This week I travel from my studio in Cumbria to my studio in Northern France, and take in some grandparenting along the way. I have discovered through the grandchildren the fabulous paint sticks and have now added them to my armoury of portable art materials for when I am on the move. Not only are they versatile, they are also very clean and easy when I am out and about. Being on Brittany Ferries from Portsmouth to Caen also gave me a fantastic opportunity to see the Spinnaker Tower as we left port, and this is something that will definitely feature in a future painting. I am hugely exited to continue with my abstract landscape painting inspired by a church in Kirkhaugh and hope to have it finished this week, now I am back in Les Chapelles.

I explore the Church of the Paraclete at Kirkhaugh in Cumbria, the only church with that name and the only one with a 'Fleche' Spire, which translates to 'Arrow'. As I am interested in the piercing of the space in between earth and sky, this seemed a fantastic subject for my first abstract landscape painting of 2024. Using a fluorescent pattern to fill the space between top and bottom, I have then begun to paint over this using sketchbooks and photographs from the church as a starting point, in mainly greens and reds. Additionally, I have been preparing some Limited edition prints for Rydal Mount and Gardens, which re-opens on 8th February.

This week has been yet another fantastic week as I travelled down to the AKA Contemporary Gallery in Cambridge for the preview of their Winter Exhibition where I have the painting 'View From The Tool Shed'

I have also spent the week preparing my canvas for painting my large abstract landscape inspired by the church in Kirkhaugh, Alston, and boy, am I excited!

I have used my Rabbit Skin Size for the first time and can't wait to apply the colours and pattern using natural materials wherever I can.

Can't wait to see the colours come to life on this baby!

AND, don't forget I still have work in a variety of exhibitions up and down the land - so please either call in store at AKA or The Old Cinema, or check out my work online at www.helenalicejohnsonartist.com

I am having a week off for Christmas, which will be the first week off making videos all year! This is week 51 and in week 52 I will be eating mince pies and enjoying family and friends - I hope you are able to do the same, and then I am hugely looking forward to sharing the journey of my next painting series with you in 2024.

It has been a great week for meetings this week - I started off on Monday at the Dennis Kilgallon Gallery to check out the space - and WOW - what an amazing drive to get there - up high in the North Pennines, it really is a gallery like no other!

I have also been to Rydal Mount this week to collect my work and bring it home for the winter - they are closed over December and January and re-open on 9th February - where the tea shop will be stocked with my art work and prints ready for the new season, and of course fantastic coffee and lots of delicious home made cakes!

And don't forget the other exhibitions I have going on at the moment -

• The Old Cinema, Chiswick, London - November to December - Routes Into Nature

• AKA Contemporary Gallery, Cambridge - Winter Open - View From The Tool Shed - December 20th to 27th January 2024.

• Cista Arts - Immersed in Nature: An Artistic Exploration - December 2023

The launch event for AKA Contemporary Winter Open is on 20th December 6pm to 9pm. If you can make it, it would be fabulous to see you there.

This week I travel back from France to my studio in Cumbria, and use the travelling time to think and plan some ideas for my next set of large abstract paintings which will be based on the North Pennines. I am having an exhibition in July at the Dennis Kilgallon Gallery and these paintings will be painted specifically for the exhibition. Of course, if anyone wants to buy one before the exhibition, that will be fine! I hope you like what I've been up to! Please subscribe to my channel if you do!

Sketchbook work and thinking time this week @helenalicejohnsonartist as I begin to explore in more detail my next series of paintings. I am interested in children's landscape painting, when they paint the sky and the ground, but then leave a space in between! Join me as I look at how I might use this in my large abstract paintings, as well as Islamic pattern and of course - fluorescent paint!

This week I have been busy with a secret commission so am unable to share that with you, but instead I have a treat instore as I show you around the area and talk through some thoughts about my next series of large abstract oil paintings based on Spaces Between. I am interested in the relationship between people and nature and how we seek power from that Space In between. I have always been fascinated by children's paintings of landscapes, and how they paint a sky and the earth and then how they leave a big vast space in-between! What do the children know that we don't?!!

Experimenting with materials - This week I have been experimenting with natural pigments, different canvas surfaces and single use plastics - all part of a thought process for my next series of large abstract paintings which will be on show in July 2024 at the Dennis Kilgallon Gallery.

Following the successful launch of my Routes Into Nature exhibition at The Old Cinema, it's time to move onto thinking about my next series of paintings!

I have given myself the whole of November for thinking time, with no actual paintings being produced - although, that said, I have a commission to do, and will always be available for commissions if you want one! Get in touch if you do, I'd be delighted to paint something for you.

See here what I am up to - from making my own paints, to boiling up natural primers and creating Islamic eightfold patterns, there is something for everyone this week!

And don't forget to call into the The Old Cinema if you can - exhibition runs through November and December, and is also available to view online through my website 

And don't forget to follow me on Instagram to be eligible for the weekly Free Giveaway.