APOLOGIES

This post is aimed at those who have chosen to follow this blog.  I am sure the vast majority of you are painters, and as such, would prefer to see posts specific to the world of the painter.

Sadly, I have not written many such posts recently, and feel I owe you an explanation.

I have been a painter, and painting tutor, for many a long year...but in recent times, I have developed a condition called "Essential Tremor" which means that when I try to concentrate on sketching, my hand shakes uncontrollably and the sketch is often badly affected.  I have done battle with the condition for a couple of years now, and finally decided, after binning the last lot of images I produced recently, to accept the situation more gracefully, and instead of drifting into inactivity, try to celebrate the fact that I can still type without problems, so am able to share my knowledge ....and can manage, strangely, to work with my enamels and with glass, which does not involve the use of a paintbrush or pencil and does not require concentration on detail in the same way.

Learning new skills is time consuming, and I now spend long hours studying,  experimenting and honing my abilities.  Which has meant that blog-writing has rather been pushed to the background.  But I will try to be a little more consistent after I finish my next OPEN STUDIO - which is Herts Open Studio and begins mid-September, continuing until the 27th -( visitors welcome, do check the dates and times with me if you would like to come along.)

I will be showing my work with glass, and with enamel on copper.  Some of that work will be framed pieces, so I have not totally abandoned 2D work!  Here is a new enamel on copper piece:

This will be on sale for approximately £95.  (I deliberately try to keep most of my framed pieces available during Open Studio events for less than £100, to make them properly affordable.  They would cost far more in a gallery).

Although I may not have used a stick of pastel, or paint and a brush to create this image, nevertheless all the important painting principles apply - tone, colour, shape, mark-making, atmosphere - without a painting background, working two-dimensionally would be much more of a challenge.  I have also had to find new methods and ways to work which are less physically problematical - another challenge.

The glass work is coming along nicely - there is lots to discover, but working with "hot glass" can be really gratifying.  Here is a new piece I like a lot, such rich, yummy colours:

The chocolate and ivory parts are opaque, and the blue strip is transparent.  Again, an understanding of what contributes to strong design plays a big part in the creation of such a piece.  It is a fairly large platter, one of several I've made in similar colours.  Here is another, a shallow, large bowl, but displayed as a piece of art:

So folks you now know why I have been somewhat absent recently - but rest assured that when time allows, I will drop back in with some thoughts for you.  In the meantime, let me just say this. 

Creativity can take many forms.  What stifles creativity is depression, wishing for what cannot be,  lack of energy and enthusiasm.  If you are to achieve anything worthwhile, as an artist of any kind, you need to rise above setbacks and disappointments, and simply SOLDIER ON, trying new things, allowing yourself the opportunity to discover new outlets for your creativity.  If you allow yourself to drift into inactivity because of an obstacle in your way,  and if you find that inactivity miserable, then recognise that YOU are the only one able to make things change.  Just DO something positive about it.  You may just surprise yourself by reinventing yourself.