Just received this colourful poster from Fowlmere School advertising their annual Art Exhibition to raise much needed funds. I shall be exhibiting here, so if you get a minute or two, do please visit and see the wonderful local art on display, which is all for sale.
Received a notification from the Eastern Daily Press that an article about the Iceni Botanical Artists exhibition “Spring into Summer” had been published. My painting, Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris) was featured. See below:
The picture selected for the image on the exhibition poster is “Caltha Palustris” painted by Tina Bone. She brought a specimen inside in a washing up bowl so she could paint it.
“It took so long to complete that the flowers in my washing bowl turned to seedheads, so I added one to the painting,” she said.
Spring into Summer by the Iceni Botanical Artists opens at Diss Corn Hall on May 4 and runs until June 30.
Work by the Iceni Botanical Artists is going on show at Diss Corn Hall Picture: Submitted. A two-month exhibition by some of the most talented plant and flower artists in Norfolk and Suffolk is being held in Diss during May and June at the historic Corn Hall now back to playing a leading role in the life of the town.
On show will be work by the Iceni Botanical Artists, painters with a passion for the flowers which grow and flourish in this beautiful part of the British Isles.
Called Spring into Summer this is more than just a collection of paintings hanging on walls. Members will be offering places on two one-day workshops on Wednesday May 8 and Saturday June 1 covering drawing and botanical painting.
The group specialises in painting the world of plants in all mediums with a majority favouring watercolour. Their styles vary from botanical plant portraits requiring hours of patient painting with a high level of accuracy and detail through to natural habitat landscapes and pieces inspired by nature.
Membership includes several nationally distinguished, award-winning, artists.
In 2014 they worked on a three year Breaking New Ground project funded by a Heritage Lottery Grant teaching the painting of wild flowers, insects, and landscapes featuring pine trees and fungi.
The beautiful Brecks landscape, which is at the heart of the IBA’s area, is rich in biodiversity and rare flora and fauna.
And the twelve local workshops taught by IBA tutors proved very popular introducing some 250 people to the delights of the unique Brecks.
Later IBA members produced 45 plant portraits of some of the rare and endangered wild flowers of the Breckland region which formed a touring exhibition. A book, Breckland Wild Flowers – Heaths and Grasslands was published in 2016 and is into its third edition.
Just got back from a wonderful trip to my sister’s house in Spain, Cortijo Guarda, Turré, near Mojacar, Almeria. It is a lovely old farm house where historically the caretaker of the olive groves, which grew in the valley of Cortijo Grande, used to live. Unfortunately there was a devastating fire which wiped out most of the olive trees. The house is in an acre of land all on its own and it is the most tranquil and pleasant place to be creatively inspired. I said a final farewell to this gorgeous house because it is going on the market.
This is a painting I completed in three days which would have taken two months back in noisy England!
Artist Code 1902 “Incubation Calls” (Moorhen, nest and eggs)
Artist Code 1902. Completed 25th February 2019. Original water colour. 9″ x 12″, Aquarelle Arches acid free heavyweight 140lbs.
This painting evolved from an incident at Bourn Golf Club (2016) and I managed a snapshot of the scene. The nest was in the river bank amongst all the roots and leaves. The moorhen came back to the nest after I had disturbed her whilst walking on the opposite bank. I stood very quietly until she returned. She snuggled sweetly back onto the eggs in the early morning sunshine and I gently moved away to leave her in peace. But what a lovely sight to see. This painting will be included in my book about Bourn Brook.
It is delightful to receive a bit of praise for one’s work and today I see that the commissioned artwork Artist Code 1403, “The Grandchildren”, has been highly Commended in the latest SAA challenge competition which was to produce an artwork in one colour. There were some lovely entries, and I was grateful to receive my third commendation from the Society of All Artists. This is the certificate, and below that is the graphite drawing I produced in 2014 on commission.
Artists to showcase work at Foxton Art Exhibition 2018
The annual art exhibition brings together a wealth of talented artists to the school in Hardman Road.
One of the artists exhibiting is Prue van der Hoorn, who teaches art at Comberton Village College and at the Wimpole Estate.
She said: “I have been exhibiting my watercolour paintings at Foxton Art Exhibition for nearly 10 years now, since 2008.
“The exhibition has always been a successful venue for selling my work, which is mostly landscapes or wildlife in watercolour – but there are many painting styles and some crafts to suit all budgets.”
Fellow artist Tina Bone first started exhibiting at Foxton Art Exhibition in 2008, and her favourite things to paint are natural history, botanical illustration and illuminated lettering, using gesso and gold leaf.
She said: “The children benefit enormously from the efforts of the Friends of Foxton School, who run this annual exhibition, and I am absolutely delighted to have been a part of it for so many years.
“The friends are always on the lookout for fresh ideas regarding the exhibition artwork and have given amateur as well as professional artists a chance to showcase their work in a very up-to-date event which caters for all tastes.
“The art exhibition is a very worthy project and long may it continue. It is always a grand show of modern and traditional artwork by local artists.”
Foxton Primary School headteacher Carole Davies added: “The annual Foxton Art Exhibition continues to go from strength to strength.
“It is a major fundraiser for the school with proceeds providing a significant contribution to the opportunities that we can provide for the children, including those supporting the development of artistic skills.
“We are delighted to have the work of so many talented local artists going on display and it is fantastic for the children to be able to enjoy and be inspired by such high-quality art on their doorstep.”
The exhibition is on at the school next Saturday and Sunday, November 17 and 18, running from 11am to 4pm on both days. Admission to the exhibition is £2 for adults and is free for children.
The 2018 Foxton Art Exhibition is nearly here and please see below for the poster. I shall have a few artworks in the exhibition as well as some cards. This is an extremely well-run and beautifully laid out exhibition for both amateur and professional artists in the Cambridge/North Hertfordshire area and the excellence of the artwork is second-to-none. Do get along if you can, and enjoy some very good work at very reasonable prices.
…and following on from Monty’s success in the SAA September challenge “Eyes”, I have again received a highly commended in the October challenge, “Autumn”, for a piece of artwork. This is just a little exercise I carried out with the Iceni Botanical Artists group at a recent “fungal” workshop.
The Swaffham Visual Arts Festival and Exhibition is in full swing this week and culminates with a great art exhibition in the Assembly Rooms at Swaffham. Hubby and I will be taking my artwork submissions for the exhibition tomorrow (Friday 26th October 2018), and I shall also have a table this year with my goodies on: 2019 Calendars, Special 2019 Limited Edition Hardback Diaries, Shorthand Notebooks, Notelets, Greetings Cards, and Postcard Packs. I heartily recommend you to visit the exhibition if you are in the area over the weekend:
Friday 26th October: Preview Evening: 7pm for 7:30pm until 10:00pm.
Saturday 27th October: 9:30am to 4.30pm
Sunday 28th October: 10:00am to 4.00pm.
As well as my Card, etc., goodies, I am submitting 5 paintings for the exhibition as follows:
1. The Green Man’s Covert (Picture Profile), original water colour with 24ct gold leaf and silver leaf – Catalogue no. 129
2. Roe Deer and Fawn at Fullers Mill (Picture Profile), original water colour – Catalogue no. 130
3. A Delicate “Paws” (Hares) (Picture Profile), original water colour – Catalogue no. 131
4. “For me? Wow!” (Kingfishers and Perch) (Picture Profile), original water colour – Catalogue no. 132
5. Battle of Britain Flypast at Ramsey (Picture Profile), canvas print 9/75 – Catalogue no. 133
I love playing darts and play for a local ladies team: Three Horseshoes B. We have a lot of fun and enjoy losing all our games so that we can retain the fabulous wooden spoon trophy at the end of each season. But it is refreshing when one of us does something spectacular, and I had such a moment last week (2nd October 2018). Please see below:
It was nice to see that the commissioned painting of “Monty” received a highly commended certificate from the SAA (Society of All Artists) in their September 2018 competition entitled “Eyes”:
