Spring has Sprung...REALLY!

A little off track from my usual art blog but it needs to be mentioned because I am seriously concerned.

I have seen blossom on the trees, birds are singing and most mornings I wake to find mild spring-like weather. I mean we are in winter and today the kids are playing outside without hats and gloves, it is never right. It does concern me that my children are likely to suffer as adults with climate change and I haven no doubt in my mind that my grandchildren will certainly be in the thick of the devastation that has been created.

What a life we have created for our children and because of the economy climate concerns have taken a back seat. I do not want to be known as the generation who could have saved the planet but did not. Having said that the UK are not at all large consumers that impact the environment unlike other countries that I need not mention. We have smaller houses, less appliances in the home, cars are smaller in engine size, it costs a great deal more to have an engine above 2 litres in size. I am not sure why other larger countries can't follow suit, for a small country we have done exceedingly well over the years. I am not saying we are 'goody two shoes' far from it but we do tend to act quicker than most nations.

Look at it as if we were a dying planet. Hi-tech will be a thing of the past, E-book readers (a way of saving paper, perhaps but what about the technology and the production, is that perhaps more harmful?) Computers, again away of saving the trees but is it really? Again, the parts required to build the machines, the electricity used to power it, the parts that operate it, is this better than paper?

Survival of the fittest will be the new buzz words. A primitive lifestyle, no fancy cars, knowing what one does for a living will be a case of - who cares. Learning to feed off deprived lands ripped of nutrients. People stealing food and animals... it goes on.

It makes me shudder, the endless possibilities, war, people fighting for food and water, death from malnutrition, old diseases rearing their ugly heads.

Does the wealth of a country really come above the safety of the planet and our lives?

Waiting

First of all - HAPPY NEW YEAR!

A very quiet new year party was had at my house, even the streets were quiet too which I thought was odd. Anyway, we had a chilled night with champagne and nibbles, a few films and great friends.

I have been ignoring this blog for a while but I have been extremely busy with other events and it is nice to be away from the computer at times. However, as in my previous post I have been looking forward to receiving a book that was meant to be in my hands before Christmas and I have still not received it. I am very disappointed but I was fully aware that this was a sought after read and apparently they need to stock up before I get mine. ARGGGGH! Oh well, all good things come to those who wait, apparently! SO I AM STILL WAITING...

Sometimes I Think, Sometimes

I have been wanting this book for quite some time it is written and illustrated by Sara Fanelli. It is a little challenging to get it in the store but I found it on Amazon.co.uk - I love Amazon. I still have to wait a few weeks before I get it, hopefully in time for Christmas. The book has great reviews too.

She is an illustrator and I came across her work by reading Charlie and Lola by Lauren Child, I believe Lauren takes her inspiration from Sara Fanelli. They both write and illustrate children's books however Sara has exhibited here work and has done very well for herself and has entered into the adult world of books. I am simply looking forward to getting my hands on this book. The reviews say it is a "treasure".  I am so excited, I can barely write this blog!

Arts and Crafts

I am currently working on this blog with my kids and for them. I am working on arts and crafts and producing art, reading books, science projects etc. It is loads of fun and I am really enjoying it. You can visit it here:   http://sweetpeaandsugarplum.blogspot.com/

I have also been commissioned to do a piece of work for someone for Christmas and it is finished. They saw one of my older paintings in my old style and I have so many great comments about it that I really should do more like it and at this point unless someone offers me a lot of money for it it is not for sale. Anyway, the painting is finished and drying. Picture to follow soon.

October Art Show

I exhibited a few weeks ago at the Liss Art Show but I did not sell anything which was disappointing but as I discovered the sort of work being displayed was not contemporary like mine infact those artists whose work was contemporary, bold and colourful did not sell either, to their dismay too. I did a bit of networking and helped out on one of the days and discovered that if I had dropped my prices considerably my work would not have sold. I should add that most artists there were retired and producing pieces purely as a hobby, which meant they were selling their work as little as 35 pounds a piece which meant the professional artists had no chance of selling their work when the prices were so low by the hobby artists.

I learnt a valuable lesson. You will never compete with retired artists in the local area, they know people who will buy their work, they tend to be neighbours, they price their work at a loss or a very small profit and the clients will pay want they want to pay at the time. Hobby artists are not in it to make money.

SIGH!

October's Exhibition

I am exhibiting 5 of my paintings in a local show in Liss, Hampshire. I am very excited to have my work on display (at long last) and to see if I get any sales. I am currently working on a piece that is of the Triangle Community Centre. It is coming towards its completion but I am having a few issues with the last bit of the painting. The details are really making the painting 'pop' but somethings just need to fit a bit better. The composition of the painting needs to be developed but as the painting stands it is starting to look the part. Hopefully there will be some takers.

So long for now and I will be posting the latest painting soon.

An old painting of mine

I did this painting as part of my GCSE art exam in which I received a top mark - A. I did have a buyer but I found it was hard to let this one go, so my parents now 'own' it. It seems so timeless but it is in need of a clean up. I did aim for perfection with this painting but my style is far from realism however, I still remember the still life that was set in-front of me and my work leans to more of the impressionist style, which is rather apt since that was what I studied and enjoyed the most in art history.
Maybe, if I can bare it, reproduce it again, it won't be anytime soon.

Stephanie Matthews