Two days of hard work and the East Linton Annual Art Exhibition is taking shape. What a talented bunch of folk there are out there and every single artwork handed over is given every opportunity to shine. Good teamwork is essential as all opinions count but time is of the essence so agreement has to be found speedily. Along with coffee and homemaking - they definitely help. This year because of the 50th anniversary there are more works than normal so three rooms are now full. That is a lot to get right. Some fine tuning needs to be done but the cataloguing is now achieved so positions are very much fixed. My three framed artworks are in situ and are looking very happy amongst their contemporaries. 

It is always interesting to note what sells. Very happily two small original mixed media artworks sold from Number 4 Gallery in St Abbs. A wonderful gallery stocked with very original and high quality items. Both were seascapes. Luckily I love doing seascapes so will be getting down to creating new works. The biggest compliment EVER is when someone chooses your own creation to take home with them. Can't get better than that. 

This year marks the 50th anniversary of this art exhibition. An amazing event for a relatively small town and amazing too considering the history of the exhibition. This year also marks I think - the third year of my involvement. With prize money involved the take up of applications has been great so the amount of artworks to handle will be greater. I am looking forward to the challenge of having them all sit alongside each other, given equal weight and all singing.
I have also been working on three major pieces for the exhibition. One in oils which has proven quite tricky, the other two mixed media. The mixed media piece 'Portal: The Square window' has had an earlier outing at the Haddstock fundraiser event. Another 'Portal: 3 Urns' is a radical remake of an older work. The third 'Mother-in-Law's Tongue' is a new work on a section of artwork completed for the degree show in 2014. Of the three, the one I am most unsure of is the larger Portal piece. The other two seem to be more resolved but the danger is overworking the piece so time to let alone. The main thing is for the oil to be dry and for the piece to be given a protective coating of varnish for tomorrow evening and the hand-in. I also have to select three mounted works, but that will be relatively easy in comparison.

Many years ago I was lucky enough to get involved in the 3 Harbours Art Festival here in East Lothian. A fantastic event combining art, craft, music and storytelling amongst others. I stopped being involved when I started up the CIC MADE in East Lothian as I was spread a little thin and time to create was at a minimum. However I am now creating again, with a vengeance and it was just lovely to be invited to take part in a fundraiser for the 3 Harbours here in Haddington. Tying in with the Haddstock music festival - the second in a row, this is a showcase for East Lothian artists. I am very much looking forward to taking part and especially seeing my new works out on display. 
Some of these are completely new, some are works revisited. Being an artist, and a teacher, evaluation is second nature. Sometimes talking over problem solving tricky issues with my students helps refine my own practice. It is a win win for me teaching. Some of the works are parts of series, such as the Portal series based on a visit to India, and also the Pushing the Envelop series which is based around the business envelopes that come daily over the door. 

I cannot quite believe it has been two years plus since a blog. But then I was very busy working on a project that transformed into a vibrant social enterprise, still going strong but without me now. Time to focus on my own art practice and take some quiet time - get some life balance. I am very lucky in having a studio at home in which to work. It is big enough to accommodate all my kit and room for the dog and the big black cat to have a sleep while I create. Brimming with ideas and Spring has fortified the spirit. Upwards and onwards - new works inspired by old envelopes and new growth.

Very excited at being involved in a joint project with the theme Scandinavia! After doing a lot of research and some dabbling with pen and paper I have decided on two projects under this heading.

The first is using some little wooden tiles I have had for a while. They keep being reinvented but I am enjoying working on a small scale. More intimate and better for exploring relationships within series. I am also enjoying just working with paint again. Just keeping to three colours helps keep things simple.

The second is mixed media with layers of paper underpinning a series of works based on the verticals of trees in winter. Using white acrylic and ink along with tissue paper, a wintery feel materialises. A little suggestion of winter berries and some machine stitch for texture and to give some additional line detail and the deal is done.

​Below are a sample of work in progress.

I was very lucky to be part of the curating of this event. I used to take part in this exhibition regularly but stopped when I became a full-time student.

On meeting with the convenor I offered my assistance and spent a couple of days very happily arranging the works. The range and quality of works was commendable. Faced with such a number - over 200 I think, the best way forward was to differentiate by genre. We had areas designated for landscape, seascape, figurative, animal portraiture, floral and abstract. Three tutors for Edinburgh College of Art also put their very exciting work in as part of the exhibition. 

Given the down turn in the economy and the effect that that has had on sales of artwork, this exhibition did very well.

An interesting inclusion was a section of affordable art. Artists were invited to supply A6 size artworks which were reasonably priced. This was on top of the 3 other works submitted. Again the variety of works was really good.
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I look forward to being part of it in the future.
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I am very excited about being given the opportunity to show artworks in the second rental cottage at CH&G.

I have been given a broad scope and have been left to my own devices a bit however I have been in to have a very quick look. The overall colour scheme in the main areas are grey and white. Chairs have been painted a statement turquoise which is ideal as it allows me to hang my marine inspired paintings. 

I am taking a sample in with me to the House today in order to see them in situ and work out logistics. If they look good then I will have some of my favourites on display. The House charges 20%. I will be able to put up an artist's statement too. Love this challenge.

I worked with paper quite a bit at uni and really enjoyed it. What a discipline keeping everything clean and tidy whilst working! Lately I was shown how to make a very robust folding book. One which allowed much creative outlay. I have been working on a series in order to trial in Art for ARC's Sake auction site. 

I seem to have become very busy which is a good thing. Honing up on my time management whilst juggling creative time and administration time... a tough discipline.

It was when I was going through material garnered over some years in order to make small auction pieces for ARC that I came across my small collage pieces. I have enjoyed revisiting these and have started on a body of work stemming from their surfaces, colours and textures. A few of the originals I am so pleased with I have had them framed up and am including them in the forthcoming Hanger Gallery exhibition of works entitled, 'East Lothian: Rhythms'. The same pull towards the landscape continues to attract my attention and provide stimulation for painting. Here are two completed paintings which have evolved from collages. I am looking forward to starting on new projects in the next week or so. 

I have also reprised drawing. I find this relaxing now although a discipline in itself. I wanted to provide some calming artwork as the landscape paintings in particular turned out bright and bold. For the purposes of the Hangar exhibition quiet interludes of black and white work would work as rest areas.