2nd New York Painting

And this is the garden one (obviously!) I took the whole family with me - husband and 3 sons, 20, 17 and 15, and we all had an amazing time accessing New York in different ways.

Paintings in New York

We got back on Wednesday from the house in Brooklyn, New York, that I painted last October and that the kind owner then offered us to stay in while she came to stay in our house. Before we arrived, Carolyn commissioned me to do two more paintings for her - one of her 3 cats, and the other of her garden. The beautiful white cat was extremely elusive - I only caught flashes of her running up stairs for the first 8 days, then, on day 10 she suddenly seemed to think I was OK and I got to have a good look at her.

New commission

I've just finished this commission. Nancy and Angus were completely delightful - showing me all their toys and choosing what to have in the painting (a 40th birthday present for their dad from their mum).

Patrick Robertson

I painted this a few years ago, when I was practising doing watercolour portraits. It's of my father, Patrick, who died on 9th April 2009 after complications following a stroke.

He designed sets for nearly 200 plays and operas, mostly in the '60s, 70s and 80s - his best-known being The Cunning Little Vixen at Glyndebourne, Jumpers at the National and Turn of the Screw and Rigoletto at the ENO.

He taught me loads about painting, as well as sewing, knitting and cooking (a man ahead of his time) and everyone remembers him for his warmth, hugs and home-made wine. It's an honour to have been his daughter!

Protheroe boys

A surprise birthday present from 'the demolition crew's mother (her phrase!) to the boys' father, end March 09

New Charleston Picture

Last year I painted an exterior of Charleston House for the Charleston Fund (to raise money to keep artworks there). This time I've done an interior of Vanessa Bell's bedroom. 

Last year's painting led to a commission from one of the bidders for a painting of her brownstone in New York (see earlier blog) and a lovely email correspondence. I am now putting new cupboards in my kitchen and generally dragging house up from complete scruff to more habitable because we're going to do a house swap this summer between our house in London and the one I painted in New York.

New Card Designs

Illustrations for British Council Global Partnerships

For most of March I worked on pictures for the British Council for an online course. This will be live soon and is aimed at teachers wanting to set up global school partnerships between schools in the UK and the developing world.

Doing Japanese Order

The most popular cards at Top Drawer were these 'age cards', but without the ages, so just saying happy birthday + the image. The piles on the table show what the trusty workers John and Leo will be assembling (I do the printing and cutting).

Top Drawer Follow-Up

This was home for 3 days last week and I got a badly swollen ankle from standing in it and not getting any exercise.

I was mad enough to say 'yes' to minimum orders and worried if I'd cover my costs when people ordered in 2s and 3s. Thanks to sterling crashing though, a Japanese buyer bought in 40s - which made the whole show viable.

The Fairy in the Potting Shed

Have just received my free copy of The Fairy in the Potting Shed - a chapter book written by Lorna Uglow. I was commissioned to do one or two full colour pics for each chapter (8 chapters).

The book sat on a desk at Harper Collins for quite a while before Lorna took it upon herself to get it self-published. It's available on Amazon for anyone looking for presents for 10yr old girls!

Sylvie Field was the lovely model I used for Olivia. Thanks Sylvie!

Top Drawer Trade Fair

I'm preparing for Top Drawer at the moment, which is on 18th - 20th Jan at Earl's Court One from 9.30 - 18.00 except the last day when it finishes at 17.00.

I'll be on stand H43. New cards will be children's age cards (see example) and more Valentines.

Charleston Farmhouse

The painting that led to the New York Brownstone commission (see below)

New York Brownstone commission

The finished New York brownstone. The owner of this house, Carolyn, commissioned me after buying a picture I'd done of Charleston in East Sussex. 

Each June, artists donate works for the Charleston Fund to auction to raise money for the house and its art collection. I donated a watercolour painting of the house which Carolyn was interested in but, not being able to be there on the night itself, didn't win. 

Luckily for both of us, Cressida Bell put us in touch with each other and I did another painting of Charleston for Carolyn (shown in entry above) which led to this second commission of her own home.

New House Painting

The photo on the left has been sent by a client who'd like a painting of their brownstone in New York. I've had to more or less guess what the gate looks like behind the car. If/when the client approves the pencil rough, I'll take it to ink, then watercolour.

Christmas Craft Fairs

Teresa and Barbora of Handmade in Highbury have their last stall this Christmas at Sutton House Christmas Fair, Sat 6th & 7th Dec, 11.00am - 5.00pm. Come and see us there!

Finished Happy Birthday + Cupcake Card

Here's the card I started to cut last week then had to put on hold while I worked on other jobs. The design was requested by Carol at Louis Farouk (Highbury Park). I've been given most of my ideas for card designs through requests from shops.

Finished Charity Christmas Card

This is the finished screenprinted Housing Justice card. We have developed a little family firm over the last few months with retired husband and 'home-educated' 17 year old helping out...

Housing Justice is 'the national voice of Christian action in the field of housing and homelessness', for more info on them, go to www.housingjustice.org.uk.

Finished House Painting

This is a detail of the most recent 'house' painting (see pencilled stage in 7 Nov blog). I've jpegged it over to the client and will hand it over if/when they're happy with it.

Commissioned Christmas Card

This photo shows the 2nd colour (sepia) having been printed on to the 1st colour (white with silver glitter sprinkled while ink wet). All my A6 cards, except ones with lettering, are produced in this way, 4 at a time. For the ones with lettering, I have to 'flip' the two that face the 'wrong' way and fit them into place with masking tape. The images shown here will be cut and stuck on to recycled card after the client has OK'd the sample.