stripey boys

These little boys were a delight to watch and draw, hunting for little starfish in the rock pools. This painting is in pastel on paper.

A little portrait of my grandaughter in pastel

out and about

Funny how sometimes I want to write daily, in fact almost NEED to post daily, and yet sometimes chunks of time drift by with - well, nothing that I want to say. Mainly lately, this has been because I've felt generally under the weather and quite cranky and grumpy about it. Nothing serious, simply a relentless series of sore throat/blocked nose/cough/tiredness and general lack of get up and go. This is turn has made me feel - well, a bit depressed. Not clinically depressed, but, you know, like I'm dragging my own little black cloud around with me. Totally unlike me.
For about 8 months now this has gone on, and I finally cracked a fortnight ago and dragged myself to the doctors. Feeling dreadful, and looking worse, I drooped into the surgery, staring at the doc's feet as he held the door open for me. Flopping onto the chair, I heard: "'Ello, 'ow can I 'elp you?' in ze chocolate brown (and unfamiliar) French accent. My (puffy and red-rimmed) eyes lifted to take in a face to match ze gorgeous accent. I found myself wishing I'd put some make-up on...
Anywhoo, a few days away last week in West Wales camping in my lovely little van has perked me up a little, lots of fresh air, fresh fruit and veg and sleeping, just what ze lovely french docteur (ought to have) prescribed. Ok, it rained, quite a lot as it happened, the campsite was like the Somme, but I was snug as a bug in my van, and Scribble had a lovely time (see photo of him sleeping in like a teenager on my bed, cheeky monkey! he's not allowed to do that at home)
Since I've been back, I've felt my energy returning slowly, although I'm still unaccountably very prone to tiredness - and don't even think about telling me it's my age, grrr... I've got on with some really nice work which I'm pleased with, sales have rocketed, and things are looking generally much better.
Clearly I need to go away much more often......

I just bought a new van, and I am thrilled with it! it's a Romahome Dimension 2, dinky - only 16ft 4", with shower, loo, fridge and cooker etc, fantastically well set out and just perfect in every way. I road tested in Dale, Pembs, the weekend after I collected it, slept in all the beds - enormous double or 2 singles, had a shower, used the oven, grill and burners, and the diesel heater, and it was all wonderful.
My neighbours keep finding me out there in it. Not quite going brrm brrm, but not far off....
And it's crowning glory is, I've had it signwritten - by Harrisgraphics in Porthcawl, and now it looks really funky to boot. See if you can spot it!!!! I'm planning to get out more and paint, staying away from home. More pochades!
I'm hoping that by directing traffic to my website, people will choose to buy online rather than in person from my gallery, which isn't open when I'm not there. That way, i can get out more and paint. That's the plan, anyway.

New Website

At last:
Launched my new website:http://www.suemcdonagh.co.uk.
It's a buy online site - Enjoy browsing!
I have been trying to be everywhere at once for a couple of years now, i.e. if I'm in the studio/gallery, I can't get outside to paint or get new reference material, and if I'm outside painting, I miss all of you who pop in for a browse. And browsers often turn into buyers!
This way, you get the opportunity to shop at your leisure, in your own home, at any time of the day or night.
I have just put some nice work into a great new gallery in Llandeilo: The Rooms Gallery, Tel 01558 823 932. Entitled 'High Summer' is an exhibition of paintings, sculpture & ceramics. And not only but also, poetry & prose readings featuring
John Bilsborough, Rona Campbell, Laurence James, Simone Mansell Broome and Peter Read.
Launches this weekend, Sat 20 June 1pm onwards. Tea and cakes in the garden.

Off to New Zealand!

Woo hoo, very excited, as we are off to New Zealand, leaving tomorrow, and away for almost a month. I have plans to fill lots of sketchbooks, but the main reason for going over is to for my youngest son, Sam's wedding to Elle. It is sure to be a wedding with a difference, as it will be in Auckland Zoo!
I am planning to try and update my blog at least, by using Sam's computer, so look out for photos and news!
Here is a nice picture anyway of one of my newest prints.
See you all in April!
xxxxx

Revitalised!

Spring Fair Birmingham this year - quite apprehensive about the economic climate, but even after the arctic conditions, it turned out to be pretty much on a par with last years, in terms of sales. Footfall was definitely down, with no visitors from the south of England due to heavy snowfall, but the serious buyers made it all worthwhile.
So, it was hard (and I was in a campervan!), it was an anxious time, and we all wondered about re-booking for next years show....but I picked up some very nice licensing deals, a few more galleries to add to my list, and a determination to keep up better with the ones I already had.
I feel revitalised.