The First Workshops!

As my first workshops attendees arrived, were met at the airport and taken to the Lousada Country Hotel nearby, I realised that this was the first day of the rest of my life. An amazing way to combine my twin passions of art and teaching. A way to make the Pink Buddha Studio come alive with paint, paper and the wonderful pleasure of watching people creating art, forming friendships and building in confidence. As the days passed, and we made our own collage papers, started our Buddhas, and the spirit of mutual support and friendship grew, I knew that this was meant to be - that somehow I had to share this magical space with more people, and to find new ways for people to come.

I loved the way everyone watched my demos, then developed their own paintings, exploring their own style, and creating unique, stunning paintings!

Both weeks were AMAZING - I think pictures speak louder than words, so here are 'the best bits" !!!!

Why Pink Buddha?

The Pink Buddha means so much to me - I started painting Buddhas because they kind of speak to me, so hard to describe. My late Roy always acted rather as the voice of my conscience. Now I feel that the Buddhas do much the same. I both see and hear Roy in them, but also something even deeper, a spirituality, a force which I need to listen to, understand and make sense of, to be kinder and more generous, to be more forgiving - to be wiser and make better decisions. All this and much more that cannot be verbalised. I need to connect to this force to find the energy and work ethic I need for this enterprise - I have to dig deep and overcome the pull of laziness! I'm going to give it all I've got!

I am going to give it all I've got...plus the champagne!

The Pink Buddha is ready.,,,,

Why is it that everything that can go wrong, usually does? The works began to take on strong flavours of the latest Portuguese soap opera - there were nail biting cliffhangers and gut wrenching fear that it would not be ready. My preplanned week of 'rest and relaxation' before the first Pink Buddha restaurant did not happen - we were getting ready until almost the last moment. But as in all these situations, it did all come together after looking at its worst before it looked its best....and the studio lay in wait for its first visitors from the US, Spain and the UK, plus a bit of a do for the first night - the 'Grand Opening"!

People were met at the airport, settled into the lovely Lousada Country Hotel, and the first day of the workshop was spent in lots of great conversation and anticipation of the week ahead. Suddenly the tempo changed - people , including my wonderful friends Jane and Nat who had created The Pink Buddha Art Studios', friends, family and workshop attendees, began to arrive... out came the 'champagne', corks popped! I reverted instantly into my former Headmistress mode and made my speech. The most important part for me, apart from thanking Jane and Nat, and Isabel, for their tireless efforts, was to answer the question...who and what is this studio for I feel very passionately about opening up the studio to all, including the local community, to singles, small groups and independent travellers, to people who have never picked up a paintbrush, to people who don't need me but just want to come and paint for a while and have a comfy bed and meals cooked for them. It's all part of the dream.