He’s gone: I sold my Sentinel Yearling Roe deer  (Artist Code 1207) yesterday at Hinchingbrooke (and quite a few other pictures). I was sad to see him go, but I know he has gone to a really good home.

Only two more exhibitions before end November, then a rest: St Mary’s Church, Comberton (20th to 22 November) and The Cambridge Open Art Exhibition (27th to 29th November). May I take this opportunity to thank everyone who has visited me and my work during the year. I am truly grateful to you all, especially to those who purchased something! Have a very happy Christmas and I hope 2016 brings us a better world. xx

I am having a Great Christmas Sale Day at Hinchingbrooke Country Park on Sunday 15th November. I have to make room to store new artwork in my studio, so if you would like an original framed artwork or limited edition print at a very modest price, do please come along. From 11.00am to 3.00pm. I shall also have some traditional jigsaw puzzles of my work, greetings cards, calendars, card games, notelets, coasters and mugs for sale. Hope to see you there.

My lovely neice and her partner purchased my painting ‘Winter Leaves at Wicken Fen’ (Long eared owl) and this is what she posted on Facebook:

I arrived home to our beautiful Owl Painting today (that mum had kindly dropped off) and wow it is simply stunning we love it – thank you so much Aunty Tina. I will send you a picture once we have hung it pride of place in our lounge! Lots of love Vix and Mike xxx

Received an invitation this morning to have a table at the William de Yaxley Academy’s Christmas Fayre. Unfortunately I have just run out of steam for this year, having attended over 20 exhibitions, shows and fairs, so had to decline. Nevertheless, ‘Children are our future’ as the song goes, so I am showing you the poster, just in case you would like to go and spend lots of money there! Happy Christmas everyone (a bit early I know)!

ART NEWS
BREAKING NEWS – CADMIUM PAINTS SAVED!
29th October 2015 by Julie Caves  11
We did it – a big thank you to everyone!
Yesterday afternoon, the European Commission issued its communication confirming that it will not adopt a REACH restriction on cadmium in artists’ paints, which would have seen cadmium colours effectively banned in Europe. Cadmium paints have been saved for artists!
Cadmium in its pure form is highly toxic, but when cadmium is bound into a chemical compound like that used for artists colours it is not classified as hazardous by Reach, the EU body that advises on the use of chemicals. Many experts says that the real problem is nickel cadmium batteries, which are buried in landfills and leak into the watercourse.
Background
In 2013/14 the EU’s Chemical Agency responded to a Scandinavian request that attempted to reduce the quantity of cadmium batteries sent to land-fill waste across Europe. Alarmingly the proposed legislation made no allowance for the entirely safe cadmium compounds used in artists’ paints and if successfully adopted would have seen cadmium banned from use by European paint makers. Without concerted and urgent effort, artists would have been deprived of the vibrant cadmium yellows, reds and oranges that have formed an essential part of the professional palette since the 1840’s!

How we did it
Co-ordinating the campaign were Spectrum Paints, a comparatively small UK paint maker. Their size meant they were unrestricted by legal departments and press officers, so Michael Craine, Rachel Volpé and Angela Brown set about raising awareness and speaking with the EU through the paint maker’s trade organisation CEPE. Artists & Illustrators Magazine was an early supporter and joined the campaign to spread the word and encourage individual artists to contact the ECHA with their views. Michael Craine recalls: “It was a fascinating time through which we had a growing sense that perhaps the strength of our argument might win through. As a result of the Artists & Illustrators publicity and excellent blogging by Jackson’s Art and other enthusiasts and supporters, the story went global! We were contacted by British broad-sheet newspapers, the story was taken up by Emma-Jane Kirby of the BBC who interviewed me for broadcast on Radio 4’s PM programme. We made it onto the BBC news. We appeared in the media in the USA, South Africa, Australia and the French and German press”.

What happened?
The European Chemical Agency ECHA were impressed with the art world’s reasonable, informed and strongly-held view that pigments such as Cadmium Sulphate are indispensable to artists- perfectly safe, perfectly strong, wonderfully lightfast and producing unique shades. There are imitations but no replacements! Rachel Volpé of Spectrum Paints comments that, “whilst we discussed the technical case for cadmium pigments, many artists were passionately able to stress the economic and artistic importance of cadmiums as they uniquely bring a warmth, light, strength and colour to paintings that stands the test of time”.

Have we won just a temporary reprieve?
Michael from Spectrum writes: “this is more than a reprieve. The ECHA recognise our case and acknowledge the substance of our arguments. This astonishing collaboration has taken up a great deal of time for me over the last two years and innumerable emails, meetings and conversations, but it was worth it!”
Not only is the change of heart over cadmium a joyous occasion in its own right, the fact that the artist fraternity is recognised as a community in its own right is an exciting development and one that should help us protect our mutual interests in the future. So congratulations and sincere thanks all round!

A big thank you to everyone who visited my exhibition stand at Art Unequalled this weekend. It was a good experience, but I can never get used to the fact that one day bubbles with profit and the next can be in the red! The footfall on Saturday was great (and I had taken some artwork with me to do but did not get time), but Sunday was the opposite so I was a bit bored for some of the day (having left the artwork at home, thinking I would be busy again!).

But now for a year off to produce my book in earnest.
For 2016 I have decided to do what I do best: paint pictures. One nice lady said as she was going out of the door yesterday: ‘Please do not stop painting – your work is absolutely wonderful’. So I have taken that to heart with humble thanks. I shall try to get some work done for the National Exhibition of Wildlife Art (NEWA), which I missed this year because I sold the pieces I was going to submit; and of course the Gransden Agricultural Show which is a splendid day for anyone with a country thought – and I just love the atmosphere in the art marquee.

My book is about Bourn Brook, and here is a little poem about it:

I trickle up from down below, where pure and pristine waters flow,
And bubbling in to light and sun, my source from Eltisley does run.
From ten miles west of Cambridge Town, where scholars toil in flowing gown,
Two hundred feet above the sea, with four in number tribut’ry,
Called Eastern Brook and Gascote Dean and Crow and Hay Deans too are seen.
Near Caxton village ancient ‘lode’, pointing north the Roman Road.
Called Ermine Street its way now crossed, the spoils of empire’s myst’ries lost.
Then footpath hugs my pleasing banks, through village Bourn my entrance flanks.
And fording over Caxton End, I speed on with meandering bend.
For ‘Bourn’ means ‘brook’ it takes the name, to you or me it means the same!
And on and on passed football ground, and Doctors’ surgery can be found.
I slip right through the village folds, as tees and greens my route beholds.
Where stood before great fields of corn, now shouts of ‘Fore’ are loudly borne.
Caldecote now comes to sight, and there I see a shimmering light,
As Dean Brook’s waters swish and sway, and slink inside me on my way.
Next Toft with grazing fields of green, I mark its bound’ry, though I’m keen,
To tell you that with time these change, as my meanders morph in range.
More shouts of ‘Fore’ as on I chase, Meridian line does cross my face,
And probing distant stars and moons, the Mullard dishes sing their tunes.
I form the watery binding space of Comberton/Barton’s southern face.
And just beyond old Foxes Bridge, from furrowed field and stony ridge,
Sweet Tit Brook chuckles into view and brings sweet waters all anew,
But scampers right across my girth to join with Long Brook in its mirth.
Then on and on, I am northern rim to Eversdens’/Haslingfield’s country inns.
And on to Grantchester, meadows sweet, passed M11’s noisy street.
I swoon ‘neath widened bridge of road, no room here for Green Cross Code!
As traffic thunders all time long, you cannot hear my rippling song.
My deepest waters, bank so wide, where all the water creatures hide.
From run-off pipes now mainly fed, with hope that ‘harmfuls’ are all dead.
In Grantchester’s historic place, near Byron’s Pool, my ‘Sense of Place’.
Is it ‘Rhee’ or ‘Granta’ where I am,  or is it the gentle, flowing, ‘Cam’?
As seawards rills envelope me, my water’s spirit now runs free.
(Tina Bone ©)

This is my painting of otters playing at Bourn Brook, near Kingston.

My next exhibition is Art Unequalled at The Maltings in Ely, 17th and 18th October 2015. (The Maltings, Ship Lane, Ely, Cambs CB7 4BB.) Click here to download my Catalogue for this event. A range of stunning handmade works of Art and Craft exhibited by individual makers as a weekend ‘gallery’ including ceramics, sculpture, textiles, jewellery, painting, glass, photography, print and more. Entrance Fee: £2 adults, £1 concessions, Accompanied children under 15 free. See more Details below.

OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2015: I have sold two of the three paintings I was going to submit to this exhibition and much to my disappointment, I have therefore decided not to enter this year because I do not have any other suitable artworks available. Institute of East Anglian Artists (IEA), The Gallery, 23 Lees Yard, Off Bull Street, Holt, Norfolk NR25 6HS. SUBMISSION. ENTRY BY SELECTION ONLY.

Have made some progress with the Old Cock! But have now had to turn my hand to drawing maps to be published in a book. Having a bit of difficulty producing a topographical one which will be printed in greyscale, but have also done five others which are not too bad – line art only.

 

 

Getting lots of calendars and pictures ready for this coming Saturday 26th September when I shall have a stand in the Art Marquee at Gransden Show. As well as box canvas and fine art prints, on sale will be Calendars, Greetings Cards, Notelets, Hardback Coffee Table Books, Traditional 1000 piece jigsaw puzzles, Coasters, Mugs, Large Placemats, etc. Do pop in to see me if you come to the show which, in my humble opinion, is the best one around and a great day out for all the family! Here are some pictures of the goods on sale at my exhibition stand: