Dear Readers,

Well; looks like much of Europe has been suffering from cold and ice! And here in Abu Dhabi we've had some horrible sand storms thrown at us. A sand storm I suppose, does sound quite exciting…….it's not! Imagine a violent wind, swirling wind with sand, that hurts when it hits you and gets into your eyes – then you'll get a better picture. We've had this for quite a few days now. The winter really doesn't seem to want to leave Abu Dhabi. I'm sure, all too soon the summer will hit us like a hammer here.

Big HELLO, to Chris my father-in-law, who has finally decided to modernize and get internet. Ha ha! That surprised you, didn't it? I hope you are enjoying my blog! It wasn't really that long ago that I became familiar with the internet and computer myself, so I wish you well in journeying around the net. I still have many big gaps in my computer literacy, and sometimes fall down large gaps and do silly things. And I do seem to have an extraordinary gift for killing computers? I think I do too many things at once, out of frustration, so confuse them……….patience………patience…………

Iron Man by artist Laurel Moore (oil painting) 

I'm very pleased with how he has turned out. He's quite intimidating, which is what I wanted to achieve. As though he is about to burst out of the canvas at any point. There were quite a few new challenges in this painting. Since I've never attempted to paint armour before. I learnt so much from this painting. Pushing myself further than I think I can always fires me……

Little Missy scared us all the other day, by doing a runner when she heard the bark of big dogs in the distance! I secured Suki and Bonnie quickly - but Missy being fairly new to us went into a panic spin and dashed off at the speed of light!

Luckily, when I rang my husband I could hear some barking on the phone. So she had run all the way home! Clever Missy! She'd braved the security entrance (which she normally hates) and dashed all the way home on her own. Then she'd sat on the step of our house barking to be let in! Quite a confident little Missy!

I think we have a dog with high self-esteem! She doesn't accept anything that makes her unhappy on principle. I don't know if you have had the chance to watch Karl Pilkington, in 'Idiot Abroad' (which is so funny) but we say she does a 'Karl Pilkington', which is goes into a blind panic-run. I guess most of us instinctively 'fight or flight'. Missy does a 'Karl', I expect I'd do a 'Karl' too, if necessary……………..

www.moorethanart.com

Hi all,

Well it's been such a busy January I'm not really sure where the month has gone? It's been unusually COLD here too. Of course houses in Abu Dhabi are not usually fitted with heating, since it's not usually necessary, instead the houses have become like fridges as the sun has dropped!

We've even taken to throwing a  throw (if you know what I mean) over the dogs at night, to stop their ears going so cold. Bonnie looked rather confused at first, it took her about three nights to realize what I was doing. Of course, if one dog decides to stand up and turn round and round and round, they do end up making a giant bed-cone of covers ( if you know what I mean). Very funny though.

But these dogs aren't really used to the cold - being desert dogs. Neither am I any more! It's been reminding me of England, wearing a hat and scarf in the house. Every time my husband arrives home, I seem a little larger, (due to more layers of clothing). I'm sure he must think I've been getting fat!

I've been working on a private commission of 'Iron Man'.

I'm very pleased so far how he's progressing. I'm 'containing' him in a smaller canvas, so that he looks like he is about burst out of it. There's some lovely metal-work to get working on too. I am also aiming for a 'haunted' quality about him, since the condition of being Iron Man is also toxic. Beautifully played by Robert Downey Jr. There's still lots more work on this one………

I will be organizing and curating an Art Exhibition and Art Competition at Abu Dhabi University this April/May, so that should be a very exciting event. The Art Competition will be open to all Emirati students here and the winner will exhibit with our group 'Window' in May and also win prizes.

We also have a new talent show here in Abu Dhabi: The Dream Players! I was very happy to become one of the five finalists this January where I sang and performed on saxophone.  As a result I will also be singing and playing my saxophone at our upcoming Tamakkan (business convention) on Feb 29th. I will be opening the show. This is a free business event, but book your seat in advance if you can come! Here is the link: http://www.tamakkan.org/

See I told you I had been busy! I've also finished my Impressionist painting 'Serenity In Orange'

This has a very soft and gentle feel to it…….well yes, serene.

Today was the first day it was really warm enough to sit out in the garden and really start to thaw. In fact, I did get hot quite quickly. I think it went up to 25 degrees today. Little by little, I unfurled my layers of clothes, since I'd even been wearing trousers under a skirt and two pairs of socks! Rather like a chrysallis turning into a moth or a butterfly? It was lovely to hear the birds really singing in the sun again.

Let's hope my husband finds me slim from now on

Hello readers,

Here's a lovely floor to ceiling Christmas tree, to help you get into the Christmas spirit. We discovered this enormous tree at the Intercontinental Hotel. There are a dizzying amount of floors at this hotel if you look up. But even better is the view outside at Chrismas………….

Ha ha! Eating outside with friends by the pool at Christmas was lovely indeed. And the waiters helped us to discover a great deterrent for flies! A chunk of lemon filled with cloves, seemed to keep them at bay. Flies over here tend to bombard you and your food - they definitely seemed to avoid our lemon and cloves table. Clever!

Is it art?

Did you leave your red Ferrari in the hotel car-park again?  This one was so brand-spanking-new that the colours were incredible in the sunshine.

Anyway, I'm exhibiting my art at Pall Mall London in February. This is an incredible and classical venue, you can see here from the link. http://www.barlowfinedrawings.com/parallaxaf.html at Chelsea Old Town Hall. There are art exhibitors from all over the world, so it should be a great show. If you are local, I highly recommend the art show (16th-18th Feb 2012).

I've been working on some highly detailed artworks. Still more work to go on both. The first is 'Portrait Of A Queen' by Laurel Moore (oil on canvas)

Portrait Of A Queen, by Laurel Moore (oil on canvas painting)

The second is the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan,  by Laurel Moore oil on canvas painting.

Still more work needed on these two paintings. I love doing those skin tones. I'm really looking forward to framing this one, with an ornate classic gold frame. That will pick up all those golden skin tones.

We are off to have marshmallows on the beach on 24th and sing some Christmas carols. Love the idea of being on the beach in December! Hat and coat is on standby though! Happy Christmas from Laurel.

Hello all,

It really was a wonderful evening at our Art Exhibition! That's me, in the middle dressed in rust/red tafetta. His Excellency Ali Saeed Al Dhaheri on your left is cutting the ribbon and the General Manager of the Millennium Hotel, Abu Dhabi Mr Rubrecht Shmitz is on your right.

It was such a warm and friendly atmosphere, meeting old friends and new! And the artwork was at its very best at the venue, surrounding the Great Chandelier on the mezzanine floor………..

I'm really finding it difficult to pick which photos to show! There are so many beautiful pictures! But, if you want to see more photos, you only need go to our event page on facebook and type in 'Beyond' for our Art Exhibition event to appear. A special 'thankyou' to our talented photographer Jacob Henry, who captured so many special moments on the night.

Also, a big 'thankyou' to lovely French artist Laura Talhaoui, who helped me curate this show. I won't speak for her artwork, because as you can see, it rather speaks for itself! This artwork and exhibition was featured in two of our Arabic newspapers here albayan.com and emaratalyou.com and advertised here on Classic FM. 

The artwork of Laura Talhaoui

And I really feel that there was a real 'buzz' about this exhibition! Let's hope it is the first of many exhibitions by this talented group of artists called 'Window'.

Portrait by Laurel Moore

My portrait of His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan bin Khalifa al Nayhan.

Well, it's very soon gone from being a madly-busy-week, to a peacefully quiet one! Kind of a week of two halves. My dogs are certainly pleased to have me at home again -not dashing off every other day to do brochures or organize this-that-and-the-other! Our little desert discovery Missy, (as you probably know) is still fairly new to our household and she's not been enjoying mum's frequent excursions. In fact, she has taken to chewing some of her foam bed from time to time. So, she is thankful that life is settling down to a pleasant doggie snooze again at last.

Missy, has also taken the 'hiding-under-the-covers-game' to a completely new level. It is one of her favourite games and she can often be found snoring under the sofa-sheet after a good play.

Bonnie and Missy.

Where is Missy you may ask? Well yes, you are right, she is the little lump on the left!! A very funny dog indeed. She really does make us laugh with her antics.

Just time to wish the Abu Dhabi  *HAPPY NATIONAL DAY* on this, the 2nd December. It's 40 years since the formation of UAE and there are BIG celebrations all over the capital today and tonight.

Dear readers,

Well; my Art Exhibition is soon to be upon us. A very exciting night ahead indeed!

We are honoured to have His Excellency Ali Saeed Bin Harmal Al Dhaheri, Chairman of Abu Dhabi University to be opening our event at The Millennium Hotel, Abu Dhabi this 22nd November. Very much hope if you are local that you can come too? We truly hope to lift your spirits with the powerful, beautiful art on display and of course appeal to Art Collectors……and what the heck, you get a free gift brochure……… (Posh dress on standby)

If you are unable to make the date, the exhibition remains in situ for one week, where of course you can dine at your leisure at the hotel and view the art in your own time. Hopefully, one of our artists will be on hand to show you around in the evening during the week that follows.

Each artist is exhibiting 4 paintings, so if your maths is correct, that is a total of 24 paintings to view. Presenting the artists alphabetically: 

Amgad Gharezalding (Syrian)

Amgad's artwork is filled with delightful details on close inspection. In fact, this photo doesn't really do justice to his skill. When Amgad paints with oils, he takes us effortlessly by the hand and walks us through the nostalgic charms of his homeland. Weaving us through the Syrian villages and untouched countryside, so that we instantly feel his memories with the skill of a storyteller who speaks from the heart.

Laura Talhaoui (French)

Laura's work is a cacophony of  vibrancy, texture, warmth and the joy of life. Inspired by century-old design traditions of Moroccan Art, Laura combines rigorous harmony and Andalusian geometry to fascinate all our senses………….I dare you to try and walk quickly past Laura's art!

Laurel Moore (British)

From the earliest age, Laurel (that's me!) found great satisfaction in drawing and music. The Arts, seemed to take her into a different state of peaceful consciousness, where anything was possible. Laurel is probably best described as a woman who wears many different hats: Artist/Art Curator/Jazz Singer/Saxophonist/Song-writer. Also, as a writer, this blog (now in its fourth year) attracts some 9000 hits per month worldwide at www.moorethanart.com

Hamdan Al Shamisi (Emirati/Al Ain)

Hamdan had an early fascinating with drawing and colouring as a young child. His talents soon attracted recognition from his teachers, when he began to win prizes and awards. Hamdan describes himself as a 'Conceptual artist'. Although quietly rendered, there is a sharp intellect that expresses itself through his art, which he describes as ''vibrations of subconscious and conscious experience……..''

Nabeel Al Mehairbi

Nabeel spent his formative years inspired by the natural landscape of the English countryside. His artwork reveals an enduring love of nature in his artistic journey from England to the striking vistas of The Gulf. His style is closely informed by his passion for the Great Impressionist painters. His unique style is loose, almost liquid and continues to evolve – with an emphasis on light and form and its effect on the landscape.

Saoud Al Dhaheri (Emirati/Al Ain)

Saoud was attracted to art from an early age and growing up he discovered he had an instinctive affinity for photography which allowed him to explore further depths of human expression. With a sharp eye for detail and form, Saoud shares his conceptual and instinctive vision of the world – through the play of colour, vibrancy and dimension. You may be surprised to see a sparkle or two in his unique style of art……..