Monday 31 December 2012

Timeless Figurative Oils

Saturday was a good day - my husband brought me tea in bed then went out and got the shopping. I was still loafing around when he got back with the paper . . . and I was in it!

Like many glasgwegians, I am a long-term reader of the Herald and always read the visual arts section before anything else.

So I was delighted that Jan Patience has written a lovely wee article about our show.

The bit about me reads "while Gardiner's timeless figurative oils mix contemporary with traditional." Not bad for my first press-cutting!

Friday 28 December 2012

Looking Back at 2012

What a year it has been! At the start of the year I listed a few things I wanted to do. How did I get on? Well, much better than expected! Although I didn't get nearly as much out of the 28 drawings challenge this time around - although it was lovely to see Joe's drawings really take off. My Etsy shop was something else that didn't continue to develop - largely due to shipping troubles. Maybe I will revive it, maybe not. The New York Residency really made a difference, although there were bits I hated - the continual storms, the lack of internet access, the bad food - but I came back feeling I could paint anything - and have, indeed, started to. Roses, skulls, buildings, trees . . . Possibly the big things I learnt was the use of medium, how important the planning/thinking bits of painting is for me and the benefits of getting out there, talking to people and seeing art. The unexpected event was one of my residency paintings (a three-quarter's length figure) winning the Glasgow Art Club Fellowship at the RGI. This, of course, led to the prize winner's show, where I learnt how much work there is in such a show. It also led to me meeting some new people (such as Fran Hanley and Robert Kelsey).
As there was such a deadline (told about the show late Oct, show going up early December) it forced me to really push myself, get the paintings done, and not worry about how people will like them. This has been a good thing - what feedback I have had has been good. Some of the things I wanted to develop were composition skills and landscape painting - and the above is the result. This may well be a theme (as I am fascinated by windows and reflections, as well as cities) I am going to pursue much more over the next year - but that's the next blog post . . .

P.S. this is my 100th post!

Monday 10 December 2012

Before The Show - Glasgow Art Club Winner's 2012

James Fraser's "Prezy Posy and Pot" along with my "Leaving" - I loved his work, and was considering fitted one under my coat before I left!

"In A Green Place" along with June Carey's "I sent a letter to my love" and Irene Blair's "On A Sunday Afternoon"

My "Skulls" and James McNaught's "The Return of Esmeralda"

Jane Carey's "Written in the stars", Elaine Speirs "Siblings" and my "View from the 11th floor"

Friday 7 December 2012

Glasgow Art Club Award Winner Show 2012

Just a wee reminder that the opening is tomorrow.

The show looks great, with work from Irene Blair, Donna Briggs, Cara Broadley, June Carey, James Fraser , Fran Hanley, John Kingsley, Sheila MacMillan, James McNaught, Elaine Speirs and Euan McGregor

There will be wine at 3pm and a wee speech from Natasha Raskin.

If you can't come along tomorrow, the show will be on until the 5th January - opening hours and some photographs of the work can be seen at the art club webpage

See you all soon!