SUMMER FUN - SOLD

First original painting of 2012 has just sold in Edinburgh.

The painting of my daughter's old canvas summer shoes (aged 5.5!) was done in October 2011 - a nice loose wee painting and a bit of light relief in this loathesome January weather!


Need to get painting again!

NEW PRODUCTS - SNEAK PREVIEW

New magnet

Matching Card

New Card

Here are a couple of the new products launching at Scotlands Trade Fair at SECC 22-24th January.

There are 6 new card designs + 4 new FRAMEABLE cards and frames + 4 new magnets

Pop along to stand K68 if you're visiting!

I CAN'T EVEN SEE MY COMFORT ZONE FROM HERE!!!

I have been asked umpteen times if I have a print or card of ballet shoes ... and finally I have cracked and rattled one up for the Spring Fair on Sunday ... here's a taster of the new card.

A bit pink ... a bit shapeless compared to the usual suspects but hopefully will hit the mark with the ballet fans!

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

Here's a better pic of the watercolour version of There's No Place Like Home ... no ... still not touched the oil version!!!

This one will become part of the new Red Shoe Collection of cards & prints launching at the Scotland's Trade Fair at SECC next weekend ... and I might just wear the shoes one of the days!

Big challenge this weekend though: the pink ballet shoes ... ballet shoes have been requested so often, I have to paint them. Borrowed for only a short time so need to get my finger out.

Watch out for a website update next weekend: www.gillianpark.co.uk

WATERCOLOUR COMPARISON ... got carried away

On Monday I started the oil painting of my red shoes with big red ribbons ... and in my wisdom, I decided to paint a watercolour version alongside to see how that works.

I started the watercolour version yesterday ... but got carried away! My watercolour comfort zone (plus the urgent need for some new card designs!) took hold of me and I haven't managed back to the oil version - I have LOOKED at it a few times .. but that's not quite the same!

Here are the progress pics (rough as they are!) of the watercolour version of There's no place like home ....

1. Initial sketch

2. bit of loose colour

3. a bit of depth added

4. A bit more detail .... and I thoroughly enjoyed painting the pattern on inside!

5. and now for my favourite pen .... There's No Place Like Home ... or there's no medium like watercolour!!!

PROGRESS OF AN OIL PAINTING

Taking a leap of faith here and decided that I would take progress pics of how a painting progresses .... however, an oil painter I am not!

So this is a big step for me (pun intended!) however, am hoping it will help and make me less likely to chicken out, ditch the painting and go back to the safety of my watercolours ... here's hoping anyway.

Have had this canvas lying around for years in the hope that I might actually use it and become marvellous oil painter ... but it scares the living daylights out of me so yesterday I took some brave pills and nervously started painting 'There's no place like home'

... great idea today: gonna start a watercolour version of same painting and see how they progress ... not started that yet but will post when I have.

Step 1 (9th Jan) - initial painting to get shape right:

Which I didn't manage when I came back to look at it last night, I can see the one on left is for gigantor and the one on right is for normal sized person!

A quick revision while I run the bath for child no. 2:

 I will say: the canvas is 50cm x 50cm so it's much bigger than am used to - I normally paint in actual size (any excuse)!!

LACEE'S WEDDING FLOWERS - COMMISSION

I have received an interim pic of the commission I painted before Christmas.

The painting was sent to the US rolled in a tube, unmounted and unframed - so it's great to see how it looks now!

Painted from a few supplied wedding pics and commissioned by Zak (of The Fiddleheads fame - http://thefiddleheads.net) for his new bride, Lacee, as a surprise Christmas present.

She was delighted ... as was I! (More pics coming soon)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It seems like such a long time since I last blogged but now the festivities and reality resumes once again, I will get back into the swing of it!

No painting has been done since November - eek - and now worried that I will have forgotten how! But this weekend, I may find time to dabble in a sketchbook or indeed attempt my sparkly red shoes.

SPRING FAIR  - 22-24TH JANUARY, SECC- STAND K68
Only 2 weeks until the Spring Fair in Glasgow SECC so time is pressing on and I would like to add a couple of red shoe paintings to my ranges so ... watch this space.

I will be launching a new series of Frameable Cards and another few Magnet designs which have been hugely popular since their debut in September! Plus a few new card designs .... please pop by Stand K68 and say hello if you're visiting.

MY FIRST OVERSEAS COMMISSION HAS LANDED: 
A bridal bouquet commission I painted in November has arrived safely in Georgia, USA and hoping to receive a pic of the final framed & hung painting this weekend. I have been unable to blog about it before as it was a surprise Christmas gift. I have heard that it has been a huge success and was very well received, here's a wee bit of the message I received on boxing day: "she absolutely loved it! Thank you again for making her Christmas so special!" ... ahhhh ... my first overseas commission