RHS Harlow Carr spring exhibtion.

The very nice lady in charge of organising this exhibition has asked for some information to go with the work on display. She suggested a few questions to consider and after umming and ahhing I chose the most appealing.

Thought it might be an idea to share the completed musings so here they are....

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Drawing has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. In fact my first aesthetic experience involved a line. The infants’ teacher drew a letter ‘a’ in my book and I remember walking home gazing at this letter and thinking that it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.

A recent Summer School at the Slade and a botanical painting workshop in Cambridge with Evelyn Binns have had a profound effect on my work. The former gave me tremendous self-confidence and the latter technical skill.

The most enjoyable aspect of painting is the ‘Wow!’ moment when elements suddenly come together and something wonderful appears. It doesn't happen every time but when it does – Wow!!!

Having retired from a career in teaching I am now able to paint whenever I want in my studio at the bottom of my tiny garden. And although it might be tiny my garden and greenhouse are very important in my life. As is Slawit Bob our little white miniature schnauzer who affords us great pleasure.

Whilst my children were growing up I was involved with patchwork and quilting producing wall–hangings in colourful silks and cottons which satisfied my creative needs at the time.

Having goals and plans has never been part of my makeup –merely lurching from one crisis to another or bumbling through life is much more my style although I do hope to continue painting for as long as I am able.

Occasionally the question arises ‘How do you know when a picture is finished?’ and I always give the same answer which seems to work for everything really whether it’s flower arranging or cake icing. If I need to wonder whether or not I should put something else in then the answer is always no – it’s finished. Occasionally I ignore my own advice and will completely ruin a piece!!!

Lying awake or idly gazing into space contemplating my perfect dinner party is always an idea that appeals and there has been a shifting cast of characters attending ranging from Alexander the Great to Simone de Beauvoir. Currently my invitation list includes Robert Graves, Laurence Durrell, Richard the Third, Rudyard Kipling, William Morris, Germaine Greer, Richard Burton, Marin Alsop and John Denver.

Finally the piece of advice I offer the world is to love. When all is past and gone that is what  remains….

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 www.rhs.org.uk/Gardens/Harlow-Carr

Back to normal - whatever that is...

After a very busy and exhausting week I am finally back in the studio to try and put it back together after last week's exhibition. I have to decide which paintings should go on the wall and which should be propped up in a corner - if I can find one that isn't already full of stuff!

I am rather hoping to work on some painting shortly after buying yet more brushes from the epic Cornelissen's art shop which is wonderfully Dickensian and can be found at the end of Great Russell Street five minutes away from the British Museum.

If you have not visited  - it is worth making the effort if you are in the area. It is completely magical and I want to buy everything of course....

Finding Space

After my course in Cambridge the other week I find that my work is now moving in a new direction which I find really quite exciting. It's fascinating how I am not aware of learning anything to start with but I realise that I must have  done so because subsequently it comes out in my work.

So - I think I would like a bit of a clear out in my studio to go with the clear out in my head.

Should anyone think that they might like an original piece of my artwork - please come and discuss the options. I am prepared to do deals - not quite BOGOFF's - but then again - who knows???

Remember, if the light is on - I am open but you can always ring or knock on the door to have a look if you are passing...

Painting of the month: July. Poppy Tangle

It was a hundred years ago this summer, the 28 June to be exact that the Archduke Ferdinand was assassinated in Sarajevo. It was only just over a month later that Britain sustained her first casualties when a cruiser was sunk at sea and the British Expeditionary Force landed in France.

The war which was to take the lives of so many young men as well as the old, the young and the desperate from all over Europe, had begun.

 And so I offer this piece as my painting this month. It's a watercolour, framed and is about 16" x 20".

We are all aware of the significance of the poppy I'm sure and I like to think that the tangle of leaves and stems echoes the barbed wire of 'No Man's Land' with the beauty of the bright poppies emerging from the ghastliness.  

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In Flanders Fields: John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

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I have omitted the final verse - it's reconciliation not further bloodshed that should concern us now.....

My Painting of the Month - auction.

 I have recently brought back some paintings  from where they have been hanging for the past few months. It's always good to reacquaint myself with my older work. These tulips grew in my garden a couple of years ago and I was particularly drawn to the rich dark colour of them which is quite unusual in most tulips.

 I have decided to post each month on Facebook, a painting of which I am rather fond and offer it up for auction. 

The frame of this watercolour is a plain unfinished wood and the whole thing is 21" wide x 17" deep, strung and ready to hang.

So - this piece is available until the 30 June with a starting price of £25 only plus £10 P&P if relevant. I will accept cheques as well as Paypal unless the buyer is able to call into the gallery where I am able to process credit/debit cards.

 If there are any questions or bids, then please contact me by 

e-mail: janebarff@talktalk.net

Add caption

Online galleries

I have been accepted on to two online galleries which is rather good.

www.saatchiart.com is based in the USA and I had to fill in a tax form in order to be accepted. This was easier said than done of course. English tax forms are bad enough but foreign ones create their own particular way of going potty when filling out!

I can be found by searching for Jane E Galvin on the site.

www.artfinder.com  is English thank goodness. I can be found here:-  

www.artfinder.com/jane-e-galvin

Wonder if anyone will show any kind of interest...

Holmfirth Art Exhibtion.

Well it's that time of year again - what to put into Holmfirth. I always have problems trying to decide. It's lovely to be invited to enter 3 pieces - but which ones????? And of course they must be different from previous years.

So - these are my choices. Do people agree?

The last piece still needs framing and

Adrian Burnham 

( very good framer by the way - 07747 044755) 

is coming round to collect it some time this afternoon.

I love getting my work back when it has been framed - it looks so professional and makes me feel as though I have achieved something.

Change of Hours

I have decided to dispense with regular opening hours here in the Slawit Studio. People rarely drop in and it seems a bit silly just sitting here, waiting. 

So - for everyone's information 

- if the light is on -

I am in and available to chat/discuss art/moan about the weather/ think about ways of annihilating slugs and in fact - to pretty much whitter on about anything really. 

Although it is always a bonus if anything is sold no-one is under any obligation to buy a painting and it's just nice to hear some positive feedback once in a while. 

Should the urge to purchase descend upon someone unawares I am now able to take credit/debit cards as well as offer a Paypal option.

Drawing Lesson number 2

The second session of drawing lessons with Jenny.

This is not quite what she expected!

But she was very pleased with what she learned...

Slawit Bob is on hand in case  extra input is required at any time.

He likes to keep an eye on things....

Newly Framed Work

These pictures have come back to me beautifully framed by Adrian Burnham:- www.bdlframing.co.uk.

For Sale:  Pink Poppy   £200

I am extremely pleased with how they have turned out.

For Sale:   Clematis  £200

Both pieces are due to be exhibited at Oakwell Hall next month.

Uppermill

There is a lovely gallery in Uppermill which is in Saddleworth - that rather strange area which is neither Lancashire nor Yorkshire but somehow both - to take some paintings to the Saddleworth Gallery.

It was a beautiful morning, more spring than winter so we pootled over the tops and down to Uppermill.

There were seven pieces wrapped up in acres of bubble-wrap and I was really pleased that they took six of them.

They are there until the end of February so if I'm lucky, I won't have to bring them all back.

 I live in hope...