A busy November

Wow,  I have been so busy since the end of October and throughout November.

October  ended with a workshop with The Ashby Guild of Artists. Had a really fun day with some very talented artists. At this point I MUST remind myself to be much more organised when I take photos of the groups work. The following photos are just a small sample of the stunning work that this group produced. I am really looking forward to working with Ashby artists again when I will be doing a workshop on Trees and Forests. (date to be confirmed) 

Here are some of the paintings produced during the workshop with Ashby Guild of Artists.

The first painting was my Demo painting and is now framed and for sale. 

DEMO Painting.

Students working through the lunch break.

In the first weekend of November I went to the Windsor Art Fair where I had a few  very good sales and a large commission. I was very pleased with the way my stand looked and really enjoyed meeting lots of new people and of course meeting up with other artists who also do the 'art fair circuit'  

Here's a few photos of my stand at Windsor.  

One of the highlights of my month was working with the a little boy called Casey. I was  looking after him one evening while his Mum worked. We decided to go into my studio and paint. 

We did a seaside painting and a Bonfire Night picture. Needless to say, there was lots of flicking throwing and splashing of paint...    

My Holiday in Cornwall by Casey Kirby.

THE highlight of my month has to be my daughter Alice's graduation at Sheffield City Hall.
The photo is of one VERY proud dad with Alice Connolly BA. (BA in English)

On the 23rd of November I decided to have a  'Christmas Studio Clearance Sale'... Although I have over 120 paintings in galleries around the country, I still have over 200 more paintings in storage in my studio.. Some of which have been around for quite a while and now taking up valuable space needed for the new work.

So far the sale has gone well and I have been very busy these last two days delivering commissions to  Windsor and St Albans and then work from my sale to Preston, Wigan and Halifax.  A 560  mile road trip..  It was lovely to meet the new owners of the work and see where it's going to be hung. Some of the work delivered was under glass, so I didn't want to risk sending it via courier who do not always respect the 'Fragile, Handle with Care' labels plastered across the parcel. 

Here's some of the work sold in November  and  delivered in the past two days.

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Progress with my Hands.

Several friends have enquired about my hands and are wondering how I continue to use acrylic paint. I saw a naturopath, Malcolm Diamond, in the summer who told me that all the creams I was using would never help. He put me on a strict Detox Diet which I have been on for 8 weeks. My hands got worse at first and the photo shows them 4 weeks ago and now. As you will see there has been a massive improvement. I will continue with the Alkaline Diet and also use Derma Shield Barrier Cream  as I paint. If I don't need my 'flicky finger' then I am also able to wear some vinyl gloves which have a 

cotton lining. Cross fingers they continue to improve.

VERY Busy October.

Its only just over half way through October but I have decided to write my Blog now. I have delivered 20 new paintings to No Naked Walls in Bramley, Surrey,  for a joint show I am having with Louise Fairchild. I now have over 40 paintings on show in No Naked Walls  Chertsey and Bramley, so if you are in Surrey why not call in and have a look.

My solo show 'Land Sea and Sky' at St Johns Street Gallery Ashbourne opened Thursday 10th and I am pleased to hear of three sales in the first weekend. Hopefully  more on the way. :-)

I also delivered work to Lyndhurst Gallery for the Autumn Show which opened on the 19th October.
Most of the work that I took was painted in Whitley Woods or Hollands Wood in The New Forest.

I am now working hard to produce  more work to take to Windsor Art Fair in three weeks time.

Having now been on my detox diet for 6 weeks, I am pleased to say that my hands are much better and almost look normal. I still need to be careful not to get too much acrylic ink or paint on my fingers though. An Added bonus of being on the diet is that I have lost over a stone in weight.  The Alkaline diet is, Dairy free,  wheat free,  caffeine free, gluten free, red meat free, alcohol free (ish)... Basically if its green, I can eat it. :-) The diet  seems to be working considerably better than the dozens of creams and ointments I have tried in the past,  so I will stick with it at least for another 6 weeks.  

Temp studio in Whitley Woods, New Forest.


These are the paintings recently delivered to  Lyndhurst Gallery.

Suffering for my Art.

I stopped using acrylics while I was in Cornwall and only used watercolours and gouache. I didn't need to wear gloves. My hands began to clear.

Since I have returned home, I experimented with oils  and will continue to do so.  However my work load is such that I need to continue with acrylics. That's what I do... My fingers are much better because I cover them with gloves...  but  look at what the vinyl gloves have done to my hands and wrists..... 

I am now on a 3 month detox diet having been told I was chronically dehydrated and had a Ph of 5.2 which is VERY acidic... I was told that IF I can sort this out then my body should be able repair itself and have resistance against the damaging effects of paint and or gloves.... No creams on earth will cure my hands... 

I am now going to try cotton gloves under the vinyl but think it might be like painting wearing boxing gloves.

August News. (not for the squeamish)

Those of you who have followed my Blog or FB Art Page may know about my ongoing problem with Contact Dermatitis. It has become very painful to use acrylic paints or inks and after several visits to the hospital and doctors which have not helped at all I have now turned to Alternate Medicine.  I met Malcolm Diamond a mobile Natural Therapist based in Cornwall who told me that all the creams in the world will not help.  BUT  with the correct diet (and drinking lots of water to Hydrate my skin) I should be able to use acrylics within 6 months to a year. 

In the meantime, I have stopped using acrylics (3 weeks ago) and my hands are already showing big signs of improvement. 

My internal PH was measured and I discovered that I am very acidic (5.2) when I should be Alkaline with a PH of about 7.2 The diet is very strict and does not allow dairy products, Caffeine,  and is also  Gluten Free including Gluten based Alcohol.(Beer and Wine)   (Think Gin and Tonics might be ok) Basically I have to eat and drink lots of green food. :-) (whose ever heard of a salad without tomatoes which I was told are VERY acidic.

Watch this space. :-) If nothing else I'll lose some weight put on steadily since xmas. I've been enjoying using  watercolours and gouache and will start to use oils when I am back in the studio next week.

 Here's a few pages from my sketchbook and a photo of my van which I found extremely useful when transporting some very large canvases which I bought from 'Trago' at a very good 2 for 1 deal.

To St Mawes.

Looking down from coastal path

6am from Pendennis Point

Falmouth Harbour

Path From Gylly to Swanpool Beach

Priests Cove

Priests Cove

From The Tinners Way