Jackie Adshead - Where my life and art are intertwined

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It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Christmas is always full of the hopes of happiness that we all long for, and if we’re lucky, we get.

At this time of year people turn to the internet for their Christmas shopping. But what I never quite understand is the desire for people to throw money at something in the hope that it will achieve that desire to please the recipient with no real thought behind what it is that person actually wants. 

And what do people really want?

Something that makes them happy.

Something that makes them smile.

Something that evokes love, and fond memories.

Something that touches somePuppy lovething deep inside them.

And it may well be a new gadget, or toy, or piece of clothing, jewellery, perfume or case of fine claret.

But I doubt its a gift set of bubble bath, multi-pack of socks, gardening gloves, a bottle of sherry, a knitted bobble hat or onesies.

No, this year, buy them something that will make them happy. And yes, I’ll mention a piece of artwork at this point, of course I will, I’m an artist. But make it a piece that means something special to them – not just a field of flowers, or a cute puppy. But a particular field of flowers that they love to walk in, a cute puppy that they grew up with, their favourite holiday destination, the house that they love, their children, their loved ones.

Make it particular to THEM.

But make it quick, because there is just enough time to paint it, if you tell me now, this week.

And imagine their face when they open it, to know that you put a lot of thought, and got them something they love. Rather than thought on 20th December, that sod it, you couldn’t be bothered, and it’ll be a new sweater, that you just know they will exchange for something else in the new year sales.

I've been an artist all of my life, and my paintings now hang on walls in Europe, USA and Canada. I'm working on getting them on the other continents! My wide range of artwork has been exhibited nearer to home in the East Midlands, with the Guild of Erotic Artists at Beaumont Hall Studios in Hertfordshire, and at "Erotica", Olympia, London. I have also been featured alongside my work in the Guild of Erotic Artists book (volume 2). I love to create dramatic interest in my pictures, whether it’s to paint an unusual landscape, or just to utilise dramatic lighting in my figure drawings or strong colour in my animal portraits. Delighting in the spontaneous tendencies of watercolour adds an interesting and distinctive look to my paintings, some of which are purposefully ambiguous, enabling the viewer to use their own interpretation of my artwork. I also love to hide images, and humour within my paintings, whether it’s a secret message, or an erotic couple hidden within a landscape, or even an erotic landscape where the couple are camouflaged as the features of the land itself. I am equally happy painting in oils, acrylics or watercolours and love to draw with pencil or ink. I have also developed the very effective method of drawing using white pencil on black card which creates dramatic pictures by just picking out where the light catches the body and leaving the rest of the image to the imagination, in darkness. I can also utilise many different styles, whether it is realistic, abstract, surrealistic, erotic, fantasy or camouflage art where something is hidden within the painting. I'm just passionate about my art, whatever I paint! But, it doesn't matter how many landscapes or pet portraits I paint, its always the erotic stuff that people are interested in! I started blogging to share some of the strange conversations I have with the people I meet. But its evolved into far more than that now.