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Got a real shock this morning - May 14th when this photo - right - came through the letter box.
It's a cutting from the newspaper 'Bracknell News' - of Caroline and Alex in front of the winning float she designed (she was then called Caroline Croxford) for the 'Bracknell Show' - must be about 1978!! Hence the red dungarees tucked into boots (oh crikey!!)
The float won first prize though!! Thanks to Megan for sending it!!
Caroline had a sensational time taking the Bank Holiday painting week in Spain
The weather was wall to wall sunshine.
She is taking more painting weeks in Spain - so if you want an exclusive and exceptional painting holiday in the sun - click
THE OPENING OF OUR NEW GUEST HOUSE.
We are OPEN!! It's been a frantic rush to get new furniture, bed linen etc into the space but it is looking sensational!!
The dining room has 1960 design classics. You can help yourself to tea and coffee at any time.
View from the landing. We are in glorious countryside
DEVELOP YOUR STYLE WEEKEND
Caroline really 'pushes' the students on this weekend and overloads them with knowledge!!
What a great weekend. The students were keen to learn and created sensational paintings.
NEW SUMMER SCHOOL
Now that we have our own accommodation - we are putting on Summer Schools - click
They are concentrated on 'Drawing to Painting'. We will be having informal lectures on two evenings (in our FAB Guest House) and a Wednesday evening 'workshop'. Of course you paint and draw in the Studio from Monday to Friday. EXCITING - we think so!!
It's SPRING!! So our image for the Beginners Course is a Great Bluebell wood. The first group to paint this image - did a sensational job!! 'some students' page - click
CAT left for Spain on Thursday (18th March) - we have lots of people on our Easter Course - so she is taking that in Spain.
It's Cat's birthday on Sunday - so she is taking 'the slow train' to Spain - an exciting trip - Eurostar to Paris - couple of days in Paris - then on to Madrid, couple of days there and then down to Malaga and onto Monda. Lucky girl!! Have a great birthday Cat - you deserve it!!
2010's first Get Creative course was FAB!
The students did such a good job - it was difficult to choose which photo (right) to put here - more photos are on the 'some students' page - click
Our new 'Watercolour, oils and acrylics' course was a challenge for everyone - including the tutor Caroline!! Caroline's preferred mediums are oils and acrylics - she doesn't
have the temperament for watercolour - (she's a bit too painterly and innovative!) but that's the key(!) - understanding which
medium satisfies you the most!
It has been a slow start to the year - the weather was dreadful - the news is depressing BUT now it's SPRING!! and everyone is happy??
We have had some sensational courses though. The Portrait course taught by Cat was just THE BEST!!
One Artist completely amazed herself and created a really stunning portrait - the first she's ever created. She said it was only because of Cat's teaching that she was able to create such a 'masterpiece'!!
OUR OWN NEW GUEST HOUSE
This is very exciting!!
As from April 1st, accommodation on our courses will be in our OWN GUEST HOUSE!!
Each bedroom will have an artist 'theme' - Cezanne, Toulouse Lautrec, Picasso, Modigiliani and Matisse.
There will be a new 'lounge' for you all (with roaring fire!), a new dining room, art books to look at, sketch books to use and lots of little extras.
ALSO we will be providing you with excellent food (and wine)
There's a garden to sit in and OH - EVERYTHING for a wonderful 'art retreat' weekend or week.
IMAGES WILL BE COMING FROM APRIL 1st - CAN'T WAIT!!!!!
PLUMSTEAD LIBRARY - LONDON
You may know that we are a working art Studio and put our paintings and prints into Corporate spaces - the latest project was Plumstead Library - where we placed 6 paintings in their refurbished space.
There was a brilliant Interior Designer on the job and she chose great paintings from us for the space - which apparently look great!
We are always looking for really good artists - so if you 'SHINE' on one of our courses - perhaps you could be the next artist hanging in a public space?!
JANUARY 30/31ST
They are filming 'Miss Marple' here in Mapledurham. Very exciting. Film crew, equipment and TV actors all over the place.
Watch out for the episode called 'The Blue Geranium' - some of the bits are filmed in our village.
Always the one to exploit an 'advertising' opportunity'
Caroline made a snowman and advertised the Spanish Studio!!
SNOW PROBLEMS!!
Like everone else we suffered with the snow. When Caroline left on Jan 8th for Spain - Reading was fine - cold but fine!!
When she returned - five days later - she couldn't drive to her house! The main roads were okish - not that good - because no-one had gritted ANYWHERE in Reading but the side roads were THICK with snow. Caversham was even on the news because it was SO BAD there!
A Mercedes sports car IS NOT the best for snow. So she sat there with the car sliding all over the place, trying to telephone someone to get her out!
Luckily a lovely man in his 4x4 was passing and towed her a mile or so to her house!
And there the car stayed (in the middle of the road) for 5 days until the snow subsided enough to move it. NIGHTMARE!!
JANUARY 2010
Cat and Caroline are off to the Spain Studio on Monday - Jan 8th - for a few days - to make sure the programme for our Spanish courses is GREAT!! And to give Alex his birthday and Christmas presents!
The Spain web site is click:
By the way Thompson holidays are including the Spanish studio in their programmes for 2010 - so it should be a very exciting year.
Any previous students who want a Spanish Painting Holiday should contact me - perhaps I can give you a great 'returner' price? email
We've got some great plans for the UK Studio this year.
1) New Courses - click for courses
2) We are going to put a Life Drawing Course on
3) A New Art Club
4) AN exhibition of paintings.
MORE NEWS WILL FOLLOW!! |
