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The month of new sprouts: Spring is on its way!

Hello again lovely readers!

Spring is most definitely on its way! It may only be February, but I’ve already  seen a good many snowdrops, and indeed daffodil shoots, forcing their way through these heavy frosts we’ve been having… There’s a lot to be said for their fierce determination to show the world a bit of cheerful colour! (We aren’t all that different in that sentiment!)

Apologies for a late post, but this New Year has been extremely busy so far! As I mentioned in my previous post, plans are still underway to journey to London with the boys (Erik and Siggi) in April … more about that as it unfolds!

Tomorrow shall be the first meeting for North Somerset Arts Week for our little group too, the first where the whole company will meet together to discuss our little exhibition we’ll be holding in Portishead, which will be rather exciting too! (This isn’t until May, but of course, that gives me more of a chance to drum up some support and excitement on your parts!)

A little more about this, to begin with: North Somerset Arts Week (or NSA) will run from the 1st to the 10th of May 2015. It is an event designed to showcase and celebrate art and artists across the county. Many people participate: alone to invite people into their places of work for “open studio” insights into their methods, or in groups, to organise exhibitions and small shows (sometimes with events woven into them, like live painting.) We’ll be organising a small exhibition with artwork available to buy direct on the day, (and since we should all be having a go at invidulating,  offering a chance to chat with all the artists who created the beautiful articles too!)  – If you’re in the Southwest of England during that time, be sure to come and have a look around, it’s going to be great! Come March, there will be a catalogue available to give more of an idea of what will be on offer and where- I will keep you posted!

But first, to the here and now: what have I been up to that’s made me so busy?

Firstly, I followed up just after Christmas with a gallery/shop in Nailsea called the Blue Room to enquire about space in the New Year. Following the excellent news that a bit of room was available, and a successful meeting with the owner, I will now be exhibiting there for a minimum of four months. I took in my first two paintings on Thursday of last week, one of which was sold on Saturday morning! I’m working on some new bits and bobs to take in over the next week or two (more originals, mounted prints and cards) – let’s just hope they all continue to sell like hot cakes!

Dawn Bear for blog watermarked
“Dawn Bear”- My original watercolour, currently displayed in Nailsea’s Blue Room gallery.
Freedom for blog watermarked
“Freedom” – The original watercolour Hare who skedaddled off to his new home after less than 48 hours! A huge thankyou to the delighted customer!

There’s loads more beautiful work talked about on the gallery’s Facebook page- take a look at: https://www.facebook.com/TheBlueRoomNailsea (you might even spot some of my new offerings on there!)

I also posted off my entry for the Twitter Art Exhibit today. It’s an exhibition of postcard-sized artwork held in Norway to raise money for Home-Start Moss, a charity which helps families with young children in need of support:

North Star for blog watermarked
“North Star”- Postcard-sized original watercolour, with silver embellishing powder round the edges for a little icy sparkle!

If you’re intrigued, just search TwitterArtExhibit on Facebook or Twitter to see some of the beautiful examples of artwork that have already been sent off and recieved (over 600 are expected!)

Last, but most certainly not least, is something that’s taking up a whole lot of time, but is still in its very early stages. It is picturebook related, but I’m trying not to get too excited about it as I’ll only be submitting a proposal at the beginning of March… but it’s a wonderful project, and could be INCREDIBLY exciting. More about that soon too (in the mean-time, much nose-tapping, and furious scribbling on my part!)

Thankyou once more for reading, and supporting me in my solo flights into illustration! I hope all of your new years are proving to be bright and sunny, in weather and in attitude! Perhaps, as I do, next time you see a daffodil, you might think about its cheerful, bouncy outlook on life… It’s not as showy as say, a rose: but it seems all the more beautiful for heralding the first big cheer of springtime, for being unabashedly HAPPY.

After all, if we were all able to devote a little more time to smiling in our own little patch of sunshine, couldn’t the world be like the first day of spring every day?

– The AutumnHobbit

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