Happy New Year everyone and thank you for joining me. I always find the first week in January a catalyst for new ideas and plans. A fresh start and a fresh New Year full of artistic and personal possibilities. I spent a month in the Caribbean teaching on a SAGA cruise in November which thrust me into December and Xmas rather quicker than I had anticipated. Xmas was spent in a delightful town house in Wainfleet near Skegness with all the family. Since then, the focus has been on finalising travel and teaching plans for 2024. I still have a few available dates if you want me to come and run a workshop or two!
Van Life
On the way to the garage to get the emissions warning light checked out my steering went! Nothing quite like trying to go around a roundabout only to find yourself going across it instead. There are times when I am thankful that I have a garage I trust that is reasonably local to where I am based. I now have new more powerful leisure batteries and solar panel, and a more efficient fridge. The mice continue to be a problem, but the solution is not to be parked up too long - not the worst thing in the world! Short local trips have been the order of the day this month. I have some exciting trips planned for 2024 - watch this space!! This time of year is always difficult and it’s been very cold and wet. I have to admit to decamping to friends at regular intervals during the last month, thank you all, you know who you are! This always impacts my painting and drawing time, I haven’t disappeared off social media I’m just hibernating.
Art Life
Another very successful SAGA cruise saw me taking over 60 guests on their own painting journey. Many of these guests had not painted since school. It’s always a privilege to guide people on a new creative journey. Some pics below of the fabulous work produced over the 20 plus sea days. Straight back and into some Kent Adult Education classes to finish off the year. More classes coming up in a variety of locations for 2024, see below for details.
The Exhibition in Holt was a big success, look out for the SGFA annual exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London 11th March to 16th March which I will be taking part in.
I have managed to continue to journal and keep some sort of a sketchbook in the last 2 months. Before Xmas I met up with other artist friends and this gave me fresh ideas and a new drive to draw or paint everyday. I am lucky to have many inspirational artistic friends and I would encourage everyone to kick start their creativity in 2024 with friends or with an art group if possible or maybe by joining a course outside your comfort zone.
On a different note, I’ve been having a bit of a clear out and putting my studio to bed in a storage container as it’s time to move on. Never one to skimp on materials I can probably fully furnish a small shop with the art supplies I have gathered over the last 30 years. (Now I’m showing my age!) I have been trying to be ruthless, but the fact is I am addicted to my paints and pencils and very little has been given up. I have rediscovered my handmade paints from America made by “Greenleaf and Blueberry”. These single pigment paints (handmade in small batches) I have had for a few years. In the early days before they managed to upscale their production you would have to wait until they released their paint sets online which were then sold out in minutes. Some have a heavy pigment load and some far less so but what I love about my selection is their natural colours and earthy feel, they also smell pretty good too.
I’ve picked up my Sailor Fude Pen again, this is one I always come back to for sketching as it has an angled nib, and I can produce 3 different widths of line with just one pen. It currently has black “Cross Ink “in it. This is a deep strong black for a powerful strong line.
In my vast colour pencil collection are the Black Widow sets of pencils. No details on lightfastness for these ones so don’t use in your exhibition work but I love the black wood and the hardness of the pencils for detailed work. Not to mention the crazy colours over the 3 sets: Scorpion, Black Widow and Cobra. They are available at a very reasonable price and are fun to use.
Teaching and Travel in January, February and beyond…..
First up is my residential course at West Dean on January 12th. 1 place still available on this one. I love West Dean and we will be able to collect items from the garden to draw and paint, detail and texture in nature, one of my favorite subjects.
I will be back with SAGA teaching on a cruise to the Canaries from 20th January until the start of February.
In February I will be teaching in a variety of locations for Kent Adult Education. Single day workshops in both watercolour and colour pencil are being offered. Check out the link below to see details of centers, times and dates. I am covering Tonbridge, Tun Wells, Sevenoaks, Maidstone and Ashford centers.
Another of my favorite places to teach is The Old Bank Studios. In February I will be running a colour pencil workshop in Spring subjects. Still a couple of spaces available on this one.
Remember that if you would like me to come and run a workshop for your art society or for a group of friends you can contact me on amberhalsall@hotmail.co.uk or check out my website for more details of what I can offer.
Congratulations on making it to the end of my rambles. I hope to be able to share more of my work with you next time and I look forward to meeting some of you on my upcoming courses.
Great read! Are there any more of us botanical artists on here??💚