The painting club’s spring exhibition is always themed, so in October a suggestions box appears in the studio, anyone can suggest a theme. A few weeks later, we have a meeting to vote on the theme; I was surprised when my suggestion (I’d like to go to…….) won.

There’s no obligation to do a painting on the chosen theme, except for the caveat that those who voted for it are expected to produce a piece to be exhibited on the stage area; this must be 60 x 80cm.

I’ve never done anything bigger than 30 x 40cm before, so the prospect filled me with dread. I bought a canvas – it looked enormous – how on earth would I fill it? I’m no great painter, so it would have to be fairly simple; I thought maybe I could do something sort of Aboriginal, with lots of dots. I tried out the technique on a smaller canvas and was happy with the result; now it was time to tackle the real thing.

I asked a couple of people how to achieve a graduated colour effect, but their techniques didn’t work for me, so in the end I just slapped some paint on and dabbed at it with kitchen roll – maybe not a recognised technique, but it worked for me! The next problem was achieving nice clean lines between the colours, but I found bendy masking tape, which solved that one.

The date of the meeting to choose a painting for the poster was announced; could I finish in time? Yes, the base was done and I’d started the dots.

Little by little, through many hours, over several days, it came together and I’m very pleased with it; I took it to the meeting, not with any great hopes, normally my efforts get one or two votes. However, in the first round I shared first place with Fabienne;  in the tie break she beat me soundly, with 13 votes to my 8. Disappointing, yes, but better than I’ve done before