Friday 7th August

My studio roof held out as the wind continued on Monday. With the usual anti-climactic feelings after returning from holiday I decided to begin varnishing the paintings stacked up in the studio ready for AITG (Art in the Garden).

There were 20 pictures to varnish. My studio was starting to feel claustrophobic again so on Tuesday I transferred all the paintings hanging around ready for AITG into the “Party Shed”. I also finally removed the paintings we picked up from Beckstones Gallery,  which were still on our bed in the motorhome and transferred those to the “Party Shed”.  I now had space in my studio to varnish the rest of the paintings.

This done I could pack those away. In between varnishing I also titivate some other oil paintings, adding finishing touches to the now dry canvases.

On Tuesday I received a surprise email from a friend of ours, who has bought several of my paintings but who we hadn’t seen for ages. He lives in Embleton but his partner lives in the borders and follows me on Facebook.  She liked the semi abstract paintings I have posted recently.  The request was for a commission to paint The Eildon Hills in the borders in a semi abstract style using bright colours in blues, purples,  yellows and red/oranges. I found a suitable image and already have a 3ft ×2ft board to work on.

On Thursday, with Luna in Doggy Daycare I had a full day at it. It’s a perfect subject for me. As per the brief, I had to keep it loose and fairly abstract. I think I did that and used plenty of which, juicy oil paint painted with a palette knife with mixtures of blues, mauves, purples siennas and reds and many different shades of yellows all mixed on the board. It is recognisable as the Eildon Hills but done in a very impressionistic way.

It can be easy to get this all very muddy as I am painting it all wet into wet paint. The temptation to fiddle is difficult to resist but with this sort of painting its best to go with first impressions.

I hope my clients like it. It will look great when it’s varnished and framed. I feel a little guilty that I’ve completed the painting so quickly after the request  but it’s how my time worked out.

I’ve printed my AITG posters and they need laminating ready for putting up round the area.

It will be full steam ahead for AITG from now on, although, once I have all the work ready it all tends to be a bit last minute.

I have my delayed quiz tonight (Thursday) as a result of our holiday date faux par and we have several things going on between now and AITG. I still have plenty of blank canvases to go at if and when I have time.

Upwards and onwards...