Thursday 6 March 2008

Happy blog birthday!

Today is my first blog birthday! Yay!!! A whole year of blogging - Wow! I never realised when I first started how much I would enjoy it and what friends I would make through it.

And what a lovely way to celebrate it by finishing dj kirkby's erotic painting! And she's as delighted with it as much as I am, so that's two of us happy! Its been an interesting way of painting a picture, since all of the planning has been done by email. Its certainly been a very interesting painting to do because I had to first find out exactly what dj kirkby was thinking of when she suggested it, and that took quite a bit of time of emails back and forth as we both asked questions of each other and explored possibilities. Then I drew a few sketches and sent them to her to make sure I understood what she had described to me. She told me her thoughts. More adjustments were made, and I sent her some more detailed drawings. Again, she wanted changes and adjustments, and I found it quite a challenge to do what she had asked, but I worked though it and had a moment of pure creative brilliance (even I was impressed with it!!) and came up with the final design, and even the title for it, all within the space of one evening. Wow! And I know when that happens I'm on the right track, because the creative ideas flow and that means the painting will too. And dj kirkby was delighted with the result too - great stuff! From then, I just had to work out the colours and send her a working painting so she could see the final colours before I actually started the painting itself. And all this took a couple of months, on and off. But then, and only then, I could start the painting. But when I finally started it, I knew exactly how it was going to be laid out, the exact colours, the tones and where they would be, the interest, the artistic tricks that make the painting look interesting and as I painted it, it flowed and I could concentrate on getting the paint down and hopefully making it all pull together as a whole painting. I finished it and send a copy of it to dj kirkby and she requested a couple of final touches, which I did after checking with myself that it would add to the painting and not deter from the overall feel of it. And now its done. Finished. Another WOW! I've sat and looked at it since I've completed it, and would be very happy to have it hanging on my wall. I've put many long hours into it, both in physical design and in mental thought. Does it illustrate that? Yes it does. It's a clever painting. It both looks like an erotic couple AND it looks like a landscape. That's a huge challenge to do, but I've done it! And today's the day it's finished, born on the blog, and finished on my blog birthday! A good sign!


And cos I'm in a good mood, and I'm sure dj kirkby won't mind, I'll show you a few bits of it. You'll have to wait a while til I'll show you the whole thing, cos it was to be a secret until then. But, as a taster, here are a few poignant bits.........


28 comments:

Vi said...

Happy blog birthday and I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE PAINTING!!!!

I had a chuckle when you said you did it all via email. I know DJ doesn't like talking on the phone. hehehehe.

Jackie Adshead said...

Vi - thanks - and I hope it's worth the wait...!

I didn't know she doesn't like talking on the phone, the only reason I mentioned it was because I usually discuss any commission via the phone or face to face, and we've had some long discusssions over it.

LukaBazooka said...

Congratulations! A year in blogland is no mean feat. Like Vi, I am looking forward to seeing the painting.

Jackie Adshead said...

Luka - thankyou, and it's bloggers like you and Vi who make it a joy to be here!

Indi said...

'Happy Blogday' well done.. from this little seed you planted on the screen, has grown and gained strength and turned into am awesome amazing creation >;-*..

Jackie Adshead said...

Indigo - Thankyou, I'm glad you think so!!

Anonymous said...

May your blog continue to flourish!

Spiky Zora Jones said...

happy Blog Birthday to you...yay! The painting done...double yay...yay!

You take me back to when I had my art classes...I remember the mur-mur of talk between fellow artist students, talk of their art. It's so wonderful to read it here and feel your passion. I could almost hear my friend Sandee telling me of her art project.

Bravo...

Ciao babes.

Jackie Adshead said...

Hornymaleuk - Thankyou! I hope so.

Jackie Adshead said...

Spiky zora jones - Yeh, it is double yay yay! Many thanks. I'm always happy to talk about my art and love the fact you like reading about it!

Utter Basketcase said...

Happy Blog Bifday!!! :-D

Gosh! A whole year! I don't know if I'll ever last that long! xx

Jackie Adshead said...

Vi's biggest fan - thankyou! Sure you will - you've got loads of interesting things to say and you love blogging, you're hooked, like the rest of us!

Indi said...

Nice jigsaw Jackie, hope you got all the pieces?

Jackie Adshead said...

Indigo - I have, actually, plus I know where they all go!

nitebyrd said...

Happy Belated Blog Birthday, Jackie. May you have many, many more!

From what I can see of the painting, the colors are marvelous. I can't wait to see the painting either!

Anonymous said...

Happy Blogging Birthday!

You have come such a long way in the last year and it's been a pleasure to read about it.

You have inspired so many people, me incuded, to seek out their inner creativity.

Long may you continue. x

Jackie Adshead said...

Nitebyrd - Thankyou, I hope so!

And I can't wait to show it to everybody!

Jackie Adshead said...

Racy Redhead - Thankyou, yes I have come a long way in the last year.

And I'm glad I inspire as much as I'm inspired to create!

Joanna Cake said...

Happy Blog Birthday. Watched that great programme about the artists painting for Sports Relief last night. Truly fascinating seeing how Scarfe, Stella Vine, Peter Blake, Jack Vettriano and Jack Russell went about constructing their commissions and how they worried about the finished pieces. Made me think of you.

Jackie Adshead said...

Having my cake - Thanks, and thanks for thinking of me! Aw, I'm touched! I didn't see the programme although it sounds very interesting!

And I haven't forgotten about you, I'm going to get back on to the fantasy fannies as soon as I can!

Joanna Cake said...

I meant to say, the programme should be available on bbc iplayer for a few more days. You can download it and then watch it at your leisure within the next 30 days.

Jackie Adshead said...

Having my cake - Great, and thanks for coming back to tell me.

DJ Kirkby said...

OMG! Those tasters are the best, I love tha tyou did this! You know the finished look of the cave is one of my most favorite bits, one of your flashes of brilliance! But I love the shore line so much too, you are so incredibly talented, the painting speaks to me in a myriad of ways, I will enjoy looking at it for always. Oh and VI, Jackie has been incredibly long suffering but patient throughout and managed it all without even one phone call! Phew!

Casdok said...

Happy Blogday!
Love the tease with the painting!

Lady in red said...

happy blog birthday jackie
sorry I ahve not been around much for months went through a bit of a non blogging stage.

having just read your post I think I remember you asking us about landscapes that are also people. I can't quite remember how you put it at the time. An interesting idea and I am sure with your talent it is a great painting.

Jackie Adshead said...

dj kirkby - So glad you like these tasters! I love the way the cave looks too. And I'm absolutely delighted to hear that you'll never tire of looking at it, that's how it should be with art!

Jackie Adshead said...

Casdok - thankyou. And I'm glad you like the tease......

Jackie Adshead said...

Lady in red - good to hear from you again! Yes, it's a very interesting idea and its produced a very interesting painting!