For those of you who might be interested, Christmas was superb and the New Year in Sweden with my son and his family was also special. But of real interest to you all is my work, well that continued with a flourish; the image above is of a crack willow and it was completed during odd moments when time and family allowed whilst on the other side of the North Sea; the work is larger, slightly below A3 and I think that is the way forwards for the moment.

At present a moorland gorse bush is being produced and this is producing very different drawing problems, as the ground textures between a moor side and a river bank vary enormously.

A Simple message from Liz and myself,

Have a lovely, wonderful Christmas.

Well Christmas is almost with us and normal organised work is slowing down. All my Mind and group work is over until the New Year, so, although the seasons tasks are reaching their high point, art wise I am managing to slow down a little and think. Where am I going next year, what are my aims and aspirations?

The Trees and Beyond project will continue, with slight changes. I am aware that most of my work is rather small, so the first aim for next year is for more of my work to be closer to A3. That is a good size, as it is not to problematic to archivally scan and store. 

Secondly, after slight problems this year I must get back working in London. Also my travel  work will continue; having two plans for journeys to Hornfuer and Cherbourg, both in Normandy already booked, so that is in hand. Group workshops and travel around the Uk are also planned. So next year is already looking exciting and filling up.

But the priority for the next few days is Christmas, I am a Christian and it means a great deal to me. It is a time of great joy, to rest, have fun and thank our God for his goodness to us.

So have a great Christmas and I will write again in the New Year.

Charles

Good morning, today is Monday and I am down at the MIND drop in session (mental health charity) for the morning, that's good.

On Wednesday it is the MIND Christmas Fayre, being held in Christ Church Woking from 2pm until 4pm. Come along meet the crowd and see what we get up to.

Incidentally, I will be having have a stall there, as a consequence you will be able to view some of my work up close and as a bonus, also meet me: if you want to!

 

With a friend, Liz and myself have just returned from a very welcome few days taking it easy at Sidmouth in Devon. The weather wasn't perfect, but it was warm and we didn't want to do to much anyhow. Most of the time I relaxed painting mussel shells, which was relaxing, good fun and the finished item wasn't to bad either.
We wandered to Lyme Regis and did just one sketch, half way through it started raining, so that stopped me.
From that point it seemed a good idea to relax, so that is what I did.
It did me good to, I still painted, but I chilled out as well.
Don't take yourself to seriously.

A bit of a change today. Whilst at Epsom a few weeks ago, amongst other things I demonstrated paper sculpture. The above piece is a clinker built dingy, in the classical plank on frame style,  as in the real thing. The larger of the two books has about twenty pages, whilst the smaller of the books has about ten pages, both open properly; the satchel sadly doesn't show up to well, but has a convincing leather look. The boat is about six inches in length and made totally from scrap pieces of paper and pva glue, before being finished with acrylic paint. I enjoyed making it during the odd spare moments throughout the week; several of the conference attenders also followed its progress during the weeks as well.
The idea was given me by a client who suggested that I made a boat for a thinker, hence the books. When I have some spare time a bit of beach or something like that needs making for it, before it all gets framed.

Well it has been a rather productive sort of day. The top image is an ink of a quiet, wild corner at Wisley RHS, this was finished before church this morning and the photograph below was take on a stroll near Albury, close to Shere in Surrey, this afternoon. I was taking images to work from, sort of collecting ideas in the camera, a bit like a photo sketch book, rather than capturing fine art photos, and that was one of the results. I rather like it.

The next opportunity to see my work, apart from calling round, is at the Woking MIND Christmas fair, which is being held at Christ Church, on the 28th. of November. Most of you will know of my passion for encouraging good mental health, well two mornings a week I work with MIND and I love the work. It would be nice to see you there