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

July Exhibitions.

Just had a 450 mile round trip picking work up from Leabrooks Gallery and Framers and  delivering  to   Gallery Top at Rowsley and Old Courthouse Gallery in Ambleside.

 I haven't exhibited at Gallery Top since 2011 so I am really pleased that  Gill and Keith visited my studio and selected the woodland paintings for their totally refurbished gallery which re opens with their Summer Exhibition on Saturday 27th July

I am going down to The New Forest  to paint in Whitley Woods this weekend. This is a continuation of   an ongoing body of work entitled  'Woodland Light' which has already been seen in a number of Galleries around the UK. This new work will be shown at Lyndhurst Gallery later this year.

From 1st August I will be visiting Cornwall for two weeks where I shall paint every morning from sunrise, developing a body of work to be shown at the Annual Art in the Gardens exhibition in Sheffield. 30th August - 1st September.

3 Day Workshop at Pear Tree arm

From the 3rd - 5th July I ran a course entitled 'Colour, Light and Texture in the Landscape'. 

I worked with six students in all as there had been 3 last minute cancellations due to illness. 

We had a lovely time together experimenting with acrylic and mixed media on the first two days and then producing at least 2 finished pieces on the final day. Everyone worked extremely hard,  pushing themselves and trying new techniques involving flicking, throwing and pouring paint and inks onto a variety of surfaces. Unfortunately the weather wasn't particularly kind to us so all of the work was studio based using the artists sketches and own photos as source material...

Once again, Sue and Alan Barber were perfect hosts as always, making us all very welcome and giving us 3 wonderful lunches....  Real 5 star treatment.. 

Here are some photos of the work produced by this lovely group of artists.