a random basis.
I have decided, as well as doing the tours,to open part of our home again this year during July . This is because I have  a regular supply of preliminary studies available (which sell better when visitors see the finished paintings as well) but also with our new garden gallery open, there is more to explore downstairs, besides the studio.
My Open Studio page is up and running on their website. Just type in 'Cambridge Open Studios' and write in my name.

Opening Soon - Hopefully

As you can see from my NEWS page, Ted Coney's Family Portraits reopens for a new season on Sunday 19th April. You can book a tour from 1st April and I just hope the spread of Coronavirus doesn't stop the event going ahead.
Ever the optimist, plans for getting the displays ready continue. Last Saturday we put up the new display cabinet in the garden gallery and I've already started arranging the objects in there.
It felt good to get out the knitted boats made by Julia and put them near the painting they appear in,
'If The Boats Come In'