My first pub sign !

The Victory Pub, (the Hard, Portsmouth UK) gets itself a new pub sign and hopefully I'll get a few beers ! For a look at the original painting go to http://web.me.com/chriswoodartist

Bye for now - time for a beer !

Artspace Portsmouth Open Studios

Saturday was a great success with well over 100 visitors !

I look forward to today (23.5.10) the final day of our annual weekend of culture. Yesterday was warm & sunny with enthusiastic visitors flocking to enjoy tea and home made cakes in the Artspace garden. For budding gardeners, a further temptation was a vast array of bargain plants for sale. With temperatures soaring outside, those that wanted to escape the sun had the opportunity of either finding a shady corner of the wonderful gardens or going inside and exploring 29 artists studios in the former chapel in Brougham Road, Southsea. A big vote of thanks goes to Adrian Mundy and Jane Kilford of Artspace who have worked tirelessly over the last couple of years to create such a verdant haven of tranquility !

The Artists are celebrating their 30th year since the group was formed back in 1980. Artspace was one of the first artist run professional studio groups in the country and they are going from strength to strength.

In addition to providing studio space at an affordable rents, Artspace runs specialist adult education for those who are up for a creative challenge ! Amongst the courses currently on offer is my own Advanced Life Drawing Workshop which is held on a Tuesday evening 7-9pm at Portsmouth Grammar School in Old Portsmouth. We still have a limited number of places on this popular course - so if you're interested contact me sooner rather than later !

Returning to Open Studios, the artists will open their doors at 12.00-3.00pm - this will be followed by the very popular annual attraction, the Artspace Auction of artwork by the members. You can bid for real bargain artwork by both up and coming and more established members of the group. A percentage of the hammer price will go towards Artspace Portsmouth Ltd with the remainder going to the artists themselves. Its a very good cause so do come along !

I will be very happy to discuss my work and share a glass of something just to get you in the mood for putting your hand up at the auction !

Happy scribbling !

clocks and how to deal with embarrassing growths

I'm not sure quite how or why but upon entering the kitchen I noticed that the clock had sprouted a garland of flowers - was this a miracle ? Will the dilemma spread to watches, sundials and the central heating controller ? How about the trusty chronometer in our car - will they all suddenly burst into mysterious verdent jungles ?

Readers beware - to avoid future embarrassment take down your clocks on the 30th April and place them in a sealed container, bury them in the garden for the next 24 hours. I have been reliably informed that it will be perfectly safe to perform an exumation on 2nd of May.