Last week has been an enjoyable one on the work front.  I have worked away from home only on Tuesday and Saturday, so the rest of the time I have been busily painting, whilst listening to Radio 4 extra.

This week though is not much of a one for painting.  I am working at 'The Greyhound on the Test' http://thegreyhoundonthetest.co.uk/ on Tuesday and Thursday, and at 'Woodfire' http://woodfirestockbridge.co.uk/menu/ on Wednesday.  Since leaving the teaching profession, my only regular income has been as a K.P (kitchen porter/dish pig)  You get a rigorous arms and abs workout, plus food.  The Greyhound is my weekly haunt, and I make a guest appearance at Woodfire, where son Sam is a chef, when their excellent K.P Gabo is having some rare time off.  It's great working with Sam, a day full of culinary treats. And at the end of the day he helps me to wash the floor, as he can't bear to see me do it on my own!

The watercolour sketch above is a study for a work called 'Totally Unexpected'.  It shows me working away, and thinking about Mr Cooper as I often do. Then he appears at the window with a huge bunch of red roses.  You can see why I called it 'Totally Unexpected'.

Lots of my friends were really surprised at me choosing to earn money in such a physical and not cerebral way.  But as an artist, I have worked in many restaurants and kitchens since student days.  After 15 years teaching 11-18 year olds, its great to have a job you leave behind, and where no part of that job is trying to argue with you. Hard-working bliss.

I have Wednesday evening free, the girls are coming round for Book Club.  This calls for Bagna Cauda followed by 'Hedgehog Cake'.
Incidentally, the book we read was 'We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves' by Karen Joy Fowler.  Well worth a read. 'Gripping and intelligent' said one review, and I will go along with that.

Time to go outside now, for another burst of painting.
Pictured below now are last weeks painting of Cinderella, with this weeks below it, so progress can be seen.

Might not be seeing so much progress with Cinderella next time. 

 Probably time to re-visit 'Hedgehog Cake' instead.

Lets start this week's blog with a taste of summer to come…..

 After a week of scraping ice from the windscreen, or remembering where I left my umbrella, I thought a little more warmth and colour was needed for us all.

This painting came about when I read the phrase in a novel.  I thought it was so charming and very evocative, and 'Holiday In My Heart' was the result.
My painting is now in the process of leaving the studio to become part of my pink bedroom. It will lean against the wall there until me and Mr Cooper eventually get round to finding the drills, screws and spirit level.

In my work, there are signature images that appear. Look out for this image again, at the end of this blog.

Just in case you are wondering where the Green Donkey Cookery Book has gone…..

Last week I told you about the 'Affordable Art Exhibition' at the Cloudhopper Gallery., running form the 13th January - 7th February http://www.cloudhoppergallery.co.uk/
The other two paintings I submitted are 2 companion pieces, very much cake-based art.

Pictured above is 'Celestial Picnic With Swiss Roll'

and its companion piece

'Terrestrial Picnic with Swiss Roll'

These are for sale at the truly amazing price of £50 each.  If you are almost tempted but need a little more urging, in my studio there are the 'Millionaire Shortbread' picnic paintings, and also the 'Battenburg Cake' picnic paintings. Contact me for more details.

They will be in evidence later on in May, as part of the Chichester Art Trail. The dates are 2nd, 3rd and 4th May, and 9th and 10th May.http://www.chichesterarttrail.org/

What am I painting at the moment? It is a larger painting, which will bring together many elements from my life.  

I thought I would show you the painting as it evolves, which will help show how I work.  I started it last year then left for a few months. 

 When I am involved in creating a more complex  image, I always needs time to reflect and to work out the direction.  Sometimes I do a huge amount of sketching before starting the final piece, so I have made this journey before I start.  This is necessary when creating a pen and ink drawing. 

 When painting, ideas can evolve on the canvas. 

Anyway, here is 'Cindrella', most of the basic elements are present.  It should now begin to unfurl. 

 I hope you enjoy watching this process, I am just off now to do some more unfurling.

I am so close now to starting some proper art work.  My 2 creative projects are to start the illustrations for the Hedgehog Cake, and to start consolidating my ideas for the drawing I will submit for the Jerwood Drawing Prize.  It would not be a proper year without going to Wimbledon to deliver my drawing, and then returning the following week to pick up my rejected drawing.

Last week I created a 3D work of art.  In the absence of Mr Cooper (skiing, French Alps), I spent a couple of days removing all the crap that has accumulated during the year from under and around our bed, and then restoring it back to a lovely place to be.  Even my Dr Marten collection is now shiny.

The good news is that Mr Cooper is thrilled.  He can also sort out the crap in his own time, as it is now under, around and on top of another bed!

The Cloudhopper Gallery, www.cloudhoppergallery.co.uk/‎, are running their first exhibition of the year, the 'Affordable Art Exhibition'.  this runs from the 13th January to the 7th February.
I took four paintings over on Friday to the selection committee.

Pictured above is 'How does your Garden Grow'.  All the artwork for sale is at a reduced price, so a really good place to pick up an art bargain.

The sister painting to the above is also there, I will let you know if any of the four are selected.

'How does your Garden Taste'

I think reading 'The Magic Faraway Tree' and 'The Wishing Chair' when I was young has influenced my life and art.  I have had to accept the fact that I will never be Silky the fairy.  Oh well, must also crack on with the painting of me as Cinderella!

                           This is the outward face I presented to the world over Christmas.

                         

 And after a very busy Christmas I am quite looking forward to actually enjoying January!

I thought it would be best to make some New Year's resolutions that I might possibly keep, so here are my 2 totally new ones.

1.Go to Brighton in the Spring to buy some denim dungarees, preferably trimmed with green.

2.Enter the Pantomime Horse race which takes place in London in December.
The London Pantomime Horse Race Report

That should give me enough time to train seriously for the event.  I think wearing 2 coats and too large wellingtons and running round blindfold around the coast path bent double should be a good starting point!

It goes without saying that writing my book is a big part of this year, and also doing all the other art things that prevent it happening.  I have just started a series of cake paintings ready for the Art Trail in May, the first one is pictured below.

And my head is filled with ideas for the Jerwood drawing competition…………...