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Well. it’s Hogmany and not only another year, but the first decade of the millenium over already. Can it really be ten years ago that we were all worrying about the millenium bug, planes falling out of the sky and partying like it was 1999?

This decade, for me was marked by massive change. If anyone had told me ten years ago where I would be in 2009 I would not have believed them. Whatever the noughties held for you may  you have a fantastic twenty ten.

Through the holiday’s I have painted in the studio whenever I have been able to. It has been strange entering the building and a customer who visited commented on the eerie fee. Cafe Sejuiced is closed (see pic above). and there is a real “end of the year feel”.

Personally, I am enthusiastic about the New Year and have some really exciting things lined up including work with Braewell Gallery and I will be continuing to exhibit at Park Gallery amongst others: watch this space.

So, Happy New Year from this artist to you and yours.

It can be a funny old place the WASPS Artists studios , if you have read elsewhere on my website you will know that when I first started painting from there I described it as being like the empty hotel in the movie “The Shining”.

Over the past while though, things seem to have become a shade more sociable and we are even having an artists get together for Christmas. Wether or not anyone actually turns up is another matter.

Artist and ace signwriter Gillian Orr’s sign was rather humorously defaced today. The sign should read  “Bring some booze, yer guitar or sax (Jeff). Jeff McDonald is an artist and sax player, not known for his “sexiness” so Friday should be even more interesting.

I like it when there is a bit of light-heartedness around the studios and this sign is beaten only by the one on the loo door after it was marked as out of order which read “Toilet blocked…..eat more veg”

After the upset at the weekend with the stolen artwork (see below), today was a much happier day at the Wasps Artists Studios.

A few studios down from me, artist Gillian Orr was really getting into her stride with some new paintings of Angels……sounds corny, but they are fab. The office were getting ready for their big move to the new premises at the Briggait (not that we are all happy to see them go) and my new studio mate, Maureen Rocks-Moore got her keys.

I have been thinking of sharing the studio for a while. Lots of artists do it, some to split the rent and some just for company. For me it’s the latter. After several years which sometimes felt like solitary confinement, I decided it was time to move someone else in and when I heard that Moe was looking for a space, the descision was easy. Moe was in the year below me at college and is another Interior Designer turned painter.

I hope her dog(above) gets on with my Kilties and ladies with big hair.

It really has been a strange few weeks and a friend commented that there has not been the same amount of new art appearing on the site.

I guess that this is indeed the case but I am still painting.  There has been some personal upheaval including at the studio. I am working on several commissions at the moment, which I am thoroughly enjoying as well as some other new paintings in between .

Although I have been at the WASPS Artists Studios for 4 years now, I still feel

Abigail McLellan, "Anthurium"

a bit like the “new boy” as there are many artists who seem to have been there since art began! A couple of doors along from my studio are the studios of Alasdair Wallace and Abigail McLellan. I am quite a fan of Alasdair’s work and Abi was a familiar figure around the building. She was wheelchair bound for some time. Abigail died suddenly recently at only 40 years old and although I did not know her well, I do know that I will miss seeing her about the building and that her death was a huge shock to many of the other artists.

I wanted to mention Abigail in my blog and there is an excellent article in the Independent Newspaper which is worth a read.

Apologies. It’s over 2 weeks since I have posted a blog. One of those times when after the WASPS Open Studios there seems to have been lots going on when I expected some calm.

THere have been various after event chats and the Parade Artist’s group is also gearing up for the next exhibitions in November and December. It was during one of these chats in illustrator Teresa Flavin’s studio I snapped this pic. Teresa’s glass vases, a pretty dynamic daytime sky and some lovely Glasgow tower blocks. When will they pull these things down?

If you have read elsewhere in my blog you will know that I am a big fan of fellow painter, Joe O’Brien. Joe has his first solo show coming up shortly and when he had to get some paintings sent by a courier it was all hands on deck to keep the grumpy courier happy.

I did assist, honest, but just had to stop to snap Joe and Wasps artist Frank To getting to grips with the bubble wrap. Frank seems to think I am trying to mention him as much as I can in my blog just to improve my Google ranking as he is such a media darling. I would never do such a thing Frank To.

Elswhere, I have had a go at “Shamanic Reiki”. Possibly one of the more interesting experiences of my life to date but I am not going to go into it here for fear of it coming across all wrong and that would never do!

On the painting side, thanks for the emails asking where the new art is. I am painting. I have been working on several commissioned pieces of art and in between working on some new artwork which is just taking it’s own path really.

More new paintings soon.

It’s 10.55 pm and this slightly exhausted artist just wanted to log in and say a huge “Thank You” to everyone who turned up at the WASPS Open Studios Event this weekend. Thanks also to all of you who emailed with messages of support, it really was appreciated.

A huge amount of planning goes into making this event enjoyable for visitors and I would also like to thank the WASPS staf at Hanson Street, Frank To for the after event “bar” in his studio each night and a very special shout out to the wonderful Gillian Orr who really should have stopped what she was doing and go and sort her own studio rather than worry about everyone else.

It’s Gillian time……

No it’s not some crucifiction scene from an avant garde play and it’s not a burgler caught in the act.

The Open Studios event at WAPSPS may be an annual event but I have to admit that so too is cleaning my windows.

I am an incredibly messy painter and there is no point doing anything to the floor other than brushing it but giving the windows a clean is always a good idea.

Today though I found myself stuck with a heavy bucket of dirty water and had to be “rescued” by a fellow artist who found it all very amusing.

Nothing for it to put on my best silly grin