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EVENTS
‘Friday June 17 2011’.
Spent the day running a very successful workshop at St. James's School, in Exeter, Devon, for Infusionarts (www.infusionarts.org ). The students had been working on masks inspired by Nigerian masks, which were then painted in a pallette inspired by more contemporary artists. Then the mask images were used incorporating self portraits. I demonstrated techniques to help them create form, tonal effects, and to keep control of the paint. The results were very strong, despite them not being fully completed by the day's end. Impressive focus from the students and the assistance of staff made it a very enjoyable day. I love running workshops!
‘Gallery Curator Roxanne Matthews & Me, May 2011’.
Then the following Text: ‘First Artist Residency at the Cultural Heritage Centre, Arusha, Tanzania. Following a visit to the amazing gallery there in February (after climbing Mt Kilimanjaro) I was invited to be the first artist to spend a week there demonstrating my painting techniques, talking to visitors and selling work. It was a fantastic experience sharing my enthusiasm and inspiration with visitors fresh off safari, local school children and artists from around the world. I met the US Ambassador to Tanzania and an American Football team, drank rather too many sundowners at the expat country club, and had to escape a group of angry and enebriated Maasai elders! Quite a trip.... ‘
‘Me, The Ambassador and Saif Khanbhai, Cultural Heritage Centre, Arusha, Tanzania, May 2011.
It was a pleasure to meet Mr Alfonso E. Lenhardt, the US Abassador to Tanzania. Warm and friendly, he also had the gravitas and authority that goes with his position. He reminded me of the Hollywood US Presidents in disaster movies!(in a good way) On the right is the Director of Arusha’s Cultural Heritage centre, Mr Saif Khanbhai. A well known businessman in the area, Saif is the driving force behind the gallery, restaurants and antique centre, and is also an expert in the rare gemstone Tanzanite.’
‘Shirley Peters buys Mister Thinker’
‘Canadian and now local Resident Shirley Peters bought a limited edition (the first one of one hundred) of Mister Thinker. So full of energy and enthusiasm, Shirley invited me and my partner to her land where, with her husband Daryll she is building Dashir Lodge, a luxury lodge and a number of roundels for her future guests. Its a beautiful site with stunning views of nearby Mt. Meru and Kilimanjaro. Can’t wait to some and stay guys!’
‘Me and the Zanzibar Girl’
‘This portrait of a young girl in Zanzibar was painted during my residency in Arusha. It was based on a photo, which I stopped looking at earlier than I normally wood. It was painted in Acrylic and has the sort of painterly quality I have been seeking in my acrylic work. The inspirational space, and the energy of painting it while standing really made a difference. The original is for sale at the Cultural Heritage Centre, Arusha.
‘20 Minute Elephants’
These are two of the demonstrations I did for local school St Jude’s. I enjoyed the process and sharing my enthusiasm with the children. I felt so alive as I forged ahead with each stage, finishing the pictures in just 20 minutes. If Rolf Harris had been there I’d have given him a hug for the inspiration!’
'My Desloate Self and Myself'
South West Academy Exhibition 2009 This self-portrait was entered for judging in the 2009 BP Portrait Award. Unfortunately it wasn’t shortlisted for the exhibition- but I got a letter from the organisers stressing that it did get through to the “2nd Round.” This was very encouraging and beats a flat rejection!
'Greg MJ & JJ at Mamas 2009'.
In the summer of 2009 I painted this mural at Mama Stones new Live Music venue in Exeter, just weeks after the world lost one of its greatest entertainers. It was part tribute, and partly a thank you to Joss Stone's mum Wendy and her husband Jonathan Joseph after I attended one of their excellent performance and recording weeks. I'm now a singer in two bands!
'Pip McGarry and Greg Wellman at MIWAS Exhib 2009'
I entered two works into the Marwell International Wildlife Art Society's annual exhibition at Marwell Hall in 2009.
Here's me with Chairman Pip McGarry, renowned wildlife artist.
MIWAS is Europe's largest wildlife art society, and the exhibition was a great success despite the recession!'