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Sue's News - For updates, special offers, class info and an insight into what's going on in my world For your ease of navigation, all underlined text is a clickable link to the relevant page APRIL NEWS
Just a quicky to let you know that all e-mail enquiries, ansa machine messages and Free DVD requests, plus orders received after 10.00am today (28th April) will be processed promptly on 4th May. Until then, if there's anything particularly urgent I can be contacted on my mobile: 079500 32557  Very soon my duties will be slightly different. I will become a quality controller for a few days. Kicking and screaming I will be dragged away from my paints, brushes and canvas. I'll be forced to endure a 2 hour flight to warmer climes. I'll tolerate the sunshine and all the harm it does to your skin. I'll put up with local cuisine made from organically grown produce and even test the local produced wine. I've been ordered to dig out my beachware and sun cream and sunglasses. And why am I going to such great lengths I hear you  ask? Well, someone's got to check out the venue for the Alentejo Experience Painting Holiday and I guess it's gonna be me. Although the venue has it's own website I would like to check out all the area has to offer first hand. There's just a few final points to iron out and I hope upon my return to UK I can put together a webpage for this exciting Painting Holiday. For those of you eager to know the destination you can find details HERE . Now.............where's that sarong?
 As promised, the new floral brushes are here. Darrell kindly supplied this soft 3/4 inch wide flat brush for the recent floral workshops and I've just managed to add plenty more to my stock. This 3/4 inch brush and the half inch soft floral flat brush were the only floral brushes needed to complete the Roses and Poppy floral project. They are great for both petals and foliage. They can now be purchased from my supplies page for just £4.50 each which includes postage and packing. You can make quite a saving when comparing these to the badger floral brushes, they do the job just fine.
  2 Buddies decided to take a day off work and treat themselves to a day out at AyoubArt. Evelyn and Karen booked a 'joint' private lesson. I can take up to 2 people for these private lessons and sometimes it's nice to share the experience with a mate. Karen has painted with me before and Evelyn was totally new to oil painting. As the good weather is still with us we enjoyed our lunch outside on the patio to the sound of birds singing. 5 hours later both girls left with wonderful and very different versions of 'New Day'.
There's just one space left on the 'Lakeland Walk' Painting Class being held in the Green Room, Stowmarket, on Saturday May 19th from 10.00am. The 'Sunbeams' Painting Class in Capel Village Hall on May 20th is also filling up quite quickly. Already 'Sunbeams' is proving to be a very popular painting. I made another 2 versions of this painting over the weekend, one is now displayed in Heartlands and one is a miniature version which is currently drying out on my mantlepiece. I'll take the miniature version along with me to painting classes so that students can see that not everything has to be on a 16 x 20 inch canvas.   I was actually born just 3 miles from Gipping Wood and spent many a summer as a kid going for long walks and picnics and fishing adventures and bike rides in the Gipping area. As I drove towards Marion's I was remembering old friends and the innocent fun we used to have. My visit with Marion was quite nostalgic and as I left I decided to drive around some of the areas that hold very fond memories for me. I passed fields where I used to go pea-picking for pocket money. I drove down hills that we used to speed down on our bikes. Here on the left you can see the Ranny Lane Bridge. This used to be a great place for stickle-back fishing and I don't think we ever returned home with dry feet after wading through the river and walking under the bridge. On the left you will see some rape fields. This is where myself and my buddies used to walk the dogs, enjoy picnics of Cheese and Onion Crisps & cans of limeade and make daisy chains. Ahhhhhhhh. Who'd have thought that 8 year old girl would return 40 years later to take snaps for her website?
 I had an added surprise this afternoon. Marion asked me if I had a few minutes to spare as she wanted to show me something. We set off in her car along the country lane and parked under a large old oak tree. We headed off down a track leading into nearby Gipping Woods. Marion ducked and darted between some bushes instructing me to follow her. I don't know what was prettier, the sight in front of me or the smell! We spent a good 20 minutes wandering around this beautiful little copse taking photos and enjoying nature in all it's beauty. What an inspirational place to have on your doorstep.
 It's the 4th consecutive week of fabulous weather and I was enjoying the sunshine in the most beautiful location today. At the edge of Gipping, near Stowmarket, is the most beautiful painting location and venue. 'Heartlands' is set in farm grounds in rural Suffolk. As I sat with Marion, enjoying a tea break, the sun was bright and warm and we were silent for a while just enjoying the bird song and the beautiful views. We have set a new class date for Tuesday 22nd May and our painting subject will be 'Sunbeams'. The class will start at 10.00am and will finish around 3.30pm. If you'd like to attend this class, please call me on 01473 311938, e-mail me on info@ayoubart.co.uk or telephone Marion direct on 01449 771234. Marion will also be happy to give you easy directions to this rural and open retreat.
 I've just updated the Apollo Studio Accomodation page to include an image of the single bedroom. At the moment there's the most gorgeous fragrance filtering in through the bedroom window as a lilac tree stands right outside. It's currently in full bloom and we noticed the heady scent as we returned from yesterday's class. This really is a cosy and bright little bedroom. It also gives extra storage space for your belongings, plus the door is lockable for extra security.
Week 16: 16th April to 22nd April, 2007  One of the student's at today's class had received an AyoubArt Painting Class Gift Voucher for her birthday a few days ago. (Her hubby had pre-booked her into today's class in advance). Julie wasn't quite convinced that the mountain scene was for beginners and was a touch sceptical. However, once colour was applied to the canvas and the clouds were worked in she began to see just how easy this technique really is. You can see the concentration on her face here as she works on some foreground foliage. Her painting was finished off nicely with a beautiful oak and gold effect frame and really did look a treat. I did warn her not to let onto her family just how easy this painting was. In fact I suggested she should walk in with her masterpiece, collapse into the nearest armchair with hand to brow and exclaim she was exhausted and insist upon hot tea and biscuits whilst her family marvelled at her work.
 This morning as I was putting away some laundry I smiled to myself. For the last 20 odd years my work uniform in the legal industry has been suit and boot. Today I noticed that my laundry consisted of paint splattered t-shirts and army fatigues and jeans, all smelling fresh and clean yet tarnished none the less. My seperate drawer for work clothes is growing at an alarming rate. Maybe it's time to get rid of those suits to make way for the more casual and relaxed form of attire I have now adopted in this career.
 Hoorah - I've just returned from a fabulous class in Stowmarket and logged onto my PC to find the images have been restored! Now I can update my Painting Classes timetable and over the next few days I'll post some of the snaps taken at the Darrell Crow workshops. At today's class it was lovely to meet some familiar faces and great to meet the newcomers as well. There were some absolutely wonderful versions of 'The Last Frost' and the students really made it their own. Amongst the newcomers present was a lady, Marion, who was a fellow classmate of mine at school 'x' number of years ago. Marion has a venue which I will be checking out in a few days and we hope to be conducting further classes there soon. More on that next week. Meanwhile, here's a snap of 'Sunbeams'. You can see a larger image of this on the Class Subject's page. We'll be painting this in June at Stowmarket and in May in Capel.
I am still unable to upload images to the website and it seems I now have gremlins on my home page. My forum was briefly out of order today too. That was easily rectified after a couple of e-mails and service to Sue's Arty Party is now fully restored. I have several images from the Darrell Crow classes to post here and some new painting class subjects, so I shall be busy once the facility is back to normal. The lads in IT are absolutely marvellous and it's nice to pick up a phone to them to discuss the problem. However, it'll be nicer once their engineers have fixed the blip. Still, the break from the PC has given me a chance to catch up with my stock take, place some orders, clear my despatches and cover all my palettes with greaseproof paper ready for the weekend. No rest for the wicked, is there? Today we have a surprised chap returning home with a rather lovely creation based on the 'Sunbeams' painting. As we were painting 'one on one' I was able to gauge his skills and quickly adapt to maximise his full potential. We tackled this painting in a very different way with wonderful results. Robert initially wanted to learn to paint abstracts and we managed to set up another canvas at the end of our session and practise a variety of effects that he can use for abstract work. I'm so pleased with the finished result of this painting, with it's extras, that I think I will have this as the class subject for the May 20th class in Capel Village Hall and June 2nd class in Stowmarket Green Room. Now, if only my images were working I'd be able to show you all :( Last Friday, Darrell introduced us to a new brush ideal for florals. A very soft and flexible 3/4 inch flat. I will stock this item very soon, so that's another thing to look out for. I also have some wonderful new flats and filberts which I have been testing at home and in my private classes. They seem to be working very, very well indeed. Darrell too tried out a few during his stay and found them to be really good. I never add items on my website without putting them through their paces first. Tools need to be tested by myself, by other students and if possible, by Darrell himself. Hopefully in the next few weeks we'll have an even wider choice of brushes for sale. As usual, the prices will not break the bank either. After an exciting week, things today are returning to normal for both myself and Darrell. We will finalise some new dates for more Darrell Crow workshops in the UK for October 2007. These workshops will include (hold onto your seats.................) a 2 day workshop for Tall Ships. Further details, when available, will be posted here, Sue's Arty Party , and the Class Timetable pages. I'd just like to say, thanks to the students who attended the recent workshops. You all really made Darrell feel very welcome and at home here. Several of you helped with the setting up and clearing away at the classes too, which is always a bonus for us. Thanks again. I am posting an unfortunate entry on this news page. It's an announcement from Darrell Crow and copied from his recent newsletter: QUOTE 'I’ve recently come to learn that several individuals, thinking they were buying DVDs from Darrell Crow Studios, were the victims of fraud. If anyone has purchased on eBay or from the following addresses, website, or individual(s) the Basic Techniques of Oil Painting from David and/or Shamin Brown of 28 Rosina Way, Penwithick, Cornwall, PL26 8TS, UK. e-mail address: david-mimi@tiscali.co.uk, website: www.wow-oils.com, Mobile telephone number: 07988 596068 or alternate telephone: 44 1726858380, please contact my representative, Susan Warne, ayoub_art@hotmail.com Thanks.' UNQUOTE  We have managed to squeeze in a couple of hours leisure time. The day has been so glorious we just had to take advantage and drive through the countryside taking in the sights. Darrell took plenty of photos and was especially taken with the bright yellow rape seed fields, which are in full bloom at the moment. We then took a scenic drive to Kersey, where the river flows over the road. Nearby is the historic tudor village of Lavenham. It was the perfect place to stop for refreshments before exploring the famous Church. It must have been our day. Whilst we were in the Church a chap walked in, headed straight for the pipe organ and sat and played for several minutes. He actually played the theme tune to the Vicar of Dibley (that's Bishop of Diddley to those of you living in Portugal). The cherry on the cake was the glorious Suffolk sunset in our sights on the way home. A special bonus was Darrell's recipe to mix the various colours showing in the sky.
Apologies to you all. There's a blip with the website and yesterday's image cannot be viewed (yet). People are working on this at the moment and normal service will resume very soon. Yesterday's class was a scorcher and the final of the 3 workshops. At the end of the day we ushered Darrell into the adjacent bar for a well earned rest whilst we cleared away for the final time. Afterwards we decided to join Darrell for a quick celebratory refreshment and one pint lead to another........ as it does. Once home, we retired to the patio and chilled out in the peacefulness of the countryside. Alan and Darrell even got their binoculars out to study the view. It seemed such a good place to sit, we decided to have our dinner outside. With several candles dotted around and the garden lights on it was a wonderful atmosphere to chill out. As night drew in and with the binoculars still on the table the boys decided to home into a few stars.........but after realising the 'white dots' just became 'bigger white dots' they soon gave up on this idea and started telling jokes. A wonderful end to a wonderful 3 busy days. Week 15: 9th April to 15th April, 2007  This glorious weather really peaked today with sunshine all day long. A perfect atmosphere to paint today's seascape, 'Morning at La Corbiere' (or Cold Beer, as Darrell likes to pronounce it). One thing I have noticed over the last 2 days of painting, just a few colours are used on the palette, with several of the colours needed being mixed by the students themselves. I don't think anyone ever needs to purchase a turquoise tube of paint as it can be made in seconds. Student's also notice that brush cleaning is kept to a minimum too. It's nice to not only learn to make a painting but to also pick up some tips that will save time and money when you paint at home. We're also getting an exclusive here in the UK as this is the first time these painting subjects have been taught to anyone, anywhere. Here's one student's almost completed painting.
 Yesterday's class '2 Roses & Poppy' was challenging and great fun. At one stage we were ahead of schedule but we went a little over time on the roses. Darrell made absolutely sure that everyone received the individual attention they needed from him to make their paintings just right. I think most people would agree that they learned a lot. (Myself included especially). Alan isn't a particular fan of the Florals but as soon as he saw Darrell make a yellow rose come to life from a scrubbed in background he was converted well and truly. In fact he brought the subject up several times after the event and told Darrell how impressed he was with the effects. There's a special surprise, Darrell Crow Style, for everyone present at yesterday's class. You will be among the first to receive a complimentary copy of the DVD of this painting project as soon as it is released. Those present at today's seascape class will receive the same free bonus seascape DVD and the same applies to those attending the snowscape on Sunday. (David, we're not going to need my notes after all). The day was rounded off with a great meal in town and I don't think any of us needed rocking to sleep. It was great for me to finally meet in person some Sue's Arty Party forum members. And guess what? We've got to do it all again today.
Well, I have just been witness to the most bizarre 'fashion show' ever! Darrell, as you know, is well known for his trademark black stetson. A very handy piece of attire to wear when you want to stand out in the crowd at the arrivals area of Heathrow. This trip Darrell's brought over a wider variety of head wear. Now, unbeknown to Darrell, Alan is quite the 'hat' man too. We've had an episode here that can only be described as a kind of hat poker. Imagine this - high noon - hats at the ready for the play off. I'll see your fedora and raise you with a flat cap. I'll see that flat cap and throw in the beret plus a baseball cap....... together they've gone through about 20 hats together. Mad. The pair of them. And they both encourage each other. The mailman brought Darrell a few surprises this morning. I recognised the style of envelopes so I have a good idea who the packages are from. Be sure to know, guys, that Darrell's packages await him in his room. No doubt he'll open these after dinner this evening. I have some last minute fussing and shopping to do before setting off for the airport this afternoon. Life is not going to be the same for the next week, that's for sure.  Well folks, this is the week many of us have been waiting for - the Darrell Crow workshops. I've managed to stop one excited lady from making a 200 mile journey a week early. We're very much looking forward to having Darrell with us and although we will have a lot of hard work ahead of us, we will also have a lot of fun doing it. We're trying to get all our chores out of the way so we can spend the maximum time with Darrell as possible. Luckily the weather has been very much in our favour and our trimmed and tidy garden looks a treat. The Apollo Studio is now finished and furnished too. It's the last day of the Needham Market Exhibition today also, let's hope this good weather has encouraged lots of people along to the show. Hopefully they'll have raised plenty for their charitable causes.
Week 14: 2nd April to 8th April, 2007 After a hard day's work the Apollo Studio now has a seperate, freshly decorated bedroom. As soon as the finishing touches are completed I will take some photos for the Accomodation webpage. When this room was an office, it contained, among other things, a rather large electronic keyboard. The keyboard hadn't been played in at least 3 years and actually was being used as a surface to store paperwork. I've been saying for ages that the keyboard should be moved to the loft as a) it isn't used, b) it's too nice to sell and c) it takes up a lot of room. This keyboard was the last thing to be taken out of the room.................but before it went we couldn't resist plugging it in and having a go. Well, this episode must have lasted almost an hour with both of us showing off to the other. Alan enjoyed making all the 'Floyd' effects and adjusting the settings so it virtually played itself........I asked him to set the controls for the heart of the sun and promptly played 'On the Turning Away', one of Alan's favourite Floyd numbers. 'I didn't know you could play that.......?' he said. 'Nor did I', I replied...... Playing music, to me, is like drawing a portrait. If you're in the mood it will come out right, if you're not, it won't. I play by ear. My saxaphone teacher had more luck teaching me to play when we stood back to back than when I had sheet music in front of me. If I could get the first note right, the rest would follow just by judging how much higher or lower the subsequent notes were. So, to cut a short story long, the keyboard is being moved to the new office area along with my saxapohone. Heaven help the neighbours! I have had a very busy and exciting afternoon. Firstly it was wonderful to drive around with sunroof and windows open, the sun shining in, sunglasses on, music playing wearing just a light t-shirt and jeans, (even if I did get lost). Secondly I have been visiting with Val, a student of mine who lives in East Bergholt. Val is organising a fund raising art demo in May. As a result of my visit I have just booked one of the most perfect little venues for a painting class. I shall be holding an oil painting class on Wednesday 30th May in the Lambe School, East Bergholt. What's so special about this venue I hear you ask? Well, apart from being the birthplace of John Constable, it's set in a very pretty traditional 'Chocolate Box' village, it's also just few yards from Constable's first studio. Lambe School is a very old school house which is just used for public functions these days. It has several rustic and traditional features and has excellent facilites and car park. It's the ideal place to arrive early as you can park up and walk around the village and take in the sights and the history. My students and I will be painting just a short distance from where Constable himself sat at an easel. Now that's something, isn't it?  You never know what you're going to get through the letterbox, especially with some of the members of my Sue's Arty Party Forum This morning was no exception...........2 rather bulky packages were left on the doorstep. One of them I was expecting (thanks Jill) and the other was a surprise. It seems someone wants to make sure that I (and 3 other ladies) have some chocolate to eat over Easter. Many thanks and a big 'Ayup' to the Easter Bunny for his very kind gesture. Remember folks, the best things in life are still sweet and gooey!
I think I've seen (and heard) it all now. At last night's fabulous Australian Pink Floyd gig I enjoyed watching their saxophonist play the bass, tenor, alto and soprano saxophone. Not only that.........his alto sax was pink! Nice touch. My own sax still sits in a cupboard under the stairs and it takes concerts like this to make me want to get it out again. So, sometime this afternoon I shall dig it out and give it a complete overhaul, dusting the levers and polishing the brass. Now that I have just a little more time on my hands I'm sure I can manage some practise at least 3 times a week. You can be sure that the cats will cry to be let out when I play. It's great having a huge stock of frames, but it does mean that I get pretty much spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting a few for myself. This afternoon I've framed, strung and labelled several paintings ready for the Easter Exhibition in Needham Market. It's nice to take my time and try different paintings in different frames for effect. They were all delivered at the venue and my timing was perfect as it was easy to park with no queues. Sometimes it's been known for us artists to queue for some considerable time whilst booking in paintings. The prep work has been started and it looks like we will be busy over the Easter Break. Something we've been meaning to do for a long time, but the job seemed so massive that we've put it off. A major re-shuffle at home is called for, which will give the Apollo Studio a completely seperate bedroom. We'll be moving the downstairs office, (which currently is a locked room off the Apollo Studio living area) and we'll be installing a single bed, wardrobe and chest of drawers in there instead. For singles staying in the Apollo Studio, this will mean you get to keep your living area intact rather than opening and closing the double bed-settee. Also, I occasionally receive enquiries from pairs of students who do not wish to share a double bed. This now means there will be 2 sleeping areas. That's the easy bit - we've got to decorate, re-wire the telephone/internet connection and sift through 6 years of old paperwork and we'd like to get it done before Darrell arrives next week. Gulp!!
 Yesterday Darrell reminded me of an interesting statistic. The day he lands in the UK will be the one year 'anniversary' of when he first made contact with me. As Darrell himself says 'What a year it's been!' I couldn't agree more. If you scan down my Guestbook you will see an entry from the man himself made on 12th April '06. Last night we were having a family dinner and Stef, who is normally away at weekends, was asking for the dates that Darrell would be visiting. She wants to re-arrange her schedule so she is most definately here during the whole of Darrell's visit. He did adopt her back in September and she is referred to as his 'other daughter'. He's the one man who encouraged Stef into taking a class with him, something I've not been able to do. She produced the most wonderful floral painting which is now hung in pride of place in her new bedroom.
Week 13: 1st April, 2007  The first e-mail I opened today was, in the words of Bruce Almighty, 'Bee Eee Aay Yootiful'. A little while ago Darrell Crow asked me to send him some images of a British lighthouse so he could design his seascape workshop here in UK on something close to home. The e-mail I received contained the image of the painting we will be doing on Saturday 14th April. It's La Corbiere Lighthouse in the Channel Islands and I'm sure you'll agree this pretty seascape, with a contrast of subtle blues and pinks against the bold rocks really does make for a great composition. I still have availability on this class so if you'd like to return home on Saturday night with your own version of this seascape please contact me on 01473 311938 or info@ayoubart.co.uk . These workshops are aimed at beginners with no previous experience in oil painting required at all. So, if you'd like to learn to oil paint under the guidance of our American Master I know he'd like to prove to you that 'Yes, you CAN oil paint'. You can see a larger and more detailed image of this painting on the Class Subjects page.
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Copyright © 2003-2008 Susan Warne. Arts Council / Wet on Wet Classes /Apollo Studio Accomodation / Darrell Crow Studios
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