I'm back

Well I can happily say I made it back from my hols in one piece - the plane did not have technical problems causing it to crash land, nor did it have to go through a horrendous thunder and lightning storm or suddenly fall from the sky - AND I managed to stay calm-ish for the whole 2 hours and 50 minute journey. On talking about my anxiety to one of the cabin crew I was told it was not unknown for people to start screaming and demanding to get off just before take-off. Although I can relate to this and totally understand their torment I could see my kids were secretly relieved their mother did not embarass them in this way. Anyway that's my worrying over for another year or so.

We did have a wonderful week away and couldn't fault anything - it was brilliant waking up every morning to guaranteed sunshine and not doing much of anything except eat lots but then doesn't everybody?

I do regret not taking some pencils and a sketch pad with me as by day 3 I was itching to draw something. It wasn't that I forgot or anything as I had considered packing them but didn't think I would have the time or opportunity to draw anything - I won't make that mistake again.

Now back to reality and the British weather I have spent the weekend giving the house a mini spring clean in between doing the inevitable hugh pile of post holiday washing and ironing. Top on my list of priorities was my studio - I hate working surrounded by mess and as it's back to the easel for me tomorrow had to get this done. I plan to work doubly hard and concentrate on producing paintings and drawings for my own use as well as commissioned portraits so should have a lot to blog about and pics to show.

Changes afoot

With less than a week to go before I go off on holiday and all thoughts on ways to survive the flight, work still goes on behind the easel. Harvey the Chocolate Lab and Goldie the Greyhound are now finished ready for posting early next week.

I had hoped to have made a start on the Collie but time hasn't been on my side - again. I did have a terrible headache for two days (probably through too much worrying) which stopped me from doing anything but feel sorry for myself so I do have a reason at least - that and a bit of necessary shopping for holiday essentials.

Have also been doing a lot of thinking this past week on how I see my business progressing and what I want to be doing (on 2nd thoughts maybe this caused my headache!). Prints for sale is one such change.

This has been one of my aims for a long time and now, thanks to hubby, I'm the proud owner of an Epson R2400 (well I will be in 4 days time on my birthday) and I LOVE it. Just need to work on some drawings and paintings I have in mind to turn into prints. The only problem is where to put it - it's HUGE - but no time to worry about that now, I've a plane to catch soon!

Holidays

Being a mother of two children I am used to the saying "but I'm the only one in my class....." followed by some thing or other that they don't have. Well the latest from my daughter is that she is the only one who's not going abroad somewhere for the holidays. Although totally untrue it did strike a chord with me and make me think.

If I'm being honest my family have had to make do with spending the holidays at various locations around the UK because I am petrified of flying. On a plane I think too much, I become panicky and it takes everything in me to stop me from having a full blown panic attack - I'd feel a lot better knowing I could go outside for fresh air if I needed to! Instead I am 'trapped' for however many hours inside thousands and thousands and thousands and ....... of feet up in the air - that's another thing why do they have to go so ****** high?

Anyway I could go on and on about why I hate flying and reasons not to but going back to my daughter and her longing to go abroad decided it was time to do something about it. So the last few days have been spent trailing the Internet for that holiday abroad - and Majorca here we come! It's been booked so no going back and we leave in just under two weeks - my hearts racing just writing about it.

There are portraits I need to finish before going on holiday - two I have made a start on and are currently WIP's. The first is of a Greyhound called Goldie and this is where I am at with her (for some reason she never scans well??) .......

The second is of a beautiful Chocolate Lab called Harvey. I am doing this as a demo on a forum that I'm a member of and you can see how I got to this stage, the colours I used etc. by clicking here.

Also need to do a Collie in coloured pencils and work some more on the Springer Spaniel montage so no time to worry about that 3 hour flight - I wish!

Coloured Pencil Course

Of all the mediums I choose to work in (and there are a few) my favourite, and most requested, is definately coloured pencil. They are clean, easy to use, inexpensive, non-toxic not to mention incredibly versatile. I have found them to be a very forgiving medium capable of achieving the finest of details and I love their vibrancy. What's there not to like about them?

I was delighted therefore to be given the opportunity to tutor the distance learning Coloured Pencil Course run by the prestigious London Art College. The course is an introduction to coloured pencils and covers various techniques and a variety of subjects to help the student become an accomplished coloured pencil artist.

On enrolment students are provided with easy to follow course notes with assignments allowing them to work at their own pace, at a time convenient to them and in the comfort of their own home. There are no deadlines or time limits. As the personal tutor I am on hand to provide help, support and advice.

I'm really looking forward to this new role and seeing what the students can do with coloured pencils.