Friday 22nd August
I always forget how much stuff I need to assemble. Disembowelling my studio is always stressful as I know I’ll have to put it all back together next week.
I spent a few hours getting all the paintings into the motorhome, from various locations, in order to make it easier to transfer next door once the marquee is up. I have tables and stands and easels but also use anything available to display work such as steps and trollies. Once the large 9m×4m marquee is up I have to organise the space . With no walls as such I have to rig lines up to hang pictures from. It’s not a problem unless it gets windy when everything swings alarmingly. I also have lights, balloons and bunting and a big sign and an ‘A’ board for the roadside advertising. My posters are up around the village and on social media.
I am as organised as I can be and have a huge range of paintings in a variety of styles and media and sizes.
I always worry that no one turns up or that the weather is awful but as Natasha keeps telling me that’s out of my control. We always have fun and a beer or two. Matt catches and smokes mackerel and we eat well.
On Tuesday we take it all down and I spend a week putting everything back in place.
At this stage I always wonder why the hell I’m doing this but afterwards (so far) I’m always glad I did. No matter how much I sell my studio never seems much emptier!
This is our 6th year and from very small beginnings, its grown beyond my imagination. Our neighbours are moving so this might be our last AITG as we know it. It will also be our 1st time without Ray who will be greatly missed. Its incredibly kind of Matt and Sarah to give up their time and energy spending 6 days up here and for bringing the largest marquee yet and to Martin and Sheena for hosting the event in their garden.
Everyone mucks in as I am so self-absorbed that I abandon all other responsibilities. Natasha is a superstar and Dylan (with Scarlet this year) always helps out.
At the time of writing we have erected the marquee and got all the easels, tables and stands in there ready for the introduction of the paintings which will take me most of Friday.
Without all this support, this event would never happen. So it a big thank you to all and let’s do this...
I did get some good news from Beckstones Gallery.
In August I sold 3 large paintings (including the 2 Ullswater paintings) and 4 watercolours .. They have requested more paintings in the “Ullswater“ style so that should keep me busy till Christmas.