Approximately 7-8 months ago, a comment on my Facebook page, followed by a WhatsApp conversation, then a lengthy email correspondence, all  culminated in a very special workshop this last Sunday: I was honoured, humbled and extremely pleased to host an intrepid group of artists, led by the force of nature that is Jana Bussanich, through a day of line and wash in ‘my’ style. Jana is a very accomplished artist, teacher and consultant, so you can imagine my initial concerns that my style of drawing and colour ( not ‘proper’ art ) might not have enough substance to interest a group of jana’s students, but all that was totally unfounded on the day. The whole group was so totally keen, focused and very eager to learn that the day simply flew by: I just had to remember to tone down my Yorkshire jokes!!! I did attempt to explain the phrase ‘on Ilkla moor baht ‘at’, but I’m not sure it worked.

I love running workshops and each is a joy to me-watching several different versions of the same image develop round the room is always one of the day’s highlights.Oh, and they brought gifts for me all the way across the Atlantic…very kind and gracious.

Here are a few photos from the magical day…..the first is my own demonstration piece 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The sun is out, the back door’s open, and our springer spaniel is snoozing on the back step….hard to believe we had the fire on just last week!!

I’m just  back from the post office, where I’ve posted my latest commission to…wait for it…..Brazil! I was contacted a few weeks ago by a graphic designer who found me online: she was working on a wedding ‘brand’ and liked my style of line and wash watercolour. A few emails later and we were off….the happy couple approved the painting( with a couple of ‘tweaks!!) so it’s now winging its way across the seas to Sao Paulo.I’ve asked for samples of how the image will be used..presumably on wedding stationery, so I’ll share those as and when I get them.

Here’s the piece…I’m more used to dry stone walls and windswept bushes than palm trees and swimming pools.