Time to reflect……..

There is  sometimes if your lucky time to reflect, I have been working through ideas slowly but surely but have given myself some time to think about the landscape I want to make for myself.
My brother's illness…alcoholism and his time in rehab has had this unexpected effect on me. He is to me showing great courage in his honesty and it has made me think about the approach I have myself to work especially. Being so very busy all the time can be an avoidance of looking at the nitty gritty of oneself and the quality of the experience.
As a result I am having more courage myself to develop ideas that I have sidelined because they are going to take me to new places and I think I have avoided putting myself there.
So I have been accepted on 'Space Studios New Creative Marketing Programme' to help develop these ideas. 
I have also been shortlisted for RA Summer Exhibition so my fingers are crossed on that one and there are other new connections that I will keep blogging about as they evolve!!
Happy Spring to one and all especially my brother who is bloody brave and I wish him all the strength and surrender he needs………

Out Of The Grey…….

My cards were launched this month at Top Drawer with Dry Red Press and I am thrilled with them. It is difficult to get the colours right in the printing process but these are really good. I have put them up for Sale in my new shop on the website. Dry Red Press have a look for yourself……
I have also been painting for a commission which I was confident I knew what the client wanted but when I let her see the progress I realised the pitfalls of this process and that one cannot read minds.
I have now re started painting but the great thing is I feel really excited by the original painting and out of the grey of January I have this painting to look at myself and it has surprised me

It's a New world, a New dawn a New day……….

Wow was I sucked down into a vortex in December…I was consumed!
Spat out now and absolutely raring to go, I am setting up a shop on my web-site and slowly but surely I am going to show my wares…….
Painting is  coming and this weekend I went for a long sunshine filled walk through Greenwich park and along the river with my beau.
We visited my childhood and walked in well trodden steps and it stirred up my imagination and I am keen to start drawing.
So the conclusion is I am going to put my head down now and make some work in all it's different forms and I am very happy to be doing so…..Happy January everybody.

http://www.jooakley.co.uk/shop#prettyPhoto[gallery]/0/

Jonathan Cooper Park Walk Gallery Christmas Show!!!

I am very excited to announce that I will be exhibiting in this wonderful gallery in London in December. I got the little brochure through the post this morning and it made me sooo excited, it is my first showing with them and Alice and Jonathan have filled me with enthusiasm and encouragement for which I am very grateful.
You can see all the work on their online catalogue which if I was able I would post the link but I have not got that far in my computing skills!
Open Studio is finished now and Daisy and I had amazing support, we where quite overwhelmed by the number of visitors and I would like to thank each and everyone. I am now getting the house and studio back to working order because you know what they say…..'there is no rest for the wicked'!!!
Here are a couple of the pieces in the show….

Christmas Exhibition

New Contemporaries

Jonathan Cooper Park Walk Gallery

4-21st December

view online catalogue at

jonathancooper.co.uk

' Billy Boy'

Mixed media on canvas

30x41cm

'He's on his way'

Mixed media on canvas

51x41cm

Lee Green Open Studios 2013 & an Exhibition in Cambridge at Byard Art

Daisy (my daughter) and I are again opening our home as part of Lee Green Open Studios. It is a time when the house gets a good spruce up and we get to show our wares. Its an opportunity for me to show other things that I have done. I am especially looking forward to showing some of my fabric designs and seeing what you think. I am also part of a lovely exhibition in Cambridge at Byard Art this month and part of November.............

'Waiting for the sun'
showing at Byard Art Cambridge

My paintings are in Stockholm and I wish I was!

I am hoping this one was chosen to go off to Stockholm for the Affordable Art Fair..I am not sure what the gallery decided to take but this week a clutch of my paintings will be visiting ....and hopefully repatriating. I think I have something wrong...I want to be in Stockholm this week!!!
I am however working on a show in December with my head still by the sea, I have to make eight paintings for their selection of six and I am establishing a new relationship with this gallery which is exciting and fills my stomach with butterflies....this is a crazy way to earn a living and I now truly believe I have elements of insanity.....there I've said it!!!!

'Nana's Shelf'

For selection at Jonatathan Cooper Park Walk Gallery...will they or won't they................

Home Sweet Home

I have been thinking today about working at home, technically my studio is not in the house so I do go out of the back door to work but it is so very close and at times difficult to separate the two. Work and home are so intertwined for me because of the domestic nature of my subject and also my maternal nature and although my offspring are by no means dependant my urge to gather my family together and feed them is still very strong.
I found myself today when deciding to come in and make a cuppa getting distracted by the debris in the kitchen and spending at least half an hour sorting it out.
I used to be able to leave the house stuff and get on with my work but now I just cannot do it...Why.
I need order to be able to have a clear mind to get out into that studio and sometimes it drives me crazy trying to keep this balance.
I think a busy Autumn has bought this to my attention and I have moments that I would like to go into my studio and not come out for hours and have my meals and refreshments delivered with the care and love I give every offering to my loved ones....Angry...me??

Home Sweet Home