two new miniature paintings

Steps at North Queensferry © Tracy Hall 2011

3.5" x 1.75" watercolour

Black headed gulls © Tracy Hall 2011

2" x 4" watercolour

Two new miniature paintings completed since my last post and part of a fresh consignment of paintings for the Llewellyn Alexander Gallery in central London. The cat on the steps is already there actually, and the birds will follow just as soon as their frames arrive from Brampton Framing.

I couldn't resist the steps with all the pretty plant pots as we were walking through North Queensferry last year (en route to swimming with sharks) and managed to take a few photos before I was forced to move on by restless shark-loving smaller people. No such problem with the black headed gulls of course.

a new miniature and mpsgs exhibition

(as yet untitled) © Tracy Hall 2011

2" x 4" Watercolour on board

A new shore painting in miniature completed, this time with oyster catchers. On the big easel its been quite festive lately and I've just finished a christmas scene. I'm now back in the kitchen for some baking in the latest piece - I'll show them next year after they've been released as jigsaws.

The Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society of Washington DC (MPSGS) will be holding their annual exhibition of miniature art at Strathmore Mansion, North Bethesda, MD, USA from November 21st - Dec 30th and I'll have three pieces in the show. I was delighted to learn 'Socorro Dove' (bottom right in the above photo) received second place in the International awards. This is one of the largest miniature art exhibitions in the US and I do hope you will be able to visit if you are in the area!

new miniature painting and pocket bird book

(as yet untitled) © Tracy Hall 2011

2" x 4" watercolour on board

I realised recently that the shore doesn't feature in my work very often given the fact that I live right next to it and walk on it most days. Perhaps it is too familiar, but there's certainly no lack of inspiration. Its a constant source of peace and enjoyment, even on wild days, and nothing clears the cobwebs or puts things in perspective quite so well as a wander along the beach. Anyway to make amends above is my latest miniature painting - which I enjoyed so much I am already planning the next seaside one!

The (much more practical!) pocket edition of the Orkney Book of Birds has just been published and we have signed copies available to purchase safely from the website. Special thanks from Tim Dean and I to Drew at the publishers (The Orcadian) for doing such a brilliant job of fitting everything from the original hardback edition into the slimline pocket version, which really can't have been easy, and also to Paul Higson for updating the Orkney List. The pocket edition is £9.99 & p&p and can be shipped worldwide. If you would like to order your signed copy please click here - Orkney Book of Birds - Pocket Edition

The Artistic Designs Miniature Show is underway in Brownsburg, IN, USA and you can see the exhibition online at their website. I have four paintings in the exhibition (above) which was postponed from earlier in the year following a fire at the gallery. The show runs until November 22nd so I hope you will be able to get along to see it if you are in the area!

Finally, I was really sorry this year not to be able to submit work to the Society of Wildlife Artists exhibition, I just basically ran out of time. But hopefully next year I will be better organised again. Big congratulations to fellow Orkney artist Tim Wootton who won the Birdwatch Artist of the Year award! If you haven't managed to get along to the Mall Galleries in London to see the show yet, it runs until this sunday (Nov 6th) and you can get a wonderful taster at Making a Mark where Katherine has reviewed the exhibition.