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!

Emerging from the Cave

A few days ago, I woke and suddenly realized that I absolutely was going to pick up a paintbrush that morning and start to paint. Soon as I finished feeding my Bed & Breakfast guest, I was going to just pick up the brush. Knew it without a doubt. And I did. I stood there working, while my guest and a neighbor sat having coffee and conversation not two feet from my easel! I'd had a conversation with myself that went somewhat like this, "tough up girl, you need to work, and it doesn't matter who is standing nearby or not! You just go out there, put on your music, and DO IT!" Then, long after my friends had decamped into the brilliant day, I stopped for a latish lunch, then saddled Dancer, and we had a 6 mile ride in the hills. An absolutely BRILLIANT day; and I couldn't help but think, "this is how my life used to be, this is how it should be again - instead of filled with endless tasks to make enough money to live to the next day!"

I think part of this is also an emerging sense of finding myself once again. We artists have to go thru periods of intense self-analysis and re-creation, I think. And I've certainly been forced into mine, kicking and screaming! I liked the comfortable, secure (ish) life I've created for myself here in Glenfinnan. But it seems that I'd gotten too comfortable, to settled, and that it MAY be time to start stretching my wings again. No, I don't know just where, when, or how, but at least I can begin to see that the decision will soon be upon me, and I'm content with it. As a result, my creative juices have fired on all cylinders! I can hardly wait to share the results with you all!

Get ready for new work!

I've been painting up a storm! I found a little pocket of cash in my budget and splurged on a small container of Gesso primer. As a result, I'm back in business for the time being! So be prepared, there will be more work to look at finally. The muse is upon me, and I'm feeling better than ever with the energy flowing though my hands. So bear with me friends! And check in again soon!

Adventures in Glenfinnan

I know, I know, for this blog to be interesting at all, I've got to get online more than once a month! But its been an action packed month!

First of all, I spent 2 weeks in New Mexico and Arizona, visiting friends and familiy. I'm always so torn leaving the beautiful Southwestern US! But then I get home to Glenfinnan, and life takes on its rhythm and I don't miss the views because I'm continually inspired by this beautiful landscape and its people and music!

Secondly, in a response to a difficult recession time, I've opened my studio to take in Bed & Breakfast. I have a pleasant room to offer guests, and surprisingly, I've already had a few new clients! If you want to take advantage of my early low rate for the double room (same rate for single or double), just go to my website www.gailwendorf.co.uk and email me from there!

Third, as always, I am painting - alot! Running close to the edge with materials. There is always the need to trust that the people will start to come so that I can purchase more materials to work with! But no matter....I'm working, solidly, in a wonderfully focused way that has been escaping me lately!

I have work in 2 group exhibitions: Ealanta Lochabar at the Lime Tree Gallery in Ft. William ( www.limetreefortwilliam.co.uk/gallery ); Kranenburg Fine Art in Oban ( www.kranenburgfineart.com ) - both of which open this month and will be up for the summer. And of course, I've decided to produce a little exhibition of CEILIDH! at the Glenfinnan Pub (the site of many sources of inspiration for me!) www.glenfinnanhouse.com for more information! A busy summer - and great potential for so much more!

Making it!

I've discovered new creative ways to keep body and soul together in these financially difficult times! Advertising for a roommate, looking for part-time work, and best yet, taking in B&B customers during this hectic summer season. All of these things are difficult at best for someone who values their quiet, creative time. Time so necessary for creating paintings for the public to see and purchase! I've always said that if I've time to work a job - even part-time, then that time should be used in my studio, or in the business side of being an artist. But sometimes we have to compromise! And so, while I've had painting sales, I've had to make the very difficult decision to do one or all of the above things in order to recover from the very difficult 18 months of this recession.

So, my studio will be come a bedroom for B&B (or the roommate - whichever comes first!), and I'll use my sitting room to paint in - which I'm doing anyway. Sometimes I just need to move myself around and paint WHERE I feel like painting, not just WHEN I feel the urge; and I found that I didn't want to work in my studio, and am currently happy with my easel in the sitting room. Perhaps it will add an element of exoticism to my little B&B!

I've also finally put up an exhibition of CEILIDH! at the Glenfinnan House Hotel. It made sense to finally bring it home, to allow people to see the work in the room than many of the paintings were inspired in! CEILIDH! AT GLENFINNAN HOUSE HOTEL will be up at least a month and possibly longer. You can learn more about the hotel and this exhibition at www.glenfinnanhouse.com Its my favorite place to have a pint or dram and watch the world go by, and now you can do it in the company of paintings depicting some of the best traditional musicians in Scotland!

Resipole South continues to make headway as a new virtual gallery, and I'm truly impressed with their drive, connections, and enthusiasm for the artists they've chosen to show! Don't forget to visit their site: www.resipolesouth.com

I've more work to show, new landscapes that I can't yet put online. However, rest assured, when I return from my trip to the US beginning the end of this month, I'll have my new computer and will be able to once again begin to share new work with the world. And perhaps, offering B&B to people traveling through will give me more quiet time during the day to do my work, rather than having to WASTE valuable creative time working for someone else!