Painting Tree Bark

            Sweet Chestnut Bark  by Tessa Spanton
            Watercolour with on paper with Polyfilla (c) 2012

The Leisure Painter magazine for November came out today. In it there is the second of my 'Watercolour Plus' articles. In this one textures are made using Polyfilla, gel medium, cling film with some spattering of paint and grating of watercolour pencils.
The image above shows the amazing bark of a huge sweet chestnut tree in Carshalton Park. There are several of these trees which were planted about 400 years ago when the land was a deer park. This tree is in the park but some of them are stranded outside the boundary in  the pavements of a tree lined road.
This magazine is available from large newsagents or art shops or can be bought on line here
 It is also available as a digital version.
I am looking forward to mine plopping through the letterbox as I haven't seen it yet.

Painting Carshalton

 In my last post I wrote about the Wapping Group of Artists exhibition at the Mine Gallery and their day of plein air painting. click here
Later in the afternoon I chose this scene to sketch. and painted it later at home. The traffic over the bridge was incessant  queuing  up to turn either right past the Greyhound or left past the church and I didn't want the cars in this painting.

The Greyhound Hotel, Carshalton Ponds. (c) Tessa Spanton watercolour

The Wapping Group in Carshalton

Members of the Wapping Group of Artists are showing work at The mine gallery in Carshalton until Oct 6th. This is one not to be missed, click here for more details and some images of their work.

Last week they were painting en plein air in this beautiful historic area. When I arrived they were painting, umbrella in one hand and paintbrush in the other. And talking of hands there are a few left handers among them. Only the next day I spotted this on Squidoo asking whether left handed people are more likely to be artists. The results of the poll are interesting.

Anyway back to  the Wappers as they are affectionately known. Most were painting in oils and a few in watercolour.

Above  John Stillman is painting All Saints church in oils

Below shows one of the  Carshalton Ponds and the Greyhound Hotel. Beyond the pond is the Heritage Centre at Honeywood  Lodge, the tallest tree in London and out of the picture, the Ecology Centre and Grove Park.

I lived in this picturesque area just the other side of The Greyhound for about ten years so know it well and have painted here before. 

  Bert Wright is capturing the scene in watercolour. I returned to this spot later to do my version.

Below Outside the church, Carshalton High Street is being tackled in oils by Roger Dellar and Derek Daniells.

 and below David Penney with Carshalton church in watercolours.

I had a wonderful afternoon watching everyone paint and they were most generous in answering questions so thanks Wappers!
 I shall make my third visit to the exhibition before it closes.

New Courses

above     Necklace made from painted silk.

Above  Needle Felted Flower This could be used as a brooch or corsage or to embellish a bag.

I am tutoring some courses coming up soon. No special skills or previous expierience are required.

If you are interested to apply for a place on any of these courses please contact East Surrey College  www.esc.ac.uk/

Silk Painting for Embroiderers  
- Sat 6^th Oct 2012  - 10am -1pm  - East Surrey College   AADP1XB5XA

Needle Felted Brooches Taster

 Oct   - Sat 13^th Oct  - 10am – 1pm -  Old Pixham School  AADP1X14PA

Needle Felted Brooches Taster 
Nov  - Sat 24^th Nov  - 10am – 1pm - East Surrey College  AADP1XB4XA

Silk Painting Projects for Christmas
  - Mondays  from 26^th Nov to the 10^th Dec (3 weeks) - 10am- 12pm  - Old Pixham School AADP1X15PA

florum 2012

Orchid cattalya (c) Tessa Spanton

I am delighted to have seven silk paintings at this years florum exhibition.

Five of them are of orchids and two are of roses. the image above is one of the ones chosen to go on the poster advertising the exhibition. It is one of a pair, they are both hybrids that I saw in Maderia. Another is a lady's slipper orchid that I brought back from Madeira. The florist called it sapotilha which is Portuguese for slipper or ballet shoe. The Latin name is Paphiopedilum hirsutissimum which means hairy or furry slipper.

Details of the exhibition are below and there is more information on the website here

The exhibition this year is paying tribute to Elizabeth Smail who died earlier this year. She was the founder and inspiration behind florum. click here

florum

"beautiful plants by skilful artists"

8th - 15th SEPTEMBER
10.00 - 5.00 daily 

SEVENOAKS WILDLIFE RESERVE
Bradbourne Vale Road Sevenoaks TN13 3DH

The Reserve is off the main A25 and is well signposted.
Follow the track past the Riding Stables and bear left when it divides.
Continue as far as the Wildlife Centre where there is ample free parking. 

Poppies with Tissue Paper, Leisure Painter Magazine

I am writing a series of articles with step by step demonstrations for Leisure Painter magazine.

The first one is in the September issue which comes out on August 17th.

The series is called Watercolour Plus. In the first one I have show some ideas to do for techniques that can be combined with watercolour. The other image below shows a poppy done for the step by step demo and combines a number of techniques including the use of tissue paper for the lovely delicate creased petals of an oriental poppy.

 I may have prints or cards of this image for sale in my etsy and folksy shops. If you are interested you could contact me via either shop (see sidebar on right)

Watch this space to see what I have planned to do with Polyfilla in the following issue.

above image (c) used with permission of the editor Ingrid Lyon

                                                   

                    Oriental Poppy c) Tessa Spanton

Carshalton Lavender

On Saturday I had a stand at the Carshalton Lavender Open weekend selling my paintings, prints, silk scarves and some jewellery. The weather stayed sunny and not too hot. One of the things I like best about this event is that I meet people who have come in previous years and a couple asked me to work on a commission which I will look forward to doing for them.

 Also there is no shortage of cupcakes! (see below)

above The Lavender Pickers Carshalton.
below part of my stand

above Pink lavender in the display garden behind my stand




Recipes for lavender shortbread and cookies are on my food blog