Hello everyone, and apologies for the radio silence! I’ve been in full creative mode, balancing both my own artwork and teaching, and I wanted to take a moment to share an update on everything that’s been happening.
As we approached Christmas, I had the privilege of creating a very special retirement gift for the Dean of Medicine at St Andrews University. This piece, a watercolour with gouache painting of St Salvator’s Chapel, was a top-secret commission until recently. It was presented to him a couple of weeks ago, and I’m delighted to hear it was well received!
Another recent commission was a retirement gift for a gentleman who owned and ran Kinross Garage for his entire life. This painting was on a smaller scale but packed with intricate details. In his car, you’ll spot a tiny teddy bear—a nod to his collection—along with his beloved dog. The challenge didn’t stop there; when painting his glasses, I had to use a magnifying glass as they were so minuscule!
Lately, I’ve also been honing my portrait skills, starting with paintings of my children. I’ll wait until they’re fully completed before sharing them, but in the meantime, I can show you a portrait of Jim McLeish from Cupar. Jim kindly sat for his portrait, which I drew and painted from life. I initially set myself a four-hour time limit, as I have dreams of entering the Sky Portrait Artist of the Year. However, four hours proved agonising—I either achieve a good likeness or a good painting, but never both in that time! So, after Jim left, I dedicated another 16 hours to refining the piece. I’m happy with the result, but to compete in the show, I’ll need to develop a more efficient painting style—more practice and experimentation required!
Beyond painting, I’m deep in preparation for my upcoming art exhibition in May, which will be a particularly special one. This year marks the 10-year anniversary of my first solo show, and I want to celebrate it in style. I currently have two sponsors: Woodhouse Wines from Inverbervie and Almondine from Aberdeen. I’d love to add some live music to create a real celebratory atmosphere. Additionally, I’m planning a talk and demonstration to accompany the exhibition, and I’ve been working on a catalogue of works offering in-depth insights into each painting. These will be available to purchase for £12, or included in the price of a ticket for the talk and demo (details and dates to be confirmed).
It feels fantastic to be so busy again—I don’t do well sitting still and am always happiest when juggling multiple projects! In addition to my own work, I’m fully immersed in my teaching. My children’s and teen classes are in full swing, as are my adult watercolour and mixed media sessions. I’m also teaching via Zoom for Flavours Holidays, and my first teaching retreat will take place in Puglia this May—not long to go now!
Another recent highlight was an incredible session with 30 ladies at St Rule’s Golf Club, where we painted watercolour seascapes. The setting couldn’t have been more perfect, with stunning views over the 18th hole at the Old Course and the ever-changing clouds and light over the West Sands.
Today, I’m off to teach a Flexi Friday class, a wonderful initiative where children leave school on Fridays for more Montessori-inspired learning. I often get invited to teach art, and today’s theme is Mongolian dress—such a fascinating topic!
And now take a breath! Phew! That's my update for just now folks, loads more exciting thigs to come.
As always, you can follow me on Instagram and Facebook for more frequent updates. Thank you for your continued support—I can’t wait to share more of this creative journey with you!
Love Jaclyn
x
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