And It's Goodbye From Me

Yesterday, I did the last Ted Coney's Family Portraits tour of the season. No more doing a quick tidy up of the house on a sunday morning (Hazel's piles of stuff will surely grow) and no more staggering out with my A-board, first thing. I did have a nice group in today who seemed to enjoy the experience, so it made a good end to the year. I now need time to finish this year's painting and figure out how I can grow my client group without paying out a load of money. I've been in the papers and on the radio, so I have got to conquer the TV next. Wish me look (and ideas how to do it.
P.S. The blog will continue, when I've got something to say and the lecture about my work
'On The Edge' is still available for hire!

Wonderful News!

I should have known when I saw Kevin coming around the corner with a bottle of champaigne.
Our daughter Yve is pregnant again!!! Ofcourse, I want her to give up work immediately and stay sitting still until the baby arrives but I know no one will listen to me. Having a grandson has been wonderful, so it can only get better. Last time, in my painting Minglelands, I represented Barnaby with tiny shards of gold leaf, so not sure how I will show the new offspring in any new picture . Still, I've got plenty of time to think about it as the birth isn't until May and I have two other pictures in the pipeline to get on with now.

A Mangled Story

I was very grateful to the Weekly News for doing a photo (yes, I am in the papers again!) and press story about Ted Coney's Family Portraits closing for the winter on 12th December. It was intended to drum up a bit more trade before the end of the season. Although I sent a press release, stating exactly what I was up to, the story in the newspaper bore no relation to what I had sent!! I mentioned the closure and to add a bit of spice (and to make a good photo oppotunity) I included some information about my painting 'David's Journey' in which I explained that my brother was represented by Muffin the Mule going through a labryth of mirrors. I foolishly also mentioned that the lecture about my work 'On the Edge' would still be available even though the house was closed. Needless to say this got muddled together and it appears I am doing a special ehibition on 12th December entitled On The Edge!! They say all publicity is good publicity, but in this case we shall have to wait and see.
(You will be able to read the my version of the press story on the REVIEWS section of my web-site when it is posted)

Old Students Return

I have recently had a visit from two former students and their families to
Ted Coney's Family Portraits and it was great to see them. Paul and Melanie, brother and sister, were at Hills Road several years ago, so it was nice of them to pay me a visit and see what I was up to. Melanie (pregnant and positively glowing) wrote in my visitors book that I had inspired her all over again, which was a smashing thing to say. I think she was referring to the sketchbooks for my painting 'Max's Diary' , where I had recorded the first year of Max's life. As her baby is due fairly soon, she needs to get drawing!!

The Chinese Visit

Last Sunday, at their request (nothing to do with me, I promise) I had several of my chinese students visit Ted Coney's Family Portraits for a tour. I knew some of the paintings would be a bit difficult for them to understand, so I carefully selected the ones I hoped they would enjoy best. I think it went OK ( they bought me Hallowean presents to start with) but they kept wanting to know about the paintings I hadn't selected. In the end I abandand the tour and went with the flow.Best way with young people, whatever their nationality!

The Second Layer

Over Half Term, Hazel and I did a slow progress North, visiting some of our lovely family. I also worked on my painting TEA FOR 222. I was determined to get the layer of encaustic wax on the second painting and with the help of the trough and a hot knife, I suceeded. I then began the second, transparent layer, painting images of afternoon tea. At the moment I seem to be rubbing off more paint than I actually put on, but I guess I shall get ther in the end. I must finish by Christmas, so the painting can be framed while Ted Coney's Family Portraits is closed for the winter.

Maybe, NO, But Maybe?

It all seemed to be going so well. First, the conservation officer had made encouraging signs about opening up the loft to the public. Then I saw a nice planning officer lady at the Council who sounded very enthusiastic about my ideas and said she could see no problems with it. My next stop was to ring the buildings regulations guy who had been so lovely when I set set up
Ted Coney's Family Portraits two years ago. Anyway, this is were the dream of turning our loft space into a gallery, ended!! It seems, for it to be allowed, I would, among other things have to fit a corridor into our living room (the best room in the house!) so visitors could get to the front door in case of a fire. This would be madness and make an 'only just big enough room', smaller.
I felt quite depressed for about an hour.And then I got to thinking, what if we eventually made the family of the front house an offer on the bottom flat? (it;s already divided into two flats anyway) It would stretch us financially (not another bloody morgage) but we could let out the part we didn't want, at least to start with. Anyway with those pleasant thoughts I went to sleep.