Crawshawbooth paintings

Earlier this year I was commissioned to paint some scenes of Crawshawbooth in Rossendale. It was nice to focus my attention on the area where I grew up. Rossendale is full of terraced houses built in fabulous sandstone. As soon as I started to paint I could feel memories start to flood back, just from the colour of a stone or the shape of a window. I painted 9 paintings in all, many of them catching the low lying mist of the valley in winter. I felt that as I progressed my palette improved and I really captured the colours and atmosphere of that small part of the valley.

I am know looking to paint some more of Rossendale, maybe starting in Stacksteads where I lived the first 10years of my life.

Of the 9 paintings 7 have now sold to private collectors and the remaining two will hopefully help me secure an exhibition at the Haworth Art Gallery in Accrington later next year. I may also make available some limited edition prints of the paintings.

The snow has just eased and I may venture out into the Xmas madness to continue my studio move.

NEW Studio Arrives!!

After a long wait and much deliberating the new studio arrives, I planned this 5 years ago when I first moved here! Any way it is in and up!! MBT installations from Halifax came to build it after i had been let down. They arrived at 8am and the cabin was up by 2.30pm amazing!

So now begins the process of moving from my old place..started today in full snow and ice, didn't realise how many paintings I have! I have been at the current studio 5 years and it shows! I will have to be super ruthless with my work only saving what I think is important. Tempting to do a Bacon and just destroy all of it and forge ahead with new work! something tells me this would be foolish but is so tempting.

Other news is that I have spoken with the SAU unit at Hope Hospital and they would like to exhibit my remaining six Salford as it is paintings. Just need to type up a proposal and get the ball rolling...

Concrete Delivery!

This is the concrete delivery system I built for the base of my new studio!, a chute from the top layer then barrow across next on and then over the wall and into the frame! It took me and two lads 1hr 30mins of constant barrowin to move 5m cubed or 10 tonne!! Absolutely knackered afterwards and then had the joy of going to the dentist afterwards!!

The base was then tampered buy my chief navvy and I (mum) and left to go off! typically it was the only frosty night we've had , but seems to be fine!!

Publish Post

Studio will be delivered next Thursday and built on Sat , Sun! cant wait to get in, have started some new Newcastle paintings as all of my Rossendale paintings have now sold!!

GUY FAWKES INN YORK "good fish crap coffee"

This is the birthplace of Guy Fawkes, or so they say, me being somewhat of a cynic. Called in here on a recent trip to York. The rain was pouring and we had just climbed 275 steps to get to the top of York Minster and so needed a drink! Inside was an open fire and candles on every table giving a real boutique feel to the inn. We ordered Fish and chips and were suprised by the enormity of the fish definitely 9/10 and as a bonus there was a beer festival on! So a quick pint of Gut Fawkes and back on the road!

Later that night we had eaten out and really fancied an irish coffee, so we called in and asked at the bar , the bar staff looked a little bemused (ive worked in catering and know that when one goes out more are sure to follow!)but said thay could do them. 10minutes later and a cappuccino with a shot of whisky in!! no cream just frothy milk! God Awful! So swapped for another pint of Guy Fawkes and Back on the road!!

Guy Fawkes good fish crap coffee!

Temporary Measures

Just found this picture of my temporary Studio!, this is the green house at the bottom of my garden which has been one of the most productive spaces Ive ever worked in! My Studio aquaintances are not artists but insects and offer little distraction (maybe thats the secret!). Only problem being when the light is on it becomes a giant beacon for every flying insect in the area!! I thought that we didnt get many big bugs but some of these moths are huge! and believe me when you are painting and two moths decide to enter your 8foot by six foot space It can be a little Hectic!

My allies are three large spiders that are getting increasingly fatter as I work later!

Welcome to My Blog

~Welcome to my Blog.
Today I took down the Six of the 12 paintings I was exhibiting at Hope Hospital, the paintings had been on display for eighteen months. I had some fantastic feedback from the exhibition and wished they could have been up longer. The remaining six paintings have now been donated to Hope hospital to remain on permanent public display.

The paintings are going to be added to my website shop for sale, until I can arrange for another venue to exhibit them. To view them please visit http://www.jamesbloomfield.co.uk.

I am also in the process of moving from my current studio , this is quite a daunting task!! My new studio is'nt built yet and I have till the end of December! Ah well a bit of pressure never did no harm!