I have a knot in my stomach, I think that it is called "Panic".

With the

Cambridge Art Fair

Almost upon us which is then followed by a very important exhibition I am starting to worry that

there is just not enough time left to achieve everything that I have planned.

The past two weeks have been spent framing paintings for both events and there are still many  remaining that must be completed within the coming week.

This might be possible but it will be at the expense of everything else that I intended to have done.

I would have achieved a lot more but a lot of time has also been spent trying to get a small catalogue completed and sent off to the printers.

Actually it was sent to a printer, and it should have been in my hands now,

but there were a few communication problems [I'm being polite], so I started again with another printer .

It is little things like this that eat up any spare time that I haven't got.

So one thing I was certain of the blog was not going to be updated any time soon.

But then I decided that I would cheat and just show pictures and write nothing.

Then I thought "well I've got to say something".

Before I knew it I was in the mood for writing, but then I looked at the paintings waiting to be framed

and decided to revert to Plan A.

So here are the pages of the catalogue that should be delivered next week.

I confess that was a lot easier than writing, besides every picture tells a story, so they say.

Anyway

I must go now as I have some serious worrying to do.

Someone has to, so it might as well be me.

So much for showing "a little but often".

It seems that Instead I am opting for "very little and certainly not often",

But I would like to think that quality is worth more than quantity, or perhaps its just called being lazy.

However at the moment I feel anything but lazy as there seems like I have so much to achieve with little time to do it.

I feel like I have done a days work just getting out of bed lately.

Of course that is meant to be my "little joke" but there are days recently when I feel tired before I even start.

Perhaps that is because I am staying here too late before going home and the fact that my "evening"

isn't starting until around 11 pm.

There is a lot to be achieved before our next event and I am only too aware from past experience

that a month suddenly seems to turn into hours with much still to do.

So, with the approach of our next really important exhibition

and the minor event called an 'Art Fair'

I felt that it would be best to put in some hours now in the hope that I will be relaxed and prepared

come the events.

Even as I wrote that I could hear 'Jiminy Cricket' on my shoulder telling me

"you gotta be joking, you relaxed"?

I tell him that there is a lot to do and little time to do it.

Which of course is yet another excuse for never writing the blog.

Although at the moment I am very focused on our next exhibition there are daily reminders that the

'Cambridge Art Fair'

is approaching at a rapid pace, and apart from the unexpected amount of paperwork

[I should have anticipated that as I have said before, having a gallery is like working in an office]

there are still many details to finalise with the different artists whose work we intend to show.

Because we don't specialise in local artists it makes things more difficult

as there are different works to be collected or sent from artists far away.

The first of these [shown above] is Rob Van Hoek the Dutch artist.

I have desired his paintings for a very long time, which is strange because his work is so unlike

that of other artists that I admire.

I find his paintings very moving and evocative of the English landscape,

It is his "grey" paintings I like the most, they really remind me of everything that I complain about

in our country, because if asked to describe England I would just answer "Grey".

Perhaps that is why I like them so much.

I have been "courting" Rob for some time now and although he had agreed to let me exhibit

a couple of his paintings I began to wonder if that day would ever come.

Simply because he has become so popular and is in very great demand and does not have enough hours

in the day to create sufficient work to appease his many clients.

But

He didn't forget me and recently contacted me saying

"I think it is time that I concentrated on your two paintings"

The two then turned into three, four and now, I think that it is six that are on their way to us to be

shown for the first time in Cambridge.

I hope that they will be the first of many to make their way to us during the coming year.

They paintings are being sent so that has made life easier for me.

Then.

There is my friend of long standing [I nearly said old friend which she wouldn't like] the sculptor

Nichola Theakston

She has shown with us on many occasions over the years and her and her equally talented husband Tony are people I regard first and foremost as friends.

What has been wonderful to observe is how her work and fame has evolved over a slow period of time.

Although she has always been highly regarded and collected I think that she has now reached

the point where she is really at the "top of her game".

Producing a collection of wildlife sculpture that now features at regular London auctions.

Although she is now becoming [dare I say it] famous, I just knew that she would create something for us to display at the Art Fair.

Still haven't worked out how they are going to get here,

I will worry about that at 3 am when I lay staring at the ceiling making a mental list of problems.

Let's face it if I didn't worry what else would I do?

The arrival of the paintings by the French artist 

Agnes Boulloche

Is still a problem I am working on, I think we have it solved but there are still a lot of "ifs and buts" to be sorted out.

I suppose I should be working on that instead of writing this, but my thoughts were

"write now while you still remember".

That is because I know that if I didn't it would be a few more days before I remembered that I was overdue to write [which I am now].

Discovering the existence of Agnes was a great and totally unexpected pleasure.

She wrote to me asking "does my work interest you"?

Four hours later we were making plans together [not marriage as I am playing hard to get].

I have yet to meet her, and I am unsure where that will happen because although she lives in the very centre of Paris [spitting distance from the Eiffel tower] she also has other homes and studios.

She is a total enigma, and I am so very happy that she [I don't know how] found me,

then recognised that I would be drawn to her art.

Art, that has somehow to be collected and delivered here very soon

If only the logistics of getting it here were easier.

Of course it would be lovely to "pop over" to Paris for the day and come home with them

but I think my fear of the French traffic is greater than my fear of the language.

Yes, my fear of the roads around Paris is definitely a lot greater.

Perhaps I am spending too much time in the gallery and not enough time travelling as now even

the thought of driving to that "strange" town London fills me with dread

So the thought of driving the wrong way down the Champs-Elysees is more than I could cope with.

Mind you I could imagine the Parisian women exclaiming

"who is that man who drives with such an independent air, he must be a millionaire,

et aussi he is so handsome".

Non!

He's just owns a gallery and worries far too much.

After showing too many events after they have happened I thought that at last I might

"show up on time"

and preview a little of what is going to happen rather than what has happened.

I must be honest and confess that "late" is my nature and I am usually behind with everything.

This is not entirely true, almost but not entirely.

There are times that I know that I should be talking about events and exhibitions that we are going to hold in the future, but something holds me back

The blogs that I enjoy reading the most are written by lovely 'genuine' people,

people who are often "baring their soul" and are telling us about their life, good and bad.

Sometimes, perhaps they tell us things that they later regret.

I applaud them for their honesty and I really enjoy what they write,

it helps me to feel that my problems are shared and are similar to those of many others.

The blogs that I don't enjoy are those of the "advertorial" kind.

I will say no more.

But, considering that I own a gallery sometimes the things that I write are not all about "me",

They are about other people, their efforts and their art, their lives and achievments

 And perhaps this is what my job is about

So I feel that maybe I should be very proud giving a very loud

"shout out"

About future events and the artists involved with them.

So

We have a very major and much anticipated event coming up in the near future.

That will be the joint exhibition of

Anne Bachelier

&

Rachel Ann Stevenson

Two artists whose work I really adore and who I feel really compliment each other

A sculptor and a painter

Both producing some of the most stunning art I have ever seen

What they create really touches my spirit, and from what I understand from the people who visit our gallery their works move the emotions of many others,

So their forthcoming exhibition is creating a lot of excitement and anticipation with us and visitors.

So don't let me down girls.

But, immediately prior to their exhibition we are showing at a very prestigious event where we will "showcase" their art,

plus also the art of many of our favourite artists who also exhibit with the gallery.

This event is the

'Cambridge City Art Fair'

No prize for guessing where this event will be held.

I have wanted to bring our gallery to the attention of a different audience for a long time

and this seemed like the right time and venue to do just that.

Cambridge is very to us close, plus I doubt that I will be fortunate enough to have these two unusual artists together again at the same time,

so it was decided

"let's show the gallery at the show".

So, look out Cambridge we are on our way.

What better way to start our promotion than to advertise our coming exhibition?

Above are two of the advertisements that will start appearing in magazines very soon

Of course I had the urge to show you a little bit more.

I had told myself that I shouldn't as I have many pictures to show before the exhibition and I didn't want to spoil it for when I do actually get around to showing them all.

That's when I remembered that I am always late, so I thought I had better show something now.

At the top is detail of Anne's

'Quand La Nuit', which she originally described to me as 'The Flying Cat'

I prefer the romantic French title but typical Anne, she told me she liked me referring to it as

The Flying Cat, so if I wanted I should keep that name.

At the Art Fair and the exhibition it is definitely

'Quand La Nuit'

Even I must learn to be romantic and treat somethings with reverence, [occasionally].

Below that is detail, and the whole painting of

'Don Quixote'

I love this painting, for me it evokes the feeling of a Rembrandt painting.

This painting came as a result of Anne asking in all innocence

"Is there anything special that you would like me to create for the exhibition"?

I should have said no, and I am sure that she meant a drawing

But I just couldn't help myself [nor could my ego] as I really felt sure that she could

create something really special for me on this theme.

She did

So believe me when I tell you, this is a very unexpected and rare painting.

Then of course we have an innocent and beguiling sculpture by Rachel, used for an advertisement,

plus also a little detail from another.

From now until the art fair I have decided I will try and show a little but often,

"fingers crossed".

Where does the time go?

I notice that less and less people seem to be writing their blogs, well for certain I am writing less.

Perhaps, like me everyone has no time just to write a few words each day.

There are some notable exceptions fortunately so at least I can have my daily "fix" learning

what they are doing with their time.

The things that they write make me appreciate that none of us are really that different,

wherever in the world we may happen to live.

It is the appreciation of how much smaller the world appears to be that has prompted this overdue post.

My only excuse for not writing before is that I have no time.

At least that is how it seems to me, my days just disappear almost as soon as they have started.

Late each night when I lock the doors to return home I vow

[even when I know I won't]

I will write the "blog" first thing tomorrow.

Now at last, I am.

The reason for is because last weekend we held the opening of a new exhibition by the sculptor

'Sandra Courlivant'

She is a French artist, and as such lives a great distance from us, but it doesn't feel like it.

Because as I said the world seems smaller, and I suppose that is because of this, "the Internet"

I have corresponded and have gotten to know Sandra over the past year,

which still seems strange when you have never met a person, but with pictures and words

you can form the basis of a relationship.

I certainly feel as if I know her.

So when I arrived at the airport to collect her and Matiilda her daughter I wasn't meeting a stranger.

She was visiting England to attend the opening of her first UK exhibition,

which of course was here in our gallery.

I have seen many pictures of Sandra so I was certain that I would recognise her.

However, she had not seen one of me.

I helped her by sending her a very detailed description of myself

"old man, white hair and white beard".

Modesty prevented me from saying "good looking", but that's the kind of man I am,

plus I didn't want to awe her.

I arrived late [which is normal] and I could not see her anywhere amongst the crowds at "arrivals".

I started to panic and looked to check that her flight had arrived.

It had, so where was she?

I felt a tap on the shoulder and heard the words "hello John".

My description had worked,

although she did tell me it was only because I looked so worried that she just knew it must be me.

Obviously someone must have tipped her off as I had never told her that I always look worried.

Despite the language barrier [on my part] we were soon engaged in conversation as if we were old friends, which I suppose we were even though we are new friends.

I have wanted to have an exhibition of her sculptures from the moment I first looked at them

[on the computer of course]

but it has been a long journey since the day we first made contact.

Her work is very fragile and she had been concerned that it could never make the journey intact.

I persuaded her to let us try a few pieces and that if they received a good response then we would

somehow work out how to send a complete exhibition from France.

She agreed.

The initial sculptures received a fantastic response and all were sold very quickly.

People really responded to them for many reasons,

They are innocent, gentle and beautifully crafted, and as one customer told me

"I have never seen anything like these anywhere".

Nor have I, they are really unique and so very different.

When looking at them it is impossible not to have a smile on your face,

they make you feel good inside,

that's a rare thing.

I have often wondered where her ideas come from and what is the source of her inspiration.

It was no great surprise to learn that the instigation came after she had visited Mongolia on a riding trip.

How many people would do that?

[The last time I rode was at the local stable a mile from my house].

She returned home from Mongolia fascinated by the land, the culture and in particular the interaction

between the children and their animals.

It is these that form the basis of her work.

It is the way that she has been able to re-create the pleasure of the children that has fascinated everyone.

In fact there is one lone figure of a little girl would have sold five times over.
But we could only sell it once.

Fortunately it was purchased by a friend who lives close to the gallery so this means I will see it again,

because the other five potential buyers were not alone in their desire for this piece.

I would have loved to own it.

People [including me] asked would she create more versions of this same sculpture,

understandably she is reluctant to do this, she wants to move forward.

Yak's!

"That is what I am now creating, Yak's and a caravan".

[I don't think she meant a caravan on wheels]

What is strange is that although each sculpture was signed this wasn't enough,

Because she was here people wanted sculptures signed again.

So with her smaller sculptures Sandra had people waiting while she hand signed the wooden base's.

One person even wanted the rusted iron base of a large sculpture signed,

she had to pass on that.

I suppose it was because her unexpected presence here that made it a special event and everyone wanted their own personal reminder of the day.

It was a fun day,

exhausting but really enjoyable and a day we plan to repeat sometime, if she will.

Now my new [but old] friend is back home with her family in France a long distance away,

but I realise that if I type quickly I can be there in a moment.

Europe, now seems a much smaller and much closer place, especially France,

which is good because our next exhibition in October is with my friend

Anne Bachalier.

I have not met her, but I know we are friends and I can't wait to greet her.

Especially since I have practised my French on Sandra.

"Beaujolais et aussi les petits pois Sandra"?

Learning all of the time, that's me.

I am constantly in a state of excitement and anticipating when new pieces of art expected to arrive at the gallery,

Once I have seen something that I desire and spoken with the artist

I have no peace until there work is here on show.

This of course is totally illogical

as I see many "objects of desire" that I would love to exhibit

But I appreciate that because of other commitments only a few will ever come to the gallery

But, sometimes when I come across artists whose work really moves me

 I feel certain that if it was on exhibit here it will move the emotions

of others in the same way as it has moved mine.

On these occasions it becomes a mission and the words "no I can't" are something that I don't understand.

Fortunately for my health this does not happen often.

Thinking about things, I suppose this is what the purpose of having a gallery is all about

Showing art that people can connect with and are moved by.

Of course,

It goes without saying that if they happen to purchase that piece of art it is a big bonus,

I confess that I sometimes get confused and have to remember this is not my own personal collection

that I am exhibiting, it is art for sale.

But it is a wonderful feeling when sometimes a piece of art that you are showing

can move someone enough to make them cry.

Emotions are a strong force

When I do become really excited all logic and thoughts of sales "go out of the window"

and I will not rest until I have that piece or some of that art on show.

Then I can relax a little until I find another great artist,

and the worry starts again.

But that's the fun side of having a gallery [the rest is all stress].

I would like to think that there are a few artists/sculptors/ceramists that we have helped gain recognition,

But the truth is that I "just knew" they were going to be great, with or without us,

it was obvious.

So, here above is the art of a lady who I know is going to achieve very great things,

In fact in America she already has.

Perhaps here in England we can help the same thing happen

We don't have her sculptures at the moment they are still being created

but they will be arriving here in a few weeks.

I can't wait for that day.

Meanwhile

Here are some pieces of carpentry/sculpture that I have long been awaiting,

that now I can enjoy.

James Evans

Is a man whose work I absolutely love, we have shown him in the past

and I hope we will many times in the future.

His work on display here now is an example of how some things are worth waiting for.

His work has been promised for a long while 

[well eight weeks seemed a bloody long time to me]

The wait had only heightened my excitement and anticipations,

I am not disappointed.

Each and every day that I look at his cupboards I find some new detail that I had missed,

they are truly stunning and are the result of hundreds of hours work.

These are pieces that I would love to possess,

but until that day happens I am proud to be a temporary custodian of such things.

I had felt sure that once they were here on display

I might calm down a little and perhaps my enthusiasm and love of them might diminish.

But it hasn't it has grown.

It would seem that much as I desire and won't rest until a piece of art is here in the gallery

that it is only on arrival that the true admiration and appreciation of that artist

and their art begins.

Which takes me back to the top of the page.

When the sculptures arrive I will tell you the artists name.