Farnham Art Society

FAS Newsletter – November 2008

The Annual General Meeting

The Society’s Annual General Meeting will take place on Wednesday 19th November at 7.30pm, in the Barley Room at Farnham Maltings. The Agenda and Nomination paper for the Committee are enclosed with this newsletter. Please attend if you can – it’s your chance to have your say in how the Society is run, as well as its future.

Want to become an exhibiting member?

Watch out for details and dates of an advisory half day workshop on how to become an Exhibiting Member. It is most likely to be in early February on a Saturday morning. The date and time will be confined in the January / February Newsletter and will be posted on the Website. The fee for the  day will be £10.00. There will be advice on work, presentation and framing. If you have any enquiries please contact Sylvia Raymont on Tel: 01252 716180.

Autumn Exhibition 2008

It was decided to move the Autumn Exhibition this year due to cost and the location of the Preview evening, which was thought to be too far from The Long Kiln Gallery (the original location) to make the evening a success. Due to the change of venue we had to move the dates of the Exhibition, bringing them forward by a day and running from Monday to Saturday. Another decision was made not to have the stands, giving more ( room to walk around and view the exhibits. All in all this gave a different feel to the Exhibition. It would, therefore, be helpful to get some l feedback, good or bad, on what you as exhibitors and/or viewers thought of the Exhibition. Any comments would be welcome so please e-mail catherinebolt@f2s.com or farnhamartsociety@hotmail:com.

Hopefully you will have read the review of the Exhibition in The Farnham Herald kindly written by Eric Buesnel.

Congratulations to the prize winners who collected their prizes from Glenys Ambrus: the Exhibition Judge and thank you to all those who came to the Preview Night despite the awful weather and the rather difficult access to the gallery. 1 hope I have contacted all those who helped set up the Exhibition but special thanks goes to those on the Autumn Exhibition Committee: Sheevaun Mackintosh, Chris Hall, Peter DuffY and Peter Marriot, without whom it wouldn't have happened.

Catherine Bolt

Congratulations to the prize winners:

The Frank Pullen Prize for Best 3D Exhibit – Christine Bull for Set of Three Jugs

The Frank Pullen Prize for Highly Commended 3D Exhibit – Pam Epps for Nicola's Scarf

The Frank Pullen Prize for Best Picture – Rosemarie de Goede for Aldeburgh

The Frank Pullen Prize for Highly Commended Picture – Judy Lee for Martiques

The Raymond Krish Still Life Prize – Janet Hamilton for Spring Medley

The Raymond Krish Highly Commended Still Life Prize – Andrea Franklin for Sweet Pea Mosaic

The Judge’s Special Prize - Angela Lenman for Batik Indian Cenotaph

FAS Programme - Forthcoming Events

Demonstration: "Expressive Landscape", Christopher Forsey, Monday 3rd November, 7.30pm - 9.30pm, Farnham Sixth Form College, Morley Road, Farnham.  - Christopher will be painting a representative but expressive landscape in mixed media using acrylics, pastels and gouache to create a texturally exciting result.

Creative Workshop: Tutor Richard Plincke RI, Saturday 8th November, 10.00a.m. - 4.00pm, St. Joan's New Church Hall, Tilford Road, Farnham.

Richard's aim will be to encourage members to abandon old restraints and let their creativity flow unrestricted in response to sounds and music. The choice of medium will be yours. A few places may still be available for this workshop.

A few New Programme dates for your 2009 diary.

Talk by Eric Buesnel"Paintings in Public Ownership in Surrey" on Monday 19th January 2009, 7.30 p.m to 9.30 p.m. at Farnham Sixth Form College, Morley Road, Farnham.  - The UK Public Art Catalogue Foundation is now gradually setting up a comprehensive photographic record of our national public art collection. This is housed in hundreds of libraries, museums, town halls, galleries, etc throughout the country. Much of it is in storage. The Surrey catalogue was published in 2006 and Eric's lecture will show us an interesting representative selection of the paintings in 21 of the Surrey locations, from Godalming to Farnham via Redhill and Egham.

Workshop: Tutor Nigel Moores, Saturday 24th January 2009, 10.00am ­ 4.00pm, St Joan's New Church Hall, Tilford Road, Farnham - This is a practical but exciting workshop tutored by the experienced artist Nigel Moores. Using water-based paints the nature of painting will be studied through Impressionism to Abstraction.

Demonstration: Painting Flowers in Watercolour, Jean Haines, Monday 23rd February 2009, 7.30pm - 9.30pm at Farnham Sixth Form College, Morley Road, Farnham.

Workshops: cost for the day £25. For details and bookings, please phone: Peter Richardson (01252 541435) or Sylvia Raymont (01252 716180).  

New Members

Our apologies to the two new members who were omitted from the last list of new members published in the May 2008 Newsletter, they were Catherine Field (Woking) and Angela Lenman (Ash Vale).To them and to all those who have joined our Society since mid April 2008 we bid welcome.  The  other new members are: Marie Barker (Alton), Kit Bowles (Farnham), Sally Cantan (Rake), Christine Culham (Farnham), Marie-Anne Fischer (Woking), Andrea Franklin (Hindhead), Jenny Goodwin (Farnham), Sheila Halliday (Alton),  Nicki Hearnshaw (Farnham), Nigel Herbert (Guildford), Diana Hitchcock (Four Marks), Fiona Holt (Farnborough), Rosalind Jenkins (Hartley Wintney), Jacqueline Lawson (West Liss), Lyn Mansfield (Alton), Nigel Moores (Hartley Wintney), Philip Moss (Fleet), Nigel Moxey (Farnham), Robbie Murdoch (Liphook), Michael Murtagh (Godalming), Patricia Pain (Frimley), David Puttick (Liphook), Sally Russell (Farnham), Rose Seber (Shalford), Ian Sidaway (Twickenham) & Hakim Zouita (Farnham).

Other Subscription & Membership Notes

At the time of going into print we have 469 members and of those about 60 have still to pay their Subscription  We expect, as in previous years, a small number of members will allow their membership to lapse on the 1st March 2009, but we would urge all those who wish to continue as members to do so as soon as possible and please remember to enclose the form we sent you with your August Newsletter, it is an essential part of proving that you have paid, and will be kept on file until the accounts for the year to which they refer have been completed and signed.

Members wishing to pay their subscription by Standing Order will be contacted in May 2009. You will be sent a form then to fill in and return to us for action by the end of July.  Anyone who has not already done so should give the Membership Secretary their name to add to the list.

19 members resigned during the 2007/2008 period and since the 1st September 2008 a further 11 have left our ranks.

Sheevaun Mackintosh

Selection Day

Congratulations to our new Exhibiting members elected in September: painters Marie Barker, Andrea Franklin, Imelda Apps, Rose Seber, Angela Lenman and Jenny Halstead; ceramicists June Baker and Anne  Nixon.  The next selection day will be in early 2009. Date to be announced in January.

Members’ News

Congratulations to Linda Gresham who had one of her two submitted pieces accepted for this year's Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. Her acrylic painting, Red Sky at Night had an English Bull Terrier as its subject. It was selected by Gus Cummins RA to hang in the room he was invited to hang. It was especially nice when she got to talk to him about it at the "Varnishing Day".  It was a lovely boost to Linda's confidence when the painting sold. As a direct consequence of her success at the RA Summer Exhibition, she has been contacted by a London gallery and asked if she would like to exhibit works there to be sold. The Chase children's hospice has asked if she would like to submit works into their forthcoming Contemporary art show at the Royal College of Art in November .

This November, Susie Lidstone and Fiona Channon will be taking part in The Windsor Contemporary Art Festival. Please do come come and see this exciting event on Windsor Racecourse if you are in the area.

If you bought the October issue of Leisure Painter you will have seen an article about the Wapping Group of Artists' (WGA) project painting the Cutty Sark, including reproductions of paintings by FAS members Paul Banning and John Bryce. The Wapping Group, which also includes FAS members David Penny, Richard Holmes and Roger Dellar, paint en plein air along the lower Thames and its estuaries during the summer months. This year they have been recording the restoration of the Cutty Sark tea clipper at Greenwich, following the devastating fire in May 2007. This was by kind permission of the Cutty Sark Trust. In October, the WGA held its annual exhibition, London, its River and the Cutty Sark, at the Guildhall Art Gallery in the City of London. Here, the Trust bought John Bryce's painting Conserving the Cutty Sark. Just before this exhibition opened, John exhibited and sold three wood engravings with the Society of Wood Engravers at their annual exhibition at Bankside Gallery in London. He also had an engraving accepted for the Royal Society of Marine Artists annual exhibition at the Mall Galleries. In December John will among the members of the Royal Society of Painter Printmakers exhibiting at the Mini Picture Show, again at Bankside Gallery, 4th - 31st December.

If you have had work accepted for exhibitions outside Farnham Art Society or have been involved  with other artistic events such as open studios please tell the Editor about so they can include it here.

FAS Programme – Recent Events

Talk By Alexander Creswell, Monday 22nd September

    There was an air of high expectancy as members filled all available seats in the Sixth Form lecture room on September 22nd for the illustrated talk by ALEXANDER CRESWELL. And they were not disappointed. Author of ‘The Silent Houses of Britain’ and a second book in similar vein on the fire at Windsor Castle – both incidentally now out of print – he described the months’ long commission recording the devastations of the royal apartments. On completion of the restoration, several years later, he was invited to return by ‘Royal Appointment’ to paint the same scenes now back to their original splendour.

    The second half focused on watercolours of Venice, the Middle East and the United States. His work is meticulously drawn with intense attention to architectural detail, requiring even larger paper surfaces than conventional sheets.  He successfully approached  Saunders Waterford who agreed to supply special  ‘run-offs’  of 5’ x 4’ sheets which later expanded to 9’ x 5’.

    Resident for long periods in Venice he quickly sought ways of recording more unconventional scenes by purchasing a boat for use as a mobile studio. It took him years to gain permission to paint the interior of the Doge’s palace. The Cleric who finally accepted his plea to paint the interior of the Basilica of St. Marco, later admitted that he was only the second person to make this request. The first was Sickert in 1893!

    The evening concluded with photographs of a new departure for him – watercolours of large sea going racing yachts off Falmouth reminiscent of Montague Dawson.

    In response to various requests he admitted he was taught to mix hues from only six basic colours. This has slowly expanded to nine. Covering three blues and a range of earth colours and  yellows. His golden mantra is that you can attain any green from the basic nine.  He obtains lively blacks by mixing any blue with any brown (ie brown madder) and achieves his white highlights by scraping off paint to the white of the paper with a blade. He admitted to have the odd failure. “Some time ago I submitted a painting to the RWS which they rejected. I couldn’t get a satisfactory response from anyone as to the reason at the time so haven’t tried since”

    So ended a most entertaining evening by a dedicated master of his craft.

Peter Richardson

"Having Fun With Acrylics" Workshop, Nick Tidnam RBA, Saturday 13th September

   This workshop offered an excellent opportunity to discover and experiment with many ways of using acrylics. First Nick treated participants to a series of exciting demonstrations. One after another he rapidly and skilfully showed various techniques of mixing media, utilising different tubes and bottles, of paints, gels, inks and glue, sometimes with pastel, pencil or charcoal freely drawn. Many different surfaces such as bubble wrap or polystyrene were used to create textures for monoprints. Pieces of card, fingers, brushes and sticks were all put to good use producing amazing results.
    Then it was the turn of the 15 members to explore these ideas for themselves incorporating many of the suggested media. Some concentrated on producing a variety of effects with monoprints, a few developed the impasto technique, others tried working with glazes - whilst a mixture of media was the aim for many. Everyone was so engrossed in their various experiments that the lunch break was nearly forgotten. The afternoon session commenced with a brief look at the work of several artists including David Tress, Barbara Rae and Howard Hodgkin. Then it was back to our work tables as Nick talked us through a very quick session drawing with different instruments some of the working materials (bottles, brushes etc.) on our desks. This provided us with interesting shapes for the final exercise to develop the techniques tried earlier in the day to produce a new exciting approach to picture making. Nick is an enthusiastic, inspiring tutor who worked tirelessly throughout this workshop. "Having Fun with Acrylics" was a title which perfectly described this lively, informative course which provided so many creative ideas with which to experiment further.

Critique by Hermione Thornton Lofthouse, Monday 6th October

Oil Paintings, watercolours, drawings, acrylics, pastels, collages and mixed media in various sizes and stages of completion (framed and unframed) were brought to the Farnham Sixth Form College by FAS members on 6th October. Hermione is well known for her keen eye and encouraging but critical comments and during this critique she offered praise balanced by much useful guidance. Tonal balance, composition, colour, painting technique and structure were some of the topics at issue. Although the evening was not so well attended as had been anticipated it resulted in a very relaxed yet lively atmosphere which led to members being happy to speak about their own work. After the tea and coffee break members of the audience were invited to make their own comments if they wished about some of the work which led to a general discussion about composition. Thanks to Hermione's very competent handling of the critique many interesting and constructive points were raised.

Sylvia Raymont

Other Events

Painting at Froyle Village Hall

Join the Monday group of painters at Froyle Village Hall.  The venue is light, comfortable and spacious.  The scenery around Froyle is unbeatable. Every Monday from 10am until 4.00pm or just stay for the morning or afternoon - you will be welcome. Call Shiela 01252 713750.

Painting and Drawing with Nigel Moores

If you fancy doing some painting and drawing to banish any winter blues, Nigel Moores will be tutoring an 8 week course at Hale Village Hall. The course will be held on Monday afternoons, 1.30 - 4.00pm. It will run for 8 weeks from Monday 26th January. The fee is £80. To book a place or if you would like more information, please contact Nigel Moores (01252 843470, e-mail Nigel@oldfieldview.freeserve.co.uk).

Eileen Agar & Surrealism Workshops with Susanna Harris Hughes, 25th and 27th November 2008

ABOUT THE WORKSHOPS

Study Day at Pallant House Tuesday 25th November

 Eileen Agar (1899-1991) studied under Henry Moore and her friends included Picasso and Ben Nicholson.  Whilst one of her well-loved pieces, ‘Ceremonial Hat for Eating Bouillabaisse’ (1936) places her firmly in the British Surrealist camp – she was also, like Picasso, a passionate painter and collagist exploring, as she said, ‘highly personal combinations of form and content’.  It is this aspect of her work on which the Pallant House exhibition focuses.  Once again we are lucky to have Jillie Moss of Pallant House to guide us through the exhibition.   After which there will be an opportunity for individual practical study. 

Entrance Fee, lecture and tuition included. Lunch and beverages not  included.  Minimum 10 places Maximum 16 places Meet at Lostiford House 9.30 am Return 5.30 pm  or Pallant House

10.45 am – 4.00 pm. Cost £42 (£34.25 for Friends of Pallant House).   Please bring sketch books and pens / pencils / coloured pencils (no charcoal or wet materials allowed).

Practical Paint and Collage workshop Thursday 27th November
 

Stimulate your imagination!  Experiment Experiment Experiment!  Come and explore the possibilities of paint, collage and surrealism at Susanna’s studio at Lostiford House, Wonersh.

Cost £32 Suitable for all abilities.   10.00am – 4.00 pm. Please bring a packed lunch.  Tea and coffee will be provided.  Please bring all materials with you including easels, boards and chairs if possible.  A list of materials you will need  will be sent out when you apply for the  course. Although the workshops are related in subject – they are being run independently of each other and  you don’t have to come to both. 

For a booking form and further information please contact Susanna at Lostiford House, Wonersh, Near Guildford, GU5 0QY Tel: 01483 894261 or by email: susanna@harris-hughes.freeserve.co.uk

Kurt Jackson - The Solent Project - Painting the Two Coasts

    Over the August Bank Holiday weekend, I visited the St Barbe Art Gallery in Lymington to see an exhibition of paintings by Kurt Jackson: The Solent Project - Painting the Two Coasts. The adjoining museum had an impressive collection of fossils from the cliffs at Barton-on-Sea which were about 40 million years old. I'd seen Jackson’s work in Cornwall and Worcester. He is based in west Cornwall and has been Artist in Residence at the Glastonbury Festival over the past decade. I have always been drawn to his expressive landscape painting. Over the past year, he has been painting along the coastline of the Solent on the Isle of Wight and the mainland between Chichester Harbour and The Needles. He worked night and day, in weather conditions varying from warm summer bank holiday sunshine to dark brooding clouds.

    As I looked round the gallery, a video played in the background: Picture of the Southwest. It showed his novel way of working en plein air: invariably exposed to the elements on a cliff top or windy beach; paper or canvas anchored flat onto the ground with found boulders. This means his paintings are always very expressive and full of life. He works in acrylic and mixed media, frequently producing very textured areas of the painting by splattering paint or throwing in sand, even brushing with a household broom. His sketch made in a fishing boat, contrasted the bright red of the trawler men's suits with the grey clouds and rough sea.

    The paintings ranged in size from 20cm to more than 2m. The largest were best appreciated standing back. Then they had the feel of walking into the scene with the large expanse of sea in the foreground. At night, the moon shone over the water or the lights of a town on the far shore lit the horizon. There was always the impression of a very busy waterway, plied by vessels large and small. Invariably, the horizon was strewn with triangular shapes formed by the sails of yachts. Cruise and container ships passed in and out of Southampton Water. Crowds on the beach at Calshot waved as the QM2 departed.

    Many of the paintings included notes made on the scene, with descriptive titles to give a full sense of place: “A black headed gull visits me with the flying ants.”, “The lights of Fawley on the mainland”, “A Cowes streetlamp. A dog's barking. A breeze is blowing.”, “The terns' screams compete with the sound of engines.”, “They say it's going to rain today.”. Indeed it looked that way from the dark clouds.

    It all made me want to take to the coast with my sketchbook. So that afternoon I walked along part of the Solent Way to Keyhaven. There I sketched a view across the salt marshes near the mouth of the Lymington River, the Solent and IOW beyond; and later The Needles from the landward end of the Hurst Point Spit, the narrowest point of the Solent.

The exhibition has now moved to the Gosport Gallery, Walpole Road, Gosport (25th October - 20th December). In the new year it will move across the Solent to the Quay Arts Centre at Newport on the Isle of Wight (17 January - 28th February 2009).

Joan Lee

The Next Newsletter

The next Newsletter will be published on Monday 2nd February 2009. Contributions are always welcome, and should be sent by post to Joan Lee at 12 Barn Meadow Close, Church Crookham, Fleet, Hampshire GU52 0YB, or by email to ArtyJoan67@btinternet.com. The newsletter will go to print on Wednesday 21st January so please let me have your contributions before then.

Stuffers Wanted in 2009

A big thankyou to the 15 or so people who helped with stuffing in August. The February stuffing and mailing will be another busy one as there will be all the bumph for the Spring Exhibition to mail. If we have a similar number of helpers to August, it should all be done in under 2 hours. Once again, Sheevaun Mackintosh has kindly offered to host at The Coach House, Dippenhall. The date for your diary is Monday 2nd February, from 10.00am. If you are free that morning and think you can help please get in touch with Sheevaun (01252 821235) or myself (01252 625133, e-mail address above) before 21st January. I’d also welcome transport help: the newsletter goes to Alton for printing. About a week later, the 500 or so copies will need to be collected from Alton and taken to the stuffing. Your help will be much appreciated by the ever busy Committee. 

Summary Of Future Events

Monday 3rd November, 7.30-9.30pm - Demonstration – Chris Forsey

Saturday 8th November, 10.00am – 4.00pm - Workshop – Richard Plincke

Wednesday 19th November, 7.30pm  AGM

Monday 19th January, 7.30-9.30pm - Lecture – Eric Buesnel

Saturday 24th January, 10.00am – 4.00pm - Workshop – Nigel Moores

Monday 23rd February, 7.30-9.30pm -Demonstration – Jean Haines

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