ByHelen

I'm planning to stock some of the following items with a percentage to the The Northern King Charles Spaniel Club who this was a Christmas card for last year.

I would expect prices to be approximately as follows
Mug- £12.95
Tea Towel -£14.95
Coaster - £3.95
Clock - £24.95
How great would a Charlie clock look on your wall at Christmas?

If you would be interested in any of them for your Christmas essentials do like the photo or comment to give me a rough idea of interest and how many I would need to order.

More details on the photos

Any other pets got friends you wouldn't normally expect? Do share your pets and their friends in the comments ... Id love to see them.

These two were sitting next to me on the chair watching what I was doing... so cute. (Ethel the King Charles Spaniel and Tabitha Bumble)

Drop the last photo you took of your pet or an animal from your phone in the comments below...! (I'll add mine in the comments ! LOL )

The autumn light at the moment is perfect for talking outdoor photos of your pets that would be perfect for a pet portrait. The light is warm when the sun is out but not overly bright. For one very simple tip to get the best results from your pictures check out my blog post . You'll want to know this ...

Smile for the Canvas Easy Photography Tips for your Pet Portrait Paintings and one simple change that will improve your pet photos from today!When you commission a pet portrait the better the photos the better the portrait. I know this isn’t always possible with a memorial painting and in those cases I will work with ...

Last night I watched this programme about Alison Lapper.... if you listen to no more than the opening that will be enough.
I was incredibly moved by her story.... a sad one in terms of others perceptions of her but she is a powerful determined woman who has gone through a lot including losing her son which I hadn't realised. I dont think I ever even realised she was an artist. Well worth a watch

In My Own Words - Series 1: Alison Lapper Alison Lapper – an artist, a muse and a mother – explores her life through art and archive in this visually rich and emotionally intimate documentary.

I grew up with fields behind our bungalow... mostly wheat but in all that time I never saw any harvest mice. It was a bit devoid of wildlife after the hedgerows were pulled up (as they were in the 70s) and at that time stubble would be burned each year. I have yet to see these wonderful little creatures.
They don't have as large an ear as ordinary mice but what makes them special is their prehensile tail... they can use it to cling on to grass stems, being able to use it like a 5th limb... how amazing is that.
Do you have harvest mice in your area? have you ever seen one?

The photo reference for this was from the ever amazing Stuart James photography. Its not quite finished yet but thought I would share this bit of cuteness today !

The lovely Stony Stratford Art Society with who I have much fun working with watercolours ( my oils don’t travel so well!)

A very small part of a larger picture ….
Do you know what it could be ?

By this point in the evening I had sung with the choir , listened to several speeches and talked to some wonderful people .
The Ukraine : Past and Future exhibition at Milton Keynes central library until the 27th September
My 4 works are
shchedryk : my painting of that which has gone before and will come again , the stork a symbol of new beginnings and sunflowers of optimism and hope .
Also included are;
Bless this house
Floral Dance
Blue Moon

New exhibition starting tomorrow and new blog post to explain a bit more. Please do take the time to read it , it wont take long. Ukraine: From Past to Future.

Please come along to the exhibition and see for yourself the stunning collection of work by well known and emerging British and Ukrainian Artists .

Strokes of Unity: Connecting Ukraine's Past and Future Through Art I am very honoured to participate in the exhibition Ukraine: Past to Future in Milton Keynes this September. This remarkable exhibition brings together Ukrainian and British artists, showcasing the power of art to bridge cultures, tell stories, and inspire hope for the future. As an international an...

Sneak peek ! That’s all you’ll probably see until members of The Northern KCSC get it arriving before Christmas 🎅 🎄 🐶 🐶

After a wonderful time with the August exhibition at Stowe its straight on to the next! ….. The Exhibition Ukraine: From Past to Future runs from the 6-27th September in the exhibition space at MK library. The exhibition marks the 33rd anniversary of the Independence Day of Ukraine. I feel so privileged to be alongside some incredible artists. For me the fact that Boyd and Evans who had their amazing solo show at MK Gallery last year are also taking part is a memorable moment. I found out during that exhibition that I had the same art tutor at Leeds University as Fionnuala Boyd, John Jones. Alongside Boyd and Evans are also Arabella Doreman, Inge Borg Scott and Yuriy Nagulko and many other artists. I’m very grateful for the opportunity to exhibit in this exhibition which has given me time to reflect on the Ukraine of the past and the hope of a peaceful Ukraine of the future. Tatiana and Viktoriya have worked so hard to pull together the best artists and to promote the event, please do take the time to visit this.

The exhibition runs for most of September with many individual events running alongside.

Happy International Dog day !.....

Lets celebrate our four legged fur babies... Share a photo in the comments.

Here are some of the paintings that I have done in the past year including some new watercolour paintings and the Christmas Card for The Northern King Charles Spaniel Club 2023 (This years already underway!)

Although most of my art at the August Exhibition is of British Wildlife and some domestic animals I also have these two paintings available. Rubato (The lemur) bascially means not sticking to the same rhythm... I think you'll agree its rare to see a lemur with a rubiks cube! The Bear is a gorgeous painting full of depth which this photo does really show. Layers and layers of glazes and fine brush stroke mean that there is a real sense of depth and texture on this painting. There are also little hints of water on the fur. This painting was one that I worked on with Jean Pritchard Artist in her zoom sessions. Do take a look at her incredible work!

August exhibition continues today and tomorrow at National Trust - Stowe 10am - 5pm I will be in the Bennett room this afternoon from around 1.30 where my work is among a total of 10 artists . There are a further 24 artists in the Temple!

Its looking like being a beautiful day today so do please come along.

MK18 5EQ

The room stewards at Stowe will have these available for you to complete with an additional chance to win a prize ! With so many works to choose from I have no idea how anyone will be able to choose just one .....

I was busy handing these out yesterday as they also have a list of all members taking part. I'll be heading over later today (when wandering daughters arrive home from their canal boat holiday!)

Any suggestions on what to paint on here?
Earlier in the summer I prepared some music for painting, including this piece from the cover! I love the 4 frames as well as the central circle but now pondering what should go on there... drop your suggestions below

Here are two of my works that are in the browser at Stowe this weekend. Being in the browser means that the work is mounted but unframed. Although there are lots of prints available, these two are both original art works. The owl is one of my "rare" watercolour paintings. I actually painted that one while visiting Em at Cambridge. The other of the fox is an oil painting. Both are mounted in an A3 mount , making framing in a ready made frame really easy.
These originals are both priced at an absolute gift of a price at £80 . If you are wanting to get ready for Christmas with a special and unique gift these may just be the answer you didnt know you were looking for.
They are both from the same music book which was falling apart! but this makes them a perfect compliment for each other even though the media is different.

If you or someone you know who lives near Stowe Gardens(Buckingham) do share this post!

Its International Photography Day today so reposting the link to my top tips on taking photos of your pets. As most of my work uses photos the better they are, the better the paintings!

If you take any photos of your pets using my tips ... or just want to share your amazing animals then do post in the comments below... and don't forget to share this post!

Smile for the Canvas Easy Photography Tips for your Pet Portrait Paintings and one simple change that will improve your pet photos from today!When you commission a pet portrait the better the photos the better the portrait. I know this isn’t always possible with a memorial painting and in those cases I will work with ...

Share your world Saturday !
How’s your weekend going ? Are you enjoying something fun with the fur babies and family ? Enjoying some quiet time ? Or is it a busy one . Let me know in the comments or better still share a photo.

Last minute framing ! That’s me …. This gorgeous painting (and others ) will be for sale during the August Exhibition (22nd-26th 10am -5pm) at Stowe Landscape Gardens .
There are several artists who are taking part in this exhibition . If you live nearby then do come along and let me know when you will be visiting .

This kingfisher is one I painted with Jean Pritchard Artist’s zoom lessons . Do go take a look at her incredible work

Are you concerned about making sustainable choices and your impact on our environment and ultimately our climate? Please share this post if you are. A Share costs nothing but can help me read the right people.

This is something that is so important to me and my family. I can honestly say that even as a small child I worried about the damage we were doing to our planet. I draw attention to our animals and wildlife through my art, but I also consider my environmental impact with my painting. Many people have the misconception that oil paints are bad for the planet; read my new post about how my practices are better for the environment than others. ... as a certain supermarket says... "every little helps!"

Art without Harm Painting responsibly with oil paints I want to be an artist who minimises my impact on the environment. People will often have unfounded claims that oil paints are environmentally hazardous and a danger to health. These misconceptions are often repeated again and again. Oil paints themselves are NOT...

NEW OPPORTUNITY: Artist development programme for 18 - 25 year olds 🔔

Art House is a 6-month programme open to individuals living, learning, or working in Milton Keynes. Emerging artists, sixth form/college students, school leavers, and home educated are all eligible to apply.

Across a series of online and face-to-face sessions, you’ll receive training designed to equip you with the skills to make and market your work, promote yourself as an artist and collaborate with others. There will also be the opportunity to receive practical guidance working as a freelancer and managing a project budget.

This is an incredible opportunity to learn from industry experts, receive 1:1 mentoring support and create work in response to a live brief. We hope that you leave the programme confident, informed and networked!

Applicants must be aged 18-25 on 31 March 2025.

INFO AND HOW TO APPLY: https://pulse.ly/w7uxtoow7h

Arthouse is funded by Milton Keynes City Council.

World Elephant Day today
These are my two favourite works involving elephants... the first one is from the zoom class of Jean Pritchard Artist that I did last year. The photo doesn't do it justice. Jean is a phenomenal wildlife artist so do go take a look at her work.
The second was from a photo by the amazing Dallas Ruble , photographer and scientist. I love the little one splashing along in the water !

Do you have a preference between the two of them ?