Happy New Year to everyone and I wish you all a fabulous 2025 to come.
I’ve been in France for Christmas and have had a little bit of time to reflect on the past year and the year ahead. Things have been changing in both my personal and professional life and I have some exciting plans for the year ahead. Firstly, I am looking into the possibility of running my own residential course later in the year. I also plan to travel further afield to work and create. Most exciting? I am investing in my teaching, and maybe even settling down at last in a new location in the UK. I will be sharing all these with more details as the year progresses; my aim is to continue to explore new opportunities and live life to the full as usual.
I would love to hear from anyone who would be interested in attending a residential course with me and at what location in the country and for how long.
I would also love to share my handmade book skills in a course so please do leave me a comment in the comment box below to let me know your thoughts.
Van Life
The van passed its MOT with (almost) flying colours and has had a habitation check. No major problems were found and most importantly the damp readings were low. A cracked windscreen has been replaced, the diesel heater reconnected and both gas rings are now fully operational … nothing quite like a bit of housekeeping for the new year.
I always worry when it has to be left parked for a while as the mice are tempted to move in when I’m not there! I caught 3 while I was away on my last cruise to the Canaries. I am still undecided as to what my big trip or adventure in it will be this year. After the miserable winter, I’m thinking an escape to the sun may be on the cards for next winter.
Art Life
I was delighted to teach a full class on my new Beginners colour pencil class at West Dean in November and this one will run again next year. We drew and coloured a variety of subjects (not Botanical) and looked at different ways to create textures, blend colours and work from reference photos.
A couple of weeks ago I was interviewed by the SAGA social media team for a post for Facebook and Instagram on what I do onboard. I have now completed my last sketchbook cruise diary for 2024
and shared this on social media.
In the last 4 months I have completed 4 small pictures and these have been submitted to the SGFA for Exhibition in March. Fingers crossed that some will be accepted! There is also an article about my work in their latest bulletin.
While in France I have been busy painting and drawing and putting the final touches to pieces to submit to the Soc of Botanical Artists Exhibition in the new year and working on a new commission. I do love a deadline!
Teaching and travel in January, February and beyond….
In January I will be offering a 3-week starter Botanical course in both colour pencil and watercolour. At the moment the plan is to run these in both the Sevenoaks and Tonbridge centres. Going forward I will be offering fewer courses at KCC, the odd single day in January and then again in April.
My plan is to offer a residential course later in the year, but I need your help with this so please do leave me a message and let me know if this is something you would be interested in, the time of year, the length and the location and the subject and media.
I will remain available to teach private clients and workshops and demonstrations for art societies and groups anywhere in the country so contact me if this is something you would like to do. I would also love to run more workshops on making handmade artists book and this is something I am investigating.
At the end of January, I will be flying to Costa Rica to join the SAGA ship, The Spirit of Discovery to teach some more sessions and then sailing home. This is a month-long trip and one I am very excited to be working on. I am looking forward to catching up with guests I have taught before and no doubt meeting and teaching many new ones.
For most of February I will be in Harwich on an Artists residence to focus on some new work and plans for the future. My next course at The Old Bank Studios will be a colour pencil one on Moths and Butterflies in colour pencil
So, it just remains for me to wish everyone a Happy New Year, happy painting and may all your creative projects for 2025 be a success.