To Tamiflu or not to Tamiflu?

Can't believe I wrote a whole Art blog page then lost it as the application quit unexpectedly. God damn it! Does it not know I am sick with suspected swine flu and don't have the energy to write this all over again. I had written my Aura Blog and was not sure I could face updating my Art Blog too. Needless to say I have spent the day working like mad on my macbook being the workaholic martyr that I am but I am paying the price for it now as I feel utter rubbish. 

Was meant to be going away with the kids for the weekend for a freinds 40th but it looks like me and my germs will be staying here in quarentine. See if we care.

Just like last year I have not got the brushes out yet to do the last few pieces of new work for the BAF but you never know if I feel better later in my forced confinement I may venture unsteadily downstairs to my studio to make the most of an empty house. 

Going to turn off my computer now and break open the Green and Blacks and the Night Nurse and ponder the question on everyone's lips in my house 'to Tamiflu or not to Tamiflu?' Now that is the question. 

No this is not new work of mine it's the swine flu virus.

It's that time of year again

The year has passed so quickly I can't believe it's time for the Brighton Art Fair once again. I exhibited last year and although it was exhausting and quite stressful it really is good fun and if you go with the view that your work is getting seen which is fantastic and if it sells even better you can just about cope. I sold 7 last year but my work has changed a lot so who knows how it will be recieved this year. Last year lots of people did not sell a thing so you have to be prepared to take it on the chin if you don't sell but I just love having my work out there. What with the colour therapy having taken off in such a big way this past year it's great to be getting back in the studio. Though as ever I have left it to the last minute and am already stressing about finding time in the studio to produce some new stuff and September is already filling up but then I do my best work under pressure with no time to over thing or analyze it.  Get the 1st - 4th of October in your diaries it would be great to see you there. 

The Gardens & Arts great success!

Well it's over! Phew. The Henfield Gardens & Arts was a great success and up on the terrace it was like a mini festival with music playing, the sun beating down and the old and young relaxing and having fun on our green. Not that I got to see much of it due to manning the studio and selling, selling, selling. From windmills to sock monkeys they were flying our the door. It was such a party atmosphere with my friends and family on mass haning out and enjoying the sun, beer and Pimms. 

Loads of people commented on how lucky we are to live in our gorgeous house on the magical terrace with it's own green, great community and magnificent views. They are not wrong. The hours I put into making 54 meters of bunting for the green were well worth it and it looked like an event from another era. I only wish I had, had a moment to get the camera out and capture it. I will post some photos take by others and put on the G&A web site taken of our bit of the event.  Will do it again next year but won't be opening up my studio. I want to be out there in the sun having fun like the rest of you were next time!

Mary Moox's Sock monkeys!

My little garden out the front

Circus Kinetica's much loved windmills on our green.

Fun round the corner at the village pond.

And would any village event be complete without morris dancers? Now all we need is a good murder!

Henfield Arts & Gardens

Where are the day's going? God life is getting more busy by the minute. Brighton Artists Open Houses is going well and I am in the process of organising our venue at the Henfield Arts and Gardens weekend in June. 13th and 14th get it in your dairy. Lots of homes in the village open up their gardens for the public and there is always lots to see, music to hear and art, plants and crafts to buy. Oh and loads of venues sell great food and an aray of tasty home made cakes.

This year it's celebrating it's 10th anniversary with a sculpture trail. It's always a lovely weekend and for the first time I am taking part in it. Myself and some of my neighbours on the terrace are opening up the green and serving lunch and teas and cakes on the Sunday.

I am doing an open sudio all weekend where I will be exhibiting my new work along with ceramicist Barbara Collins who makes beautiful ceramic 'pods' and hanging pieces for home and garden. Desdemona McCannon illustrator and photographer will be exhibiting her gorgeous hand pressed photo tiles and sculptor Simon St John Best will be showing his quirky metal robots. Mary Moox will be showing her magical creatures and selling her sock monkeys, a firm favorite at the Brighton Open Houses each year. Natasha Caughey is the jeweller behind Auricula Jewellery in Ditchling. She will be selling her luminous hand-made jewellery.

Ceramicist Frances Doherty who used to exhibit at Alison Rankin's venue will now be on the terrace in the vegetable patch outside number 16. On the green Alice Ellis will be exhibiting large stunning mosaics along with her husband designer Giles Ellis's unique cards, posters and wrapping papers. We will also have Circus Kinetica's truly unusual windmills made from things like old expresso tins and olive oil cans. We may even have a 3 meter metal scorpion sculpture!

I can't wait.

www.henfieldgardensandarts.org

 

Private View Party Today

Took me hours to clean up the studio yesterday in preration for an Aura Soma client after virtually sleeping in there for days! Below is the other painting I needed to finish for the other venue I am exhibiting in at the Open Houses as part of the Brighton Festival. This one is for the venue The Boathouses, 3 The Boathouses, St Johns Road, Hove, BN3 2FB just down from the flower stand at Palmiera Square. The work you have seen earlier on this blog will be exhibited at the Trojan House, 26 Maldon Road, Brighton, BN1 5BE. There is a private view party at the Trojan House today from 3-7pm if you fancy taking a look. The private view party for The Boathouses is on the evening of Thursday 7th May, 6.30-10pm. 

Getting loads of great feedback about the work and everyone is loving seeing how they have evolved here on the blog. So keep checking in to see what's happening next.

The Boathouses, Open House, Independent Trail, website link

Trojan House, Open House, Prestonville Trail, website link