Well after a good beginning to the year with top secret missions to Birmingham and London, I am now in full output mode for the month of March painting away as though my life depends on it. I guess my life does depend on painting in a manner of speaking because I intend for this to be a good source of income. I have to say as a believer though, God is my source and on Him I depend.

Nevertheless I am required to do my bit with the good Lord having established the works of my hands, said hands are furiously busy, making stretchers, sanding, priming, painting and more of the same.

This month I hope to take part in ArtExpo New York. This is arguably the largest art exhbition in New York and even though it is targeted mostly at galleries, they have a section for solo artists. Seiwa and I have stepped out in faith and are believing that the funding will come through at the right moment for us to get on that plane along with about 10 paintings a-piece for the show. I have had success at ArtExpo in 2008 managing to sell 5 of the 8 paintings I took with me. Even though sales were good, my first time experience meant I could only break even after totting up my travel, hotel and shipping expenses. Nevertheless it was a good experience and one that stands me in good stead for this month’s show.

My booth at ArtExpo NY 2008 (c) Anne Blankson-Hemans

So what else? Well I am producing works for a number of exhibitions and competitions. Secretly (between you and me) I would love to win some of these competitions as the prizes are worth the letter home but acceptance into the exhibition must come first. So as my portrait of George dries in one corner for the BP Portrait Award and another waits patiently for hopeful acceptance of a shortlist to the Liverpool John Moore’s painting  prize, 3 other portraits of Seiwa, Lorraine and the African Woman have gained pre-selection to the Royal Portrait Society‘s annual exhibition. Whilst I await the handing in dates for those, I must now focus on a couple of shows in April and May. You got to be in it to win it right?

My online gallery have kindly invited me to take part in a 3 man (or should I say 3 person?) exhibition at the Malvern Theatres early April and I am busy preparing for this. Next month, I must put 4 paintings forward for the Society of Women Artists annual exhibition and in May my local art society are holding a themed exhibition at Delapre Abbey to raise funds for the Friends of Delapre Abbey. I have some great (yeah yeah) paintings for this show after walking nearly 10 miles in the snow earlier this year. Let us hope the work of my legs (as well as my hands) is greatly established in some well deserved sales.

So here we are, Monday morning the 5th of March; our lovely postie has just delivered my daily supply of  junk mail and thankfully there are no bills or letters to worry about at least for today and concerning these matters, I must take each day as it comes. I must plod on. I will give you a sneak preview into my studio (aka my kitchen) by video as soon as I have time to make one.

So toodle doo! Have a fab week and God bless us and continue to prosper us all.