Real artist now!

I put two pictures in an exhibition in the church in Great Mongeham.  Today was the first day of the exhibition and I sold a picture!  I am over the moon! It was my Sweetheart cabbage, which I rather liked and was pleased with. Someone else liked it too and it will be hanging on their wall.  I hope it goes to a good home.  It is a wonderful feeling to know that something I made is appreciated.  Apparently it is going to hang in the 'green room' in a house in the village.  The picture attracted them because the cabbage is vaguely heart shaped - which I had not noticed!

Last week I went to see the Rory McEwen exhibition.  It was fabulous.  The most amazing thing was his use of space.  The leaves or vegetables seem to be falling or floating.  He thought nothing of putting one leaf in one corner of the vellum and nothing else.  He painted leaves that were damaged and almost skeletonised.  He painted mouldy and decaying vegetables.  He did flowers too but the leaves and veg were my favourites.  Truly inspirational.

End of summer

Although I no longer have a teacher's holidays I still plan as if I did!  I intended to do so much!  I completed an artichoke, flowering, in coloured pencil, but it is not right.  

Artichoke
coloured pencil

The seed pods picture is almost done.  
I am working on a depiction of the cliffs at Capel where I was bowled over by the dark silhouettes of the alexanders  (Smyrnium olusatrum) among the golden grasses.  I am using a big piece of paper and the plant material is tall.  The only way I seem to be able to manage is sitting on the floor, the board resting on my knees and against the table edge with the plant material in a vase also on the floor.  It is all very uncomfortable! There should be an easier way.

Smyrnium olusatrum or Alexander on the cliff top.

Cannot wait for the class to start again but meantime I am going to Florum at Sevenoaks and to +Kew Gardens  to see the Rory McEwen exhibition.