Happy 2024

I can’t quite believe that it’s the 9th day of the new year already. I’m seated at the desk at Wall to Wall gallery in Nelson, my final gallery duty. I’ve been a member here for nearly five years, made some good friends and met lots of lovely customers, and now it’s time for me to move on. Part of me is a bit nervous – artists tend to be a solitary bunch and it’s very easy to take on the role of hermit! W to W has kept me socially connected , and Robbie is determined that I’m not going to become socially disconnected 🙂 But I feel that it’s time to commit more to both my family and my painting. This year I’m determined to get out painting more often, and I’m very much enjoying our Wai Knot group – open to anyone who loves watercolour. Just message me if you’d like to know more.

I’m also enjoying doing some one on one tutoring and mentoring . This can be a great way to help you become more confident with your painting. Sometimes this can be more helpful than attending a whole workshop.If you’re interested please get in touch . The cost is $40/hour and we can tackle whatever aspects of painting you’re stuck on.

There was a great article in the last copy of the Listener magazine about letting yourself play as a way to learning, and this is exactly what I’m currently doing with a learner painter. We imagine ourselves sitting on the side of the road somewhere (she’s a traveller) quickly sketching what’s in front of us – an old house, an ornate window, flowers growing in the grass. I’ve been learning a lot from it as well, and it certainly stops you being too precious! The other way to play is to buy yourself something new from your art shop.. a new colour, a marker pen, a new surface to paint or draw on if you usually paint small, try painting bigger. Try a different method – collage, pen and wash, charcoal. You never know what might happen.

I’m also beginning to plan a few workshops for the autumn- probably a couple of watercolour basics and maybe one on birds /animals… let me know if you’d like to be added to my workshop email list which will keep you updated on these. Maybe another urban sketching day in Nelson, or a travel sketchbook one further afield…

Have you notice on my website that I’m having a feature painting each month? People often want to know the story behind a painting, so each month I’ll tell you the story behind one of mine, you can check out this months one here: Original Painting of the Month

No doubt this new year will have good bits, bad bits, challenges which need to be faced. But just remember that the important thing it’s not what happens but how you deal with it . It’s time for a positive year, all the best.

Jan