looking forward to 2007.

I had a great Christmas. The 'flu eventually went away. I am now about to venture out to my studio again, I need to do a little spring cleaning.
I recieved my official invite back to the art festival in Tunisia, and I'm looking forward to it. I have already emailed my acceptance.
I have been outlining my goals for next year. I have decided I need to do some Irish landscapes for the American market. When I have some done I will try to organise another show in the US. I enjoyed my last one, and hopefully it will be profitable too. I want to work on a few ideas between now and the spring, but come spring I'm going to make a few trips around the country to paint a few plien air studies to work from. I also want to organise an exhibition of my african works this year so I'll have to work on that also. I'm looking forward to the new year. I think it will be a good one for me. I am going to try to keep my painting simple this year and not over analyze it. The quick simple Tunisian paintings worked well. My still life works always do and I keep them simple, so why am I having such difficulty elsewhere....I'm trying to achieve something I'm not ready for..I'm getting too 'arty' instead of doing what I do well.

I wish everyone a Happy New year, and I'll see you all in 2007.

I am feeling a bit better again, I will have to go to my studio today, just to check for post though.
3 days to Christmas and loads of little jobs to do. I'm glad I didn't leave any commissions until the last minute!
I came across an old exhibition catalogue yesterday, from my first show in a public (not commercial) gallery, in 1996...ten years ago, time flies. It was a novelty to be paid to exhibit and not rely on sales to be asked back :lol: I must scan some of the illustrations in later, they were two colour reproductions....full colour was very expensive back then. I have one of those paintings left at home, all the others were sold after the exhibition..direct, no commission, It paid for another foreign painting trip!
I am organised gift wise.....I have been for ages. Even so I have lots to do and I am not going to get out fishing before the New Year I don't think. I must be getting better, I'm suffering withdrawal symptoms from the lack of fishing.

I am just going to wish you all all the best for the Holiday season and I'll see you again (virtually that is.) in the New Year. MERRY XMAS!

I am still sufferring....I now have totally lost my voice with laryngitus or something similar. I did go and visit my studio earlier today though to check for mail etc. I found this along with bills in my mailslot..a lovely little watercolour Xmas present. It cheered me up.

I am full of aches and pains still so I don't expect to be painting this side of the new year with Christmas so close. I am almost to miserable to type this post, but I feel guilty not posting for long periods....even if I don't really have anything to post about! I will post again before Christmas so I won't wishh you all a good one yet.

It has been another day of Gales and storm force winds. It must be nearly 3 weeks of almost constant gales by now. The weather has been terrible. I found it difficult to keep the van between the lines on the road coming home with the strong gusts. I sort of weaved my way home, and, it was hard work driving.
Today I got most of my little jobs done though. I need to do a few more things tomorrow, including pick up a dehumidifier to put into my studio. I think the studio needs drying out, there is a bit of dampness, also it should help dry the paint. I also have an angling club committee meeting tomorrow evening. I am busy busy busy, without getting much done....it's not exactly disorganised, but all the little chores stack up when you are laid up for a little while. Maybe Friday. (unless its good fishing weather)

Yes, I'm sort of back. I was up in the studio on Saturday, but I've done very little work since. It has taken me a few days to recover from the weekend. I was due to go fishing today, but called it off, both due to the weather...gales and rain, and my not being in the best of health. I hope to get into the studio later in the week, but I have been working on designs for a wood cut in the meantime. It is more or less ready for the final sketch.
I really was knocked for six with the 'flu. Hopefully thats it for the year though, and I'll be fit and healthy for Christmas. I have a couple of little jobs to do tomorrow, and I may not get into the studio until late or not at all tomorrow. I am busy elsewhere on Thursday so Friday may be the first chance to get back into the studio, however I am not really worried as it is so close to christmas. I am not exactly likely to get stuck into anything particularly mind blowing between now and then anyway. It is a case of carry on experimenting for now.

I'm feeling better..

I am not fully over the 'flu, but I'm feeling better. Obviously I have not done a lot of exciting things since my last post. I hope to go to my studio in the morning, I have some work to do.

I have the photos of the big Pike I caught on the 20th of November.

this is it not quite in my big net...it is lying in the water, resting before I picked it up to have the photo taken. With the net over it's head it lay quite calmly. I then picked it up and Noel took a quick snap...but he missed my head...

I'd quite like to go fishing soon, but I'd better wait a little while..

Poor me...

I still have the 'flu. Ergo I'm not really able toregale anyone.....but I will be back soon...