I went to an art supply sale last week and picked up a box of mixed gouache for £4.00.  It contained lots of reds so I now have flame red, process magneta, magneta, rose pink, spectrum red, cad red and primary red.  As I've just finished my purple flower series - maybe an opportunity to start on a red flower series?
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I've just submitted this painting for the about.com abstraction project.  I suspect that it's not quite abstract enough to meet the requirements of the project but I did enjoy creating this.  I particularly like the shapes and the overlapping of the leaves / petals.  I'm currently deciding on mount and frame - I'm thinking cream mount and dark grey / pewter frame. Final choice will depend on visit to the frame suppliers.

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I have a revised job with Bolton Art Circle - I'm now the PR and Exhibition Officer.  They may live to regret this!!
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I've been invited to exhibit in an event at St Elizabeth Church in Horwich to celebrate the Queens Jubilee.  The organiser contacted me after seeing some of my fauna work as he wanted something different to show.  I'm not sure if this is a compliment or not!!
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Spent this morning taking down the Art Circle exhibition at the Octagon Theatre Bolton so 2 paintings returned home.  Then spent the afternoon sorting out Art Circle exhibiton paintings for Bolton General Hospital main corridor display, so Dave ( the hedgehog ) has gone on show there for the next 4 months.

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Have decided to paint one last purple flower - well purple vegetable to be more exact - but I think you will see what I mean:

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Here's the final painting in my Purple Series - Iris.  You can view all these together in my flora section.  I'm undecided wether this one or the Purple Rose was the most difficult to do.  I spent a lot of time working on these.


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Have just finished the promotional items for Bolton Art Circles May exhibition.  All being well, I'll be exhibiting.

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Pleased because Blooming Purple has passed the client inspection - they like it.
Fed up because due on ongoing foot problem I'm not able to exhibit tomorrow.
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Blooming Purple is the 2nd in a series of three purple flower paintings.  Comissioned work of purple blooms on light backgrounds - going into light wood frames.  The first in the series is Purple Pasques and number three Iris is on the easel.  The customers preferred the light backgrounds to the dark ones of Crocuses and Purple Rose.  My preference is the darker backgrounds.  However the customer is always right - after all the paintings will be hanging on their walls not mine.

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The Cove, Silverdale has been siting on my easel since I returned from a trip there in January.  As the sun dropped in the winter sky the cove took on a pinky purply hue and I wanted to capture this in the painting.  It's a very beautiful place and peaceful - especially in winter.  I even went paddling at the waters edge - but have to admit - I was wearing my wellies.

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My brother and his wife prefered the darker purple flowers with the light background - purple pasques -  and have asked that I do 2 more along the same lines.  Purple rose and Crocuses will be framed and put up for sale.

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