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Please could you like my Art page on Facebook?
The more the merrier!

Thank you,
Sarah

www.facebook.com/sesartwork

I'm going through a bit of a lucky phase at the moment in terms of requests. I've never really relied on it as a source of outcome and nor am I going to begin to do so, but all of a sudden I seem to be getting a number of requests. I've been asked about 9 times in the past month, 4 or 5 in the past week. This is so unusual and gives me a lot of confidence in my work. I also totaled up the amount of income I've ever earned through my art work and I surprised even myself.

Along with family or pet drawing/painting requests, I am currently also working on designing a book cover for a book that's going to be published soon, very exciting! And a friend also wants me to create a painting as a prop to be featured in his film. This is both daunting and exciting; if it all goes ahead, I don't know how I'm going to find the time between university and placements. However, a broke student can't afford to turn down offers so I will battle through and hope that my creative flow doesn't ebb away. Wish me luck!

These are the commissions I've completed recently, I hope you like them!

Mature Content

Wow! I can't believe it! What a woman.
Yesterday she visited my university as she used to be a student there back in the 50's at Central School of Speech & Drama.
I won a ticket last week in a ballot to go to Judi Dench: In Conversation at our drama school theatre, a 90 minute Q&A with her on stage; kind of like Inside the Actors Studio - very surreal! I was about 5 rows from the front and it was so relaxed and amazing. She's witty and funny and animated, especially for her age. She's even a little naughty! I bet you're not surprised. She talked about her career (she told us about when she was playing a duchess and she was due to appear in the first and last scene of Act 2 so during the break between, instead of waiting around she ran down the street to another theatre where Les Mis was playing and appeared on the barricades and got shot and taken off before running back to be a duchess again, ha!) and answered questions from us; I wanted to ask her a question just to get to speak to her but I couldn't think of a worthwhile question so I succumbed to my shyness and sat back accepting that I'd probably never get to meet her/speak to her. Last year I made a drawing of her simply because I think she is a brilliant person, one of the last great actors of the generation so I took my drawing along just in case. I never actually expected to meet her.

After the talk, she left the theatre to great applause and went to talk to the important people whilst we commoners went off for our free wine and nibbles (as you do). About 45 minutes later when a lot of people had dispersed and we were standing in the lobby about to leave, I was mid-conversation with my friend as I turned around and found myself about 2 meters away from the one and only Dame Judi Dench.
Not many people had clicked she was there and no one was expecting to see her again so I was lucky to meet her before everyone swarmed. I approached and waited for her to finish talking to three guys on the acting course in my year. I knew that I'd be so annoyed if I didn't make the most of the opportunity and missed her. I can't remember what she said to me exactly but I remember the basics and she was incredibly nice. It was the most personal meeting with a celebrity I've ever had and I've met a few. It was different to being at a premier,e it wasn't just a few seconds, she looked me in the eye and talked to me personally and I felt like she was interested in what I was saying. This is how I remember the basic conversation going:

"Judi?"
"Hello, yes?"
"Could you sign my drawing for me please?"
"Certainly!"
*I give her my drawing*
"Did you draw this?... Wow, that's fantastic!"
"Awh, thank you."
"Yes that's really really good, you're very talented aren't you? You want me to sign on the drawing? Do you have a Sharpie?"
"Yeah I'll just get one now."
*I go to get a pen whilst she continues to look at my drawing.*
"Would you like me to add a name?"
"Yeah, can you sign it to Sarah please?"
*She signs it*
"That pen doesn't seem to work too great."
"Ah, I think it's ok. Oh I'm wearing the necklace that I'm wearing in the photo, wow, look at that. Did it take you long to do?"
"... ummm no, not really, haha."
*looks surprised* "Oh?..."
"I'd say a few hours."
"Oh I see! Do you do this a lot?"
"Yes, I draw people as a hobby. I did this last year."
"Oh, so what would you like to do? In your career sort of thing?"
"Well I'm on the Scenic Art course but I do this as a hobby… so anything that involves this sort of thing I'd be happy with really."
"Ah yes, well that's really good. Wonderful!"
Michael Grandage, the director for Peter & Alice: "Yes, that's really good, you should be proud."
"Thankyou for your time, I really appreciate it."
And she smiled and I sunk back into the shadows in a state of immense happiness, not wanting to outstay my welcome.

I actually can't believe it. I am so honoured to have had 2-3 minutes of her time before she was swarmed with people. She's one of my idols, I never in my life expected her to come to Central, let alone actually be able to have that moment with her when she asked me questions and was really sincere to my work. She'd said previously in the Q&A that she enjoys painting so maybe she liked it a lot for that reason. I just remember thinking - she honestly likes my work. She's not being fake, she's genuinely pleased that I've drawn her and she loves it. It's nice having someone respond to your artwork in a positive way but when it's someone of that calibre, wow. That's a real honour.

Talk about being in the right place at the right time.
I still haven't come down from my high.

My drawing signed, "For Sarah, Best Wishes, Judi Dench."


Pictures that my wonderful friend Katie managed to snap of me and her talking about my drawing and her signing it.