New Year, New Cows

Happy New Year

I'm busy in the studio painting for the next exhibition in May 2008. I have two venues in Dorset Art Week - one is Bramble and Sage Sutton Montis and the other Boywood Farm at Mappowder. The first is a farm shop and the second a barn on a farm!

At the moment I am painting pedigree Jerseys from a farm in South Cadbury ( see photo). I am going to see an old Hereford Bull next and then maybe another Highland.

A new exhibition of prints and prints on canvas will be going up soon at the Mill at Rode near Frome.

baxters gallery exhibition

The Baxters Gallery "menagerie" exhibition is in full swing in Dartmouth. Eight new cow portraits were on show there. It has gone really well with only three left as of today. The private view was fun - 10 galleries opened up for Dartmouth Galleries Night. There was a buzzing atmosphere, helped by Sarah from Baxter's wicked cocktails!

Two new enormous cows are going to Delamore Art Gallery in Devon on 8th November.

Moving House

We moved to Sherborne at the end of July, so now I have a new studio to work from. It will be great when I get round to sorting out some natural light - it's a bit like working in a coal bunker at the moment!

I'm beavering away in the coal bunker painting for the "menagerie" exhibition at Baxter's Gallery Dartmouth starting on October 19th. I will have eight new paintings - some old friends - "Aggie" and "Maurice" making an appearance in a different form.

A new project is underway as well - www.greencowcards.com

These will be new greetings cards printed on recyceld paper with vegetable based ink, using recycled envelopes and biodegradable cellophane bags.

New website will be launched soon and the cards will be available from September.

Stafford Exhibition

I was approached by a fantastic looking gallery in Stafford not that long ago to exhibit in July at their Country Life exhibition. What a fantastic opportunity. Up until now my exhibitions have not ventured past the M4/M5 junction, so this is new territory.

Trouble is I only have one original to exhibit - not much of an exhibition - so I'm on painting overdrive.

I met these guys by chance when I was dawdling back from nursery with my 2 year old hoping she would snooze in the back of the car. It was one of those glorious sunny spring days where the light is fresh. I stopped by the yard gate for ages trying to get the cows accustomed to my presence but every time I moved a muscle they all panicked and backed off. Eventually these three decided their curiosity had got the better of them and came and nosed at me at a safe distance.

I like the way my current painting is working out. I'm using more bold colours on a vivid ultramarine background. I have a bit more work to do to them all, especially the cow on the right. Just need to think of some names then...

A novice cow blog

I have been inspired to blog by a talk I heard on Thursday at the Women in Rural Enterprise (WIRE) conference in Taunton. It was from Heather Gorringe of Wiggly Wigglers (what a great name). She was telling us how she progressed from farmer's daughter with a compost heap and a dream to a successful business woman with 16 staff, 900 product lines and a successful blog.

I think I may have to paint for 100 years before I reach 900 different cow paintings but at least I can start a blog.

My idea is that I can show the progress (or lack of progress) of my paintings and give a bit of background to them.

I will link it to my website cowsoncanvas.