fading but still bright

i bought a metal box...with beautiful colours

fading in and out

bright and cloudy

it influenced and informed a painting that will be part of my new solo show

here are some painting details




the box and a memory of foxgloves in a misty distance
lead to this finished painting



i'm thinking of another bright but fading memory
of a beautiful time in a beautiful place
new zealand
where i was planning to be this month

my thoughts and prayers are there

valentine's day

just back for a beautiful, inspiring but too short trip to brittany

saint malo, megaliths, the emerald coast and paimpol


great scenery mixed with sunshine and wonderful food...perfect





and this from paul verlaine printed on a sign near to the megaliths

"here are fruits,
and flowers,
and leaves
and branches.
and then,
here, my heart,
that beats only for you"

gabby young and turner

actually ....life is not all painting and protest i was in london for a few days ....

loved loved loved seeing the amazing gabby young at the barbican

a wonderful visual and musical performance
here is a pic of the amazing newspaper dress she wore...from gabby’s own blog


and here is a very happy man...


i had planned to arrive early to the barbican to see the japanese fashion show and the performance by students...strangely prevented by students protests and the ongoing work on the underground

the props of that show and the beautiful people in beautiful clothes makes me sad to have missed that





also had time for a short... but moving visit to tate britain
seeing the turners there lifted my heart

this land is my land ...this land is your land

painting and protesting...more paintings soon

spreading the word for our woods

readers of this little blog will know i live in the centre of an ancient forest...the forest of dean...a magical mysterious place between two rivers and two nations

more and more people are starting to hear about the forest of dean as the uk wakes up to the coalition government’s proposals to sell off the forests of england

on a cold and snowy day i and over 3000 others attended a rally to voice their protests...this is a video of the event made by talent film maker woody morris...it captures the spirit of the event and the love we all have for the forest

Hands Off our Forest from woodrow morris on Vimeo.

i was too shy to be interviewed but the people who were made an excellent job of expressing the feelings of all...this forest is not for sale...it already belongs to all of us

please please sign the petition here
because where ever in the world you live one day you may want to visit our beautiful forest
and we would be happy to see you enjoy it without restrictions

more info about the local hoof campaign here

pay it forward

anyone else playing this on facebook?


"Pay it forward for creative people: I promise to send something I'll make myself to the first five people who leave a comment on this update. They must in turn promise to repost this as their status. The rules are that the items must be made by you personally, and they must be received by your five folks in 2011! Be creative and get cracking!"

pop over to my face book page...

http://www.facebook.com/SallyStaffordPaintings

i definitely want to make something textily...
x

little flowers newly blooming

all the snow has gone...and the family too
so yesterday was a day to paint again....
i thought i would paint the vintage silk flowers i often wear in my hair...paint them against the melting snow....



and that is what i started to do ....but it turned out like this a winter solstice sunset

winter solstice 100cms x 100cms

probably inspired by this...a recent walk and the video from the last post




as well as painting i have been working on some little flowers newly blooming


a new website just for my painting workshops

the summerland studio



happy new year to all and may all your flowers bloom