My exhibition- Cheltenham Open studios. There are over 200 artists exhibiting in 64 venues in and around Cheltenham from 4th -12th June.I have set up my work in our little house.

First Exhibition in England....

There are over 200 artists exhibiting in 64 venues in and around Cheltenham, Gloucestershire UK from 4th -12th June.

I have set up my work in our little house.

Some of my paintings are from South Africa and the others I have painted here. Enjoy  the cyber exhibition......

CHELTENHAM OPEN STUDIOS

This is an exciting time for me, I am opening my home for the first time in Cheltenham ,Gloucestershire. England, exhibiting the paintings that I have done since we moved into our house here.
I hardly had any paintings left after a near sell out at my last exhibition in Johannesburg, South Africa.
I was left with about seven paintings out of the sixty four that I exhibited. Near sell out-ummm  well SELL OUT , seems more apt as  the walls were empty. The paintings literally grew legs and walked out. That was a pretty amazing feeling. The few that were left weren't ready to leave me and were carefully wrapped and accompanied me to England where our new countrymen here will have the opportunity to purchase them..
The container arrived on the 7th March 2011, and the next few weeks I spent unpacking all my beloved "things" including my paints and brushes. I just couldn't wait to paint. I flung myself into a frenzy of creativity, the result of which I will be exhibiting next week. 4th-12th JUNE 2011.
If you have any family or friends that live near me in England please extend an invitation to them, they will be most welcome.

Website: http://ronniebiccardartist.weebly.com

Online Portfolio:http://www.flickr.com/photos/ronniebiccard

Contact: ronniebiccardsart@gmail.com

8x8cm Impressions Tulips and Roses

Impressions.

It's full blown spring in England and one can see the change so dramatically, suddenly everything is in bloom. Daffodils appear from no where , crocuses and snowdrops pop up through the grass that has been sleeping all winter, and the TULIPS (my favourite flower) are in abundance on the window boxes, the garden beds, and pots of all shapes and sizes.They come in  all colours. Glorious, glorious, Spring.

I now understand why the folk of yore honoured the seasons so vehemently. Their life depended on them. They honoured the Solstices and the Equinoxes, all the seasons and mid seasons too. They were performed by our/ my ancestors and they are still celebrated today. 

  
Yule / Winter Solstice is on or near December 21st  here in the northern hemisphere, nights get longer and days get shorter.

Imbolc / Imbolg / Candlemas - February 2nd
Imbolc means, literally, 'in the belly' (of the Mother) and in the womb of Mother Earth new life is truly stirring, nuts and seeds symbolize new beginnings.This is when the snowdrops and crocuses push their way out of the still-cold earth.

Ostara - Spring Equinox - is on or near March 21st  light and darkness are in balance, but the light is growing stronger as days continue to grow longer. Life Energies emerge quickly now and the very air seems to vibrate with promise (this I am seeing now in my new land). Celebration is to colour eggs, as it is an ancient symbol of fertility. 

Beltaine / Beltane / May Day - May 1 

From the Irish Gaelic Bealtaine meaning Bel-fire (the fire of Bel, Celtic God of light) Beltaine is primarily a fertility festival.

Midsummer / Summer Solstice - is  on or near June 21st
Midsummer is the longest day of the year. 

Lughnasadh / Lammas - August 1
Even though Lughnasadh occurs at the warmest time of the year, it marks the time at which days become noticeably shorter and so is considered the starting point of the autumn quarter of the year. 

Mabon / Autumn Equinox - is  on or near September 21
Mabon is the time of the second harvest, when fruits are ready for collection. The land is showing clear signs of the journey towards winter. This will be a strange experience for me as my birth day is usually in Spring now it will be in Autumn.

Samhain, All Hallow's Eve, Hallowe'en - October 31
This is the Last Harvest and New Year's Eve to the ancient Celts. Samhain is also a day for honouring our ancestors, laying an extra place at the dinner table for those who have passed over to the Summerlands. In Mexico they celebrate the Day of the Dead.

 If we contemplate the Wheel of the Year, we come to recognize our own part in the eternal cycle of Life. 

We need to become conscious of our Earth so that she can heal , before it's too late.

I did a series of small 8x8cm canvases of tulips and roses , in a free impressionist style because this new season, 

here in England, 

has had a profound impact on me. 

It is also a new season of my life!

The above paintings have all be painted since I settled in England. 

They are for sale. Please e mail me on ronniebiccard@gmail.com 

for inquiries on sizes and prices .

http://ronniebiccardartist.weebly.com

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ronniebiccard

Abstract Art in a Frightening World

"Fire in the Belly" Diptych Acrylic on Canvas-- Earth Changes

"The more frightening the world becomes ... the more art becomes abstract." Wassily Kandinsky

"Soleil" Mixed Media and Acrylic on Canvas----The Sun's Power

This statement is so true for me at the moment. After painting goddesses, spirit paintings, white-lined paintings, flowers and other themes, I find myself wanting to explore the realm of abstract painting.

The world out there is quite a “frightening” place at the moment. We are experiencing massive changes globally, in our country and personally, on all levels.

As an artist, the best way for me is to explore the depths is through my feelings.

As Wassily Kandinsky, the father of abstract painting said “Abstract art places a new world, which on the surface has nothing to do with 'reality,' next to the 'real' world.

"Letters to God" Mixed Media and Acrylic on Canvas----........

Abstract painting is an area that I have not visited for a number of years. It is not a cop out as many people believe. How often have your heard “oh my kid can do that”? Oh man, if they only knew what they are saying!!!!! It is really exploring the depth of the subconscious.

It is extremely difficult to paint abstracts. It’s about feelings and emotions. It requires you to change the way you look at the world.

You are transported into another time and space.

You stop seeing the big picture and look for details. Focus is on the shapes, the patterns, textures and colours around you.

Then you stop seeing the details, stand back and again see the big picture.

Embarking on an “abstract” journey, (because it is a journey), requires one to have the willingness to be spontaneous, to surrender, take risks, explore and experiment.

Allow yourself to do a shamanic dance with the elements

(lines, shapes, colours, textures etc).Listen to soulful music too. It allows you to access your deep subconscious expressing the creative force within. Internal energy within you is given an outlet. And when all is said and done, the work has reached resolve, you the artist feels complete , you then allow “ the viewer (to) stroll around within the picture, to force him to forget himself and to become part of the picture” as the master Kandinsky said

Art Quotations by Wassily Kandinsky. Famous abstract artist and theorist from Russia. Kandinsky is often referred to as the father of abstract art (abstraction)

There is no must in art because art is free. (Wassily Kandinsky)

I really believe that I am the first and only artist to throw not just the 'subject' out of my paintings, but every 'object' as well. (Wassily Kandinsky)

Every work of art is the child of its time; each period produces an art of its own, which cannot be repeated. (Wassily Kandinsky)

+ Abstract art places a new world, which on the surface has nothing to do with 'reality,' next to the 'real' world.

Kandinsky Kandinsky
One of my Favourite Masters of Modern Art.