ART EXHIBITION 15TH March 2018

Art Exhibition

By

   

Maria Atkinson

Donations to St John’s Hospice Lancaster.

106 Heysham Rd. Heysham Morecambe. 
LA3 1DH

Sunset from Sandylands Prom Morecambe
with Heron on the old paddling pool

15^th March 10 am – 6pm

            

    Buttermere and Fleethwith Pike                                                 

Ulswater looking towards Glenredding 

Amarylis

Big Bang 1 

 

                             Sunsetting near Black Comb from Sandylands Prom at Morecambe

***

Refreshments available. Would like you to pop donations into the Hospice collection boxes.

****

                                                                                      

       I am dedicating the exhibition to the memory of two wonderful friends: Ethel Searl and Hilda Barton

                                 

BOOK YOUR PR-VIEW FOR FRIDAY 9th MARCH
 RESERVE ANY OF THE 60+ARTWORK

 By:

Texting 07570078908, Facebook: Maria Atkinson,

Phone 01524 413265

****

Art is very much a personal preference, so I will not be offended if you dislike any or all of my work.

Constructive criticism is the way we learn and sometimes it is very useful but not always appreciated. But I am always happy to listen.

   *

Last year was a bit of a disaster for me. I was a passenger on the 755 bus when it was involved in a crash. I ended up in a neck brace for nearly four months. Housebound and unable to do much. Standing in front of an easel painting was the only thing I was able to do with comfort. 

Then after I had a skin graft to remove some cancer cells on my nose I had bad news and I had to have another operation. Feeling depressed I decided to immerse myself in something positive, hence the Art Exhibition.

Once I started I decided to do it for a couple of good causes.

I’ve always felt passionate about St John’s Hospice at Lancaster. Some of my friends and both my parents have had wonderful treatment from their dedicated Doctors and staff.

In particular Ethel Searl the lady who has taught me how to paint and

Hilda Barton, she was my very dear friend. Both of these ladies had their lives cut short by Cancer.

My other good cause is closer to home. I have four wonderful grand children who are all coming up to the age of going to Universities. So if I sell any of my art work I will donate a percentage to the St John’s Hospice and the rest will be put into a kitty for the grandchildren for their education.

*

A bit about me.

I was born 15^th of March 1943 in Budapest, Hungary.

My father became a deserter in the 1956 uprising when the government ordered him to shoot the people during the revolution.

Hungarian’s are fond of a good revolt.

I think there is a little bit of Attila the Hun in every Hungarian.

We had to flee Hungary as my father would have been shot for refusing to shoot the rabbles.

*

A quick time travel.

After a short stay in Austria we came to England. I attended school for 3 days at Morecambe High. I caught nits in my hair and my mother wouldn’t let me go back.  I was only a few weeks away from legal leaving age so nobody bothered.

For my first job I was as a counter assistant on the Cosmetic counter at Lancaster Woolworth's. Not speaking a word of English I had to learn rapidly.

I had about 19 jobs before I was 21 years of age.

A restless soul, always looking for something better. Just like (Attila the Hun)

A few of the jobs in that colossal number were jobs I went back to a few times. In those days you could turn up at a new job, have the interview and get offered the job just because you came over ok on the day.

Periodically I was on short time at Burling and Mending on Dallas Road in Lancaster and I needed to work full time. On Tuesday I had the interview and started the job Wednesday at the Matting Mill in Lancaster. After I had to collect some items from a warehouse full of rats I nipped back to the Labour Exchange in my dinner hour to ask for another job. Interview went well at the Slipper Factory in Carnforth. Got the job and started my new Vulcanising job at 8 am on Thursday. So in one week I was actually employed in 3 different establishments. No CV, no letter from last employer. There didn’t seem to be a problem getting a job in the good old days.

I got married in 1963, delivered two wonderful daughters. Linda and Carol, who in turn presented four wonderful grandchildren?

After I got divorced I started to re build my new life. Worked hard at 3 different jobs to get back on my feet again.

I was a professional interviewer for a few Market Research companies and at the same time I worked part time as a Nursing assistant at the Moor Hospital two night a week. For a short time I had my own Keep Fit Club on Common Garden Street in Lancaster until the Fire inspection closed me down as the ceilings were not compliant with the fire regulations.

Eventually I opened my own Book Shop and that is where I met Ethel. She used to buy her art materials from me. We became firm friends and after I retired she was very happy to teach me to paint.

I would get lost in the canvas and burn the midnight oil till early morning.

Unfortunately when Ethel passed away I couldn’t pick up a paint brush for years. So I have a few unfinished paintings. I will put them into the exhibition so people can see them even though they are ABANDONED!  

William Turner did it all the time.  They will eventually be done soon….

 ***

          Some of the paintings have their own stories of why they were painted. Some took months to do. None of them ever felt like I have actually finished painting them.

Some of them, like my Salvator Mundi, which is the one I am painting at the moment is just for fun and because I can.

 I think everybody should have a painting that has just been sold at Sotheby’s for $450 Million.

When it’s finished I will put the photo on my blog page so everybody can have a look. I will try and keep up with it as often as I can.

Hope you  enjoy the paintings I've posted. There will be over 50 images on display on the day.

Kind regards,

Maria. X