The Latest Gossip

Ouch!

2009-09-19T23:10:00.002+01:00

Well, there you go, even the best laid plans and promises can find themselves scuppered! Our intrepid little painter has managed to put her back out. Good and proper!
I am desperate to get on with the painting, but spells at the easel and very short at the moment. Sitting for prolonged periods of time just exacerbates the problem and someone has to rescue me!!
Of course, I am getting quite restless, if I can't be at the easel then I want to be out in the garden, but it needs weeding and I can't do that either. Grrrrrr!

I have spent the last two days sporadically painting for tiny ten minute spells (useless..really!), and working on business, marketing and all things computer based, the laptop on the kitchen counter whilst I try to go from being right angled to vertical without too much screaming!

I suspect blog posts may be short a frequent over the next few days, I promise I'll let you know when I fixed and back at the easel, steaming ahead with the new work. It's terribly exciting, if only I could got on with it!

Mxx

Painting Puzzles

2009-09-19T22:46:00.002+01:00

It’s coffee time! (well, actually it’s almost tea time, but that’s splitting hairs!). Not wanting to be idle, I thought I’d drop in and say hello.
I’ve been tucked up in the studio all day with only my dog, two cats and some music for company. But it’s been cosy, and I have cracked along with some new work.
Do you want to see? Really? It’s not nearly finished yet, but since it’s you, I think I can afford a little peek. You’ll have to guess what it’s going to be. Lollipops for the right, closest or most original answer!
OK, here you go!

Hmmm, now what is going on here? If you come back at the weekend you’ll maybe find out!

There’s a lot to be getting on with here at the studio, a couple of great new galleries are interested in my work and of course the art fair at The Sage in Gateshead is looming. It’s all jolly exciting stuff. As always a million paintings are dashing about in my head, they’ve just heard I’ve ordered a huge box of new canvases, so they are forming an orderly queue to be the next one onto canvas!
So, what else has this little artist been up to, well, I spent 3 days last week helping out at the Mick Oxley Gallery in Craster, while Mick had a few days holiday. I had so much fun, it was great to get out and talk and laugh with all sorts of interesting people, it almost made me want to own a gallery…almost!
I afforded myself a day off on Sunday and actually fell asleep on the sofa… unheard of!
The rest of this week has been spent trying to catch up with the painting, as more work needs to be away this weekend, the results are…well, like I say, you’ll get to see soon!
So, on that note, I have finished my bucket of Nescafe, so I’ll head back to the easel until my poor overworked husband troops in from work (he’s promised to go and get a takeaway!).
Keep checking back though folks, it’s all happening right here!
See you again soon,
Mxxx

Moving!

2009-09-11T22:08:00.003+01:00

Just to let you know that my blog has now moved. You can read all the old posts and keep up to date with the new ones by clicking on 'The Blog' tab on my website at http://www.michellemilburn.co.uk

Look forward to continuing our little chats over there!

Toodle pip for now,

Mxx

What now?

2009-09-09T18:47:00.002+01:00

Bizarre things.... the most beautiful warm sunny day of the entire summer, no wind or lashing rain, no brooding clouds or distant thunder and what happens? POW!!! Power cut! Bizarre!

Anyway, strange happenings aside, it's been a lovely day, lots of positive things going on and most importantly for me (at least work wise), a whole stream of new painting ideas.
I have taken to carrying a little notebook and pencil round with me so if an idea pops of of nowhere I can capture the little devil before it makes off again! Sometimes I just jot down a sentence or a few words, or maybe a quick little layout sketch if the whole thing drops into my head with some semblance of composition. Either way it's jolly exciting and very motivating!

The paintings at the Bakehouse are still attracting a lot of attention and still selling, which is wonderful, and to be honest it's very rewarding (in more ways than one) to see little red dots appearing on the title cards. I have already begun work on new pieces, there simply aren't enough hours in the day for all the enthusiasm I have for these! It's a lovely feeling to go to bed at night excited about work tomorrow... I'm beginning to wonder if I'm normal (no, please, really, you don't have to answer that question, I am after all an artist!!).

I am spending the next three days down at the coast helping out a friend, I have no doubt at all that there will be many, many things for me to record in my little book whilst I'm there. How exciting!

Soooo, now that the power is back on, the chores are done, tea hungrily devoured, do you think I might squeeze in another couple of hours at the easel?

2009-09-04T18:33:00.003+01:00

As I begin writing this post I am acutely aware of feeling totally overwhelmed and deserving of a bubbly bath, huge bar of Cadbury's Dairy Milk and a quiet lie down in a darkened room.
It's not very often I am lost for words, but, miracles do happen occasionally!

Lasts nights preview was amazing, I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it.

All in all, there were around 100 people through the gallery doors last night and the place was packed out. Food and wine flowed, laughter and stifled giggles as people found things to relate to and an all round feeling of friendly, good natured banter prevailed. Thank you to every last one of you who came along last night, you made it a very special evening indeed.

Fiona and Andy who own the Bakehouse Gallery made a huge effort last night, the place looked amazing and they went beyond the call of duty to make everyone welcome. Andy made a fabulous job of framing all the paintings, whilst Fiona made the best tiny cheese scones ever, and on top of that they lent me their beloved juke box to provide the music. Thanks guys, you did me proud!

People who have followed my work since it's early days turned out to lend their support as did lots of new people I haven't met before, it was great to renew old acquaintances and forge new ones, needless to say work sold and new interest in the work found, just amazing! It even managed to inspire a new young artist (hello Nathan, hope you're painting loads!).
I have a few photos to share at some point, when I get round to it in a few days, maybe when my head stops spinning!

So I'm having a couple of days off to spend with my family, they haven't seen much of me this summer so I owe them at least that much. BUT, Tuesday morning it will be all systems go again, there is a notebook stuffed with ideas for new paintings shoving and jostling to be at the front of the queue.

So, once again thank you to everyone who came along, for those of you who couldn't make it, the exhibition runs for the next three weeks, Tuesday to Saturday.

See you again soon,
Mxxx

Tonights the night, but it's the weather for ducks.

2009-09-03T13:50:00.003+01:00

Well, all the hard work of the past few months is now sitting snugly on the walls of The Bakehouse Gallery. The preview kicks off at 7pm, I only hope it stops raining before then, it's proper weather for ducks out there!

Hopefully tomorrow I shall be sitting here writing to you with my feet nestled in cosy slippers, a mug of steaming hot chocolate, and an tidy studio, setting out the next pieces in the puzzle for the next exhibition on the agenda.
Lots of creative ideas about that buzzing about already!

Drop by and find out how it all went! See you then,
Mxx

Oh, was that Saturday...?

2009-08-15T21:19:00.003+01:00

Time flies when you're having fun right...? I have been at my easel all day today, since about 9am, happily cracking along with the paintings...food has been delivered by caring husband, empty plates and cups have been collected and I presume washed up... I've looked out of the studio window and it's dark!! How did that happen? Well, obviously it has something to do with the movement of the Earth and the setting of the sun and all that, but a whole twelve hours.... totally surreal!!

Needless to say I have achieved a lot today and I'm totally happy with it all, which is great. The ideas have been flowing like water and they have translated really well onto canvas, at least I think they have! The studio music has been on a loop all day, heaven knows how many times each song has played!

I listen to Napster whilst I'm painting, for those of you who don't know about it, it's a subscription music service that allows you create playlists or listen to their choice from your favourite genre. It's great to listen to in the background as I tend to begin by singing along (don't laugh, at least you don't have to listen to it!), then gradually the painting takes over and I don't hear the words anymore, I suppose it might work with white noise too, but that is something that makes me slightly uncomfortable.
Anyway, where was I, oh yes, music, today I have been accompanied on the piano by Winifred Atwell and Scott Joplin, on the ukulele by George Formby and had the whole entourage with Glen Millar and his big band. Totally wonderful. I have only recently discovered a real love for this era and it's music, I think I was born about 40 years too late! I really fancy going to one of those 1940's weekends where everyone gets dressed up and steps back in time.

So, Saturday is over and done with, Sunday beckons with more of the same I think, I wonder who will drop tomorrow for me to sing along with!!!
See you again soon, or should I say we'll meet again!
Mx

What the Duck.......

2009-08-06T18:44:00.005+01:00

Hello again folks, I felt like a spot of wittering tonight, so I may as well witter to you!

If you've come to my blog through the website you'll have noticed it's all sparkly and new and there is a small penchant for little yellow rubber ducks. What's all that about I hear you cry? Well, those who have been privy to this new addition to the paintings think I'm barmy (no surprises there then!), the little chap has started creeping into all the new cheeky lady paintings and he's become a sort of mascot! He's something to look out for in all the new work, and you'll know if the letter or invitation you receive is from me as he'll be on there somewhere, but you might have to look for him!

So the new website, I rather like the clean fresh new look it has, I think it shows the work off wonderfully and very soon my nice little blog will be hosted on there too, yippee!! I have posted some of the new paintings up in the gallery section for you to look at, as a little taster, but you'll have to wait until September for the unveiling of the rest!

For those of you who like to tweet on twitter you can find me and tweet along too at http://twitter.com/m_s_milburn .

This week has really been totally directed at the 'business' side of my business, all the irritating stuff like dealing with unreliable couriers and trying not to forget all the things I have to do. The enjoyable part of it is designing the invitations and posters, the emails and the new portfolios, I'm really looking forward to getting those sent out in the next few days. Somewhere before the exhibition I am planning to put together a book charting my progress to date, all the way from my childhood triumphs in the art world to the latest exhibition, it's a fun thing to do and will be nice to look back on over the coming years, (I got a lovely book from Laura Ashley to put it all in :) ). I'm hoping I have time to do that, if not it will be available at the next exhibition... my mind is wandering in that direction already!

So, what next? Well tomorrow I'm off out to see if there is still a world out there, a day away from the old studio and the ball and chain that is the computer, so that I can come back on Monday morning all refreshed and raring to paint. It's nice to feel that everything is on track and know that I can meet the deadlines I have. It's really not very long to go now, just three weeks until I heave all the paintings into the back of the car and trundle off to Alnwick...ooo no time to have a wobble now!

So dear reader, I will let you leave your computer screen and go and put your feet up with a well earned brandy and perhaps some wafer thin mints, but don't get too comfortable, I'll be back soon hoping for another chat!

Take care until then,
Mx

2009-08-04T05:56:00.004+01:00

A very bleary eyed good morning to you, I've been here in the studio staring at the computer since 4.30 am. Knowing I wouldn't go back to sleep I thought I'd get some work done whilst the house was quiet, but instead I've sat here looking at this screen for an hour and a half; now I'm wishing I'd stayed in bed! But here I am, my day has begun so I'll make the best of it.

The family 'holiday' (and I use that term loosely) is over for another three months and I can now get back into my stride. Having a week off during the preparation for an exhibition is probably not the way forward, my poor brain is so stuffed with 'things to do', 'things to remember', 'things to paint' that it's almost ready to implode and anyone visiting the studio would be forgiven for thinking I've totally lost the plot as I wander restlessly muttering to myself, scribbling illegible things on sticky notes and adhering them to the wall 'so as I don't forget'. I did manage to draw out a couple of pieces of work yesterday and got one under painted to an acceptable standard, now just need to finish the other five that are hanging around taunting me. It sounds like gloom and doom, but it's not really, just a bleary eyed artist wishing she'd had another couple of hours shut eye!

I thought today I'd give you another little sneaky look at a piece of work that will be on show at the exhibition, it's while since I posted an image.

Babewatch. Copyright Michelle Milburn 2009.

I really am having so much fun painting these ladies, I can't wait to unleash them on the world! Invitations to the preview will be going out next week, so if you'd like to come along and enjoy the artwork, have some cake, a chat and a giggle, I'd be delighted to send you an invitation, just leave your details on the contact form on my website and I'll get one sent out or emailed to you.

Well, time for a coffee and cornflakes I think, then the day can start proper! See you soon,

On the rollercoaster.

2009-07-28T21:03:00.003+01:00

Well, life is a funny old thing now isn't it. One minute you're up, flying somewhere with the sparrows and swallows, and the next you've landed on your well padded behind in a great big cow pat!
Now, sometimes these little knocks and setbacks that befall the unwary artist can have you cowering under the kitchen table until someone comes along with some Kleenex and a big slice of chocolate cake to coax you out, rub some Savlon on your tender wounds and generally try to make you feel better. All the time the poor artist is wailing, I can't do this any more it's too difficult, I can't paint; but dear reader, this little artist is learning fast and has discovered there are lots of lessons to be learned from little set backs, all of which may be turned to her advantage if she stops whinging and has a think while she munches on that big slice of cake!
Little set backs now mean new opportunities, isn't that an exciting way to look at it.

Yesterdays little blip has given me a whole pile of new ideas to paint, my ladies are definitely in for a fun and wondrous time in the next few weeks, all doing things that ladies of a certain age should not be doing for fear of disturbing their rollers!!

I'm supposed to be on holiday this week, having a nice relaxing time, leaving the whole concept of work firmly shut in the studio, but tomorrows weather forecast is abysmal, not even a trip to the Metro Centre (the gateway to hell posing as a shopping mall) looks appealing. So all these amazing and exciting ideas can be let out of their cages to join in the organised chaos that looms in the studio. The halogen heater can be parked on the window sill and pretend to be the sun, some seventies disco music on the stereo and we're fit to roll!

So tomorrow I shall be safe in the sanctuary of the studio whilst I leave my poor unwavering husband to keep the peace between the daughter, the dog and two thuggish kittens. Lets turn up the volume and dance!
Mx

The sun has got his hat on...hip hip hip hooray!!

2009-07-14T09:01:00.004+01:00

Yippee, the sun is finally shining again. I was beginning to think we'd have to build an ark with all the rain and thunder storms we've had of late. But today has dawned bright and sunny if a little breezy.
It all adds to the bright sunny atmosphere in the studio. It's really buzzing in here now, the walls are filled with vibrant and lively canvases, it's so much fun being in here.
Sci fi author Terry Pratchett once said that writing fiction was the most fun one person could have on their own, I disagree and say painting is more fun.
So here I am amid the empty Thorntons chocoalte brownie wrappers and empty Evian bottles, covered in paint, and here I shall be for the next few weeks if you care to come and find me. If someone could come and dig me out of the paint pots about a week before the exhibition starts I'd be grateful...ooo and bring some cakes!
See you soon,
Mx

Trial and error

2009-07-01T06:18:00.003+01:00

What a week so far. I feel like I've been hit by a whirl wind, spun around about and upside down and spat back out again!
It all began on Saturday evening, two nice big juicy steaks in the pan, and bang, no electric. The weight of all the water that has recently descended from the grey space above our heads had brought a huge branch down on the power lines and snapped them. Good old NEDL came racing out (20 minutes would you believe!), but it took until 11.30pm to fix it, just in time for bed, so no steak!
I thought that was it, but no, Sunday morning saw the telephone lines come down, so no phone or broadband, (MAJOR disaster, I must have Internet, it's my coffee equivalent!). That wasn't fixed until yesterday. Was that it, oh no, Monday afternoon the car broke down, I am awaiting the mechanic today. Steam rollered I am!
On the plus side a nice big fat parcel of paints arrived yesterday, huge pots of acrylic. The urge to stick my fingers in the pot is over whelming, a bit like Pooh bear and his hunny!
Along with the paint came five little wooden manikins. They are pitifully underfed size zero things, which will have to be rectified. I guess thats what happens to people who are stuck in cellophane boxes and put on public view for complete scrutiny. I do plan to make them fat suits in my spare time (eh, eh, whats that, spare time? Is there such a thing?) and to give them hair and rollers, nice dresses and a slick of lipstick! I can just picture them sitting on the edge of the shelf above the easel, swinging their feet, eating ice cream cornets and bags of fudge while I paint.
It would be better to have five live models to work from, but they'd eat me out of house and home and there'd be no cake left for elevenses!

So work then, after my little moan. The exhibition dates have been confirmed. The Bakehouse exhibition will run from sat 5th September until 26th September. The preview is Thursday 3rd September 7pm -9pm. Invitations will be sent out mid August. If you'd like to come along, please drop me a line. It seems like ages away, but I know that feeling, and deadlines have a way of sneaking the in the back door, quietly dropping the latch and 'POW', you're cornered!

So on that very early note (it's 6.30am in case you're interested) I will make a start for the day, those pots of paint...oooo lovely!!!

See ya soon,
Mx

2009-06-24T08:38:00.003+01:00

Good morning to you! What a beautiful cheery sunny day today is, just nice for sitting with a glass of fizzy lemonade under the gazebo in the garden, but no, not me, it's all go here!
A new delivery of gesso and canvas arrived on Monday, and 20 new pristine surfaces are now ready for painting, they look very inviting. You'll have to wait a while for the next sneaky peek though!
The ladies are jostling for attention here now, some have been cheeky enough to bring along ice cream cornets and iced buns!!
The exhibition painting is going very well, paintings are all over the studio in various states of 'finishedness', some painted and finished, some awaiting varnish, some just under painted, some drawn out and one or two with bright pink sticky notes on to remind me of the idea I had. It looks very busy in here, and indeed it is. Just as a small reward I have bought myself a nice box of strawberry french fancies to have with my cuppa at 11 o'clock, that's if the ladies haven't got there first!!

On that note, I'll toddle along and join the merry throng,
nice to chat again,
Michelle,
x

New gallery.

2009-06-13T08:50:00.004+01:00

Hello again,

Just dropping by to give you a heads up from the studio.
You can now find my paintings in The Bakehouse Gallery in Alnwick. A sunny warm outlook always awaits in this gallery from Fiona and her staff and this is reflected in the high quality and diverse artwork, jewellery, glass and ceramics that you will find there.

The Bakehouse will stock one or two of the terraced street paintings as of today and also some of the architectural acrylics (the only gallery to do so).

You can check out the gallery website at http://www.thebakehousegallery.com/ for further information and directions.

It's a beautiful sunny summers day here, so after a trip up to Alnwick, lunch with my mum :) and a look around Barter Books (one of Europe's largest second hand book stores, and just round the corner from the Bakehouse Gallery), I'll be back in the studio cracking on with the work for the exhibition. It's so exciting!!!

Take care of yourself now, and come back soon!

Michelle x.

Coming soon...

2009-06-03T14:41:00.006+01:00

I'd like to introduce you to some new friends of mine. They may be a little direct, perhaps they like a bit of a gossip, they certainly have hearts of gold... who are they? The inhabitants of the terraced houses and streets I've been painting for the last two years.

I've opened the door to a world of big, slightly saucy, gossipy girls, the kind who love their bingo, a good laugh and a cup of tea with cake, but mind out, cos they'll be after you if you cross them! We've all known someone like this, too!

Working in acrylic on canvas, adding an extra bit of detail and a whole lot of enthusiasm, the new series will be launched at exhibition in September and online later this summer in their own gallery (can you imagine the riot they'd cause if they had to share!), a new online exhibition will follow.

I hope you'll join me and the girls for a bit of a knees up!

Michelle. x

Read All About it...

2009-05-24T18:08:00.007+01:00

Sweeping Past.

Oh, hello there, nice of you to join me here in this sunny spot next to the computer!

Those of you who have followed my career from the outset will have seen a marked change over the past couple of years, so I thank you for sticking with me to see where it's all going!

I am having great fun wandering along these terraced streets, listening to the odd bit of juicy gossip, laughing with the ladies on the street and the fellas wandering home from the pub. There are a thousand images queuing up in my head, jostling to get out on the canvas. Yes, canvas, you heard right. Alongside the pastels I have extended the series onto canvas with acrylic. Whatever next!

So, the point of this little blog as opposed to the regular news page on the site is so that I can chat directly to people as well as hopefully expanding on the straightforward information on the website, new paintings will appear as if by magic and current shows will be highlighted, so this is the place to be!

Please feel free to comment, add any anecdotes or what ever takes your fancy to these posts, it'll be a bit like meeting up at the corner shop and having a chat!

There will be one or two minor changes to the website over the next couple of weeks and lots and lots of new paintings...watch this space!!
See you again soon,