We've been living in a howling gale.

Hello! I've just been talking to my sister and nephew on Skype, it's wonderful to be able to see them, whilst chatting. Millie, my niece, wasn't available for interview.

So the long and the short of it is that I've left myself very little time to say hello to you today, before I go to my Wednesday night knitting group.

D'you see the rain sodden pane of glass in the photo above? We've suddenly done an about turn, and been plunged straight back into winter, here in the North of England, and a wet winter at that, which is the worst.

I think we've done well to keep the roof on our house.

So I've been painting away all this week, getting very absorbed by it all.

Over the weekend, I started the paintings above, and I've continued working on them, as well as trying to do some abstracts.

I quite like they way they influence each other, a discovery in one, leads to something happening in another. It's exciting.

I'm hoping, hoping, hoping, I'll have time to paint the glorious frilly tulips in the vase above, and the Ranunculus too. The colours in the flowers have been influencing some of my colour choices with my abstracts.

I've been changing their water, and snipping off a little at the bottom of each flower stem, every other day, in the never ending battle to keep my fresh flowers FRESH!

Tomorrow I present the paintings I have done for the two commissions. I hope, very, very, very much, they like them. I'll take some photos of the paintings tomorrow, before my meeting at one. I get commissioned to do art work by publishers, and that doesn't phase me too much now, after twelve years of it (though it used to), but this is a new experience, presenting two people with the art work they have commissioned from me. The question "what if they don't like them" is needling me slightly. I've even done extra paintings, so that they have a choice. Keen aren't I?!

Well, I'm off to my knitting group now. I'm not too far off finishing that fourth panel for the knitted dress, I talked about a couple of posts back, then it's on to the stripes! Yipee!

See you on Friday, and I'll tell you all about the reception the paintings I did got, even if it turns out to be a disappointing reception. One has to prepare oneself mentally for these things, good thing I'm quite well practised at it now.

Toodle-loo, love Vanessa xxx

Comments

[Jacqueline]

Good luck with the paintings, though I'm sure your customers will love them. I know I love the painting I bought from you. I would love to be able to paint, so I love seeing your paintings. Maybe someday, when I have more time!

[greenrabbitdesigns]

The weather is just horrible, we've had snow!!!
Good luck with the paintings, although you won't need it, your work is great.
Vivienne :)

[Jennyff]

A very colourful and cheery blog, just what I needed when I've come in from shifting snow. Yes its back big style, where is spring.

[Katie]

Hello Vanessa!
15 months ago I was fortunate to go on a day's course with Sarah Raven and the first thing she taught us was how to condition flowers, to maximise their life.
* Firstly, leave them wrapped up as they come, in some water and leave them overnight.
* Secondly, arrange them into a very clean vase/container.
* Thirdly, add to the water, either an aspirin, a tiny bit of bleach or a copper coin.
* Fourthly, change the water every couple of days, remembering to add the aspirin/bleach/coin each time you do this!!
* Fifthly, move them somewhere cool each night before bed!!
Try it out, it really works!!
Looking forward to seeing your finished paintings, they look very beautiful.

[Madelyn Rutherford]

Good luck with the pictures. I just had my first sold at an auction benefiting the art council and Habitat.
Just curious what you all call the white flower in the photograph above? Saw it everywhere in England last fall, but it is different than our Queen Anne's Lace.

[Val Reaves]

I so enjoy your pictures...best wishes with your commissions!
Val in Kansas

[busybusybeejay]

Snowing here today in north Wales!!Hope the reception goes well and I am sure they will love your paintings.I hope you have still got auriculas on your " to do list"!! Only joking.

[Magic Cochin]

You're spot on, publishers' commissions are water off a ducks back - some your win some you don't and all that. But a personal commission for a more personal piece of art is stressful and soul baring.

I think they'll love them - may even decide to buy two! I would ;-)

The wind and rain blew all the customers away from the gallery I help to run - I was cold and lonely for most of the day :-( In need of a cuddle from my furry studio assistants and a great big mug of tea.

Happy knitting Vanessa
Celia
x

[wonderwoman]

lots of luck with your painting but i'm sure they will love them!

[Kate Bruning]

Yay, we have a bit of internet that we hooked into at my brother's and I am so glad as your paintings have brought so much colour to my frst morning of holidays. How will they not love your paintings???? Can't wait to hear how it goes. Love Kate xxooxxooxx.

[Mandy]

I am sure they will love your paintings! But i will look forward to hearing about it.

I live in the middle of the country and we have been plunged back into winter too! Sigh!

Until Friday x

[Laura]

They will love the paintings you did for them - otherwise they would never have commissioned it. The colors you're working with in your weekend paintings are lovely!

We're finally getting warm, sunny, dry days on this side of the Atlantic - perhaps nicer weather is on its way to you, too!

[Lesley]

Lovely to see your works in progress Vanessa and the beautiful flowers. I want to find such gorgeous frilly tulips to paint and love the variegated blooms favoured by Dutch old masters.

[Emily]

I always love your photos! The colors just make me happy! I hope the sun comes back out for you soon!

[Katie Willow]

I think they are absolutely bay...eautiful!

Also I did not know that with Skype you can see the person. oh how do I get this!!! ?

It was snowing when I went out two days ago xx I have had to stay in as I been poorly x

I have been doodling and painting a bit xx

[Aubrey Cotton-Stapleton]

I' m with the others, how could they not like your paintings! However if they don't they obviously do not have good appreciation of art or they are looking with their eyes closed! I love the flower jewels too, especially with the blue jug. Love Aubrey

[Rachel]

Good Luck with your paintings Vanessa, they look beautiful!
Your photos always make me smile, so cheery!
Hope this weather improves soon! We need some sunshine for Easter!
Rachel x

[Christine]

Good luck with your paintings, Vanessa! We are having lousy weather here in New England as well. It's been raining for days! Lots of flooding in the area. But they are predicting warm sunny weather for the weekend! Happy Easter! Chris

[Julia]

Good luck with your commissions - I can understand your nervousness until you know their response.
It is great to see your progress on the knitted dress and I think it was a good idea to leave the stripey top until the last as it will be the most interesting bit - which should sustain you to the finish - Julia

[mlle paradis]

Looking forward to seeing it all V.!

So sad about E. Thompson. I did not know her work but I think everyone feels terribly helpless and bewildered when someone so lovely acts on their despair and leaves loved ones behind.

[mlle paradis]

p.s. thanks to Katie for the tips on flower preservation!

[Erin]

Your photos are so colorful and so cheery. Good luck with the painting; I think it's looking lovely.

[HeidiBears]

Hi Vanessa, your blog is so beautiful...the colours so happy, yesterday it was pouring here and overcast and fairly miserable weather-wise...it cheers me up to see happy colours and painting...thank you
Love, Heidi :)

[Penny]

We've woken up to bright sunshine today, but so windy and cold. We are escaping the snow so far in East Anglia. Those flowers are so cheerful and I can't wait to see the finished painting. Hope all goes well with your commissions, I know there isn't always a rhyme or reason with these things, lots of love Penny x

[Carole]

Hi Vanessa,
Oooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhh if they don`t want your pictures, they must be nuts! I`ll have then, they will be gorgeous. The ones with the anemomes are just lovely. I just love , love ,love the way you paint. Watercolours are my favorite. I`d rifle through you waste paper bin and have one of your regections and have it framed, lol! You are sooo clever.Yes the weather here in the north west is rubbish too. What part of the north of England are you in?
Take care and good luck with the commissions.Love Carole in Rossendale xxxx

[Jane]

Hope all goes well with the paintings. This weather is horrible. Even here in the Midlands we had sleet and hail yesterday and it's so cold.
Love Skype, husband uses it to tutor pupils he still has in Surrey and I speak to my widower Brother-in-Law in Australia, so useful when you can actually see the person.

[Steph]

I love your paintings - could you advise how much they are and which ones are available please?

[j k eells]

I am sure that you have nothing to worry about, but have faith in yourself, I know it is difficult, but if someone does not like your work, perhaps they were looking for something different! what you do is wonderful it is from your heart and a huge number of people love it they are what counts.

[Julia]

Your new paintings are so lovely, and I especially like the pictures with all the colourful flowers and paint palettes, beautiful to see!

Julia x x x

[sumea]

i love that shade of pink! the one on your wall. i would like that colour for my bedroom, which is very much in need of decor.
all the rainy day blues have gone away now i've seen your lovely flowers and painting :o)

if i don't see you before (not sure what my plans are on friday) have a super easter weekend xxx

lots of love and warm hugs

sumea

i'm just going to have a bedtime hot cross bun...can't wait till the morning ;o)

[jeff zapanta]

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[Rosie D]

I love Ranunculus. And that picture really sums up why I love your blog (I've been lurking for months). Colour, colour, colour. Makes my heart sing whenever I look at it. Good luck with the paintings, and I look forward to seeing them.

[Emma]

Hello Vanessa, the blast of delicious colour in your little still lives here has cheered a dreary Friday. How would your painted commissions not go down well? They will receive rave reviews I am sure.

I read the girls 'There's no place like home' a day or two ago. I told eldest that sometimes I write to the lady who drew the pictures. She said 'Can I write to her Mummy?'

[Kathleen]

Hi Vanessa. I'm just waiting for something, anything, made by you to appear on the Etsy Shop so that I can snap it up. You have fabulous style and your blog cheers me up every time. Looking forward to hearing how you got on with those commissions. - Kathleen.

[Emma]

Hello Vanessa, I think my comment was just snacked on by the comment box. Your little still lives about your house are a joy to look at. Those anemones!

It's great to read that at least one set of commissions had rave reviews. I'm sure when the other lady recovers she will be overjoyed too. Those abstract pebble-like designs are very soothing to look at. I've been realxing whilst peeping at them.

I read 'No place like home' to the girls the other day. They loved it.

In other news our village daffodils are out, along with primroses we planted. It's cheered our village green no end. The ring of snowdrops and crocus under the conker tree were wonderful.