A Happy New Year to all our members and wishing you a successful 2017
We have an excellent programme of workshops for the coming year and two events that will require pictures, so we will need you to be busy. We have an exhibition at ‘The Core’ at Solihull Library booked for October/November and we will once again have a stand at the NEC in November – details will follow.
The final meeting of 2016 was enjoyable with a very good attendance. The competition was paint a postcard with either holly and ivy or a decorated bauble (botanical theme). Jo Lloyd won first prize. We also had a visit from Keith Larkin of Keith’s Plant Books, who brought along botanical books for us to be tempted to purchase.
Happy Christmas to all.
Workshop with Dianne Sutherland
Dianne demonstrated how she prepares a study/sketchbook page to familiarise herself with a subject that she intends to paint. She uses an A3 sheet of hot pressed paper and makes detailed measurements of the flower or plant with the aid of a clear ruler. Drawings follow then colour matching making sure to record her paint mixes, followed by painting a flower or leaf in detail. Further detailed graphite or colour images of individual parts of the subject are also made. A study page may take months to complete as she may wish to illustrate different stages in the life of the plant material eg. bud, flower and hip in the case of a rose. We also saw some beautiful work in graphite and on vellum. An enjoyable and informative day.
We were pleased to welcome visitors who had come having seen our stand at the NEC at the beginning of the month.
A very successful ‘Big Draw Festival 2016’ at Stirchley Baths on 23rd October. There is an account of the event and photography by Suzanne Carter written on October 27th. Follow the link http://stirchleybaths.org/news/.
The society had a stand at ‘Art Materials Live’ at the NEC (3rd – 6th November 2016). The photographs of the stand show the work that some of our members lent for display.
The workshop ‘Graphite and Coloured Pencils’ by Sue Vize on 16th October was very informative. Sue talked us through her vast collection of pencils explaining how she used the different makes and their qualities in her work. Sue brought some interesting seed heads and berries for us to draw and came around giving help and advice.
Members of the Society will be at three events in the near future. We will be at the ‘Big Draw ‘ at Stirchley Baths on Sunday 23rd October from 1.0pm demonstrating and helping members of the public to have a go. One week later we will be at a ‘Big Draw’ event at Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens on Saturday 29th October fro 12.30. Come and join us and have a go.
The Society has a stand at ‘Art Materials Live’ at the NEC from 3rd to 6th November. We will have member’s work on display and there will be demonstrations in progress on each day. Come and chat to us.
