The Painter in Shining Cliff Woods

The Painter in Shining Cliff Woods acrylic on box canvas 50 x 50 cm

Walking along one early spring day in the medieval royal park of Shining Cliff Woods in the Derwent Valley I imagined painting such a scene Id make it look as magical as it felt that day but it seems I was not the only one who felt this way.

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Christmas Eve Notes.

Im sat in my Pyjamas drinking cup of tea number one with 1930s cartoons on its 8.25 on Christmas eve morning, the cat is curled up next to my number two son who like me is an early bird. 

Im looking at my over the top Christmas decorations and totally immersed in whatever that thing is they call Christmas spirit.

I am looking forward to 2017 a lot I have most of it planned out and am excited about a new art group that my friend Karina and I have set up see http://purpleandgrey.co.uk for details, we will be meeting at Tansley Village Hall on selected Wednesdays so join us if you feel like a social painting session with a few plein air trips planned too.

Talking of plein air Ive been in talks with a local group about some very exciting workshops with a twist more details when I get them! 

In January I have a joint exhibition at deda in Derby a separate post with details, will be sent out to invite you to that.

January is all about me painting at home in my studio its been hard to balance everything its funny that the image of an artist is of one just creating if only that were true a lot of running about and admin is involved and you have to be almost antisocially strict to pick up a paintbrush!

My ideal January is one where the snow lies thick on the ground and I cant go anywhere!

The Art group will start in February and I have a solo exhibition at St John Street Gallery in March. After that its all about working towards making new work and prints for my stalls I will be at local festivals and showing with Peak District Artisans and Medley.

I have art group demos lined up and really enjoy doing these so if you know of a local art group that would like an acrylic demo get in touch.

Summer I always take off August and spend time with the kids and recharge ready for the Autumn run up to next Christmas.

But for now its a week of mince pies and roast diners and cartoons! I would like to thank all my friends, collectors and followers for support and encouragement. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a very happy new year.

Ruth Gray Images

Fine Art Landscapes - Anything But Grey.
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On the Road Again!

Happy new year! Well the first week back and two more done for the Rattler project, thought Id share a couple of reference photos with you to show the difference between what the camera sees and what I see! Its ok to work from photos but I'm not a fan of slavishly copying them on to canvas what's the point in that? As an artist we must use our skills to evoke an atmosphere and build a story too.

 

The above painting has worked well for me what Im trying to show is the landscape beyond to get a sense of the hilly nature of this route, I also wanted to beautify and snow does that wonderfully.

 

Along the route there are pockets of old set next to brand new, this view of Gilt Hill shows how the IKEA retail park has over taken what was probably a lovely field, but that's progress so they say! This painting may need a little more work it doesn't photograph well due to the massive amount of texture.

Im still photographing the route as most weeks we travel to Langley Mill for our weekly shop, don't ask me why when you can do it on line but that's my other halves idea he likes to pick his own fruit! But Im not complaining as I take pictures from the passenger seat and yesterday Trent Barton were celebrating a shiney new bus :) Until I started this project I never realised how this local company promotes itself within the community, They really are clever at brand image and giving a personality to buses!

But have no fear I will not become a bus spotter! So here we are I have 34 done only six left very rewarding doing this if only for the fact I am learning so much in my painting as well as in my research into the local area.
I was asked yesterday what do you paint? by a fellow school mum so I said oh you know Codnor Langley Mill :) she looked at me gone out! But like I say look up above the shop fronts look to the horizons look at the skies its all beautiful if only you take some imagination and see things in new ways.