Carol Marine and Olwen Tarrant

I have just added another blog to the blogs I am following. It is the blog of Artist 'Carol Marine's painting a day' and is superb. I came across her after reading an article on the BBC news page, about self publishing company Blurb, which featured one of Carol's book's '100 small paintings' and is one of their best selling books. This woman is a power house of activity, you can feel the energy emminating from her and her beautiful paintings. I think that any Artist would learn a huge amount from her about every aspect of an Artists life. http://carolmarine.blogspot.com/2009_05_01_archive.html

I went to visit another wonderful Artist this week called Olwen Tarrant. A very popular and sought after Artist. She very kindly agreed to look at some of my paintings and gave me some very good constructive feedback. One of her comments that I particularly appreciated was 'You have your own distinctive style of painting, whatever you do, don't lose that'

Olwen showed me around her home where many of her lovely paintings hang. It is so important to be able to see the actual paintings, even the best quality reproductions can't fully convey the original paintings qualities, so it was a real treat to see so many of Olwens original Paintings and drawings. It was interesting to hear about her life as an Artist, how she started out and how she established her reputation through her association with various Art societies, like the Royal Society Of Oil Painters.

I learn't a lot from Olwen and appreciated her advice and time. I will definately act on her suggestions. Thank you Olwen. http://www.olwentarrant.co.uk/

My painting for a Christmas card is frustrating me. The 'inner' picture is not yet materialising on the canvas. If the 'magic' doesn't happen on the canvas, then it is not right and if I don't get it right by next week, it will be too late to print and send people. I am SOOOOO angry with myself right now. I will look at it again with fresh eyes tommorow.

Update

Just back from driving along country lanes admiring the beautiful autumn colours this morning. I have made some good progress with my book despite being a slow writer, but I do love writing. The introduction and a section on the history and folklore of the olive tree is nearly there now. I will be starting the chapters on starters and breads and pastries next. I am getting a clear idea of how I want the front cover to look, white words against a turquious blue background, with my painting of intermingling olives, lemons and bourgainvilleas,set against it.

I feel so excited about the book, that I have made up my mind to self publish if I have to. Interestingly enough, as I was flipping through my local paper The Malvern Gazette, I came across an article featuring a local company who specialize in self publishing. They will be giving a talk at the local library shortly and I will make sure to go along with my questions. I will find out more about lulu.com who also specialize in this.

This year I have decided to make my own christmas cards, so next week I will be working on a painting for that.

Another idea keeps comming into my head with ever greater insistence, and this will be the subject of my next project after I have finished my book. For some time now I have been looking for a way to combine science and art as a basis for an exhibition of paintings that deal with things happening now, things that effect all of us and I think I have found what I was looking for. As always you have the conflict between the little voice that says 'Don't be ridiculous, who on earth would be interested' and the big voice that says 'Why not, if you are going to dream, you can dream big just as easily as you can dream small, go for it' Today I told Little voice to take a hike.

I have already identified the two people I would like to work with on this, but I happened to mention my idea to a scientist I know, he was interested enough to say that if I was serious about it he would like to get his company involved in helping to promote or sponsor me.

There is a great deal of work to do, but all of it is exciting and inspiring. How lucky am I. No matter what age we are, life stops being exciting when we stop dreaming. I expect to feel inspired when I am 90.

Writing a book

Finally ready to begin writing my book, based on my family's olive grove in Cyprus and my Mothers recipes. Plans to travel to Cyprus recently, for research and painting were postponed after a nasty fall at home a few days before flying out. I am looking at doing this later on in the year now.

In the meantime I am doing some on going research and fact finding. I have decided on a size and rough layout for my book, also the number of pages and chapters and what they will be covering. I have been experimenting with ideas for paintings for the front cover and chapter openings and should be able to post new images soon.

First though, I need to write the introduction. I will post more as I go along.

Would love to hear from anyone who has written and published their own book.

Have good day.