Just occasional news from my studio and definitely not a blog. I would much rather be painting than sitting here at a keyboard, so the updates to this page will never occur on a daily basis!

Check this page for the summer 2008 timetable - you can print the timetable/letter here
 

This is the Middleton by Youlgrave well dressing for May 2008. I designed the central panel and Helen designed the border.

The petalling took a week out of my life. It is much easier to paint the picture than find the right coloured petals in sufficient quantity. Some of my art students came and helped with the border panel. The work is back-aching and labour of love for an ancient craft.

The design will last for less than a week before it crumbles and is dismantled for another year.

The well is opposite my house in the village square.

Life drawing classes in Bakewell, Wirksworth and Ashover  are ongoing and extended after the early Easter break. See the schedule for the summer term

Sometime I'll photograph or scan some student work and get a page or two published on this website so that you may see the standard of work achieved. We enjoy a great variety of age, gender and physique with my regular models .

All day sessions allow more complex works. We now have private parking in the field next to the telephone box for everybody attending the all day sessions. Book your place now for the next session! 01629 636763

We had a man and woman team pose together for us at the Bakewell class.  This was a first for us, was well received and inspired some great drawings from students.   Thank you Sue and Jon.

12 Oct 2007 -This week I and a group of my students visited the Chatsworth House sculpture exhibition in the gardens - what a lively and stimulating social occasion we enjoyed, as well as marvelling at the substantial sculpture works on display. We all had our own favourites and you can imagine that much discussion was stimulated on the significance and value of the works. This is the second annual exhibition to be held at Chatsworth by the Duke of Devonshire and well worth a visit (finishes early November)

Abstraction - After Chatsworth sculpture, a group of my associates met in Youlgrave for an afternoon workshop on the principles and theory of abstract painting.  Our tutor was Tim Rose, a British artist who in a former life was an abstract painter. He is now a highly regarded  watercolourist whose pictures depict mainly architectural subjects. However, on this occasion he and we pursued his fondly held idea that anyone could produce an acceptable abstract painting in an afternoon using basic principles of dominant and sub-dominant shapes, colours and tones.  Eveybody went home with a completed abstract painting that day. Most of these treasured works were completed in acrylic on card in about an hour. Acrylic paints dry quickly on card so we had plenty of time to make corrections and inspired enhancements to our masterpieces!

Oct 07 I've just added some new pages to this website. There are galleries of my paintings for sale, mainly watercolour and contemporary landscapes. These will be expanded further next month but I needed to make a start. The bookstore recommendations and commentaries, by my student and webmaster Angus Stokes, is also a new link on my site.  He, like many amateur painters, is an avid reader of art books and magazines.
 

Remember to email me if you wish to be on my mail list for occasional reminders and updates.
 

PAINTING IN SPAIN
As part of my long term commitment to personal development as an artist I enjoy attending courses with other artists. I try to do this at least once every year. For the last four years I've attended abstract painting courses during the summer vacation period. 
Click for larger images

Vista from the studio	Estudio de Font Blanca	Diane in abstract mode	Tom with life model

In September 2007 I spent a remarkable week, accompanied by some of my students from Derbyshire, in the Spanish mountain studio of British artist Tom Brown. Tom is an old friend and former colleague from teaching together in Derbyshire. He is fulfilling his dream of building and running a painting school, Estudio de Font Blanca, to attract visitors to (warm) painting holidays in Spain.

Most of the drawing and painting was with three life models. We also worked on moving towards abstraction to help shake us out of our comfort zones of realism with watercolours and drawing. Everybody worked at their own pace. Under the professional guidance of Tom we made great progress in what seemed like a very short week. Mainly we painted long poses after conventional warm up with quick sketches. Not that we needed warming up in the Spanish sun. Outside the temperature was in the high 70s and above, blue skies and sun.

The food was simply amazing, every meal a culinary delight, so well presented by Liz Brown throughout the whole week. Waistlines suffered. The accommodation was beautiful. The scenery at the front door was simply stunning. A mountain range filled the south facing vista over almond groves and mediterranean pine trees. An infinity swimming pool was being constructed by Tom to be ready next year. We visited a colourful local market, made new friends and enjoyed a laugh and fun during the week. Have a quick look at some photos above to get a flavour of what we enjoyed painting in Spain. (click above for larger pics)

Full details of this amazing place are at www.paintinginspain.com.  Tom says the website is about to be restructured to do full justice to the facilities!

PAINTING IN SPAIN REVISITED 14 February 2008
I accompanied a group of my students to visit Tom Brown's studio for a second time. Almond trees were in bloom. We ate oranges and mandarins from the trees. We all painted outside in the landscape for the whole week. True to my intention I tried to move towards abstraction in the landscape again, learning a lot from the experience of Tom Brown and his encouragement.

Back in the studio some members were enthusiastically painting into the evening to complete the work started earlier in the day. The food was amazing and more waistlines suffered from the temptations produced by Liz.

I can thoroughly recommend this painting holiday location and accommodation. I will certainly be taking another group of students to visit Spain and enjoy this place. Contact me to be on my mail list. Please mention Diane Kettle if you contact Tom Brown direct.

I came back happy, refreshed and full of ideas!
 

Back to reality
I've started organising painting weekends and days when holidaymakers and painters are accommodated in bed and breakfast locally with personal tuition in my own studio at Middleton by Youlgrave, Derbyshire . They agree a few hours tuition with me, spread out over their time on holiday, and paint in or near the village.  Couples or small groups can share the tuition time. Additional tuition can also be arranged. Everything is very flexible. More information on the painting on holiday page.