28.1.08

Watch the birdy

We are off on a big expedition to Oxford this week; we haven't had a day in town for years. It's a bit of a palaver, with our limited rural bus service (which bears no resemblance whatsoever to the Stagecoach advert we saw on TV last week). Although thank God we have one at all (she said, hastily crossing fingers). Like Cindrella - but without the frock - one has to return at a certain time before the Sun goes down, (eg when the last join-up 6 o'clock bus leaves) or fork out for an expensive taxi home. However it can't be avoided: I have frames/mounts to pick up. One has been custom made for Party Food -

- which will be hung (appropriately) in the client's dining room - and smaller ones for forthcoming paintings I have been itching to do. So I'm doing a lot of Moleskine scribbling, as until I actually have the frames and mounts in front of me I can't start planning what size the artworks will be. And I have a 'bread and butter ' job to continue, which I must knuckle down to. Not as much fun as this chap -



Frankly the idea of a day in town scares the bejabers out of me, I might just go and hide in the Ashmolean.

30 comments:

AC said...

I do hope your trip goes well... from one bus traveller to another.
Yes, I would also hide in the Ashmolean as well if I was you, much more fun:-)
Take care,
Alison x

Anonymous said...

I love visiting Oxford. Me and my husband were thrown out of the Ashmoloean once because he put his finger about 2 inches away from a painting while pointing something out to me. This was obviously an outrageous thing to do (!)

Joanna said...

Have a lovely trip to town, good luck with the buses. I heard on the radio last week they have published a manual how to catch a bus, I could not believe it. I'm very lucky I have a wonderful picture framer in the next village I would be lost with her. Another lovely painting.

John Nez said...

Those are wonderful paintings! Very fun and interesting....

I can so relate to finding the frames first... and then making the art to fit them! Framing can be about the hardest part of the whole procedure...

:0)

Erica-Jane said...

I hope you have an adventurous time in Oxford :0)
I wish Oxford was my local town!
Your paintings are fantabulous!!!
Now, don't forget to pack your sandwiches for the journey!

Erica
xxxx

Unknown said...

Have fun in Oxford! These paintings are great. I love the quality of your skies.

Gail said...

I hope the trip to Oxford is enjoyable - it is a lovely city.
These paintings are gorgeous, I especially love the second one, he's such sweet little chap ;)

Debbie Miller of Onion Patch said...

Have a fun time - we shall all be here awaiting your return.

Elizabeth said...

Enjoy the Ashmolean
I was a student at the Ruskin School of drawing and fine art there in the late 60's when it was located there.
It was so beautiful and such fun.
we used to draw in all the galleries and i made friends with all the stout old ladies who sat guarding things.
The Pitt-Rivers is wonderful too......

belindadelpesco.com said...

Beautiful paintings... I wish we could see the dining room piece - framed and in it's new home, boding good meals and happy conversations to the new collectors. It's wonderful.

natural attrill said...

I LOVE the wheely-chicken!!
Toby

Nisreen M said...

Your Blog is astonishing.
Very Professional.
I enjoy my tour really.
Your photos following the stages of coloring the blue Elephent, make me feel as if I am reading an artistic electronic book.

good luck

Anonymous said...

trop gentil pour le site de la semaine... je decouvre avec grand interet ton travail... ces illustrations sont superbes...
font elle partie d'une histoire...?
good trip in oxford...

Emm@ said...

I want a Wheely Chicken! Maybe somebody clever with wood could make real versions of your toys. I'd defo get this little fella.

natural attrill said...

Nice idea Em, if you dont mind G, I'd like to carry on the idea theme, please add, as well as the wooden one, a metal wheely chicken, and a fabric one, also needle felted would be good.
Instead of the usual range of various toy characters in a theme that people make, you could have the same character but made of different materials, paper mache, a cake? ceramic, .....oh sorry, I'll shut up now!
Have a good trip to Oxford.
P.xxx

Cotswoldgent said...

What's a bus?

Frances said...

Hoping that all bus schedules are met, that you have a grand time getting the frames sorted in Oxford, and that while on the bus, you get another commission for your wonderful artwork.

What others have said about the paintings leading the way to actual toys seems such a natural progression.

Both these paintings are delightful, especially the wheely chicken with the eggy landscape!
xo

weirdbunny said...

I'd love to visit Oxford. I remember going there when I was younger. (I love watching Inspector Morse ) I went to cambridge for a visit when Ellis was little, I loved it there.

Caroline B said...

Hope you enjoy your trip to the city - travelling by bus isn't what it used to be. I was thinking how good your wheelie chicken would look made in felt with wooden wheels and a string for pulling....hmm, maybe we should collaborate!

Anonymous said...

Oh God I love town and simply can't imagine life without a weekly fix but I guess it's what you get used to. Have a wonderful time and yes I have to say that hiding out in a museum sounds awfully good to me because although I love town I don't really like shopping!
Carolyn
http://willowhouse.typepad.com

kate said...

I love your Party Food illustration, especially the ice-cream concoction in the green goblet. Hopefully the bus schedules all work out and that you can hide out at the Ashmolean if need be.

Cecelia said...

Enjoyed reading your blog and looking at your work. I really like your style of painting.

littlerobot said...

Party food is excellent! Hope we'll be able to see it framed!

Ragged Roses said...

Hello, thanks for visiting my blog. I hope you got to Oxford okay and enjoyed your day. I haven't been there for years but always enjoyed walking around there. Love your paintings.
Kimx

Sofisan said...

Hi, never been here and just fell in love with you imagery. I am now going to make reely big hats for some of my dolls. Fantastic, what talent!

Lisa McGlaun said...

I love your art work and come here just to spend time purusing it. Beautiful.

Lisa

tlchang said...

I love seeing you painting so much right now. Good on you!

Hope you survived your 'big outing'. Looking forward to hearing about it.

Feel free to come swap studios anytime. :-)

Rima Staines said...

Hello and bravo for what you said about selling to the people it matters to now and making a living... the internet has liberated poor artists tucked shyly in their studios from nasty part time jobs and gallery anguish :) I hope you had a lovely Trip to Town... and chuffed to hear of your YOU paintings coming back. Cheerio xx R

auntpearl said...

Came by to visit my wonderful friend and see new characters of your art. Love them all.

Take good care of yourself.
Hugs,
Pearl

AC said...

Great to watch you painting and creating on your studio cam Gretal.
Take care,
Alison x