Solo show at Jack Sevens Arts Yard.

As part of the Barnaby Arts Festival in Macclesfield, I am having a solo show of work at Jack Sevens Arts Yard.  The body  work is a selection of Landscape and seascape paintings produced in all four seasons.... Needles to say, the show is called 'Seasons' I delivered the work this morning. Aghhhhh what a drive.... Isn't it supposed to be summer.  I drove through thick fog and heavey rain.  I was cheered up by David Richardson, Gallery owner who gave me coffee and the best carrot cake ever. 

A Busy Month

Its been such a busy month so far, commencing with the four days of Derbyshire Open Studios over the  Bank Holiday. Judith Brunt (printer exhibiting at Beans Art Cafe in Bolsover) and I were the only artists to be showing our work in the area,  so I was pleasantly surprised with the number of visitors who went out of there way to visit my studio. 3 travelled from Altringham in Cheshire to purchase 2 paintings.  Over the 4 days I was pleased to sell 5 paintings and meet so many art lovers  who seemed to enjoy there visit to Ormscliffe Studio.   

Jessie my Studio Assistant.

Golden Acrylics. Nice and creamy

Jessie welcomes visitors. She was very good and only barked once in 4 days.

Inside my studio

I had plans to display paintings all over the garden, but
unfortunately the weather was only like this on 1 of the 4 days.

There was a wide selection of work on display including paintings
from the recently completed Woodland Light series.

Work hanging from the rafters.

Jessie watching me paint

I have just returned from Patchings Art Centre where I was exhibiting with hundreds of other artists from all over the country. Each artists was given a 10 x 8"space to exhibit work with an option to demonstrate their artistic skills. I had a very busy 4 days despite high wind and intermittent heavey rain. I managed to produce 4 pieces of work during the art fair and meet many friends, old and new.

This must have been taken early morning because my hands and arms are relatively paint free. 

I now have a day off to prepare for a one day workshop at Pear Tree Farm  tomorrow and a demo at Tamworth Arts Society on Wednesday evening. Somehow I need to deliver work to Macclesfield before Thursday where I have a solo show at Jack Sevens Art Yard as part of the Barnaby Festival.

Busy Busy.
  

Reading Art Fair

As well as exhibiting in 10 Galleries around the country, I have decided to do a few Art Fairs this year, commencing with Reading Art Fair Last weekend. It was a busy weekend and I would like to thank those people who visited my stand, especially the six people who bought a painting. It was good to meet so many 'art lovers' and I also make friends with other talented artists who were showing at the fair.
I will be showing and demonstrating at Patchings Arts Centre from 14th - 17th June, and will also be exhibiting in the Melbourne Festival  and Art in the Gardens (Sheffield) in September. I am tempted to do Manchester Art Fair at the end of September and have already booked Windsor Art Fair in November.

Stand at Reading

Before any of these Art Fairs though, is my 4 Day Open Studio event from 2nd - 5th June when you can visit my studio, watch me working and maybe even buy something. Look forward to seeing you there.

New Studio Assistant started last week

Jessie

My New Studio Assistant started last week. She is a 13 week old Miniaure Schnauzer. She has been helping me with my latest 'Woodland Light ' paintings... On her first day she had  blue acrylic paint all over her bottom. (washed it off before it dried)  

As it's Spring, I have been doing  lots of  Cheery and Apple Blossom paintings with a few Bluebell Woods too. My Solo show at Leabrooks is going well and I was pleased to sell 'Skeletal' and 'Autumn Glory' on the first weekend of the show. The Blossom paintings will be first shown at Reading Arts  Fair at the end of the month.  After which I will be working towards my open studio event which is 2nd - 5th June. Free entrance to my studio/gallery at Ormscliffe Studios in Bolsover. (watch this space for further details or visit my website www.connollyart.com

Autum Glory

Skeletal

Visit to Calder Gallery, Hebden Bridge.

I have just returned from another mini  road trip. 500 miles in 2 days. Reading yesterday, Leeds, Hebden Bridge and Cromford today. It was a lovely sunny day and I wanted to be out painting rather than sit in traffic on the M62.  Here are the nine paintings that  can be seen at Calder Gallery Hebden Bridge.

Apple Blossom Time

Apple Blossom

Cherry Orchard

Katies Wood

Spring Blossom

Sheerwood Green

Spring Colour

Thistle Down the Wind

Wild Flowers

Don't forget my solo show throughout April at Leabrooks  Gallery, Somercotes, Derbyshire. Over 40 paintings from the 'Woodland Light' body of work. If you happen to be in or around Reading at the end of April, why not stop by for a chat at Reading Arts Fair. It would be good to see you there ;-)

Don't Stand in the Green Bin.

I find myself having a little more time to sit and update my Blog. Because I just fell out of the Green Bin... LOL.  I shouldn't laugh really because at 11am this morning my face went white, then yellow and green and back to white again. I had been cutting back shrubs in the garden and the green bin was full of twigs etc. So I decided to stand inside it and squash it all down. Climbing out of the bin was my mistake. I should  have known better. It was a green WHEELIE BIN..... and things with wheels tend to move, especially when the  drive is on a slope...  I fell back. Or should I say, I fell onto my back, smashing my right hand and elbow and back of my head.... OUCH.... Nothing broken, slightly concussed, slight whiplash in neck and a lots of grit to pick out of my elbow. MY fault entirely... so if there are any 'predatory compo solicitors reading this, DON'T call me.  The good news is that my new Iphone 4s which was in my pocket escaped unharmed. 

I digressed... Isn't this Blog meant to be about my art? Well. I suppose my right hand and arm are something to do with my painting. Both hurt, but neither broken.... so Ill be back in my studio tomorrow. In the meantime, just thought I would add a few more winter woodland paintings completed this week. This weeks full moon providing some of the inspiration.

Full Moon Tonight

Night Falling

Old Wood

Winter Woodland

Having been back to the New Forest last week, I decided to try and capture the woods in their 'Nakedness'. I was only there for an hour  so I  did a few sketches and took lots of photos to work on back in my studio.

These are the first two paintings inspired by my recent visit,  completed this week.

Winterwoods

Winterwoodland