One of the great things about Cornwall is that it has a never ending supply of inspiration. Everywhere I look there is something to paint. My latest piece of The Blue Peter Inn in Polperro. Less is known about it’s origins, but it has been mentioned in records from the 18th and 19th century.
If you want to know more about the inns of Polperro head on over to the Polperro Press website
So, I couldn’t make up my mind what to post about today, so I decided to share both with you. I made both of them anyway. The first is my latest drawing/painting, which is of an old ice-cream van which used to frequent the Barbican in Plymouth. I managed to get the pigment screaming in the colours, so that it almost feels 3D. What do you think?
And the second is some photos of a few flowers in my garden. Also very pigmented. I am so pleased with them, because I decided to start doing a bit of gardening and trying to add more colour to our garden. I was so worried about all the flowers dying off after I had re-potted them, because I have never done this before, or I have but they all just died off. Here they are looking glorious after more than a week. 🙂
Although my Etsy shop says ‘member since 2014’I have only actually been using it since 2020. After years of trying to earn a bit to fund my next art project I decided to sell on Etsy, only prints of my originals though.
Since last October I have made 65 sales, mostly for postcard size prints. I have lost a lot more than I have made with all of the overheads. I lose a small chunk on Etsy fees and I also paid for the plus membership for a few months, which I would say is pointless. There really isn’t a big difference. I am satisfied with Etsy but it could be better.
Last week I thought I would give Folksy a go as I kept seeing the name pop up and it is more UK focused, which is better for me, because to post abroad is really expensive now.
I have stuck with the same shop name, because I am hoping that way, one of my shops will receive hits. One advantage with Folksy is that you can have your listings imported from Etsy, which makes it a whole lot easier when updating your Folksy website. I cancelled the ‘plus’ package on Etsy and instead pay £5 a month on Folksy. Which includes unlimited listings. Anyway, no sales yet, but I will update in a month or two on the progress.
By clicking on either the Folksy or Etsy words in the text you can visit both sites. Have a great day!
I am thinking about doing some videos of myself creating to put on my shop on Etsy, but I don’t know if it is a good idea. I have a GoPro type thing, so the equipment is ok. Just wondering if anyone has had any experience with doing this kind of thing and can give me any advice? Would be appreciated. Etsy recommends videoing the process of creating, so I thought I might try it.
Another good thing I discovered as a result of the lockdown is you can see the entire collection of Le Louvre online for free. Quite cool. What other positive things come out of lockdown. I learn the guitar and ukulele and create something every day. What about you?
I moved abroad in 1993 and didn’t come home for good until 2017 and a lot had changed in England since then. At first, was very excited to get back to my home town of Plymouth and to be next to the sea. I had forgotten about all of the rain though. It’s a wonderful city if it isn’t raining.
I decided that I would draw or paint some of the places that I remembered from before I left and saw there are quite few amazing buildings left. Some of them I had to renovate myself a little bit.
The building has been derelict now for years and therefore I decided to bring it back to life, to include the scenes from the Spanish Armada. I do wish the concil would concentrate on bringing back to life some of our older buildings rather then erecting architectural monstrosities.
I remember when I was living in Budapest there was an old building similar to this and it was renovated and brought back to its former glory as a large book store in this former department store of the ‘art deco’ period. I could imagine the New Palace Theatre being something the same.
Another gorgeous building in the ‘art deco’ style in Plymouth is the Reel Cinema, which was built in the 1930’s. Over the decades it has change hands many times but has mostly been a theatre or a cinema. Now they are talking about bringing it down to make way for student apartments. Seems all of the buildings erected in Plymouth now are student apartments or ugly empty shopping malls.
I mean, come on, this is the place which once saw The Beatles, and Sir Tom Jones perform. Unfortunately, the cinema closed it’s doors as a cinema for the final time in 2019, but I have heard that they may be converting it to a music venue. Come back Tom!
I’ll post some more pictures that I have done of my favourite places in Plymouth over the next few days. However if you can’t wait the go to JPS Fine Art Prints (my Etsy shop) to see and perhaps purchase some of my prints before they’re all gone. 🙂
Stay Safe and see you soon. Jimmy
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