Bit Of A Dilemma

I woke up with the niggling feeling that although I had inspected and approved the colour of the backing to the frame of my painting 'Dear Reginold Owen', maybe I was wrong. I had only seen it through a layer of bubble wrap, but it seemed too light to me and anyway, I was sure I had asked for it to be a sepia colour. I knew it would be to late, if I mentioned it when Jonathan brought it round, so decided to tackle the problem head on. I rang Trumpington Gallery and explained my dilemma. Nothing is to much trouble for the wonderful staff there and back came the reply that ofcourse it could be changed. Good thing it was, because what no one had realised (including me) was that one of the canvases had been put on upside down! As promised, Jonathan arrived with it last night, ahead of Simon arriving,  to put  the new pictures and photographs up on Saturday. Well, I now think it looks stunning - see what you think when you next visit Ted Coney's Family Portraits

Photographs Galore!

For Christmas, I bought Hazel and I a digitol photo frame so we can see lots of pictures of the family more or less continously. I have this in the hallway, so visitors to Ted Coney's Family Portraits can share in this pleasure as they are preparing to take their tour. It is all part of the sheer bombardment of  photographic images (including the film) of the family before going on to view the paintings. As visitors will know, the walls  of the hall are crammed with photos except for one space which has a framed poster. (and even this has family portraits on it) Well, now I have another home for this (on the back of the door), so before I open in April, my mission is to fill up this space as well. For my birthday today (yes, Happy Birthday!) I asked for and received,  four more frames to fill up this last little space. All photographs from now on will have to be digitol.

A Work In Progress

The other week, I finally started my new picture  'Another Year'. After drawing the large circles, I stained parts of the canvas with the colours I hope will glow through and began to paint on top. So far I have been doing the left hand side which shows the light on the  stone walls gradually fading. After several sessions, I think I have got it working OK - it will do for the moment and I will return to it later. I like to get all parts of the painting working together so I can keep reassessing what needs to be done next.
This time I am taking photographs of the painting at the end of each session, so that visitors to my website will be able to see the work as it progresses. This should go onto my News and Reviews page, once I reopen Ted Coney's Family Portraits on 15th April. I will let you know when it goes live.   

In The Frame

I've just been to view my two new frames at the Trumpington Gallery to see how they are coming along. As Ted Coney's Family Portraits is open from 15th April I needed to put a bit of pressure on, as Jonathan, lovely as he is, can sometimes take several years to finish a frame, never mind several weeks. I know he does work for the Queen now (though I knew him before he was famous) I still need to know they are nearly ready. The good news is that the frame for my latest  painting 'Dear Reginald Owen' is finished but needs colouring. Rita, who is in charge of that department and I both agreed it should be sepia tones to match the old Hollywood feel, though maybe with a hint of gold showing through. The other painting 'My Dolls House' which was last framed over thirty years ago, looked less finished, though we did agree that the frame should be charcoal in colour. But we shall see, as Jonathan often sirprises me at the last minute.

Fit The Criteria?

I am going to advertise Ted Coney's Family Portraits at a showcase event on Ely market square on  4th April. However, I was very nearly not allowed to take part. I had seen an advert about this event for local traders and businesses who were 'squarrelled away in Ely's sidestreets' (their words) and I thought this fitted my description perfectly. However, when I rang to book a place, I was told quite firmly that I was an attraction, not a shop (which is true) and thus, didn't fit the criteria. When I asked if this really mattered, as I still needed to advertise the reopening of the gallery in a public place, I was told that if they let me take part, all the other attractions would want to also!! I said as politely as I could, that as there were only about four attractions in Ely, I didn't think there would be a mad rush for places.
A couple of phone calls later they confirmed I had a place. My plan is not to use one of their market stalls but to take the Morris and my A board and to hand out flyers from there. Worrying thought. I hope the Morris starts, after all the fuss I've made.