Well we have been in lockdown since January and not a lot has been happening in the Smy household. We have been working hard in the garden, at least my hubby has and I have been giving help and instructions - which plants to remove and where I want the wall to be built etc. However, that is nearly finished and I have been working in the studio as well. The newest piece is ‘Landslide’; another painting worked in oils and cold wax medium. It was originally in landscape orientation, but as it developed it started to speak to me about coastal erosion and the orientation moved to portrait.

The second image, which I have shown before, is my submission for the Westward Ho! & Bideford Art Society exhibition, with the third image being a poster of that show with dates etc. Its very exciting to have a physical show of works, especially in such a lovely space as the Burton in Bideford. It will be a smaller showing than usual as we are sharing space with another display, but do come and see us in Gallery 2, where there will be a range of pieces by the members of the society. 

We have recently been updated by the Westward Ho! & Bideford Art Society, that we will have a physical exhibition this year, hooray! Although there is no theme, the painting must have been produced during lockdown.  The above image is of a painting - ‘Inspired By Begonias’ - which was created last August/September time. It was rendered using oils and cold wax medium and, as the title says, I was inspired by the begonias in my garden. I have in fact created two such paintings of my begonias, as I was so delighted with the colours and habit of the flowers, but this is the one I have chosen for the exhibition.

I understand that we are handing in works on 30th April and the exhibition will start on Monday 17th May - Sunday 11th July inclusive. The exhibition will be held at the Burton Art Gallery and Museum in Bideford with their usual opening hours. It is framed under glass with a white wood frame and white mount and measures about 33” x 25.5” framed. It is priced at £400

Here are two of my most recent pieces, the working titles so far are Steamy Windows I & II. Not sure yet whether they will remain so entitled, but I’ll live with it for a while. They are just finished, on paper and unframed. I wanted to work with a limited palette of Indigo, Paynes Grey, Chrome Yellow and white. They look purpleish on the photos, but are a little more blue in reality. I’m still working with oils and cold wax and loving the textures that can be made with the medium. 

Isn’t it strange that the colours change with the seasons, or perhaps not. In looking back this year, I can see from my works when the sun shone and when it didn’t. We haven’t had too much sun this month so far, and it certainly is cold outside at the moment. I hate the dark nights and the short days. 

We have decided to revamp the front garden and remove all the bushes that have overgrown and invaded the neighbours garden. It seemed like a good idea, but the amount of ivy and weeds that have had to be removed has meant many trips to the recycling centre. We are nearly there, just the gravel to go down and the christmas lights to go up, hopefully before the 25th!

Have a great christmas all of you and a happy and healthy 2021.