I admit to being a bit lazy about writing this news section. Christmas is past and I am writing this on the patio of our rented villa in Barbados.
The planned art group at KIMS hospital did not work out but I am delighted to say that three enthusiastic people agreed to join the RAG art group in Chatham, so that has strengthened our group there. We will be having some tuition on lino cutting and printing and also paper cutting. All very exciting and a departure from our normal activities.
Here in Barbados I have managed to do quite a few sketches using soluble ink pens and a water brush. This can be very effective and has provided me with pages of notes and paintings; I have placed one or two in the portfolio. Added to that, the sunsets here can be fantastic; photographs of these dramatic scenes are stored as future painting ideas too.
I have identified a charity for the year. It is the Sadie Bristow Foundation(‘Don’t be afraid to be great’). This charity was founded in the name of the young girl who died after a severe anaphylactic reaction. She was a keen young sportsperson and tennis player. The aims of the charity are to:
- Provide schools with a comprehensive tennis, athletic and learning module.
- Sessions will increase children’s athletic abilities along with sport-specific skills for
tennis. Fundamentals of agility, balance and co-ordination will be at the forefront of
the programme. - Tennis and athletics will be combined for greater enhancement (and possible
crossover in sport participation).
These objectives will improve well-being and concentration levels, learning, confidence and competitiveness. The inspiration behind the sessions will be “Sadie’s Way” – high athletic ability in tennis.
In addition, along with Anaphylaxis Campaign and Allergy UK, the foundation will support the training of a local nurse to become a specialist and advisor for allergies, support further research into preventing allergies developing into anaphylactic conditions and provide wider education about anaphylaxis.
Further information is available at clare@sadiebristowfoundation.org.uk .
I have already sold a painting(‘Sunrise’ seen in my portfolio) and will donate the money as soon as the foundation has completed its application for charitable status.
I’m off to the Algarve again in June. Hopefully the weather will be better than my last trip in October 2018, when it rained on most days. I’m going with the express intention of improving my watercolour ability whilst, hopefully, using watercolour in a more expressive manner, which suits my style. Meanwhile I am working on a large watercolour, using specially treated canvas; the subject is a vegetable market in Cyprus, which I visited with friends in November last year. Hopefully it will resemble the style of ‘The Fishmonger, English market in Cork’ (see portfolio). In addition, several friends have requested pieces to fill gaps on their walls, so I should be kept occupied during 2090.
If you are interested in supporting my charity by buying artwork please feel free to get in touch with me via this website.
