Some Days are Diamonds

Some Days are Diamonds

This new painting is of a walk that made me feel really happy - so I pinched the title from a song lyric........

It's acrylic on paper, painted with both a knife and a large paintbrush, and it's on sale at the Reunion Gallery, Felixstowe.  www.reuniongallery.com  Click on the image for a larger, better view.

The Leonardo Exhibition

 

The Leonardo Exhibition

Phew, got up at 5.00am to get to London for an early timed entry into the Leonardo Exhibition in the Sainsbury Wing at the National Gallery, London. 

I love the timed entry idea, but why, oh why are they always so crowded?  Loads of pushchairs and wheelchairs made everyone's pushing and shoving worse.  National Gallery, please take note - wheelchair users have special needs and really should have their own timed entry to exhibitions so they can see the paintings from their lower perspective, and not have to try to peer through the crowds.  And it's difficult for the rest of us to get close to the pictures if there are lots of wheelchairs in the way.  The ticket is £16 - not cheap - so it's frustrating not to be able to get close.  Anyway, moan over, the exhibition was hung in two parts, one part in the Sainsbury Wing and the Last Supper, with all it's preparatory sketches, in the main body of the National.  Actually, sorry, but I am going to moan again.  The two Virgin of the Rocks were hung in the same room, but at opposite ends so it wasn't possible to see them together, and even more difficult to see them over the heads of the crowds....

 The lightness of Leonardo's penwork and the fineness of his brush are amazing close up.  Of course that's why we go to see exhibitions isn't it? to see real paint, real brush strokes, real talent and really feel the history of each piece?  And of course the twin stars of the show are the Cartoon of the Virgin and Child, and the Last Supper.  The Cartoon is one of my favourites, in fact I bought a poster years ago which was sold to raise money to restore the original.  If my memory serves me correctly, it had been shot - which seems quite unbelievable now.  So yes, it was worth getting up so early, and yes, I'm very pleased to have seen the exhibition, especially as some of the paintings and drawings are too fragile to move any more, and this will probably be the last exhibition like this....

 

Rome in Autumn

Just back from a quick weekend trip to Rome where the sun is shining and the skies are blue.  Here are a few random photos of things that caught my eye.... and they're mostly about the quality of Roman light.  The low sun striking the street between buildings and on the statue's foot, the reflected light in the water of the Trevi Fountain and the golden glow on the road to the Vatican.  Love Rome, didn't want to come home.........

The Mall Galleries

The Mall, London.

Popped in to see the Discerning Eye Exhibition at the Mall Galleries last week, what an amazing exhibition.....  It's an open exhibition juried by six selectors - 2 artists, 2 collectors and 2 critics - so the range of paintings was enormous.  The gallery is a huge contemporary space with loads of beautifully hung paintings - coffee and cake too.  The exhibiton ended on Sunday, but next year's show is in my diary already.  Have a look at their website  http://www.mallgalleries.org.uk

Autumn Colour

Last weekend we rented a cottage in Orford, Suffolk, with a view of the castle and within walking distance of some excellent restaurants and the famous Pump Street Bakery.  I think autumn colour was at it's optimum for those few days and the Suffolk countryside surrounding Orford was just glorious.

I love autumn, and October 2011 has been one of the nicest that I can remember.  It's been blue sky heaven.  But now it's November, and it's turned colder and much, much greyer.....

Diss Exhibtion

I have a little painting and these two pictures at Diss Art Exhibition in the Corn Hall at the weekend.  Not sure where Diss is?  Well it's in Norfolk, quite close to the Suffolk border and just off the A140.
These two images have been printed onto high quality canvas and framed in a contemporary French-grey box frame which hangs flush against the wall.  Because the organisers of the exhibition have asked a reasonable 20% commission I can pass on the saving to anyone who wants to buy - these pictures, which are called 'Early Mist' and 'Lawn Diamonds' are priced at £60 each.  Bargain!

Berlin

I've just come back from a trip to Berlin, and I have to report that I thought the Guggenheim Art Museum, Neues National Galerie and the Nolde Galerie were just amazing.  The Nolde Galerie was up there with my favourite EVER art gallery.  Emil Nolde's expressionism is just stunning.  These three photos, taken on my little compact camera, are three abstract patterns of Berlin that I really liked.  The first is the canopy over the Sony Centre in the heart of Berlin, the second is a fragment of what's left of the Berlin wall and the last is the ceiling of the Neues National Galerie.

A New Painting

THE TWELVE BENS

My favourite medium just has to be oil paint, I love it's smell, depth of colour, and the buttery feel of it on my paintbrush.  This little painting is of a mountain range in the west of Ireland, and is still on the easel in my studio drying, but because the paint is so textured it's going to be a while!

Blackberry and Apple Crumble

Mmmm......just love blackberry and apple crumble.  Our discovery apples have ripened and the blackberries in the lane are ready, so here's a recipe I found in the colour supplement this weekend.  There's too much sugar for my taste and I also adjusted the amount of blackberries......but this is a nice recipe.

750g Blackerries

750g Discovery Apples

4tbsp Sugar

1 tbsp Butter

For the Crumble

120g Butter

180g Plain white flour

60g Medium oatmeal

120g sugar

Place fruit, sugar and two tablespoons water in a pan over a medium heat and cook until the apples just soften.  Remove from the heat and put in a shallow ovenproof dish.  Preheat the oven to 200C, gas 6.  Rub the crumble ingredients together with your hands to make a mixture the texture of breadcrumbs and use it to cover the fruit.  Bake for about 30 minutes until the crumble is golden.  I like custard with mine, but cream is yummy too.

Hello! Magazine

Hello! Magazine featured one of my wedding photos this week......page 126 if you have a copy.  This is Jon and Rachel from Norfolk.  Congratulations to you both!
And what a great week it's been, Foto-Fusion has made one of my confetti wedding photos their card of the week on Facebook.  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Foto-fusion/111290418955781

New Print

This is one of the new series of tree prints.  You can see it at the Reunion Gallery in Felixstowe, Suffolk, and the Purple Door in Diss, Norfolk.  It's an original, signed, limited edition print with a print run of only 25, priced at £60 framed.

Sugar and Spice

Fab wedding shoes, I wanted to try them on too!

Poppies

This is a fabulous field of poppies not far from my house.

Kettlestone Artist

Yesterday I was in Kettlestone, Norfolk to photograph a wedding, got there a little early, saw an Open Studio opposite the church and popped in to have a look. The artist, Gill Baguley, paints exuberant, colourful landscapes - two of her greetings cards are pictured here. If you're on the Open Studio trail in North Norfolk, have a look at Gill's studio and her lovely paintings, and I can tell you, you'll be sure of a very warm welcome.

We've just come back from the Greek island of Alonissos where we have a traditional village house.  Have a look at http://www.pbase.com/flocolm/alonissos_2011 for more images of the island and our house.

Painting Just for Fun

Been sorting out my studio and found a stack of paintings that were just painted for fun.........  This is a watercolour with an acrylic overlay.

Weekend Celebrations

Our weekend celebrations.....congratulations C&W

Acid Yellow and Purple

Love that cheery acid yellow of rape seed fields in April, hate the smell though, and my eyes get really irritated if I get too close. This field has some self-seeded honesty nearby, could you get more of a clash of colours?

The Latest Prints

This is one of my latest tree prints in a series of six.  Printed on Conqueror paper and framed in black ash, this is an original, signed limited edition print with a run of only 25.  Click on the image for a larger view.

Spring Blossom

I love England in the spring....there's blossom everywhere.  Such a welcome sight after the long grey winter.

A Spring Day in London

A Spring Day in London
How lovely to spend a blue-sky spring day in London. A trip to the Tate Modern was the usual treat, but I was surprised to find you can take photos of the artwork. I have a new tiny compact camera, a birthday present from my husband, and although it isn't anything like my beloved Canon 5D, I'm learning to appreciate it, especially as it fits neatly into my pocket.

I snapped the collage above (which I love), to show a group of artists who did a mixed media class with me last Saturday, I'll post the photos of the day soon. And of course, the other image is the Turbine Hall full of Ai Wei Wei's sunflower seeds......

Lawn Diamonds Greetings Cards

LAWN DIAMONDS

I've called this image 'Lawn Diamonds', it's now available as a greetings card or art prints in various sizes. Click on the image to have a quick peep at the larger version. alisonmalcolm@realemail.co.uk

Whistle-Stop Weekend in Southern Spain

Southern Spain

An 84 hour whistlestop long weekend in southern Spain. Our friends Sue and Trev lent us Finca Manolo in the mountains above Malaga while they stayed next door in their other finca. Then it was down to the coast to stay in their house by the sea. We visited two gorgeous, traditional whitewashed villages in the mountains and ate and drank in some fantastic 'real' Spanish tapas bars and restaurants. Thanks for your amazing hospitality guys! Sue and Trev's website is http://www.andalucianretreats.com/ - check out their wonderful fincas which are available to rent.

Have a look at the rest of this weekend, in pictures and words at www.pbase.com/flocolm/southern_spain