Thursday 7 November 2013

Bittersweet!

I've been on cloud 9 this week to have been voted an Associate member of the Royal Society of Marine Artists - see those letters after my name on my Blog-header! 

However, upon returning home from the West Country, I found that none of the five paintings I submitted for the ROI (the Royal Institute of Oil Painters) had been accepted for the annual exhibition.  So, it's been a little bittersweet, from floating on a great high, being recognised by one's peers, to landing back down on the ground on my backside by not making it through to the final cut of the next big society's show.  Ouch...ah well, as Fred Astaire sang, time to pick myself up, dust myself off and start all over again.  I was reminded today that when he made his first screen test, it was said that he "can't sing, can't act, balding, can dance a little", and he did alright...

A huge thanks to all of you who attended my exhibition at the Marine House Gallery in Beer in Devon last Saturday, especially those who bought a 'Barker' - your patronage is much appreciated. The exhibition continues until November 15th and can be viewed online by clicking this link:
http://www.marinehouseatbeer.co.uk/catalog/artist.php?artistid=386&galleryid=22

We had a great few days in Devon and on into Cornwall, visiting glorious Bantham and Mousehole. Here's yours truly painting at Mousehole: