Doctor Spud will see you now...
Open wide, it's time for your fortnightly dose of wholesome updates
There are two things that bring me solace in life: dogs and art. Conveniently they are both things that I engage with on a daily basis. If I’m having a tough time nothing soothes me more than disappearing off to my studio to do a bit of painting or seeking out one of the dogs for an impromptu but always well-received cuddle. It’s a big reason why I always like to have the dogs in when I run my painting workshops… if the painting doesn’t make you feel good, the dogs certainly will (and if all else fails: prosecco).
Owning a dog is like having a live-in pharmacist. They’re fluffy drug dispensers. Dopamine? Oxytocin? Seratonin? All yours for the humble fee of a scratch behind the ear. It’s a legal high, and it’s why ‘pet therapy’ exists as a concept because people recognise the comfort and happiness that can come from interacting with a dog (or any pet). And the best bit is that dogs have no idea of the joy they bring us, they just want to be made a fuss of. It’s a beautifully simple exchange.
This is demonstrated perfectly by Ollie (below), who has made friends with the elderly couple who live a few doors down from us and whose house he frequently invades because, well, they have a really good treat cupboard. Every time we encounter our neighbours I see how these interactions with Spud and Ollie brighten their day, and as you can see from Ollie the feeling is mutual. Seratonin delivered for the price of a Duck and Hide Twister… bargain!
Right, let’s get this show on the road! Scroll down my dear reader friends…
Pottery Making
It’s a small ‘life’ section this week as I sort of sandwiched my life update into the pupdate section this week, you’ll understand when you read it. So I’m going to use this space to give a shout-out to a fellow small business: my friend (and previously my studio neighbour) Caitlin Bowbeer, who has started running pottery workshops from her new studio space at Leith Makers here in Edinburgh.
Juan and I attended her sold-out workshop on Tuesday evening and let me tell you the two hours just flew by. We met really nice people and I found that the simple act of moulding clay with your hands is incredibly therapeutic.
There are other workshops running at Leith makers but I highly recommend Caitlins, she has one running for mothers day and you can find the link below:
Pet Portraits
This week I was commissioned by two incredibly difficult and picky customers to paint a portrait. They argued and bickered over what photo they wanted to use, and then pestered me the whole time I was painting asking “is it done yet”. Once I showed them the finished picture they were thankfully flattered with the outcome which is good because I will be hanging their portrait up in my own house.
If you’re a human reading this, you can use the button below to find out more about commissioning a pet portrait. If you’re a dog, well, you’re a clever boy for reading this but please make sure it’s your owner doing the enquiring. Thanks in advance.
A return to Gartur Stitch Farm…
Oh my goodness I cannot tell you how excited I am to head back to the small holding of dreams…
This April 27 & 28th I will be heading back to Gartur Stitch Farm in Stirling to run full-day workshops that offer you the chance to get in touch with your inner Beatrix Potter as you paint with watercolour, enjoy incredible locally sourced food and play with the animals on the farm (who all have names, my favourite has to be Loretta the Pig! She is the absolute star of the show!)
For this year’s workshop, we will be painting a running hare as shown above. Non-arty people and total beginners are welcome since I lead everything step by step with clear and easy-to-follow instructions. The aim of the day is to have fun and try something new.
So what are you waiting for… if you have even an inkling that you might enjoy this day, trust me you should jump on it now before tickets sell out. For more info on the event including the itinerary, click the ticket link below:
Of course, if you’re not able to get up to Stirling for a workshop (or come to my Edinburgh studio) you can always join an online painting workshop. I’m seeing regular faces joining each one so it feels like we are building a little community.!It’s only £15 per class and the next painting theme I have on offer is a fox (see below)
If you’d be interested in this as an in-person workshop I will be launching April dates soon! I have also put one extra in-person hare workshop up onto my eventbrite ticket page and there is also an upcoming hare and a bee online workshop too.
Online workshops are only £15… and if you can’t make the date of the workshop I can send you the recording to do at your leisure! What are you waiting for…
I honestly wouldn’t have Spud if it wasn’t for my Nana
When I first moved up to Edinburgh after uni, I lived with my Nana for a year and a half while I set up my art business. Since I was working from home and didn't know anyone, it was a high priority for me to acquire some four-legged pals which I achieved in the form of Wisha the Collie and Darcy the German Shepherd. Both were found through Borrow My Doggy. Both paved the way for Spud.
Spud came into my life in the very modern way of... seeing a photo of him on the internet. My friend Gina started posting a lot on Facebook about this dog she'd found on the streets of Greece. Looking to help, I asked Nana if we could take him in "for a few weeks" to help him get adopted, promising her it would be the same as when we looked after Wisha and Darcy but he wouldn’t be going home at the end of each day… well it turned out he wasn’t like Wisha and Darcy. Dog sitting two mature, well-behaved adult dogs is not the same as taking on a full-time teenage pup who’d never lived in a house before. Safe to say Nana and I were not prepared for this gremlin who came into our lives. Neither of us had a scooby how to raise him but we were in it together whether we liked it or not: me as the inexperienced owner/trainer and nana as… collateral damage…
There was the time he woke her up at 4am by jumping on her bed because he needed the toilet and couldn't find my room. There was the time he took a single perfect bite out of her new leather shoes… and we can't forget when she was looking after him while I was away and he ate a whole packet of butter which he later threw up all over her floor. I distinctly remember pulling Spud aside one evening after I’d just discovered him chewing on a very expensive antique tea cosy, and whispering in a distressed tone "You're going to get us kicked out Spud!"
Somehow, miraculously, he still managed to win Nana over and she enjoyed his company in the house, sneaking him sausages and when I was away she’d even walk him up the road to the post office. Even after I moved out we’d always pop back for regular visits. Which is why, when her health took a turn for the worse a couple of weeks ago and she found herself in hospital with a diagnosis of cancer it suddenly became very important to me that I did what I could to surprise her with a visit from Spud. Fortunately, since Spud is already a registered Therapet the hospital were able to pull some strings and get us in at very short notice. I was able to take Spud in to surprise Nana and although very ill and tired, she was so happy to see him and she stroked his head for several minutes until she half fell asleep. Very, very sadly, she passed away the next day.
It has been an emotional week for me and my family as well as her friends. 88 years is a good life but it doesn’t stop feeling like there’s a gap left behind. Above all, she was a kind and generous person, who was always keen to help out whenever she could. “Anything!” was always her immediate response.
She was always so supportive of my artwork, selling my cards and calendars to her friends and anytime I did any event or show she insisted on coming and buying something. I distinctly remember after one particular show I hadn't done very well, and upon telling Nana on the last day she said "Well, I haven't done my shopping yet!" and proceeded to buy about 10 tea towels and 5 coasters that she definitely didn't need…
She had a real love of reading, a random obsession with frogs (they’re hidden all over the house!) and she was incredibly accomplished (she made lace for goodness sake, do you even know how complicated that is!)
I’m sure my family (and friends who met her) will agree, she truly was an 11/10 Nana and absolutely deserves to have this section of my newsletter dedicated to her. To the best Nana, we will miss you! x
An emotional one in the end but incredibly cathartic to write. If you are ever struggling with anxiety, sadness or grief it truly is a big help in my opinion to seek out animals and also to explore your creative side. Doing any kind of craft with your hands relaxes the brain and soothes the soul allowing you to escape for a little time.
And of course we must always do what we can to inject a little humour into our lives, even at the toughest of times, so this week more than ever we need to make sure we finish with a good Nap Pawsition of the Week, brought to you by Spud who looks like… an optical illusion? Is he taking a walk along the sofa? Wrong answers only.
‘Til next friends! Take care xxx
So sorry about your Nana. I lost my grandma recently too, and even though she was 95(!!), part of me wishes she could have lived forever. They both had a good innings though! Your Nana sounds wonderful <3
Condolences to you and your family Tori. The grandparent/grandchild relationship is such a special one. Xx