Weather becoming a bit milder so more impasto work in prospect today! I may even try to start a couple of paintings with a heavy substrate to test the results on my new plywood panels. They have to be able to survive being posted via Royal mail UK....Easier said than done!

Today's choice from the archive is "Elephant Charging", 8in x 12in, 2003 NFS

One of the few watercolours I shall be listing.

www.curlybobsartemporium.etsy.com

https://www.facebook.com/Curly-Bobs-Art-Emporium-112276986889837/?modal=admin_todo_tour

"Elephant Charging", watercolour, 2003

A Productive Afternoon

Yet another afternoon at the easel to prepare work for  my show at Eccles Community Art Gallery on 10 March 2020 which runs for a month.

I managed to finish another A2 sized canvas with a North Wales landscape done with a knife. I shall now leave it to dry for a few days. Acrylic is slow to dry when applied impasto and basically left in outside temperatures. However the lack of a hard frost or wintry weather is a bonus at the moment so I can work much more in my studio than was the case this time last year.

Hopefully it will be a more diverse portfolio than for my September 2019  show.

This is another from the archive called "Flooded Forest", oil on canvas, 50cm,40cm from 2008. I painted this after seeing a documentary about swamplands around the world. The sunset is a bit of artistic licence!

Once again, apologies to anyone who has contacted me and not received a reply. I am balancing my day between art and online promotion. It is all aimed at raising money for our worthy causes. I am happy to do it and it is my choice but there is very little time left for anything else at the moment so please do not be offended and thank you to everyone who has become our friend, liked our page and followed me & Curly Bob. We really do appreciate it!

"Flooded Forest", oil on canvas, 50cm,40cm from 2008

More Knife Work in the Studio

Curly Bob can be a bit of a slave driver when the need arises. He wants  to have a surplus from which to select the works that are to be exhibited at Eccles Community Art Gallery from 10 March 2020.

I can only work in there when the temperature is 6C or above for technical reasons. The weather is uncommonly mild at the moment so I am siezing the chance before any frost arrives.

Again I am publishing most of my work in the archives until the new work comes online.

This is "Fishing Boats, Coverack", watercolour , 2004 (NFS)

 "Fishing Boats, Coverack", watercolour , 2004 (NFS)

Another Day at The Office!

Quite a successful day in my studio yesterday. I finished one painting and started another. I may have 3 finished, in total, by tomorrow night. Knife painting is much quicker than painting with a brush.

Of course, that isn't he aim but merely a by product of the method. It simply covers the canvas or other surface more quickly. Luckily I enjoy painting with a brush or knife equally.

Either way Curly Bob is happy to see more "stock" for my forthcoming exhibition.

Meanwhile here is another from the archive which is titled "Blasted Oak", oil on board, 40cm x 30cm , from 2008,  (SOLD)

"Blasted Oak", oil on board, 2008, (SOLD)

I plan to spend the weekend in my studio delving into the delights of knife painting. My first attempt yesterday was very satisfying and the results will be published as soon as the painting is dry enough to handle. There is something deeply therapeutic about moving mounds of paint and blending colours across the canvas. the effects are quite unlike those gained with a brush.

I have also been very busy this week. Promotion of my profile & Page on social networking continues, especially on Facebook.

The aim is to draw people from Facebook and this blog towards our shop on Etsy or Ebay. Direct sales are not the primary object . Rather we want to drive up the traffic levels on Etsy & Ebay.

People looking for paintings on Etsy or Ebay should then find us more easily.

If looking for my work on EBay UK search under "Vanbear7". I can't provide a direct link because each item is listed separately and the addresses change every month.

By looking on Etsy visitors will effectively be helping us raise money for donations without spending anything.

Meanwhile I am continuing to publish items from the archive whenever I get the chance. This one is called "Greek Island Church" , oil on canvas, 2004.

"Greek Island Church" , oil on canvas, 2004.

Curly Bob Has 600+ Friends on Facebook.!!

Curly Bob is over the moon, well over 600 Facebook friends actually. We are very grateful to everyone who has agreed to become his friend and follow his Curly Bob's Art Emporium page on Facebook. It all helps to raising our profile and eventually sell paintings, hopefully.

In keeping with working through the archive we now wish to share "Lighthouse, Evening Light #2", oil on canvas from 2013.

"Lighthouse, Evening Light #2", oil on canvas from 2013.

Curly Bob Makes 539 Friends on Facebook in a Month!!!

It's celebration time at Curly Bob's Art Emporium! When I informed Curly Bob of his new figures of friends & followers he immediately ordered a celebration

His backroom technical staff spared no expense(honestly!) in preparing a signed photograph from himself to thank all his friends around the world for showing interest in my work and supporting it by liking my home page and Curly Bob's Art Emporium page and following both.

We have decided to celebrate by posting his thank you photo and a work from the archive called
"Distant Hills, Jordan", an oil from 2011, 20in x 8 in (Donated)

"Distant Hills, Jordan", an oil from 2011, 20in x 8 in (Donated)

I have also posted photos from last nights celebration bash. I did not attend as I was busy painting.

It's A Date!!!

Greetings All,

I have now had final confirmation of the date of my March 2020 exhibition at Eccles Community Art Gallery.

I hang my work on Tuesday 10 march 2020 and it will run for 4 weeks from that date. The Gallery , as it is known locally, is open Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.( Please check their website or Facebook Page for latest times of opening)

The Gallery is easy to reach and is only a couple of mins from the Rail Station and Bus Station (see map)

All of my works displayed will NOT be on sale in our Etsy shop or on EBay UK. There will be a range of sizes and palettes used to suit all tastes and requirements.
There will also be be work by other artists which may be of interest.

This gallery is a very friendly space and there should be one or more artists in residence or available during each Tuesday, Friday and Saturday to answer any questions you may have including any commissions or just background knowledge about any of the works or their artists on display. I shall be there all 4 Saturdays with the times to be confirmed.

Meanwhile here is " Barn, Andalucia"oil on canvas from 2010.

Finished at Last!

I have been posting images of my work  that are for sale on Etsy in our new shop. Tonight's post is the last one and all 26 paintings are now in the public domain.

The next postings will be for works from the archive that which have all been sold.

Tonight's item is called "La Ferme et Jardin Sauvage( The Farm & Wild Garden)", acrylic on canvas, 2019. It was inspired by Le Jardin de Saint Andre in Villneuve Les Avignon, Provence". It measures 20in x 8in and is for sale in our Etsy shop and on Ebay. It is one of my favourite paintings.

"La Ferme et Jardin Sauvage( The Farm & Wild Garden)", acrylic on canvas, 2019

Plans are in place for March

Following further talks with Curly Bob  I have now decided the works I am going to create for my early March show at Eccles Community Art Gallery. The precise date of hanging is awaiting confirmation from the gallery.

It will be a change for me because I plan to paint on canvases of different sizes and my new plywood panels which I have acquired from Art Discount online art supplies.

Meanwhile here is a new work that was inspired by our annual holidays in Provence. It is titled
"Ferme a la Crepescule - Farm at Twilight", acrylic on canvas, 2019 and is also for sale in our Etsy shop.

"Ferme a la Crepescule - Farm at Twilight", acrylic on canvas, 2019

It's Not Long to The March Opening.

Curly Bob has reminded me that it is only 8 or 9 weeks to go before I open at Eccles Community Art Gallery for a 4 weeks . I think the idea was for me to get some painting done.

We have agreed that this time I shall use a variety of canvas sizes which I have in stock, having checked Bob's warehouse i.e. the loft. There have been several distractions this past few days mainly via the dentist but I am hoping for better things tomorrow onwards.

The latest work to be posted is called "Ogwen Valley, Autumn", acrylic on canvas, 2018 and is one of the remaining images that I have to list that will is for sale in our ETSY shop.

"Ogwen Valley, Autumn", acrylic on canvas, 2018

Preparation For March Exhibition is Ongoing!

I am now turning my attention to producing some works to be displayed in Eccles Community Art Gallery for most of March(Precise dates to be announced when confirmed).

I plan to paint a range of subjects mainly North Wales and Provence landscapes. These will be published as soon as they are ready to hang.

Meanwhile  I am publishing the second in a series of semi abstract works based around the concept of a fish. It is called "Petrified Fish", oil on canvas, 2019. It is for sale in our Etsy shop and on EBay in the name of Vanbear7, my ID on EBay UK.

"Petrified Fish", oil on canvas, 2019

Back To Work!

I am back in my studio working on several items which I plan to display in my exhibition at Eccles Community Art Gallery from March 2020.

I am normally chilled out (literally) from using it in the winter but the weather has been so mild I am busy working on larger canvases than I paint in the house.

This is another item that is for sale in our Etsy shop. It is called "Le Phare et L'Orage - The Lighthouse and the Storm", acrylic on canvas, 40cm x 30cm, 2019.

"Le Phare et L'Orage - The Lighthouse and the Storm", acrylic on canvas, 40cm x 30cm, 2019.

All Items For sale Now Listed!

We have set up a new "Gallery #2" which lists all items currently for sale in our Etsy shop also called "Curly bob's Art Emporium".

There are 26 at the time of writing with more in the pipeline before my next exhibition in March 2020 at Eccles Community Art Gallery but more about that later.

As other archived works are added they will be added to Gallery #3. All feedback very welcome and please don't forget to visit & like our page on Facebook. Any traffic there will help our profile and ultimately raise money for our causes.

Meanwhile here is another painting for sale in our Etsy shop. It is called "La Ferme (The Farm)" and is an acrylic painting on canvas, 40cm x 30cm, 2019. It was inspired by happy memories of Provence when we could travel there without fear of disruption by industrial action.

"La Ferme (The Farm)", acrylic on canvas, 2019

Happy New Year!

Well the party is over , for now. I wish you all a happy & Peaceful New Year while Curly Bob and his guests are sleeping it off.

I have chosen to get some work done by further promotion of my work. I have been going through my archives and there are a lot of works that can now be published. There are 6 or 7 more works to be listed  that are for sale on Etsy. After that we shall start on the archive.

This is called "Fossilised Fish" and is a mixed media work on canvas. From 2013 it was one of the last oil based paintings I did before switching to acrylics. It measures 50cm x 40cm(approx).

"Fossilised Fish", oil based mixed media, 2013

Curly Bob Needs More Friends!

Best Wishes to everyone for a peaceful & healthy 2020!

We had a business meeting today. Yes I know it's a holiday but Bob was insistent we approach
2020 in a more organised manner than 2019.

Our builders have left and my studio is now available for me to work so it is time to sort out our strategy. Being a bear that is up to speed with modern communications Bob sees Social Networking as the key to promoting our fundraising work.

He thinks we should be more pro active and reach out to find more friends and followers. He takes it personally that he doesn't have celebrity status on the web. So if there is anyone out there that is willing to be Bob's friend or follower he would be very grateful. We aren't asking for anyone to buy a painting but rather to help him raise his profile so we can raise money for good causes.

Please like his Facebook page. We have put my work onto Etsy, Ebay UK, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest and of course Google Blogger.

Thank you for any support you can give with your time. It's very much appreciated!

My festive period work is called "Godrevy Lighthouse, Impression", an acylic painting on canvas from 2019. It is for sale on our Etsy shop.

"Godrevy Lighthouse, Impression", an acylic painting on canvas, 2019

Work on the website progresses!

Things are becoming a bit stressed. Curly Bob called yet another management meeting to discuss our latest post. I tried to explain to him that between promotion on Social Networking and redesigning my website I am having little enough time to paint let alone attend more meetings.

Bob was having none of it and stressed the need for maximum effort to raise the profile of Curly Bob's Art Emporium on the internet. He has a publicity project for the New Year but details have yet to be revealed to me.

The website has been neglected for over a year due to technical reasons and medical issues. These are mainly resolved so a rebuild should be done by mid January 2020. I noticed an article somewhere last week discussing the balance between time  to be spent on promotion and time actually creating art but I haven't had time to read it yet!

The work we agreed to publish is called "Y Carneddau, Impression", and acrylic painting on canvas from 2019. It is 30cm x 30cm (approx) and is available in our Etsy shop.

"Y Carneddau, Impression", 2019

Merry Christmas to all our followers!

Curly Bob's annual Christmas Bash is in full swing. Copious amounts of alcohol, chocolate & honey are being consumed as I write this. I have again warned Bob & his guests that any repeat of the fiasco involving line dancing and bananas this year will not be viewed lightly.

I have left them all to it for a few hours. meanwhile I have decided to do a post during the festive period but looking forward to warmer days and holidays in France again. I have decided on " Les Deux Cabanons", acrylic on canvas from 2019. It measures 30cm x 40cm and is for sale in our Etsy shop.

" Les Deux Cabanons", acrylic on canvas from 2019

Santa Claus is on his way!

Curly Bob and his fellow bears are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus. While concluding our festive preparations we were discussing holiday locations for 2020 from an artistic point of view.

Bob felt that we all had many happy holidays staying at Coverack on the Lizard peninsula, Cornwall. The county has many  disused tin mine sites and one of the most spectacular locations was that of the Crowns Mines, Botallack, North Cornwall. Sadly we never actually made it to see it in person so I have had to paint it from a web photo which was inspirational in itself.

However I do have fond memories of many happy afternoons painting  the cliffs & sea at Pendeen which is a similar setting and I drew upon these memories when working on the painting.

This is "Crowns Mine, Botallack" , an acrylic painting on canvas which is available in my Etsy shop.

"Crowns Mine, Botallack" 

If you like this painting please visit my Facebook pages to like it there. Thank you.

Bad Weather in France

Curly Bob is still busy trying to convince floating voters in Rotten Borough that he is the right bear for the job.

At least having him out of the house allows me to get some painting in around other matters.

We holiday in France when we can and the Brittany coast is a great source of inspiration. Bob hates getting his fur wet so the storm scene I have painted was based on a photograph

It is titled " Le Phare et la Mer Orageuse -The Lighthouse and Stormy Sea"  an acrylic painting on 40cm x 30cm canvas which is for sale in my Etsy shop.

As always all profits to a worthy cause so please like my page on Facebook and on Etsy. It all helps!

"Le Phare et La Mer Orageuse - The Lighthouse & Stormy Sea", 2019