So much happened in the last 12 months, I simply didn’t find the time to write about it! Now it’s time for a catch up.
One of the big events of 2015 for me was joining TWASI (The Wildlife Art Sociey International) and exhibiting for the first time in their Annual Exhibition held at Nature In Art, Gloucester. As a ‘newbie’ I declined the offer to demonstrate during the exhibition, but I did volunteer to help steward. It was a valuable and enjoyable experience where I met lots of other artists, caught up with old friends and made some new ones. Bonus of the week for me was selling 2 of my three paintings and meeting one of my wildlife art heroes, Pollyanna Pickering who handed out the awards at the prize giving ceremony!
Mandi Baykaa-Murray with Claudia Hahn and Pollyanna Pickering at TWASI 2015
My 2 ‘Red Dots’ at TWASI 2015
Fast forward 10 months to now, and I am preparing once again to enter the TWASI Annual Exhibition and this year I will be demonstrating!
I’ve recently had my painting ‘Waiting For Darkness’ put forward as one of five members representing TWASI into a new Competition category called ‘Art Club Of The Year 2016’ at Patchings Art Festival this Summer. The TWASI entry has been selected as one of the Top Ten Art Club Finalists which will be judged by Hazel Soan at Patchings this Summer.
‘Waiting for Darkness’ – My painting selected to represent TWASI at Patchings Art Festival 2016
Of all the artists I met during the TWASI Exhibition, I really hit it off with Lisa-Ann Watkins, an incredibly talented coloured pencil artist who creates stunning pet portraits and wildlife art which is so vibrant and full of life. Lisa works hard to raise awareness and funding for several animal charities through her art. Last week, we arranged to meet for a well deserved catch-up and Lisa introduced me to another amazingly talented coloured-pencil Artist, France Baudin who’s Cat portraits are simply exquisite! France’s house was bursting with cats and kittens – both real and a ‘gallery’ of paintings showing her personal development as an artist through the history of her cats. We all enjoyed an indulgent arty lunch talking mostly art and cats!
‘Stella’ French Bulldog by Lisa-Ann Watkins, Animal Art by LAW
http://www.francebauduin.webspace.virginmedia.com/Site/Welcome.html
‘Salt & Pepper’ by France Bauduin
Next week, the three of us hope to meet again in London to visit the Private View of The UK Coloured Pencil Society Annual Open Exhibition where Lisa and France are both exhibiting…this is Art Networking at it’s most enjoyable!!! The painting ‘Stella’ seen above, is Lisa’s entry in the Exhibition.
As you know, I love the challenge of a new medium, but I’m really not sure I have the patience for coloured pencils. Having said that, with a little help from my friends, I might just have to give it a go…watch this space! 😀
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