Yvonne Ayoub Art

Last Post (of the year, that is)

2012-12-31T15:15:00.000+00:00

So here we are, it's the last day of the year 2012 and now that there's a bit of a lull (with Christmas over and the New Year festivities yet to commence) there's just enough time to fit in a final post.

What a wonderful 'family' Christmas it's been! I always find it so hard to get any actual painting or writing done during the holidays but I have managed a couple of commissions and cards:

and there have been plenty of opportunities to get creative in other ways:

As well as having to be very creative with the budget; finding (or making) and wrapping just the 'right' gifts, stocking the fridge and larder to capacity to ensure everyone has enough of their favourites to eat,

there's been the house to decorate; outside, with the door wreath and twinkly lights, and in, with the table top floral centre pieces, decking the halls (the balustrades) with holly and mistletoe:

and of course the all-important star of the show; the Christmas tree!

That our 'children' are all grown up now changes nothing; they still expect all the traditional elements of Christmas magic to fill the house and the very fact they are happy (and, thankfully, able) to spend the holidays at home with us at all, fires me up with boundless energy and enthusiasm to ensure no-one will feel disappointed.

Inspiration for the Christmas spirit has come in bucket loads; from the many kindnesses of friends and neighbours, - including next door's very fat and cuddly cat. Paw-Paw, who took up residence and simply refused to leave:

From the countless cards and greetings that have poured in from around the globe - and through the wonders of social media, over the internet too - which I'm afraid I myself succumbed to this year:

From many of the heart-warming films, dramas and Christmas 'Specials' that have filled our TV screens and sitting rooms with both laughter and tears throughout the season (including the thrill of seeing my daughter on the popular TV show 'Britain's Best Bakery':

From trips to the theatre:

the highlight of which was Matthew Bourne's simply magical new Ballet:

And finally from seeing all the beautifully decorated streets, shops and markets of this wonderful city I feel so fortunate to call home:

By the end of the Christmas Dinner, when I could finally loosen the waist band, kick off my pinching shoes, and sit back, I looked around at all the smiling, contented faces gathered around the table:

and my heart filled to bursting with joy and gratitude; all the stress of weeks of meticulous planning, endless traipsing to the shops and late nights, up to my elbows in Christmas lights, flour or sticky tape, simply melted away.....One thought prevailed above all else; 'Gosh! How lucky am I?' while remembering absent friends and departed loved ones:

and offering thoughts and prayers for those less fortunate:

Of course, like everyone else, I'm sure, I've over-spent, over-shopped and, most certainly, over-indulged....but, hey, I can worry about all that next year. Today is a day I love because I can eat the very last of the mince pies, the Christmas cake and the chocolates totally guilt free as the diet doesn't start till tomorrow.....and I know, with a tweak or two, the camera CAN lie, thankfully! (suck in those chubby cheeks, Yvonne)

But Ah tomorrow, that special day, full of promise for a fresh start....a new beginning of a brand New Year. Who knows what it will bring? My lovely new wall calendar from 'Nostalgia at the Stone House' is waiting to be filled:

What I do know is that from the outset it will be filled with good intentions and probably impossible-to-keep resolutions.....My only hope is that, for once, I'll actually be able to stick to them!

No, that's not my only hope of course! Above all else, I wish for a Healthy and Peaceful future.... for the whole planet....and, more specifically, for my loved ones and all my wonderful friends.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

The Perfect Gift!

2012-11-08T14:56:00.000+00:00

The weeks leading up to Christmas are always a busy time for me. Preparing for the forth-coming festivities apart, it's also when I receive quite a few commissions - all of which have to be completed in plenty time to be shipped, gift-wrapped and placed under the client's Christmas tree.

Giving original art is a wonderful idea for those looking for the perfect but personal present. I never know what I'm going to be asked to do but portraits of people, houses and pets are the most common requests. However sometimes it's something more unusual - and I always enjoy a challenge!

This latest work, just completed, is a first for me; it's a painting in acrylics, of an ocean going Merchant Navy ship, the 'Amalric', for a young man who wanted a very special gift for his grandfather who had served many years on this particular vessel in the Pacific:

(click on image to enlarge)

I was provided with an old photo to work from but being so old and over-exposed, much of the detail (especially in the white areas) was missing. This lead to a few hours research on the internet to see if I could find any other images and luckily I did. Although they were mostly in black and white and from a wide variety of angles, collectively, they provided enough information for me to work with:

I knew I'd have to be as accurate as possible with the aspects of totally alien (to me!) things such gantries and rigging etc and throughout the process I learned not only about the workings of these majestic ships but also much about their history. A whole world I knew nothing about suddenly opened up to me and the entire experience has been as enriching and enjoyable as making the painting itself.

I hope the grandfather will be pleased with his gift....I would love to meet him one day and hear all about is seafaring experiences (I'm sure he has some wonderful stories to tell!) and, this being 'Remembrance Week' it seems a fitting time to be remembering our grandfathers (and grandmothers too!) and the colourful lives they've lead.....

If you would like to commission a painting for yourself, your loved one or a friend - please don't hesitate to contact me. However unusual your request, I welcome the challenge!

Now, back to the easel.....another commissioned painting awaits.....and another deadline approaches....

Brrrr!

2012-10-28T21:47:00.000+00:00

Brrr....Back home in London and Winter has definitely arrived! In the last couple of days the temperatures have plummeted, the pavements, awash with falling eaves, crunch underfoot:

and hot breath billows into the air from nostrils filled with a mixture of woodsmoke and a biting north wind.

Halloween is almost upon us - ghoulies and ghosties grin grotesquely from the shop windows and plump pumpkins and gourds fill the market stalls:

As if all this wasn't proof enough, this morning the clocks went back too. While it was a lovely opportunity to roll over, snuggle up and enjoy an extra hour under the duvet, the prospect of the dark mornings that ahead (and the even darker cold nights!) are not something I'm particularly looking forward to.

That said, this time of year does carry its own excitement; there is much to prepare for: Halloween, Thanksgiving for our American cousins, Guy Fawkes (bonfire night) and of course, Christmas!

Before I could make a start on any of that I had another happy occasion to look forward to: the arrival of a good friend's much longed-for first baby and last week found me precariously perched on a stool, finishing off the apple blossom tree mural in the nursery:

A beautiful baby girl arrived last Friday, a very special gift (for me as well, as it was my Birthday too!)

There are so many wonderful exhibitions to visit right now, I'm not sure where to start but I did manage to get to the MADE LONDON Design & Craft Fair in Marylebone this weekend. The ceramics, glass furniture and jewelry on display were simply breathtaking!

I'll keep you posted as I go, till then, keep warm everyone!

2010-02-25T03:57:00.007+00:00

I'm starting to get itchy feet and hear those voices whispering again, the ones that tell me my little white Greek island house is calling me back. Spring must be in the air:

After the frantic city life I've lived these past few months, I'm longing to change gear now and begin slowing down again. I can't wait to breathe in some healthy, fresh salt sea air, instead of London's choking traffic fumes. I'm more than ready to exchange the incessant pushing and shoving of the thronging babbling crowds of this metropolis (exciting as it is despite its unrelenting 'noise'!) for some peace - and the opportunity to seek out my muse again and just paint in quiet solitude.

Ooh. Just the thought of it makes me anxious to return, to take long walks up in the hills and to be there to witness the first signs of spring; the anemones and asphodels that are surely ready by now to burst forth in their annual glory. Skiathos is so beautiful in the Springtime, carpeted in wildfowers, throughout meadows and olive groves, fresh and intensely green - it really has to be seen to be believed:

'Olive Grove in Springtime' © Yvonne Ayoub 2010

Just eight more days and I'll be on my way....

Time passes so quickly here in the city, perhaps because there's always so much to do and to keep up with ('pressure', yes, that's the word, unrelenting pressure!) whereas on the island, where life is so much simpler, the days appear to be much longer. In London I feel as though life is a futile race, one I'm obliged to enter despite the constant reminders that it's one I'll never win - and with so much that I still want to do, that's a very real source of frustration. I spend most of my time here running around in circles but getting nowhere very fast and actually achieving very little. To make matters worse, I all too often catch sight of that frazzled, unfamiliar middle-aged woman with a deeply furrowed brow, in a shop window before the realisation dawns that it's actually me! Yes, me, dashing here and there, running on overdrive yet achieving very little in the process.

Well that's not strictly true. The winter months are the ones I devote to catching up with family and friends which is always lovely and never long enough.....and it's also when I begin setting up for the year ahead: marketing, editing, maintaining my websites, advertising, printing, making new contacts and, time consuming as all that is (and a necessity these days for all artists), I do try to fit in some painting too!

Regular readers will know I had a commission lined up - a large wall mural of Tuscan poppy fields, for a London restaurant. Well, I'm sorry to say the job fell through at the eleventh hour (the owner decided to use wall paper instead) I had spent considerable time on preparing a mock-up and was really looking forward to scaling it up (to 9 x 6 metres!):

'Tuscan Poppy Fields' © Yvonne Ayoub 2010

So I can't say I wasn't very disappointed but hey ho... win some, lose some, C'est la vie......I guess.

But 'It's an ill wind......' as they say in Scotland and sure enough, a few days later I received an invitation to submit some work for consideration for an International Art Exhibition in Beirut, Lebanon. Organised by the Faculty of Architecture, Art & Design and the Notre Dame University (NDU). The 'Lebanese Diaspora' was to be the subject and being a topic close to my heart (with my husband being Lebanese) I threw myself into producing a painting that reflected my passion for his country and its people. This was the result:

'L'Esprit du Liban' © Yvonne Ayoub 2010

acrylics on canvas, 102cm x 76cm

and in case you're wondering what it is, this was the accompanying statement:

"This is a large painting of a small but very special piece of traditional Lebanese craftwork I purchased on my first visit to Lebanon in the spring of 1974, just before the outbreak of civil war. It has accompanied us on our travels, across many continents, for more than thirty-five years.

For my Lebanese husband it represents home, his people, the young boy he left behind. It’s a bit rough and ready but nevertheless thoughtfully, if haphazardly, stitched together, the colourful fabric: generations of lives inter-twined, bound by threads and woven inextricably to complete the whole: the family. Not worth much in monetary terms, yet rich with memories and love beyond measure.

Memories of his large extended family, deafening voices demanding to be heard as they gathered around a table laden with dishes of sumptuous delights, all lovingly prepared by his mother, sister and aunts working away in unison at the kitchen table; kneading dough, chopping parsley, squeezing lemons, crushing garlic and chattering, ladling and laughing, peeling and pounding – delicious sounds, delicious smells, permeating through pores, through doors, out into the street.

Memories of rainy days, filling buckets to the brim with tiny, shiny, slippery snails hand-picked from under the lemon trees, soaked to the skin, drenched but all discomfort dispelled by thoughts of the feast that would follow…. and sunny days, ice-cream days, sand in the toes and salty sea days. Sipping ‘Jallab’ through the pine nuts days.

Memories of fetching ‘Menakeesh’, piping hot from the bakery, nostrils filled with the comforting aromas of warm bread and sweet thyme (and hoping no-one would notice the one with the corner missing when he got home!)

Ah, happy days……

And the not so happy days: the thick smoke–clogged days, filled with black skies and white fear, days of running for cover, of cowering in basements, fumbling around blindly in the blackouts, days of aching hunger and hurt, thirsty days, days of waiting, of worrying, of weeping…….of wailing…..endless days of praying………..for the bombing to stop….for it all to end.

For far too many, it did.

For me, an ‘Ajnabeeyeh’, it represents all that I’ve come to learn about the Lebanese people: their vibrancy, their unequalled generosity and hospitality, their jaw-jutting defiance, their indefatigable humour, and how, just like their beloved county, they are full of contradiction. Their immense capacity for love and anger, for pleasure and pain, proud as peacocks yet humble as pie, flashy and gaudy yet supremely elegant. Even during the bleakest of times, somewhere the chic-est parties were in full swing. When days were darkest, their luminescence, their strength and endurance, shone brightest, and when all seemed lost? Well, they’d just pick themselves up and start all over again!

My painting is to show that even in the darkest of blacks, the vibrancy, the very soul of this unquashable nation will continue to shine in all its glorious, colourful splendour! It will survive! This is ‘L’Esprit du Liban!’

© Yvonne Ayoub 2010"

I was delighted when I heard it had been accepted and I'm immensely proud to think that between March 15th and April 4th, it will be hanging in Beirut City Centre! (Beirut Exhibition Center - Biel Entrance)

I've also had some smaller commissions, which I've really enjoyed doing, paintings for wedding invitations such as this one of a church in Cyprus, where the ceremony will be held later in the year:

Aghios Georgos, Paphos © Yvonne Ayoub 2010

My dear artist friend, Mary Dillon, crossed the Irish sea and visited me on a couple of occasions and once again, together we did the rounds of the latest gallery offerings. We both particularly enjoyed the 'The Real Van Gogh, the Artist and his Letters' at the Royal Academy.

It is such a beautifully curated and well-researched exhibition and his intimate letters, displayed alongside many of his less familiar works, was totally enlightening. It provides a completely new insight into the troubled artist we had both studied in the past, proving just how mistaken we were, in thinking we already knew all there was to know about him. How wrong were we! If you happen to be in London, I urge you to see this one, if you get the chance.

Vincent Van Gogh

Self Portrait as an artist, January 1888

Oil on canvas, 65.2 x 50.2 cm

Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam

(Vincent Van Gogh Foundation)

After treating ourselves to a lunch at the Wolseley, a favourite of restaurant of mine, just across the road on Picadilly:

Where I was reminded of a portait I had painted of my Mother following our last visit together there,

'Mother at the Wolseley' © Yvonne Ayoub

oil on canvas, 80cm x 60cm

We wound our way back through 'Shepherd Market' - one of my favourite 'hidden' corners of London that holds many happy memories for me. It is maze of narrow streets, tucked away directly behind where my old Ballet school, The Arts Educational Trust, stood at 144 Picadilly (until it hit the headlines for being over-run by squatters before being demolished to make way for the new Intercontinental Hotel which still stands today on Hyde Park Corner) and it is where, as a young student, in the 'swinging sixties', I had a part-time job in a very trendy boutique, called 'Garbo's'.

I spent many a long Sunday afternoon in there chatting to local residents who dropped in to pass the time while waiting for their big breaks into show business. Names such as Barry Humphries (Dame Edna), Simon Dee (remember him?) and the girls who made up Prince Charles' favourite goup, the 'Three Degrees'. Ah....... Happy Days!

The building is still there but my little shop is long gone. In its place today, is a pizza restaurant.

Wandering through the narrow streets we came upon a small gallery where three very different artists were showing their work :

South London artist, Stewart Ganley, graduated from the Hammersmith College of Art and, after joining the Merchant Navy and travelling around the world, he worked for many years as a medical artist at Charing Cross Hospital. He began teaching art in adult education and also runs classes and painting courses in France. He has work in private collections in Italy, Hungary and the UK. In 2009 he was awarded the Tom Money Prize for painting.
He works in oils and his wonderfully vibrant, loose, paintings are very atmospheric, perfectly depicting London Street scenes in our typically bad, drizzly, rainy weather.
You can see more of his work at : www.stewartganley.co.uk

© Pravin Bhalla

Pravin Bhalla is a graduate from the Chelsea School of Design with a B. A. in Sculpture. He exhibits his beautiful bronzes in both India and the UK. He uses tribal casting techniques from the central regions of India, pouring molten bronze into terracotta moulds: the lost wax process, powered using natural resources in the Bastar, Indian tribal tradition. In Europe he has worked extensively on Art Nouveau restoration projects. You can contact him at : sculptorb@yahoo.com

Finally, Andrew Aarons FRSA, is an English/Canadian artist, painter and printmaker. He was showing a wonderful collection of works portraying music and musicians at work. One particular painting that caught my eye was his portrait of his son, a clarinetist. His fine work can be found on his official website: www.andrewaaronsart.com/

With the final stage of my building work in Greece to get underway (at last!), I am keen to get back and make ready for a new season of painting courses ahead. I also have another UNESCO Exhibition to prepare for in April and will post the details shortly.
On a final note, I have had many requests for prints and Greetings cards of my Skiathos (and other) paintings to be available in the UK ( thus avoiding the hefty shipping costs from my US sites). so I thought I'd better mention, just in case you missed it, that I'm happy to announce my UK Art Store is now open and although not complete, more work is added everyday.
Please feel free to drop by at: zazzle.co.uk/yvonneayoub*
and do say hello (or leave a comment ) if you do:

Thanks and keep warm!

All wrapped up....

2010-01-25T03:21:00.008+00:00

Happy New Year Everyone!

Gosh! It's hard to believe almost a whole month has gone by since Christmas already!
We here in the UK, as you probably know, were blanketed in snow for much of January and we got to enjoy a real white Christmas for once. I say 'enjoy' but it was freezing most of the time and it made life very difficult, if not impossible, for most, up and down the entire country.

My elderly father, who lives alone, took this picture from his bedroom window. He was snowed in for several days and I couldn't reach him but thankfully his wonderful neighbours went out of their way to look out for him and often turned up unannounced on his doorstep with bags of groceries and even bowls of piping hot soup! My faith in humanity is completely restored, some people are just so kind!!

But looking through my photos again today, it was undeniably very beautiful too and, as all my time and creativity was taken up in the preparations for Christmas it left precious little time to paint. I did take plenty of photos though so I thought I'd share some of them with you this time instead.

We'd been invited to spend the holiday with friends down in deepest Oxfordshire so on Christmas Eve, cars packed with to the hilt with family members and plenty of festive goodies we set off, leaving behind our warm and cosy home in London just as the snowflakes were beginning to fall:

As soon as we left the comparative warmth of the city behind we found ourselves completely immersed in the winter wonderland that was to become our home for the next few days and it was magical - in every way.

We had real trouble finding our way through the maze of tiny country lanes that were by now completely hidden under several feet snow and the drive was, out of necessity, very slow in such hazardous road conditions. So it was very late and completely dark by the time we finally arrived. And freezing cold. But once everyone had arrived safely and we'd all thawed out a bit, we gathered in the kitchen where a 'light' Christmas Eve supper (a feast!) of baked Wiltshire Ham, salads, cheeses and copious amounts of mulled wine and hot mince pies greeted us.

It was deliciously warming and very welcome after such a long and arduous journey. After an excess of food, wine and constant chatter, eventually everyone, totally exhausted but completely content, settled in for a long peaceful night (so deafeningly quiet compared to a night in the city, I could hardly sleep!)

But the following morning, Christmas day, I was up bright and early. I threw back the curtains and blinking furiously, was dazzled by beauty of the scene that greeted me: the sheer brilliance of the white landscape stretching into the distance as far as the eye could see:

It was a perfectly clear and gloriously crisp winter morning and I couldn't wait to wrap up, don the boots, get out there, breathe in some still country air and make my mark on the virgin snow.

I tiptoed quietly down the stairs past the beautiful tree with all the presents underneath, wrapped and ready:

and, on reaching the front door, I found our hostess had had the same idea. So off we set together, before anyone else in the household stirred, sneaking out into the eerie silence like a couple of giggling schoolgirls.

Dotted all over the snow were the tracks of all manner of wildlife: deer, birds,squirrels and rabbits mostly:

We trudged our way slowly and with some difficulty, through the knee-deep snow towards the barn, to check on some young calves.

They seemed just fine, protected as they were from the elements in their warm byre surrounded by piles of steaming straw. They were very shy and not a little startled by our sudden, silent appearance out of nowhere!

We continued on our way, not realizing till we looked back, just how far from the house we'd ventured:

We climbed over the stile and into the forest:

and continued walking for an hour or so, soaking up the beauty of our surroundings, enjoying the peace and tranquility. The sun began to shine and eventually, thinking it was time to start heading back, we made for the rear garden:

passing the frozen pond

we reached the house and taking a last look behind us

and feeling totally exhilarated (London seemed a million miles away!) we went in, happy for the rest of the day to see the snow but through the windows - from the comfort and warmth indoors.

We were met by our now assembled families, all up, dressed and eager for the day's festivities to begin.

With three generations all living so far apart these days, and each of us caught up in our own hectic lives, having the chance to be together again and really enjoy some quality family time altogether, is what made this Christmas such a special one for us all - it really was a magical and most memorable time........I hope yours was too....

Season's Greetings Everyone!

2009-12-21T23:13:00.006+00:00

'Hyde Park in the Snow' by Yvonne Ayoub
acrylics on canvas 60cm x 40 cm

'There is a list of folks I know, all written in a book.
And every year at Christmas time I go and take a look.

And that is when I realise that these are very part,
Not of the book they're written in, but of my very heart

Never think my Christmas cards are just a mere routine
of names upon a Christmas list, forgotten in between.

For, be they relative, or friend or just someone I've met
You happen to be one of those I'd rather not forget.

And whether I've known you many years, or even just a few,
In some way you have had a part in shaping things I do.

So, as you read this message that I send at Christmas time,
Know that I send you all my love while you are on my mind'

To all my wonderful family, friends, fellow-artists and followers:
Thank you so much for your kind words, your constant encouragement and support this past year.
I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!

'Getting on with Life......'

2009-12-06T10:57:00.039+00:00

Gosh, sorry folks! I’ve just noticed the date of my last post and had no idea so much time had passed! That’s what comes from getting ‘out there’ to find things to write about. Striking the right balance between how much time one should spend on the computer and how much time one should devote to actually producing art, is a challenge that many artists on the net face nowadays – and its not always an easy one to get right.

So, where to start? Well, it’s been a roller coaster couple of months, since my return to London from Greece. Settling back into city life is always a big adjustment but one I relish, determined as I am to enjoy all it has to offer to the fullest and visiting as many art galleries, exhibitions, theatres, events etc, as I can possibly manage.

No sooner had I returned, than I met up with fellow Skiathos artist Gail Stathakis and together we visited an exhibition by the Royal Society of Marine artists at the Mall Galleries. There were some truly beautiful works on display which reinforced my belief that ‘beautiful’ works, skillfully painted are still very much what the great majority of the public wants to see – all very inspirational!

(painting 'Boats and Ropes' by Sonia Robinson RSMA)

A few days later, my dear friend, Irish artist Mary Dillon, arrived from across the Irish Sea. Darling that she is, she brought with her a very special (and hugely generous!) gift for me: one of her beautiful oil paintings that I have long admired. I first saw it hanging in her gallery in Roscrea and as well as being attracted to the fabulous colours, I was moved by it because it reminded me of my own children when they were little:

(Thank you again so much, Mary!)

I still can’t quite believe all that we managed to pack into a single weekend:
Saturday began with a visit to the Wallace Collection: a first for Mary and a chance for me to re-visit favourite Old Masters such as Fragonard’s ‘The Swing’, Franz Hal’s ‘Laughing Cavalier’ among the Canalettos and Gainsboroughs. It was a chance to re-visit the Damien Hirst exhibition too and I found even more fascinating the second time round.

From there, a flying visit to a couple local art galleries (I still have my eye on one of Bill Bates beautiful paintings – just waiting for that lottery win!) and a quick lunch, followed some serious retail therapy (well, a girl has to shop sometimes!) before braving the crowds and catching up with some of Mary’s relatives, in O’Neills, the Irish pub in Covent Garden, and see their home team playing a major football match on wide screen. (The sorrows of losing was soon drowned over a few bottles of red and some fabulous food in China town! Boy! The Irish certainly know how to have a good time!)

Sunday morning found us walking past the ice skaters at the Natural History museum

on our way to the brand new steel and glass extension: the Darwin Centre which opened in September in time to celebrate the bicentenary of Darwin's Theory of Evolution. Two hours working our way down through five floors of interactive screens at the numerous information stations, state of the art ‘pod’, was an overwhelming, surreal experience. One couldn’t help but be in awe of the sheer amount of research that goes on there and the vast scale of collections (of over 250 million plant animal and insect species – the largest in the world!) that are stored there.

At the end of our tour we found ourselves in the brand new Attenborough amphitheatre/ lecture hall listening to the exploits (accompanied by fabulous slide-shows and film footage) of the wildlife photographers and film crews, who work, sometimes for months on end, in the remotest regions of the globe into order to capture and record phenomena of the natural world, for David Attenborough’s ‘Life’ series for BBC1. Awe-inspiring stuff again! (Would love to know how one lands a ‘job’ like that!)

After snatching a quick bite, we dashed across London to the ‘Turner and the Masters Exhibition’* at Tate Britain:

It was totally captivating and did much to shed new light on aspects of Turner’s character I was previously unfamiliar with, such as jealousy, rivalry and obsession. These each drove him to ‘copy’ and compete with the likes of Rembrandt, Rubens and Claude and their works are on show alongside Turner’s, inviting debate on whose are the more successful paintings. Learning of Turner’s ruthless ambition and flair for self-promotion, I felt compelled to buy his latest biography, by Peter Ackroyd, one of my favourite authors. It’s a terrific insight to the man – and another literary triumph!

While we were there we also saw this year’s ‘Turner Prize’** entries. Out of the 4 short-listed artists with thought-provoking contemporary installations, competing for this coveted and prestigious award, in this it’s 25th year, my favourite by a mile was ‘untitled’ which consisted of the entire floor of a 50’ room filled with the ash of a jet plane engine – a very moving piece by Roger Hiorns, who is known for instigating mechanical or chemical processes that result in arresting scultptures and installations:

* Turner & the Masters' runs at Tate Britain till 31st Jan. 2010
** 'Turner Prize' runs till 3rd Jan. 2010

The little energy we had left, after all of this sensory overload, saw us home for a quick change and enough of a second wind to dash back across the river to the `South Bank Center’, the venue for the London Jazz Festival, to see one of our favourite artists, singer/songwriter Melody Gardot, in concert. Her music had filled my studio in Greece throughout the summer – so it was quite something to actually see and hear her performing ‘live’.

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The next few days, by comparison, were fairly subdued: pottering in the studio, working on the mock-up of the restaurant mural I’ve a commission to paint (after another delay it’s due to start Jan. 4th) and writing, well into the wee hours.

My ‘PAINTING SKIATHOS’ book: A personal vision of Skiathos, as seen through an artist’s eye’, is at long last finished and published! You can seeand shortemed review of it here:

PAINTING SKIATHOS

A Vision of Skiathos

By Yvonne Ayoub

Book Preview

I also finished copy-reading another beautiful book ‘Artistic Inspirations 2’, for friend & editor Beth Edwards, founder of 1st Angel Arts Magazine. She’s compiled the latest works of 13 very different artist (including yours truly) and photographers into a large book that would grace any coffee table. You can see a short review of it here: 'Artistic Impressions 2'

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Unable to look a computer screen any longer (I'd actually begun to develop tension headaches!) I headed to the airport for a complete change of scenery (a long weekend break, in Moscow). It couldn’t have come at a better time.

Since my early ballet training days, Russia’s held a fascination for me – it was somewhere I always dreamed of visiting but never believed I ever would, growing up as I did during the ‘Cold War’, or could! With a father in the Civil Service, behind the 'Iron Curtain’ was somewhere we were never permitted to visit.

The Maryinksy Theatre (home of Kirov Ballet) in St Petersburg, Diaghilev, the great 20th century impresario and my idols, great artists such as Anna Pavlova, Tatiana Riaboushinska, Tamara Karsavina and Tamara Toumanova (my daughter’s namesakes), The Bolshoi Ballet (which is currently undergoing refurbishment):

Chekov’s plays (all those leisurely, endless summers spent at the daschas, the country houses, tea, tears and triviality permanently on tap, pouring from bottomless Samovars!) and the fine literature of the Russian masters; Gogol's 'Dead Souls', Dostoyevsky's 'Crime & Punishment, Turgenyev, Pushkin, and with the greatest of them all, Tolstoy's 'War & Peace' and the tragic 'Anna Karenina' they had all fired my imagination as an impressionable teenager, filling my head with an idealistic romantic vision, that has never left me, reinforced as it was by films such as 'Dr. Zhivago', 'Nicholas & Alexandra' and 'Anastasia' not forgetting the glamorous figure of Yuri Gagarin; the Russian hero and source of Soviet pride - the first man in space!

Yet there was the other side of course, the dark side, the secret police, the KGB the spy stories, the disappearances; who could not be moved wading through the tomes of Alexandr Solzhinetzyn's great indictment of Soviet Marxism, The Gulag Archipelago. So much was unknown and inaccessible about this beautiful, vast and diversely peopled country for so long. I couldn't quite believe I was actually going to experience it myself!

First impressions during the 2 hour drive from Moscow’s airport into the city, the endless, snow-frosted forests of silver birch trees(exactly as portrayed here by the Russian artist, Valeev:

and the wonderful mix of architecture, the pointed wooden roof tops of the rural villages:

to the grand palaces:

and towering apartment blocks:

They all lived up to my every expectation. Moscow is a magical city. Beautiful, colourful, grand, impressive, vibrant, , surprising and at the same time mysterious, daunting, ominous, cold, austere, forbidding - all words that describe an amazing city full of contradiction and extremes at every turn: the desperately poor barely existing alongside the flamboyance of the fabulously wealthy; the bitter cold of winter and the stifling heat of summer. It is one of the most expensive, if not THE most expensive city in the world. It is steeped in a history that is as triumphant as it is tragic; that is as rich in its cultural heritage and traditions as it is poor in its social responsibility and deprivation; that is as politically aware and ambitious as it is dark, dangerous and deceptive.
In the course of the weekend as well as the usual tourist sights:

Red Square:

St. Basil's cathedral:

Lenin’s tomb:

and the golden onion-shaped domes and iconography of the Orthodox Cathedrals in the Kremlin:

We visited craft markets:

selling everything from antiques (including samovars!):

to Siberian sable & fox furs, art and hand-painted crafts:

and we met friendly smiling faces wherever we went!

I returned home carrying all sorts of mementos; wooden Xmas tree decorations, chocolates, remnants of antique embroidery, old Soviet posters and my most treasured find of all: an original water colour of the beautiful Anna Pavlova:

We ate fabulous food everywhere: Borscht, Blinis with sour cream & caviar, Shashlik and Beef Stroganoff.

We saw a traditional circus complete with clowns, performing seals, leopards and panthers and trapeze artists - a popular event and all round family entertanment that Russian families eagerly and regularly attend together.

By night, we ventured into some of the glossiest hot spots of Exclusive Russian nightlife such as the Soho Rooms:

But for me absolute highlight of the whole trip was a visit to the National Art collection:

where not only could we stand in awe in front of the Kandinski’s:

and Ilya Repins but, joy of joys, there was an exhibition to celebrate the Ballet Russe, comprising of early photographs from the archives, countless displays including the pink satin ballet shoes of Anna Pavolva, set designs and the actual ballet costumes worn by some of the greatest dancers of this century alongside the original paintings of designer Leon Bakst, et al:

We had a absolutely wonderful time and I hope to be able to go back again one day!

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Home again and work beckoned. I'd been asked to judge a local art competition at my local pub, 'The Duke of Kendal', on Connaught St. W2 and had been commissioned to paint it myself too. I still had to finish it and set to work Here's the result:

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As Christmas looms ever closer, brilliant illuminations are in place once again in Oxford Street & Regent Street are once again teeming with shoppers and day-trippers:

'Winter Wonderland':

complete with ice rink and ferris wheel:
has once again arrived in Hyde Park. Theatre-land is also enjoying record crowds and I battled through some of them yesterday, on my way to the National Theatre in Drury Lane to see a new play that's enjoying much acclaim: 'War Horse':

It is an amazing production and I urge everyone to see it if they ever they get the chance. But be sure take a supply of tissues - it's highly emotional, not least for the incredible life-size horses,fantastically constructed and expertly manipulated by members of the Handspring Puppet Co. They take on a life of their own and are totally believable. It is an immensely moving (story based on the novel, by Michael Morpurgo) about a horse in World War 1. It is a fitting tribute to all the animals who paid the ultimate sacrifice. As the war memorial in London's Park lane, dedicated to them states, 'They Had No Choice:

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So that's it, a month in a nutshell!
Oh oh....headache's starting again. I guess it's time to get away from the glare of the screen and get back to the business of making some art.
Keep warm - I'll be back soon!

FEELING BLUE.....

2009-10-21T14:47:00.019+01:00

Before you get the wrong idea, I'm not talking about my mood, you understand!

But first let me just say Hi Everyone! It's good to be back under the grey, damp London skies once again. No really, it IS! It's SO good to be back!
Another wonderful season of 'Painting Skiathos' is over, the Greek studio's locked up and materials are packed away again for another year ....and here I am, back home in the warm fold of the family and a million miles away from the sun and sand...turquoise blue seas....warm Aegean island breeze (Oh STOP!)...and ready to embrace the long dark nights, autumn mists and bustling city life, once again.

So why the title 'FEELING BLUE'?

Well, I'm more of a pale peach, golden yellow, soft pink sort of a girl; warm, gentle, rosy, cosy, colours all, and blue rarely does it for me. In fact I don't think there's a single blue thing here in my house in London (Oh, apart from my daughter's old bedroom which is still swathed in soft blue and cream 'toile de jouy' - which I do actually love) but generally, I find blue, in the harsh English light, just too cold to live with, comfortably.

Now in Greece it's another matter. Blue is THE colour one associates with Greece; it's amazing in full sun against the harsh whitewashed walls - and it's everywhere! All over Skiathos the doors:

windows and shutters:

tables and chairs:

and even the pots:

are painted in shades of blue, from deep ultramarine and brilliant cobalt, to turquoise and every shade imaginable in between.

Not to mention the incredibly blue skies and sea:

Now all this is fine in GREECE but I wasn't prepared, on my return to London, to be equally subjected to so much blue everywhere!
called in earlier this week to see the latest exhibition at The Wallace Collection: a collection (25 in all) of Damien Hirst's latest works, his 'Blue Paintings', entitled 'No Love Lost'. Without exception, they are large paintings of blue skulls on black backgounds.

Reading quite unfavourable reviews, prior to my visit, if I'm honest I didn't expect to be particularly impressed and yet strangely (despite the fact they were all blue!) I was - and I was particularly mesmerised by this piece:

I think the critics have been unkind. Perhaps the name 'Damien Hirst' alone is enough to invite controversy and somehow gives people a free rein to write his work off as 'sensationalist'and 'gimmicky' at best, or poorly executed ('the man can't paint!')at worst and I'll be the first to admit, as an artist he was never a particular favourite of mine, till I stood in awe at the foot of his solid silver 'St Bartholomew' sculpture in the R.A's Summer exhibition but, in the artist's own words, this series of paintings created between 2006 and 2008 are 'deeply connected to the past' and mark his return to the solitary practise of painting - a new direction for him after challenging what it means to be an artist, since the very start of his career.

The fact that he has opted to present these works within in a classical environment invites a dramatic visual dialogue, surrounded as they are by Old Master paintings in the Great European tradition, displayed in the adjacent sumptuous rooms. The contrast is undeniable and his paintings, by content (and colour!) are undeniably chilling too.....but certainly worth a visit, anyway....

Calling in at another local gallery ('Artica' Washington Green Fine Art in St. Christophers place, Marylebone) I came across an artist (new to me) who, has joined the Washington Green stable of artists and is beginning to make a real name for himself,Bill Bate

His stunningly beautiful paintings, of the naked female form gliding through transparent turquoise water, glistening in sunlight, made me feel I was right back on the island for a moment, diving into the familiar crystal blue waters of the Aegean....Lovely!
You can see his beautiful paintings here:Bill Bate Collection

His work reminds me very much of that of another (Greek) artist I came across this year, Maria Filopoulou. She also paints underwater scenes of women diving in turquoise, crystal-clear seas...with a wonderful sense of abandonment and expressing total freedom.

UNDERWATER SWIMMER I (OIL ON CANVAS) - 61x68cm © Maria Filopoulou

Brrrr...all this talk of blue water is making me feel cold...time to get up from the computer and start painting! I have a new commission to prepare for; a very large wall mural for a central London restaurant. No blues in this piece, Thank Goodness! Rather, a huge panorama of the rolling hills of Tuscany, awash with glorious red poppy fields, cypress trees and ancient, red-roofed farmhouses, stretching as far as the eye can see, lazing in the warm glow of a still Italian, golden afternoon.....Can't wait, it's just my cup of tea! I'll be posting pictures here soon of the progress.....

And now, talking of tea....

Art Around the World Project

2009-06-06T08:47:00.006+01:00

Calling all artists, photographers, musicians, embroiderers and poets!

My friend Beth (1st Angel) is organising a fantastic international charity project:

AAW
RAISING MONEY FOR GREENPEACE

If you'd like to come on board, please visit:

www.1stangel.co.uk

Where you can read all about it.

Even if you're not an artist, you can help this very worthy cause.
Please see the widget in my side bar--->

Together, we CAN make a difference!

Fields of Gold

2009-05-01T18:39:00.007+01:00

Just returned from a gloriously sunny day, down in Kent and had to stop and get the camera out. Stretching as far as the eye can see, the fields of rape seed are a common sight now each Spring but even so, (and despite their unfortunate name!) they are beautiful! Every time I see them, they take my breath away:

So much to paint, so little time!

Wishing everyone a Happy May Day & Bank Holiday weekend!

Herons in Hyde Park

2009-05-01T02:40:00.007+01:00

Walking through Hyde Park yesterday evening I came across these fine fellows. Standing stock still like stone statues. Oddly placed in the formal flower beds, it was hard to tell if they were real or not until, after several moments of standing completely motionless, one of them suddenly raised its long neck and took flight. What a graceful sight to behold - and what an impressive wing-span!

The Grey Heron (Ardea Cinerea) is the largest bird in Europe and a migratory bird here in Britain, which made it all the more of a delight to see them. They were completely oblivious to the curious onlookers they attracted and the noisy traffic hurtling along South Carriage Drive.

Apparently they stand still in order to stalk their prey but as they feed only on fish (and there were none to be found in the gardens!) I presume they must have already caught their supper in the nearby Serpentine lake and were gathering together to settle in for the night (unless, being as they were only two minutes away from, and all facing, Knightsbridge, who knows? Perhaps they had set their beady sights firmly on raiding the fabulous fresh fish counters in the nearby Harrods Food Hall!)

You can find out more about these wonderful birds (and hear their 'song') by visiting this excellent site:
http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/g/greyheron/index.asp#

I feel a painting coming on........

Crossing the Sands of Time......

2009-04-30T11:17:00.034+01:00

I'm back from my travels and all fired up with new-found inspiration!

I was in the Sinai Peninsula and travelled 4 hours through the vast desert terrain in an already scorching heat, high into the mountains to visit the totally remote Greek Orthodox Monastery of St. Catherine - the oldest continually running church in the world.
Standing in front of the Burning Bush

at the base of the very mountain where Moses received the tablets of stone with the Ten Commandments, was the highlight of our trip. It was quite simply breathtaking. The most overwhelming sensation in this most sacred of places was one of utter peace and humility, dwarfed as we were by the sheer majesty of our surroundings.

Egypt. It's impossible to write just a few lines about a brilliant ancient civilisation that emerged from darkness to flourish for 3,000 years, creating magnificent monuments and world changing inventions such as paper, ink, the 365 calendar and the ox-drawn plough. So I will let my photos speak for me. The desert may appear to be an empty, arid, forbidding place yet, despite The Egyptian Government now providing housing settlements:

and schools at remote desert outposts for the children of these traditionally nomadic, tent dwelling people:

The culture of the Bedouin tribes who continue (as they have done for thousands of years, to somehow eke a living from it) still survives and thrives, full of rich tradition.

I say 'forbidding' yet just beneath the surface of this hard, barren, inhospitable landscape lies a treasure trove of untold riches; seams of turquoise, amber, lapis lazuli - all manner of semi-precious stones - which are fashioned by artisans into jewelry and objects d'art.

The old markets (souks) along the coast are filled with the hustle and bustle of traders selling their wares:

Selling everything from livestock (camels, goats, sheep and chickens):

and fresh fruit, vegetables:

herbs, teas (such as mint and hibiscus) and pungent spices:

to the vibrant textures and colours of woven rugs, baskets, mats and hats:

and the craftsmanship of metal workers using silver and beaten copper.
With modern technology and the addition of water the hot dry desert springs to life in a riot of glorious colour, transformed into a botanical paradise where bougainvillea, orchids and even petunias and hollyhocks:

bloom profusely and in abundance alongside the cacti:

the indigenous, often solitary, desert acacia trees:

and date palms which, in the eerie light of dusk, stand sentinel over this far from 'empty' wasteland but rather this wonderfully rich, colourful and fascinating remote corner of the world:

And it's warm welcoming people:

On a final note, one of the most haunting images I'm left with, is this photo I took of a Bedouin woman wandering completely alone in the desert, miles from anywhere (quite literally in the middle of nowhere!)

From now on whenever I feel the need to get 'Far from the Madding Crowd' and escape from the sea of humanity and the hustle and bustle of city life, I will simply close my eyes and transport myself back to the empty expanse of the Sinai Desert, into her shoes ......
(except that she, wasn't wearing any!)

Happy Easter!

2009-04-10T18:28:00.004+01:00

Off on my travels again this weekend to somewhere hot, barren and dry for a change (no not Greece) so I'll report in from there with (hopefully!) some new artwork to show for it.

Wishing everyone a Happy Easter!

The Passion for Painting Award

2009-03-30T22:32:00.004+01:00

I was thrilled this morning to discover I'd received this award from a fellow artist whom I greatly admire, Sarah Lynch. These blog awards are a lovely way for artists to show their appreciation of each others work and, at the same time, bring them to the attention of their friends. In accepting, there are a few rules; I must in turn nominate seven artists (with an internet presence) whose work I admire and then list seven of my favourite things. (Only 7?!! That's an almost impossible task for a Libran!). Well, here goes:

With so many talented artist friends it is SO hard to narrow it down but seven artists who inspire me for a variety of reasons (among them their skill, passion, originality, humour and dedication) are:

Bill Jones
Gayle Faucette Wisbon
Chrissymarie
Themah Carolle-Casey
Lutz Baar
Wadia Boutaba
Jorge Arcos

And as for seven things I like:

1) First and foremost, my family, without whose love, patience, encouragment, and unfaltering belief in me (despite being biased - they are also my greatest critics!) I would never have found the confidence and been afforded the freedom to be able to do what I do.

2) London - the wonderful city that for half of my time, continues to surprise, inspire, educate (and sometimes, exasperate!) me and perpetuates my unquenchable thirst for knowledge.

3) Greece (namely the idyllic island of Skiathos, where I spend the other half of my life) for it's sheer natural beauty that provides a constant source of inspiration, its wonderful, welcomimg people and its rich, modern day and classical culture.

4) The Arts (especially fine art, dance, music, theatre, literature and poetry) the rich fountain from which I continue to drink deep, indulging all my passions and creativity.

5) History - for my endless love affair and appreciation for all that's gone before....

6) Solitude - for it allows me the freedom of space and time, to focus, think, take stock, recharge, revitalise, and find the inner harmony I need to be creative.

7) Rhubarb crumble and custard

Brief Encounter - with 'Pete the Street'

2009-03-08T17:00:00.010+00:00

Earlier this week, just before I left London behind for sunnier climes, I found myself walking through St.James', off Picadilly and turning the corner into Jermyn St., I suddenly spotted a familiar figure. Well, I say 'suddenly' but dressed as he was from head to foot in a dull beige/grey (a colour that exactly matched the pavement!) he would have been easy to miss altogether, had it not been for the all too familiar odour of oil paint and the heavily paint-spattered clothes and cap which made me look twice as I passed by.

I couldn't believe my luck! There in front of me stood 'Pete the Street' (aka reknowned artist Peter Brown). He was bent over his easel, working in full concentration on a large canvas and seemingly oblivious to the crowds of shoppers and office workers hurrying by. For those not familiar with his work, Peter is best known for his fabulous street scenes of Bath and now London, which he always paints in situ, en plein air.

I recognised Peter from having just read a four page feature on him in the February 2009 edition of 'Artists & Illustrators', the best-selling magazine for artists here in the UK. The article had mentioned what a prolific painter he is and I remember wondering, as I read it, why I'd never bumped into him at work before, given that when in London I rarely use public transport and prefer to walk everywhere. By and large his presence in a crowded city street goes un-noticed but he is very approachable if someone does stop and offer a remark. He seems to welcome the interruption and, being completely un-assuming, self-effacing and openly friendly, he is only too happy to chat. So chat we did! For several minutes while I admired his latest painting which, he told me, he hopes to finish in time for entry into the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts.

I was thrilled to have this unexpected opportunity to observe such a brilliant artist at work, and as he continued to paint, he explained he had in fact started this particlar oil painting several months previously but had been unable to return to it till now. He also expressed his dismay at finding, on his return, that his original spot was no longer unavailable (due to huge shopfitter's hoarding going up in his absence) and how now, having been forced work from a different view-point, he'd had to change all of his original perspectives. He was clearly worried and almost apologetic about it all not looking 'quite right' - but, gosh! it looked absolutely perfect to me - another masterpiece!

'Peter studied a foundation in Bath in 1986 then a BA in Fine Art at Manchester Polytechnic. He has won numerous prizes for painting his trademark street scenes and his work has been exhibited extensively. In 2006 he became the first artist-in-residence at the Savoy Hotel, London. His new book 'Brown's Bath' (written with Jonathan Benington and published by Brown Fine Art ) is available at London's Mall Galleries and online from www.peterbrownneac.com.
He exhibits his work through Messum's gallery in London, see www.messums.com.'

(Excerpt from 'Artists & Illustrators' magazine ISSN 0269-4697. 'King of the Road' feature, February 2009, issue no.270)

Meeting Peter made my day and shows it's perfectly true what they say;
that 'We just never know what's waiting around the corner.....'

Worlds Apart!

2009-03-04T12:18:00.014+00:00

Hello!
Sorry It's been a bit quiet here lately. I've been trying to keep my head down and actually produce some art for a change (instead of just writing about it!).
Internet marketing, blogging, twittering and tweeting etc is all well and good - and important - but highly addictive and leaves precious little time for painting ! I've also been suffering from a severe dose of 'writers block'. Well you know how it goes: there I am, waiting to find something interesting to come along.... then, just like buses........!

During the last couple of weeks while I've been back in London I've tried to make the most of all this exciting city has to offer and fit in as much 'Cul-cha' (as my American friend calls it) as I can. There are some wonderful exhibitions on right now so, as well as visiting my regular and favourite haunts (The Wallace Collection and Tate Britain) I've been doing the rounds.

One of the most impressive exhibitions was the 'Byzantium 330-1453' at the Royal Academy of Arts. I've written about it extensively on my other blog 'Painting Skiathos' so I won't bore those of you who subscribe to both by repeating it all again here. I will say though: "Go and see it if you possibly can - its well worth it!"

In complete contrast - from the ancient world to the modern - another equally as impressive, is the 'Picasso - Challenging the Past' exhibition at The National Gallery:

Now, I have to admit I'm not a fan - never have been - and perhaps it was unfair to go along straight after seeing the exquisite art and craftsmanship of the Byzantine period on show at the RA but I was prepared to be won over so I went along with an open mind. There are many paintings on show (several of which I'd never seen before) that chart Picasso's development as an artist through his career from his early years right up to his final works:

Self Portrait with Palette
1905, Pablo Picasso(1881-1973)
, oil on canvas, 92 x 73 cm
Philadelphia Museum of Art, Pennsylvania
A.E.Gallatin Collection 1950 (1950-1-1)
©Philadelphia Museum of Art. Photo Graydon Wood/Succession Picasso/DACS 2009

Seated Nude, 1909-10
Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)
Oil on canvas, 92.1 x 73 cm.
Tate, London (NO5904)
©Tate/Succession Picasso/DACS 2009

Sleeping Nude with Blonde Hair, 1932
Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)
Oil on canvas 130 x 162 cm.
Nahmad Collection, Switzerland
©Photo courtesy of the owner/Succession Picasso/DACS 2009

Women of Algiers, 1955
Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)
Oil on canvas, 114 x 146.4 cm.
European Private Collection
©Photo courtesy of Libby Howie/Succession Picasso/DACS 2009

This particular exhibition focuses on the huge range of styles he employed and the influence that painters he admired, had on his work. Some works were undoubtedly impressive but I have to admit I was not particularly 'moved', inspired or found myself in awe of any of them. While I can of course fully appreciate and acknowledge the unprecedented influence he has had on the art world....I'm afraid I still just don't get it! So, while Picasso reigns supreme, and his portrayal of the female form:

Nude Woman in Red Armchair, 1932
Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)
Oil on canvas, 129.9 x 92.2 cm.
Tate London (NO6205)
©Tate/Succession Picasso/DACS 2009

continues to be lauded as the work of 'genius' (though I personally find them quite them quite disturbing) I'm afraid my response is this:

and I ask:

"Am I wrong? Am I alone in this? I'm I just ignorant?"

If so, PLEASE someone - ENLIGHTEN ME!

I'd be interested to hear your own point of view so please feel free to leave a comment:

Thank you 1stangel!

2009-02-16T09:48:00.005+00:00

What a thrill to wake up this morning and find my work featured on this wonderful site!

1stAngel & Friends

‘Still Life with Arabian Oud’ by Yvonne Ayoub

Posted by 1stAngel On February - 16 - 2009

Hello there! If you are new here, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed for updates on this topic.

Today’s featured art is ‘Still Life with Arabian Oud’ by Yvonne Ayoub

This lady has some of the most beautiful paintings I have seen in a while. Very talented. I happen to know she does illustrations too.

This still life with arabian musical instruments captures the feeling of the instrument. I imagine the homely aspect of music around a fire after a large family meal. The instrument laid there carefully as the tired musician takes a break, ready to be picked up again soon…

‘Still Life with Arabian Oud’ by Yvonne Ayoub — View Larger

Prices for prints of ‘Still Life with Arabian Oud’ begin at $16.90, subject to change.

Feeling the cold?

2009-02-16T01:52:00.004+00:00

We've been enjoying brilliant spring sunshine these past few weeks here in Greece (yes folks, I'm back on the island for now) but the bitterly cold weather that descended on most of Europe, has finally found us too. So it's back to heavy sweaters and trying to paint with gloves on!

In cold times like these, as I brave the biting winds to haul in the olive wood from the wood store for the fire, I find, to warm myself up, it helps to remember the days when I lived in warmer climes namely the Middle East; Dubai, Saudi Arabia and our visits to the Lebanon and Morocco. All lands where the relentless sunshine, hot desert sands and rich spicy foods warm the blood......arid lands where the warm ochres, vibrant reds and oranges leave you yearning for the shade of a cool leafy forest, a verdant green meadow and cool iced water (to dip into - not just take out of the fridge!)

So, if you're feeling the cold right now, have a look at the slide show I've made of my Arabic paintings - all inspired by the heady scents, colours, sounds, sights and above all, the dusty, sizzling heat of the Orient......and see if it warms you up too:

New Work

2009-02-06T02:12:00.007+00:00

And now for something completely different

Please scroll through my new gallery of work 'Pixart', to see photographic abstracts

(framed and unframed PRINTS and GREETINGS CARDS are available to buy now)

Every Mum Deserves a Break!

2009-02-04T08:41:00.018+00:00

A little while ago I had the chance to get mine; a trip to Provence with two girl friends.
I took my sketch pad along and here is the story in pictures:

"A mini break? in France? I'd LOVE to"

Frantic preparation.....

A warm welcome greeted us.....

At the beautiful old farmhouse 'Mas De Capellan'

First things first; SHOPPING!

Quick stop for hot croissants and coffee....Yum!

and to make new friends....

Then, down to business; a spot of sun-bathing.....

Before setting off to explore....

'Sur le Pont, D'Avignon'

A country wedding!........

It all made us ravenous 'Bon appetite!....

Alas, all to soon, it was time to go "Overweight? Moi?!!"....

Happy to be home......

NEW Skiathos 2009 Calendar

2009-01-23T21:46:00.004+00:00

This calendar, showing scenic views of the beautiful island of Skiathos, Greece is now on sale, with up to a 50% discount (till Sunday only!). See it at my Zazzle store:

From Russia (and Fred!) with Love

2009-01-17T23:01:00.019+00:00

You know how sometimes, someone does something for you that quite simply leaves you speechless? Well, this Christmas someone gave me a present so thoughtful, that I was quite literally lost for words.

What made it all the more special, was that it was handmade for me by a very young man who, knowing how much I was missing my daughter since she left for Russia, had taken considerable time and effort to produce a wonderful book, using photos he'd taken himself on a recent visit to Moscow. It is such a meaningful gift for me and I will treasure it for ever.

His name is Freddie De Stefano (he's the youngest brother of my daughter's partner) and he is a budding young artist with, I believe, quite an exceptional artistic talent.

I'll let you judge for yourself, here are just a few of the book's many pages:

Calling all artists! Live Telesummit tonight!

2009-01-12T18:43:00.001+00:00

I've just received this and thought it might be of some interest:

"Hi yvonne,

When it comes to art careers, the smARTist Telesummit is the only professional conference offered anywhere online or off.

To celebrate, we’ve cooked up a genuine, 100% press release.

You can read it here:
http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=83906

-------------------
Also, don’t forget the last free Pre-event with Mari Smith – How to Sell Your Art on Facebook – is this Monday Jan 12th. It will be recorded, but you have to sign up to get it!

You can sign up here: http://www.smartist-telesummit.com/live/preevents/#smith
---------------------------------

Together, we can make 2009 the best year ever for artist success!
Ariane
PS The best part about this press release? It introduces you to our great sponsor Imagekind.

A. Goodwin, Ed.D.
Founder, Organizer, & Host
smARTist® Telesummit 2009
Build your art career from the comforts of home
And make an honest living doing what you love

'Westfield'

2009-01-10T09:06:00.009+00:00

I've held off as long as I could, but yesterday I finally succumbed to the media hype (not to mention my daughter's pleas!) and made the short trip down the road to London's brand new Mecca; 'Westfield' (hailed as the largest indoor shopping mall in the whole of Europe!).

It certainly is VAST and although I'm one of the minority (I'm sure) group of WWHW's ('women who hate shopping) I have to admit it is pretty spectacular. While everyone else seemed focused on a frenzied shopping spree, ferreting out the final 'sale' bargains (despite the credit crunch!) I only had eyes for the amazing architecture:

From every angle it is simply a visual delight; a fabulous combination of cutting edge, innovative art and design. Using a combination of materials such as wood, steel, glass and stone and employing the latest technology and lighting systems, every surface is truly a work of art in it's own right.

I marvel at how any project on such a massive scale - that could so easily have felt cold, impersonal and intimidating (and, with so many levels and walkways, confusing!) provides instead a sleek, ultra contemporary and totally user-friendly environment. It feeds all the senses and is so well planned (and beautifully executed!) that it lifts the whole shopping experience to an altogether higher level, one that is more exciting, totally unique and (yes, I'll even concede) pleasurable!

My photos certainly don't do it justice so if ever you find yourself this way, believe me, this is not one to miss! Besides:

"Westfield London and Getty Images Gallery are currently presenting 'London through a lens'

This highly acclaimed exhibition features a selection of rare, beautiful images capturing the unique cultural, social and political history of our famous Capital. Due to overwhelming popularity, this stirring photographic collection has opened its doors at Westfield London, in The Village.

"This exhibition really is as exhilaratingly diverse as the Capital itself" says Getty Images Gallery Director, Louise Garczewska. "What does unify the images is the prevailing 'feel' of London, the buzz that is hard to put into words, but would account for why 7.5 million Londoners call it the best city in the world!"

Just some of the famous faces featured in the collection, selected from Getty Images' Hulton archive, include the Kray brothers, Reggie and Ronnie as amateur boxers posing with their mother Violet, before they went on to become notorious London gangsters. Other striking images include Daleks invading a London street outside Wyndams Theatre in 1965, Blitz searchlights over St Paul's Cathedral on New Year's Eve 1943 and men rescuing residents in Rotherhithe from flood when the Thames broke its banks in 1928."........... to read on, visit:

http://uk.westfield.com/london/offers-events/wl-events/getty-images-gallery

It's Panto time! (Oh no it's not!)

2009-01-02T10:22:00.007+00:00

For good, old-fashioned and clean (mostly!) family entertainment, look no further than the traditional English Pantomime. Taking its rightful place in the illustrious history of British theatre, with roots in the both the British Musical Hall tradition and the Comedia dell’ Arte (the traveling, often masked, street performers, tumblers and dancers of the middle ages) it continues today to provide humour, spectacle, thrills and buffoonery, for adults and children alike – usually around Christmas time - and is very often their first taste of live theatre.

Audience participation (“Look behind you!!” &”Oh, no he isn’t – Oh, yes he is!!”), always brings squeals of delight - or eyes transfixed with terror! With the sumptuous stage-sets and sparkling costumes conjuring-up the exotic East or Never-Never land, the stories are always well known and much-loved tales such as Aladdin, Cinderella, Dick Whittington, Peter Pan etc. The plot in which good triumphs over evil and Love conquers all, never changes. It’s simple enough: boy meets girl, baddie spoils the fun, boy fights baddie, wins girl and everyone lives happily ever after.

I say 'simple enough' yet most non-Brits find our Panto's totally confusing! Can't imagine why....Could it be, perhaps, because the girl, dressed as a boy, has a mother, who’s really a man dressed as a woman or ‘Dame’, or because he (er, she) falls in love with a girl (who IS a girl!) with ugly sisters who are actually men, or because he has a loyal four-legged friend who is really one (or two!) people stuffed in either end of an suffocating mock animal skin?

I made the collage (above) from material and photos of many of the productions I’ve personally been involved with over the years (on both sides of the footlights!) as sometime producer, director, choreographer, costume/set-designer, scenery painter and general dogs-body (even as performer; check out the ‘Good Fairy’ with King Rat!). I hoped to capture the essence of what Pantomime is really all about and convey just how much fun it is. If you're in the UK, I hope it will tempt you to go along and support your local production. Whether in humble village hall or grand town theatre, it's a wonderful (and increasingly-rare) form of entertainment that's suitable and can be enjoyed by all members of the family together.