A short post, to wish all my followers a super Christmas and New Year!
Thank you for choosing to follow me on my journey as an Artist. I’m delighted you are here because I have exciting plans for a new collection of fresh works in 2024, and you will be the first to know what’s happening in and out of the studio and to preview the works, before everyone else.
In the meantime, here is a brief summary of 2023.
It began in earnest in January, when I entered the Strada Easel challenge, to paint every day from real life, not a photograph. I set up mostly still life subjects, and completed the challenge successfully. Here are my results.
It was good to practice still life subjects, even though they don’t usually appeal to me. It was thus a worthwhile experience.
In March I began to do paint outs with friends at local places, including Ramsgate harbour especially, as we had an exhibition to fill in early April at York Street Gallery.
At about this time, my wife had her 80th birthday so we celebrated at The Yarrow Hotel, nearby, where Some of my paintings are on permanent display.
Paint outs continued in the local area until the weather warmed up, here is Kingsgate Bay.
May found me on the North Norfolk coast for a few days painting with friends and I was elected onto the committee of the East Kent Art Society. (EKAS) In June I organised a ‘plein air’ weekend in Sandwich for EKAS and in July I was invited to paint at Greenwich Sailing Club, and exhibited in Sandwich Kent.
A painting trip to West Sussex followed, with some super boats and boatyards being captured, followed by a few days in August at Rye in East Sussex, again painting with friends. More painting at Margate, Sandwich, Stodmarsh, Chatham dockyard and other places continued into September as well as an exhibition at Sandwich Arts Week.
In early November my solo exhibition ‘The Call of the Sea’ opened, with much local support and enthusiasm, especially from the sailing and yachting clubs.
In summary, a super year, where I managed to keep busy, producing about 150 fresh paintings, exhibited about 70 of them at various venues, and sold sufficient to keep my head above water. It was only possible with your support and encouragement along the way. You are my closest followers, and I value your friendship.
Loving that, especially the bit about keeping your head above water and the enthusiasm for Call of the Sea 🙂 150 paintings is good going, too, seems you might be serious about this. Merry Christmas and happy new year.
Thank you John,
Yes I am certainly serious about it, my aim is to exhibit in the Mall Galleries with the best artists working today, the members of the Royal Societies of Oil Painters, Marine Artists and British Artists.
I keep applying and know that someday soon my work will be accepted. I count many of the members as my friends and am invited to paint with them from time to time. Thank you for all your advice in the Freedom project. It has helped me to ‘find my customers’ and put some focus into my feeble marketing efforts. Happy Christmas.
You’ve had an interesting year, I envy your talent but love looking at your work. Sadly I don’t think I can afford to buy any, plus we have no wall space to hang one! We only live in a ground floor flat so space is at a premium!
Thank you Liz for your lovely message. I’m delighted that you appreciate my paintings and that they bring you some joy. I love to go out painting in the countryside, in nature, and to share my stories with those who are interested.
Thank you kindly
Julian