Sophie Ploeg

Just wanted to say... Thanks... For your interest and support Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! (lots of exciting things in store for 2015!)

Just thought I’d let you know that Art Exposure Gallery in Glasgow is having a ‘Happy Hour’: Thursday 18 December, 5-8pm there will be Christmas cocktails, mince pies and 10% off everything (including my paintings there)! Perhaps worth popping in..... See also their newsletter

Art Exposure Gallery in Glasgow has moved to bigger premises and can now be found on 516 Great Western Road, in Glasgow. They are currently having their Christmas Show on - a huge show with a wide variety of great quality work. They are also showing three of my works - three ‘dark’ ones with Victorian lace. The show is on until Christmas so do go and visit if you are in the area. My three works on the left and Cherylene Dyer’s work right the gallery downstairs (thank you Nadia and Jane for the photos)

I have just come back from Edinburgh to attend the Private View of the BP Portrait Award 2014 at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery . The show looks absolutely amazing there, different, and I am really pleased with ‘my wall’. They managed to hang one extra painting compared to London, so now the painting ‘ The Long Wait ’ has also made it onto the walls! From the ten paintings I created there are 8 on show in Edinburgh. I made it to the newspaper, this is from The Scotsman of Friday 28 November: Here are some pictures of the show: My paintings for the Travel Award and Robert Neil’s work on the far wall. David Jon Kassan’s work in the middle Thomas Ganter’s winning painting at the far wall. The glorious central hall of the Portrait Gallery in Christmas mood BP Posters are up! More pictures here I have written a book about my project  The Lace Trail which you can preview and buy here For an organised list of ALL blog posts that I wrote ...

Today is the start of the Christmas Exhibition at Lime Tree Gallery in Bristol. I popped in today to have a look. See the whole exhibition online:  http://www.limetreegallery.com/category.asp?CatID=292 Lime Tree Gallery 84 Hotwell Road Bristol BS8 4UB www.limetreegallery.com Christmas Show 22 November - 23 December 2014 My three paintings on the wall at Lime Tree Gallery

If you are interested in having a browse or seeing a particular painting ‘in the flesh’ you are more than welcome in my studio. Just contact me first to set a time and date. Looking Back (oil) Left to right: Paper Bag & Lace (pastel), portrait study (graphite), Petals & Lace (graphite)

I have taken a big step and decided to offer workshops. This has been playing on my mind for many months and I have finally taken the decision to go for it. I hope you can join me or spread the word. Feel free to ask any and all questions. For now I am planning on two workshops: Portrait Drawing I will offer a one day, intensive portrait drawing workshop where I will delve into how to draw a face, what to look out for, what helpful methods to use and show you how to work with shape, proportion, values, lines, shading and mark making. We will work from photos. Materials are simple so as not to distract from the task of getting a face onto the paper. We will work mainly with graphite pencils and paper but pens, charcoal pencils and pastel pencils are welcome too. All materials will be included, and tea or coffee provided. 22 January 2015 10am - 4pm £65 pp. Pastel Portraits The second workshop I will offer is Portraits in Pastel - a comprehensive and fully packed day of learnin...

I am sorry but I just had to show you this.... This is a page from the guestbook of Sunderland Museum & Art Gallery, where the BP Portrait Award 2014 is currently showing..... Yes, I added the red circle... I don’t know who wrote that but I must thank him or her!!  Very cool indeed.

Opening 22 December Christmas Show Lime Tree Gallery Bristol Three paintings by me including this new one: Three Pearls Oil on linen 50x30cm The exhibition is on until 23 December and includes works by many artists, such as James Bland, George Gilbert, Neil MacDonald, David Smith and many others. See the whole exhibition online:  http://www.limetreegallery.com/category.asp?CatID=292 Lime Tree Gallery 84 Hotwell Road Bristol BS8 4UB Private View: 22 December 10am - 5pm You are invited! Feel free to pop in to see the show. I will be there around noon. I show some photos of the show after the Private View.

I just finished framing this one. 

Opera Oil on panel 14x11”

This pastel painting is finished. I am not sure about the title yet...bear with me. How about ‘Two Cushions’ for now. This is 18x11”/ 46x28cm Pastel

Two recent framed paintings in my studio. The drawing on the right is sold.

Just a few older portrait details I shared on my Facebook page.... A detail from a commissioned portrait (2012) A detail from ‘The Pearl Necklace’, oil. BP Portrait Award 2014 Still on at Sunderland Museum until 16 November Opens at the Scottisch National Portrait Gallery on 29 November 2014. A detail from a recent commissioned portrait (2014). oil.

My palette today....

The Red Bride Oil on aluminium 30x40cm

 Two pastel paintings I’ve been working on recently. Paper Bag and Lace, 24x30cm, pastel Paper Bag and Ribbons, 24x30cm pastel

Some pictures of the Private View of the 162d Open Exhibition of the Royal West of England Academy of Art. The exhibition is open until 7 December 2014 http://www.rwa.org.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/2014/10/162-annual-open-exhibition/ The first main exhibition space Me in front of my painting ‘Trapped’ which was hung in the first main hall! The wall with my picture on the bottom row Other posts on the RWA Open exhibitions: RWA 162d Open Exhibition 2014 RWA 161st Open Exhibition 2013 RWA 160th Open Exhibition 2012 RWA 159th Open Exhibition 2011

Here are some pictures of the Private View of ‘Secret Lives’ at Gallery Beaux Arts in Bath. The exhibition features three of my works and remains open until 8 November. http://www.beauxartsbath.co.uk

A short blog post, but I had to share this wonderful half-hour film on the BP Portrait Award. It is really worth a watch. It was broadcasted on Sky and Bloomberg last Sunday but it is available here in HD as well. Enjoy! What the Artist Saw A film by Lonelyleap , who also made a series of short films about the BP Award. http://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/press/bp-magazine/observations/ganter-wins-portrait-awards-in-landmark-year-for-bp.html

I am very happy to tell you that, for the 4th year running, one of my paintings has been selected for the Royal West of England Academy of Art (RWA) Open Exhibition! My painting ‘Trapped’ has been selected from over 2300 entries from over 1000 artists for this huge and varied exhibition with over 500 works exhibited and for sale. The exhibition opens 12 October and runs until 7 December in Bristol. RWA Queens Road Clifton, Bristol Bs8 1PX www.rwa.org.uk Open: Tue - Sat 10-6, Sun 11-5 Entry £5 / £3.50 Trapped, oil on linen, 50x60cm

The BP Portrait Award 2014 - which includes my paintings from The Lace Trai l series, opens today at Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens! Open from 4 October - 19 November, free entry See more here:  http://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/update/2014-10-02/world-renowned-art-competition-comes-to-sunderland/ and here:  http://seeitdoitsunderland.co.uk/bp-portrait-award-2014 and the BBC even made a short film about it:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-29499344 For an organised list of ALL blog posts that I wrote during the BP Travel Award project (2 years), please  see this page on my blog!

New Paintings and New Exhibition I am very excited to be taking part in the exhibition ‘Secret Lives’ held at Beaux Arts in Bath . The exhibition features many brilliant artists and I am proud to be amongst them. I will show my new painting ‘The Lying-in Room’, a painting inspired by the Tudor custom for pregnant women and new mothers to shut themselves away in dark, warm rooms to prepare for the birth of their baby. This large painting features a pregnant friend who is now the proud mother of a beautiful daughter.  My small lace paintings ‘Brabant Lace’ and ‘Lace in Box’ will also be on show. If you are coming to see a particular painting please do get in touch to double check it is on show. The show opens with a Private View on 11 October 6-8pm - you are invited! Secret Lives Group Exhibition Jennifer Anderson, Akash Bhatt, Joy Wolfenden Brown, Andrew Crocker, Tessa Farmer, Nathan Ford, Naomi Frears, Sarah Gillespie, Raoof Haghighi, Donna McLean, Jennifer McRae, Sophie...

I think I am finally calling this one done. I am considering doing a companion piece with wool instead of fabric, but not sure yet. this one is  Samples Oil on linen 20x12” / 50x30cm

Today was the last day of the BP Portrait Award 2014 in London. Boy, has it been an experience for me! Although the show moves on to Sunderland and then Edinburgh I do feel like my year has now truly passed and I am working on new works and new challenges. The BP Travel Award 2013 has given me an amazing year, full of research, travel and painting. I loved being so focussed, intent and busy. It all culminated in the exhibition of my works within the BP Portrait Award 2014 and it looks amazing - I still can’t believe those are my paintings up there. Thank you NPG and BP. Onwards and upwards! The BP Portrait Award 2014 will be back on (with more of my works on display!!) at Sunderland Art Gallery from 4 October. All works are on my website . For an organised list of ALL blog posts that I wrote during the BP Travel Award project (2 years), please  see this page on my blog!