Christmas books

A couple of pals have books published in time for Christmas.
Today we'll look at 'Life of Pee' by Sally Magnusson. This is a
smallish book....about 7 inches by 5 and costing £10.99. Knowing
Sally's writing and her fastidious approach to her work I knew this
would be good and it certainly lives up to my expectations and more.
The research she has done is exemplary. This is not only a fun book
but a deeply interesting insight into the world of urine. I had no idea
there were so many uses or that gallons of the stuff were shipped to
and fro to factories various.
Highly recommend this both as a stocking filler and a present in its
own right. I'm about to purchase a few for lucky friends.

studio sale today

It's early in the morning and today is the studio sale. Overnight we had

two inches of snow. Will anyone venture out into the country in the

snow? Very few I would think. We'll wait and see. Some will think it

an adventure. Some will not. If no-one comes I'll delay the sale until

May. I reckon that with snow this early in the winter we could be in for

a long cold one.

The house is ready...there are paintings everywhere. I've sold six in the

last five days so I've made a little money. No complaints from me then.

There are two young artists coming today to help with the sale and if

no-one turns up we have plenty of wine and lots of food so we'll have

a good time. I suspect a few villagers will appear, hang up their coats,

head for the wine and settle in.

Studio Sale

Things are quickening here. Four sold already and three people coming today. The sale isn't until tomorrow but this is a great start.

Studio Sale

All sorts of paintings available in the Studio Sale. A few people have
come by already and four paintings have been sold. Saturday is the
big day...mind you there are warnings of snow which would scupper
the whole thing.
Watch this space.

Fish market

Taken at the Fish Market in Kalky near the Cape of Good Hope.

For all of you that know me and even those that don't....I'm
having a studio sale this coming Saturday. 10-4 at the house.

The Aspect Prize

With something like seven weeks to go before the Finalists exhibition
at The Fleming Collection in London, work is really coming together
for the finalists. This is Force 9 by Rowena Comrie.
Really admire the free flow of the paint and the energy that comes
out of this painting. Lovely colour.

James Watt

This is 'Ardbeg' by Jimmie Watt. It's a huge painting. If only I
had a wall big enough and a bank balance to go with it.
Jimmie is nearly eighty years old now but still painting
regularly and coming up with some fabulous canvasses.
He too is exhibiting at Kelvingrove until the end of January.

Rachael Rebus

This is a small painting by Rachael Rebus called 'Central'. Part of a series on railway tracks including a couple from Altenburg near Berlin.

John Kingsley

One of the great painters working in Glasgow at the moment is John
Kingsley. Well known for his French landscapes, John also does some
very exciting abstracted work. This one is called 'Govan' and is
currently hanging in Kelvingrove.
It's a good price so do buy it. I'm sorely tempted.

A wee reminder of Venice......mmmmmmmm.

Edinburgh Art Fair

This week sees the Edinburgh Art Fair opening. There are lots
of galleries taking part and I'm with Tracey McNee Fine Art.
It is happening in Edinburgh Corn Exchange, Newmarket Road
and runs from the 17th to the 21st.
Painting is 'Yellow Boat, Castara, Tobago'

The River Runs Through It

What a week. getting the exhibition on the wall was a heck of a job.

I have to hand it to the team at Kelvingrove...they know what they

are doing and they do it really well.

All sorts of hitches in the last couple of days meant that I was run

ragged and by the time it got to the opening I just wanted to fall

into bed BUT I rallied, did my speech and spent the evening

doing the social bit.

Some details to fix in the day to day running of the show but it's

looking good.

Above is Ben Crawshaw's Mirror I, II & III.

The River Runs Through It Exhibition

This is John Kingsley's 'Clydeside' which is now firmly attached to the wall in the main gallery.
Hanging started in earnest yesterday and I have to say that the hanging team at Kelvingrove are the best I have ever worked with and the nicest bunch of guys.

Lots still to do. It's going to be another long day.

The River Runs Through It Exhibition

This is 'The Source' by Adrian Wiszniewski. Gouache on paper,
it is some six feet tall. A wonderful painting which I am really
looking forward to seeing when we start hanging the show.

The River Runs Through It Exhibition

Here's the poster. Very happy they used one of my paintings.
Catalogue gone to the printer. It's all go.
Guest speaker next week is Carol Smillie. She is on the board
of Trustees for the Riverside Museum Appeal.

Colin Brown

The extraordinary collage artist Colin Brown has done five beautiful works for the exhibition in Kelvingrove Art Galleries and Museum that opens next Friday. This is 'Glenlee' based on the tall ship on the Clyde which will soon become one of the main exhibits in the new Riverside Museum which opens next year.

Ben Crawshaw

Mirror II is one of three paintings that Ben Crawshaw will have in The River Runs Through it Exhibition at Kelvingrove which opens on November 12th.