A lot going on

Still marking GCSE work so 11.15 on a Wednesday night seems to be my only opportunity this week to post.  Okay, so I finished my submission to to the Threadneedle Prize (although it took me over 2 hours to upload the image last night as they were having such a high demand over their website....in fact they increased the deadline by 2 hours today because a lot of people were having problems.  I have to say that the support was fantastic, advice on Twitter and when I rang in a panic they were lovely!  I digress) anyway, I'm really pleased with the piece so even if it doesn't make pre-selection I'm really proud of it.  Generally happy with how my "Essex" series is going, lots of ideas - 3 paintings now in the initial stages at the studio including the biggest canvas I have tackled since graduating.
I also joined Emerge Gallery, an online gallery who work with new UK artists.  We need more people like Emerge Gallery, I really admire the commitment to giving new artsts a platform....something which I'm sure mostly every artist ever would agree - is the hardest thing to get.  So swing past their great new website, http://www.emergegallery.co.uk/

The summer season is well and truly on now.  For the next few months I have a series of prizes and awards to apply for, not to mention waiting for the results of Art Takes Times Square (my work will be shown at the launch and VIP party, even if I don't make it onto those lovely big screens!)  The John Jones 2D prize, the Threadneedle Prize AND on top of that I have 3 paintings to finsh as well as 2 others planned.

What a few months it should be.  Busy, yes.  Nerve-racking, yes.  Disappointing, possibly.  Exciting, bloody hell yes!! 

One thing is for sure, I'm having a great time - I'm not sure which artist said it, possibly Francis Bacon, but it's so true; as long as you paint for yourself you will never be unhappy with your work.

Even if all of the prizes and awards bomb out, I'll still keep painting because I just love it!

So here's the finished piece, "The Only Way is Constable", I did dabble with a slightly more tongue-in-cheek title but decided it was a little bit too YBA for me.  And yes, I have vajazzled my painting - in the next post I'll go into the themes and ideas behind my "Essex" series....I'm sure the Essex girls and boys among you can already see where I'm going with this one!