Saturday 27 October 2012

Crazy November!!!!

November is looming, today the temperature has really dopped and my layers of clothing for the studio/shed have increased even the late auntie Peg's knitted socks are on!
I am getting ready for Open Studio which I hold at home as the studio is in the garden.The thought of so many people coming through my front door makes me suddenly look around the house with such scrutiny that I usually end up doing something disruptive like this year... tiling the little bit of hall by my front door...determined to do it myself. I have not done it yet but tiles,adhesive and grout are at the ready for me to take the task on next week.
I am at the moment getting work ready for Affordable art Fair Hampstead, Andrew at Stark Gallery is showing only framed work and I have really enjoyed painting on board. The surface is so smooth so the paint behaves slightly differently to the canvas.
Affordable Art Fair Hampstead starts next week 1st-4th November
The middle two weekend are Open Studios and amongst other things I have my new placemats on sale. They have just arrived and I am really pleased with the final result.Open Studio is part of Lee Green Open Studios so in a very walkable trail there are some really interesting things to see. My daughter Daisy is also showing her work with me and she has made some great things. My mum Annette Johnson has her studio open too so it's a real family affair. Mums paintings are delicate and beautiful and I think all three of us have a common thread as we all find inspiration in similar places and objects but we all see them in different ways.


Linocut Daisy Oakley


Oil on Board Annette Johnson


Thursday 18 October 2012

Homage to Sophie Angel

This week I am really sad to say my dog Sophie passed away and I feel the need to tell the world about her and what beautiful little soul she was. She was a constant companion to me for the last 14 years and sat next to me most of the time while I have made my paintings.
She never seemed to tire of my company which now in her absence seems quite incredible.
My two girls now grown into young women adored her, this also was mutual as the attention and love they had for each other was boundless.
I just want to say how very lucky I was to have this very characterful lovely little soul to share the last part of my life and I will miss her very much....RIP Sophie Angel Oakley 

Sunday 7 October 2012

Out and About in London Town

I have had a busy couple of weeks apart from painting I have been delivering work to some of the lovely people that show my paintings. This week Catharine Miller has had a stand in the foyer of The Decorative Fair in Battersea Park.When the show ends today she now has a new gallery in Hollywood Road in Chelsea so work will be showing there. Karen Whitely now has a new space in Hampstead and I was there on Friday giving a helping hand with hanging.I also dropped off some framed work to Store Street Gallery in Bloomsbury, this work is going to be exhibited at the Affordable Art Fair in Hampstead more info to come.........................