I started a large oil painting in January 2015 in the hope of completing it for my four Cambridge Open Studios weekends in July 2015. However, I got sidetracked and have only just this week got back to it. It is oil on a stretched box canvas size 48″ by 16″, and the composition is completely made up from an idea I had in my head at the time. Thank you to Martin Johns who supplied a lovely photograph of Macaws, and I myself visited Banham Zoo and achieved some rather nice photographs of the Macaws there, both resources helped me to make up the final design. Having never been to the tropical jungles, the background is my own vision of how it might look. The birds seem to each have a different, tantalizing personality; they might all look the same at first glance, but look closer and they have very different faces. I do have two other commissions in the pipeline, but decided that this painting could wait no longer – only trouble is I have forgotten how to paint with oils! But I will persevere and the beauty of the medium is that it can be scraped off and painted over again if I muck it up. (For previous history, please search with “” and hopefully all posts will appear!)
Progress at the end of February 2015Painting the Parrots the last few days (June 2016!)
The commissioner has just taken the completed artwork away, being absolutely thrilled with both the composition and the likeness. It was a real pleasure to portray these three beautiful animals, which I met personally to take resource photographs and to get to know them (and their pecking order). Kebba*, the chocolate lab is still the boss, even though he is getting on a bit, but Rego (standing) is ever watchful to take over top dog when the opportunity arises. Maddie, relaxing in the foreground is a small and lovely ex-gun dog, and so beautiful. Here they are all guarding their territory in their back garden.
The Wildlife Trust and the Countryside Restoration Trust have been controlling the invasive plant Himalayan balsam since 2011, relying on the hard work of local volunteers and we are very keen to find some more of them! Most of the sections involve wading, which gives an opportunity to see the brook from a whole new angle, but it would also be great to have some volunteers for the golf course sections who are willing to just sit and watch for golfers and help keep everyone safe.
Dates and contact details attached, but they are also on our website
If any changes are made to times and places, they’ll be updated on the website, so please point any potential volunteers there if possible.
I’ve also made a couple of posters for Bourn and Toft villages and would be happy to make more for other events if they would be useful. Please contact me or Vince Lea for any more details.
The evening of lectures at the Boat House went very well – and I gave a little speech about my painting and its relation to Alex Copley’s research. The lectures and artwork, which included a poem from one artist, made a memorable and informative evening. The Grand Finale Exhibition was well attended.
Art4Africa An Exhibition Supporting Some of the Poorest Children in Tanzania.
The Exhibition (and see below for invitation)
From Thursday 16th to Sunday 19th June we are inviting you to help change the lives of disadvantaged children. Rise Africa is holding a very special exhibition to bring a taste of Africa and local art to Keysoe and raise some much needed funds at the same time. Hosted by Christopher and Amanda, at the Old Chapel House, Riseley Road, the event offers a fantastic chance to view – and purchase – works from national and local artists and artisans. The different works will be displayed both inside and outside the house, and will include paintings, drawings, sculpture, photography, sketches, ceramics, fabric work and animal portraiture. On every item sold a proportion will be going to Rise Africa and 100% of the funds raised will be going to support the children in Tanzania.
“There is something for everyone and buying a piece of art not only provides you with much pleasure visually but also the knowledge that you are helping a very vulnerable child in Tanzania” commented Christopher Faulkner.
With beautiful surroundings, inspiring art and a chance to help raise funds to enable children to make the most of their future and gain the education they deserve, what could be better?
Rise Africa UK
Rise Africa UK, a small Keysoe based charity, was founded in 2011 by 21year old, Olivia Faulkner. It aims to provide education to the poorest children in Moshono, Northern Tanzania, giving them an opportunity to make a difference, not only to their future but also their communities’.
In 2009, Olivia, spent four months teaching in a local government school in Tanzania as part of her gap year. Seeing for herself how many children were being denied an education was a life changing experience for her and she returned with a real appreciation of how fortunate she was and with a real desire to do something for the poorest children she had encountered. The experience changed her outlook on life completely.
Eighteen months later she and her father, Christopher, ran the Edinburgh Half Marathon together and raised £3000 and with this money Rise Africa UK was born. Olivia then headed to Tanzania in the summer of 2011 and opened Rise Africa’s first project – Bright Stars Nursery, a free nursery school for orphans and other vulnerable children aged 3-8. Rise Africa UK is totally focused on the poorest children in the village of Moshono, and today there are 75 children being supported, some in nursery schools and 51 now in primary education.
Rise Africa UK’s aim is to provide the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children in Moshono with an education, offering them sustained self-sufficiency and the means to escape the vicious cycle of poverty. In addition to a high quality education Rise Africa UK makes sure the children get the essentials – a new uniform, sports kit, school bag and school shoes every year; new stationary each term. The Charity also makes sure that the children have two meals a day at school.
Rise Africa UK is committed to quality giving and 100% of funds raised are spent in Tanzania to benefit the children directly. It costs £33 a month for a private quality education and £10 a month to support a child at Government school.
For more information and regular updates please visit our websites:
This is my latest work entitled “Border Skirmish”. I actually attended a Dormouse Workshop day to learn about these cuties. We only saw photographs as the field trip did not turn up any in the flesh. But it was a great day and I learned a lot about them – like four fingers at the front and five toes at the back, and their ankles are like those of the squirrel in that they can hold on backwards and climb downwards head first very easily.
Today I started on a new painting entitled “Border Skirmish” which I need to complete in the next week as I wish to submit it to the National Exhibition of Wildlife Art (NEWA).
But I thought I should let you all see the completed Pint of Science Illumination. Here are the final progress pictures and a larger view of the completed artwork. I am looking forward to the lectures at the Boat House on Wednesday 25th May 6.30 to 9.30pm.
Here are a few more progress pictures of my earthquake representation, in illumination form, for your enjoyment.
All I have to do now is finish off the camel apparel, decorate the elephant attire, and fill in the border patterns with traditional colours! Oh – and paint in the shell-gold earthquake lines, which are still orange.
My Pint of Science Scientist, Dr Alex Copley, will be delivering his lecture at THE BOATHOUSE, 14 Chesterton Rd, Cambridge, CB4 3AX, on WEDNESDAY 25 MAY 2016. DOORS OPEN: 6.30PM; EVENT 7.00-9.30PM
Received a nice letter from TAPC (The Artists’ Publishing Company Ltd – The Artist and Leisure Painter Magazines) to say that my submission: “An Old Cock in a Tree at Woodbridge” has been accepted in the Artist Category for the Patchings Art Centre, Barn Gallery, 2016 Exhibition.
This is wonderful news. I have entered this competition many times before and never been selected, so I shall award myself a few brownie points.
The exhibition is held at the Patchings Art Centre, Oxton Road, Calverton, Nottinghamshire NG14 6NU and will run from 9th June to 24th July 2016. The opening of the exhibition runs concurrently with the 23rd Patchings Art, Craft & Photography Festival from 9th to 12th June. The event attracts over 15,000 visitors and comprises over 150 renowned artists and crafts people demonstrating, exhibiting and selling their work.
The event “brings together the very best in fine art and craftsmanship and is one of the UK’s most celebrated art and craft festivals.”
I do hope you can get along to see the exhibition.
