FOCUS!

New work to show, all a result of my slowly recovering focus on my painting! I'm fluctuating back and forth between Scotland and France - still seeking sunshine. Seeking light! Slight interruptions by suddenly active B&B, but definitely feeling the muse lately! I offer two paintings - one from each. The Allt Thuim Summer painting is a summer view from a favorite spot I've worked from before; but this time, seeking green and light rather than muted reds and browns and drama. Valbonne Square speaks for itself. A lovely place to sit and absorbe the sun (I was there in March, with a horrid cold....nothing like trying to fit in and be part of the fabric of a place, dripping and sneezing and pretending you don't have a fever at all....). But there, with my perfect salad and glass of wine, I forgot my woes and enjoyed watching the people, the light, the action of this lovely, favorite square.

New Beginnings, Again!

I am back at the easel again. Really didn't start again until March, and even then its been slow! But I took another inspirational trip to the South of France at the End of March, after spending 3 weeks painting fairly solidly! Illness, grief, and trying to find my way back to the easel slowed me; but now I'm back. Truly. the first painting I did only last month (June), was a lovely landscape overlooking Les Ardrets all the way across to Le Corniche! That painting sold before it was dry! I've also begun a newsletter - which will hopefully bring my clients around the world closer to my studio through the medium of the internet! I'm also searching.....searching for my next project! While I love painting ceilidhs and Scottish landscapes, love painting in France, I still feel like I'm casting about for an anchor like the one CEILIDH! provided for me here in Glenfinnan, and like WALTZ ACROSS TEXAS provided for me when I launched as a full-time artist! Perhaps it will be in Morocco, or even something closer to home.... I'm open to whever direction my heart and feet take me!

Before and After

I've been absent for a number of months. 2011 was the year of tremendous ups and downs, most marked by, first of all, the final illness and death of my beloved Mother, which spanned about 4 months. I continued to work until I had to leave for the final visit, when she died; but haven't touched a brush or written since. It has felt right to sit in silence for awhile. But now, it seems, I may be ready to emerge once again. Now, I believe the painting will help the healing. And so we begin again - a different person than the one who sat at my Mom's bed.

Inspiration!

I can't believe how long its been since I've written anything. All I can say is that the focus has been more visual than verbal! The painting has been flowing, and yet, there still seems to be so much effort in it that I just don't have the energy for anything else!

I think that the cure is a new point of view; a new vision so that I can look at where I am with new eyes! In that light, I'm heading to the South of France tomorrow morning. Just a week, of nothing but sketching, taking pictures, seeing old friends and meeting new ones, and very possibly, painting. Only a week, but enough to renew the inspiration! I'll come back to this then!

New Directions

Hello again, after a bit of a writing holiday! No, the title doesn't yet mean I've found a new direction to paint in; instead, it means that I'm going to give the idea of producing a few limited edition Giclee prints of some of the bigger paintings. Initially, I'm going to start with Ceilidh! As well, I'm going to only produce limited editions of 50 worldwide. Hand signed, and on archival paper. I can start with Ceilidh! because I already have many of them professionally photographed. Again though, the main question is: will these wonderful images be of high enough resolution to do this without the initial outlay that has so long kept me from producing prints.

I've decided to do this because it will make it possible for people to have copies of images they may not have room for, or the funds to purchase an original.

I think the image here will be one of the first I offer. They'll sell for £200 each. So watch this space for more information as I get this ball rolling in this next week.

Inspired!

I'm chuffed! My painting is flowing these days like water through my hands, and it feels good! But sometimes, in fear, we try to let a painting feel 'finished', because we want it to be ~ because we're afraid to ruin something that's 'nearly perfect'! A painting I posted on my website and Facebook of Ardnish was just such a painting. I kept looking at it, thinking, 'that's not right!', and trying to pretend I was leaving it because I wanted to 'keep it loose'! I'm always fighting the impulse to get tight in my work, and this time I wasn't going to let it happen! Funny how my words to my students come back to haunt me, and I'm required to live by my own statements! If somethings not right, its not right! The balance isn't right, its not resolved - doesn't matter if you're doing an abstract, a colorist, or an impressionist painting! I KNEW it wasn't right!

A dear friend stopped by the studio to see the new work, and while appreciating my prolific output in the past 8 weeks, he stopped at the problem child. 'This one's not right! The water's just not right!' The only thing he said! Then correcting himself to compliment the rest of the work in his usual, honest way, he came back to it, and repeated himself. I thanked him for his honesty, saying I'd thought the same thing but had been afraid to do the work. But his honesty made me find the courage to touch the painting again. An hours work later, and its finished. See what you think! go to http://www.gailwendorf.co.uk/ or my facebook page from the link here. And the funny thing is that I was able to leap forward again with my work, once I'd fixed the earlier one! Complete honesty is what I think the message is here; honesty and courage to leap!

New Inspiration

A couple of weeks ago, I was lucky enough to attend one of Glenfinnan House Hotel's more legendary Thursday night sessions (ceilidhs)! Someone at the pub counted musicians, and there were, I believe , at least 14! Part of the excitement was the fact that half of these were members of the Blazin Fiddles band, but I won't drop names here! The music was incredible, the craik brilliant, and while I left before most (as usual), I managed to capture some great images of the night! Looking at them the next day on my computer (I STILL prefer film guys!), I was inspired again; and picked up my brushes and began a week of intense painting. Ahhh, inspiration! The result is now added to my website - so go along there and enjoy the new work, mingled in with the older work!