Had to re-start my bee orchids project (for Paxton Pits Nature Reserve for Coasters) as I completely forgot about optical planning (deciding beforehand how to paint, which colours to use and in what order, etc), so it was mucked-up. I have not messed up a picture all year, so I think all the 22 exhibitions and endless commissions are taking their toll! Still two more commissions to go before mid-December, then I shall have a month’s rest!

Have redrawn my orchids, but in a simpler composition so that I can complete it quicker, as time is short. Here are some progress pictures:

 

These are the special coasters for The Friends of Paxton Pits which will be sold in the Visitor Centre Shop at the Nature Reserve. So why not pop along and buy some for your nature-loving friends. These are the four pictures in a boxed set:

 

 

Just spent three exhausting days (4 to 6 November 2014) at Cambridge Botanic Gardens under the tutelage of Ian Loe (insect artist extraordinaire). I had a wonderful time, albeit now seeing not a lot after total concentration on miniscule paint strokes. My effort at portraying a male and female emperor moth is reasonable, but I could do better! This reinforced my need to learn to paint quicker. As you can see, I only managed to complete half of each insect (knowing how slowly I paint I thought this would enable me to complete the picture at a later date!)

 

 

What a great day today – the sun is shining on a cold frosty morn’, and I have just sold three original paintings to a private buyer.

My Stylus Pro 4900 printer finally died on Sunday (12th October, 2014). I have only had it since December 2011 and the workload has not been onerous. My son has gallantly kept it going beyond its [un-]service life but we had to admit defeat and send it to an early grave. I am in the middle of printing cards and calendars for end of year exhibitions, having quite a few postcards only half printed! So hats off to David Harrison at Digital Photo Solutions, for coming to my rescue. We have completed the whole transaction for a new Stylus Pro 4900 in three days, and it should be with me some time today.

(I know, you say, with all the bother why buy yet another Epson? There is no machine out there at the moment that is anywhere near as perfect as the output from the Stylus Pro, so I bite the bullet and hope that I receive one that lasts a bit longer this time. But to save the mental anguish of clogged nozzles etc., this time I am paying a bit extra for the two-year warranty, which makes three years on-site labour and parts coverage in all. By that time I may be ready to retire…).

 ‘Gooey Gannets‘ has been chosen as Picture of the Month at BirdingArt.

‘The Grandmas’ Picnic‘ is almost ready to go down under. I purchased a shipping box, especially for canvas paintings, from PackaFrame (Website). They have standard sizes, but of course ‘Grandmas’ needed a special size! Now I need to find a good courier service by which to transport it.

I am currently working on two commissions: an illuminated letter ‘W’, as well as a full botanical illustration which are both surprise presents so I am unable to quantify this statement – yet! Both commissions need to be completed by the end of September

Today [after 11 days off] I needed to print out six fine art limited edition prints. Managed four then the printer decided to break. After several power cleans and head alignments the magenta nozzle was still clogged (‘Oh what a lovely [Epson] war!’), so have had to call in the cavalry in the name of middle son, Jason, to clear the blockage. It is so wonderful to have clever sons who are able, like their father, to turn their hand to almost anything and come up with solutions, so I expect that normal printer service will be resumed later tonight.

Next week I will prepare ‘The Grandmas’ Picnic‘ for its travel and resting place to Australia. I shall miss it as it has been a great source of talk amongst visitors, friends and family and will leave a big blank space on my big wooden easel.

2 September 2014 – Whilst down at Rookesbury Park I visited a lovely place called ‘Bosham’ (pronounced ‘bozam’!) in order to deliver my four Original Paintings, Calendars, Cards and Coffee Table books for the Society of Botanical Artist’s exhibition at Palmengarten, Frankfurt. It was wonderful to meet a fellow Society member who, very kindly, along with her husband, will be driving to the venue in Germany, to take all the British exhibits. Click here for more information about the exhibition on the SBA website. Further details can be obtained from: Palmengarten der Stadt Frankfurt am Main, Siesmayerstraße 61, 60323 Frankfurt am Main. Tel.: (069) 212-3 66 89 und 212-3 39 39. Fax: (069) 212-3 78 56 Telefonansage: (069) 212-3 91 11. www.palmengarten.de. E-Mail: info.palmengarten@stadt-frankfurt.de

Have just completed this morning my two oil paintings for the Marwell International Wildlife Art Society (MIWAS) 2014 Exhibition. Spoke with my picture framer this afternoon and will take them both to be framed tomorrow. At the moment (evening) I have a fan throwing air at them full pelt in the hope of making them reasonally touch-dry by tomorrow. But my very competent framer has assured me that he can frame them even though they are ‘wet’!

I am taking box canvas prints of my work, calendars, cards, wrapping paper, bookmarks, etc., for the Art Market and demonstration, as well as three original oil paintings for the MIWAS exhibition: ‘Snooky Snow Leopard’; ‘Gooey Gannets’; The Sentinel Yearling.