John Connolly: 2014

Wednesday, 17 December 2014

November.

November 2014 has definitely been my busiest month ever. I didn't just double, but triple booked myself by mistake during the first half of the month.

I had a solo show at Leabrooks Gallery which ran for two weeks, a solo show at Cromford Gallery which ran throughout the whole of November and during this I went to Windsor Art Fair for the weekend of 8th and 9th November. Think I need to employ a PA or a diary secretary to avoid making such a mistake again.

When the page likes reached 2000 on my Facebook page, I made a prize draw and the winner could commission me to paint a favourite place. The Month started with me presenting Myrilla, who commissioned me to paint a sun set over Lake Windermere.

Presenting Myrilla Cavanagh with her free Commission.

WINDSOR ART FAIR

This was the third year I have exhibited at Windsor, and once again I enjoyed meeting other artists and lots of people visting the Fair. Both Windsor and Reading Art Fairs are extremely well organised by Sarah McAllister and Deborah James and the publicity generates lots of business.

Windsor Art fair

WORKSHOPS

The Last three weekends of the month were taken up by workshops with the lovely Bollington Art Group followed by 2 weekends with the very talented and friendly Thringston Art Group.

I am running a series of workshops in 2015 so look at my website, www.connollyart.com for dates and further details.

Bollington Art Group

Thringston Art Group

15 paintings and 150 calendars found a new home this month.

I have been very pleased with sales this month, having sold 15 paintings which all found new homes around the country. One also went to Sweden and another to the US.

This year was the first time I have produced a calendar, so I was very pleased with sales. Its very difficult to know how many to have printed so I think my guestimate of 150 was just right.

Tuesday, 21 October 2014

Wow Its October already.

I just realised that I haven't written anything in my Blog since July.
All my time seems to be spent either painting, running workshops, teaching one to ones, keeping Face Book updated and running Ukartaid charity. (which has now raised £3000 plus £750 gift aid )

Since coming back from Cornwall in August, I spent a few days painting in Whitley Woods and at Hengistbury Head on the South Coast, producing a small body of work that was very well received at Sheffields Art in the Gardens in early September.

Art in the Gardens was much better for me this year as I was selected to join the premier artists and was given a small Marquee to myself, making it much easy to display work on boards rather than hanging paintings on palm trees in the Pavilion as I have done for the past 4 years. Sales were ok and I met lots of interesting people.

September and the first part of October has been the most hectic 6 weeks I have had since going full time in 2010. I knew I had to produce new work for OCG in Ambleside, D'Art Gallery, Dartmouth, Lyndhurst Gallery at the same time as getting work ready for shows with Leabrooks and Cromford Galleries. Bad organisation on my part having not checked my diary before saying yes to both.

I am pleased to say that I have managed to sort it all and have delivered to OCG and D'Art Gallery last week, Cromford and Lyndhurst this week, and will take work to Leabrooks next week swell as completing more new stuff for Windsor Art fair on 8th and 9th November.

In between all that I have run several workshops and taught 3 lots of 'one to ones' with some very talented artists and have just re designed my website www.connollyart.com so that each page represents a gallery in which I exhibit work.

Working in the New Forest.

Claire Jepson after a day in my studio.

Centre of England Art Group.

Julie Hyde Centre of England Art Group.

Centre of England Art Group.

Work done outside in Falmouth.

Early morning at Pendents Point in Falmouth

One of my friends, Mervyn Allcock showed me a painting that his 8 year old daughter Amelia had done at school. It was a superb watercolour showing a great deal of skill and talent. I offered to give Amelia a day in my studio in the school holiday. Amelia wanted to paint flowers and a painting about her holiday. Here are the results. She's coming back at half term to paint another flowery one. EVEN BIGGER this time.