6 Nov 2010 The first Christmas cards.

Every year since the year dot we get and display our first Christmas card in November. Very often is is from our old buddies John and Jean B from Bayswater Road days. They get a prize for heralding Christmas early. But this year we are pre-empting [right word?] all incoming mail by creating more of our own cards to sell at our upcoming Open House in just two weeks time. These will go on display here first. Unless JB's send in even earlier than usual. 

Here are some of our own new designs. 

These will all be in our 'artist signed handmade range'.

1 November 2010 Half a million up in smoke!

Johnny Woodford throws a great halloween party. We went along last night, and while were there we organised some more exhibits for our upcoming open house. Only 19 days time. Yikes.
JW chopping boards are always popular.
And hopefully we arranged for an early Christmas tree.
The highlight of the evening was the promised 'burning of half a million quid'.
As you can see, Johnny had carved something earlier.

28 Oct 2010 Upheaval on the home-front.

First there was the rain water damage to the interior plaster work, then we discovered the rotten wood and floor joists, then we had to replace the conservatory glass and roof beams, then hack off the rotten plaster and replace it, then the redecoration, and then the replacement of a rotten window. 

Now, several million pounds lighter, we are approaching a time when we can prepare for our upcoming Xmas Open House in just 23 days time.
Please come in your droves and buy lots of goodies so that we can pay the bank back.

21 Oct 2010 Can you see what it is yet?

I am working on a set of four new original paintings destined for the Edinburgh Art Fair on 18th to 21st November.

Here they are at an early stage. Starting top left going clockwise, the subjects are; Calton Hill, Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle, Forth Rail Bridge.

And here they are a little later.

The paintings are on gesso panels which I discovered tucked away in the studio.

"That'll be nice for my Edinburgh pictures", I said to myself as I started.. 

But it transpires that the top two in this shot are 16"x20" 

The lower two are 40cm x 50cm.

Nearly the same but not quite. 

Aargh! The metric versus the imperial system.

So I have had to order two sizes of frames for the Art Fair.

Here is a link to the show.


http://www.artedinburgh.com/

5 OCTOBER 2010 PALACE ART FAIR

We are making last minute preparations today for our next exhibition. Shyama and I are showing at the Palace Art Fair in London. The venue is Fulham Palace alongside the River Thames near Putney.  www.palaceartfair.co.uk

This is a new art fair, and is run by the same people who run the Brighton Art Fair. A few artist friends are going to show including Adrian Turner [photography], Fran Doherty [ceramics].  

Shyama and I are showing original paintings on the Four Walls stand with Lara Bowen.

Here is one of my originals that will be available for sale.

'Tug'  3"x4" canvas  £48


The hanging and private view are on Thursday 7th Oct. 
The show is open on Friday 8th, Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th. 

12 Sept 2010 Into Battle

'Bridge of Sighs' by Colin Ruffell    acrylic on canvas  £2160

The first  Battle Contemporary Art Fair  starts in a weeks time. I will deliver my original paintings tomorrow, and go to the Private View this coming Friday 17th September. These are the six paintings that I am sending.

'Colours of New York'  by Colin Ruffell    acrylic on gesso panel  £1600

'Grand Canal 2' by Colin Ruffell    acrylic on canvas  £3840

'Tuscany' by Colin Ruffell    acrylic on canvas  £3600

'San Marco' by Colin Ruffell    acrylic on canvas  £3840

'Windmill' by Colin Ruffell    acrylic on canvas  £4320

6 Sept 2010 A nice letter!

Today I received an email from an artist who purchased my E book 'How to Make a Living as an Artist'.

It has made my day :-)  Thanks Kelly. Here it is.

Dear Colin,

I've had a couple of quick read-through's of your book and I'm both thankful that you've written it and, most of all, thankful that I've come across it!

I'm just starting out, as many are, into this seemingly mysterious world of the artist and your book has, quite possibly, given me one of my most valuable tools...hope. Not the 'finger's crossed' hope of winning the lottery, but a real hope of being able to achieve what I'm aiming for because I'm now armed with some very clear guidelines.

It seemed worryingly simplistic at first, but there is no escaping the wealth of information that has been collected by someone who know's what they're talking about and wishes to communicate it as usefully as possible.

I couldn't be happier.

I AM going to be an artist!

Kindest regards,

Kelly