petehodge.co.uk - Cotswold Artist

Happy snow-bound New Year everyone.

I'm finding myself somewhat in limbo at present, having geared myself up for my weekend course at Farncombe house and then been sent home half-way through it as the weather worsened,and now having to make plans and decisions for the week ahead.

Jenny Green rang me to say that it would probably be best to cancel the Tuesday Combertons groups, and I agreed,although as I write this there seems to be a gentle thaw, but with more snow forcast for tomorrow I think we made the right decision. So I hope to see most of you when the new workshops begin next week.

By the way, there are a couple of places left on the Tuesday afternoon Sessions at Little Comberton. Contact Jenny Green on 01386 710 377 if you are interested.

As I mentioned earlier my weekend workshop at Farncombe house was abandoned on Saturday afternoon as more heavy overnight snow was forcast, which was a great shame as we were enjoying a lovely weekend, although only two of my students managed to make it. So thank you to Linda and Francis; it would have been pretty boring all on my lonesome. I hope you enjoyed the weekend - as far as we got.

I must say the staff at Farncombe had done a tremendous job of clearing all snow and ice from the approach road, and beyond that, the notorious Fish Hill was also clear, but I can certainly understand people who had to travel distances, or could not even get out of their drives, not making it. I hope we meet up in the future, hopefully at my summer workshop; "Artistic Licence in Sketching and Watercolour", on July 30th.  Weather permitting!

While there, we were splendedly catered for, and as the temperature plunged outside we were kept warm and wonderfully fed as we looked out onto a beautiful, snow-clad Christmas card of a landscape. Although I had intended to travel daily, conditions on Friday evening suddenly worsened and I was, willingly, obliged to stay for the night, which meant a lovely warm room and a splended breakfast in the morning. It also meant I had extra time to get out with the camera and take far more pictures than I should have done, but it was to good and spectacular an opportunity to miss. So expect a few more snow scenes projects at some stage in the year ahead. You have been warned!

If the mini Ice-age continues much longer you may hear more from me. Otherwise I look forward to seeing you next week.

It seems like a good opportunity to wish the many budding, and fully flowered, artists who attend my art workshops, a very happy and productive Christmas.

Strange that something that started out as a little project on the sidelines a couple of years back, has blossomed into my main occupation: the only draw-backs being that I am not producing much new work of my own at present, and am spending increasing amounts of time preparing worksheets and going through my files. However, this is more than compensated for by me being able to get out and meet so many enthusiastic and talented fellow artists. So thank you all. I do hope it is a pleasure and not too much of a labour; a little self- criticism is healthy, but too much can prove destructive- and I should know!

I look forward to seeing as many as possible of you in the new year and hope you find a few stolen moments for a little  painting,sketching or doodling. I also hope that Father Christmas brings you the paintbrush of your dreams.

I feel extremely honoured to have had another portrait painted of me in my dotage. This was also a present, and was painted by my friend  Mike Bagshaw. Mike is a fine draughtsman and painter who specializes in portraiture. He can be contacted on 01386 41384.Sorry about the photo quality.

Mike was also instrumental in organizing our recent 'Atelier 13' exhibition of life drawings at Evesham Arts Centre.  Unfortunately it will not be seen by the general public as the headmaster, Mr Roberts, decided the subject matter was not suitable for viewing by his pupils and our paintings were removed overnight. I guess the question is; when is an art centre not an arts centre? I suppose the answer would be; when it shares the building with a school.

I don't really do outrage and try to respect other peoples sensibilities, but I have to admit to being somewhat bemused by the situation. Life drawing is a centuries old means for artists to develop their powers of observation and improve their drawing techniques, and our little group; a generous mixture of genders, ages and backgrounds, is made up of serious artists, both amature and professional, who gather weekly to pursue a mutual interest.

This exhibition was mounted in memory of our dear friend and fellow artist Jan Miller, who sadly died last year, and to have had it painted out of the records with the smutty brush of censorship, seems doubly sad. I'm sure most young people will have been  exposed to more bare flesh through the media on a daily basis than that  displayed in our exhibition. This, unfortunately, relegates a serious artistic pursuit into the league of the nudge, nudge, wink, wink brigade - but hey! it's not a world war.

I'm sure that many will disagree with these views, but, fortunately we live in a country where we still have the freedom to express them - just about!

By the way, I believe the school does provide life drawing as part of the syllabus.

On a completey different track, I would like to inform you that I will be running my annual Winter Art Workshop at Farncombe House, near Broadway, on the weekend 8-10th of January 2010. The theme will be 'Watercolour Whites' and information is availablle from Farncombe house on 01386 854100 or www.FarncombeEstate.co.uk

In commemoration of this momentous occasion, I received, apart from the presents of bottles,cakes and cards from friends and family, for which I thank you all, the portrait you see at the top of this page which was drawn by my good and talented friend Kay MacGowan. I was presented with the instructions to continue to join up all the dots to reveal the total number of wrinkles. Kay herself gave up, as she thought that 'life was too short'! With the help of the formentioned alcohol and cakes I should very soon exactly match the image.Thank you to Kay, who, despite doing grossly unflattering caricatures of her friends (surprisingly most people think it is an excellent likeness), is a very fine artist, specialising in animal portraiture. She may be contacted on 01386 442870