I have recently moved to Canterbury but lived in Whitstable for many years beforehand, anyone who has lived or visited Whitstable will appreciate it has a large art culture,growing up in Whitstable I have adopted this creative culture and consider myself a creative person. I enjoy nothing more than wondering around in the fresh air with broken bits of charcoal bouncing around in my pocket, however my real passion is looking at oil paintings. I wish I could work with oil but I just cannot get the hang of it!

On Monday I was invited to go and see the I Am exhibition at Hernebay. The art in the exhibition is all submitted by five students at UCA, walking into the quaint little room one painting in particular caught my eye. A student named Natalia Szelma had produced a beautiful oil painting of a girl laid on her front. The details and colours in the hair against the wooden boarded background just looked fantastic! Natalia finishes her studies this year and will hopefully be displaying her work in galleries around the county, I wanted to mention this because I think appreciating local talent is really exciting and something we should all take pride in!

Seeing that painting has got my art senses tingling and I am currently looking for courses for beginners to learn how to use the paints (Well how to make them look good rather than just a blob on the page) I shall let you all know how my journey to become an oil painter goes!

Thursday midday and a quick dash from my consulting rooms in West Cliff Gardens to Googies in Rendezvous Street during a freezing cold shower of rain meant that I scurried passed the Johnny Cotter Gallery.....Wow what is happening there?....but it was very cold and wet so I rushed quickly passed and straight into Googies without stopping to watch.

The hot bacon and lentil soup with cheese on toast was delish and warmed me up whilst I chatted to Keith about Dandes (real name Dan Desborough but also known as Desbo and Dandes) and the coming DJ stint he will be doing tonight (Friday) at Googies – or as Dan puts it “Filthy Electro House, D&B and Dubstep night with Desbo rocking the place!.

Scurrying back to my office this time via St Eanswythes Church gave me a second chance to see what was happening at Johnny Cotters Gallery - there is a huge, and I mean HUGE, piece of artwork hung over the gallery - an image of David Beckham on a cross – it will certainly stop you in your tracks and is a must see.

So – this morning whilst drinking my morning cuppa and wondering why I have linked these things together…and then I realise and rushed to find my purse to see if 'it' is still there. In my purse I found the crumpled bit of paper bearing a quote which inspires me – I have carried this quote around with me for more than 15 years, occasionally renewing the bit of paper when it falls to bits with age.

The picture over the gallery is huge….there is no missing it as you go past the gallery it will stop you in your tracks - an inspired image in more ways than one…and then there is Dan who never does anything by halves…a talented local photographer but with enough enthusiasm for 2 people and always more than happy to try his hand to new skills especially if there is some fun to be had.

Success is about commitment – it is not about faffing around the edges – it is about jumping right in, all guns blazing, believing in what you are doing and doing it BIG. Which brings me so nicely to the contents of my crumpled bit of paper:

“The moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never other wise have occurred”

"There is great excitement as well as fear in the unknown if you have the courage to open up to it. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now!”

Quote by Goethe, Philosopher and Poet

I was lucky enough to be invited to the informal opening of a new Gallery in the recently vacated Shoe Studio premises in Rendezvous Street by local artist, and friend, Johnny Cotter.

I arrived about 7.30pm as always not quite sure if I had got the right day/month/lifetime but could see as I walked up to the gallery that the place was already filled with people checking out the art and discussing the merits of various pieces - one in particular that caught our attention was a picture of David Beckham in his distinctive red shirt - on a crucifix.

There were lots of knowledgeable looking people having serious arty discussions and, thank goodness, some mutual friends to say hello and chat to and I wandered round the gallery, downstairs and then upstairs looking at the various pieces but careful not to display my ignorance too much by getting involved in any of the serious conversations. The exhibition of modern contemporary work mostly by Johnny Cotter himself is full of colour and humour - and even with my lack of arty credentials I found myself warming to many of the pieces and I noted that there was already a 'sold' sign on the David Beckham 'let me listen to me and not them' piece downstairs (bought by DJ and singer, Boy George).

The price tags were very affordable by any standards and I could imagine virtually all of the pieces displayed making a real visual statement in terms of colour, design and humour on most living room walls. And when I have some living room walls again (my downstairs is currently a work in progress with internal walls removed) I have promised myself another visit to the JohnnyCotter Gallery in Rendezvous Street to make my own purchase. Then, proudly carrying my chosen piece and feeling very cultured I will skip the 20 yards or so distance to Googies Art Café where I can relax and drink the best coffee in town whilst I show Keith, Laura, Sue, Steve, and anybody else who looks in my direction, my arty acquisition.

Note: Coming soon to the new Gallery is an exhibition entitled 'Inferential Grin’. (an anagram of triennial fringe). This will feature a collection of art work by 11 local artists and will be part of the triennial fringe event. Artists who would like to have their work (sculptures, 3-D works, paintings and 2-D pieces) on display should contact Johnny Cotter directly by 3rd December latest.

http://www.johnnycotter.com

http://folkestonetriennial.org.uk/

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I popped down to Rendezvous Street today (Wed) for a much need coffee and BLT from Googies - and a chance to meet up with friends and read my book - and in popped Johnny Cotter who had read my KentOnLine blog. Noting my comments about lack of artistic understanding he has kindly offered to personally show me round the gallery and tell me something about each piece. What a lovely offer and one too good to miss. Johnny also said in passing that the gallery has gotten off to the brilliant start. He is already having to put new pieces up as ones on display are sold. From today the big canvas with David Beckham on a crucifix will also be hanging out front - that should stop folk in their tracks.