Old Year, New Year
Posted on Jan 05, 2023NOVEMBER 2022
A very interesting and informative demonstration by Mark Lippett for our last meeting of the year.
Mark’s photograph showed an abandoned caravan on a very decayed, old industrial site. An image many wouldn’t find very inspiring, but Mark could see the potential of a good painting.
Mark’s photographic image.
Towards the end of the evening.
He wasn’t wrong. Mark has sent us this photograph of the finished work. There is a beauty in it.
Completed painting
2023
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Sitting here, thinking back over the events of the past year makes me realise what a full year it was. I’ve tried to include photographs of everything that we did but, I’ve missed out pics of our annual exhibition as they are all on our website (open up the site and click on Gallery, you’ll see all the works exhibited) and, for obvious reasons, there are no photographs from our life-drawing session.
We shall be repeating our popular critique session after the AGM in February, so, please bring along a work that you would like advice about. I can’t say which members will be ‘critiquing’ at present but there will definitely be some.
The two extra exhibitions of our works at Himley Hall and Shenstone Library were very well received. We had over a hundred works exhibited at Himley in their Corridor Gallery. It was impressive. We have been given the opportunity to hold another exhibition there later this year so look out for news about that. As it will be in the Corridor again all works submitted will have to be framed and We had very short notice of the availability of Shenstone Library for an exhibition but we managed it. There were about 30 paintings, from 12 of us, hung in quite a limited space, but they looked good.
Our new venture in August, ‘Four Painters Painting’ a social evening was an unqualified success, enjoyed by all. It was quickly arranged as we had a demonstrator cancellation for that month. It’s being repeated again in August this year. Hopefully more of you will come to enjoy it.
Some of our 2022 events.
Ann and Ron critiquing in Feb 2022.
Ann pointing out details, suggesting a small change.
Exhibition at Shenstone Library, June 2022.
Our Corridor Gallery Exhibition at Himley Hall
Our day at Patching’s Art Festival in the Summer.
Steve Woodham’s stall at Patchings
Four Painters Painting
Our organising duo, Hazel and Elizabeth.
Simon being quizzed about his work.
Ron working away.
Babs talking about her painting.
Our selection day porters being rewarded for their hard work, and Jean Walker and myself painting in the gallery.
Enjoying our festive get together at the Fingerpost pub in December.
Enjoying the food
Enjoying the company.
Thank you to everyone who submitted works for the 72nd Annual Exhibition at the NAG, Walsall. The task of selecting was helped along by our very able team of porters. The committee are very grateful to those four members for volunteering their time to take on the job for the day Thanks also go to the staff at the gallery for hanging and placing all 115 exhibits, they certainly look good. Also, to Kara Strachan for officially opening the show on the 17th November so cheerfully despite it being a very cold wet evening for anyone to be out.
On the two weekends that I was in the gallery painting it was very well attended and we had several people asking about membership. We’ve also had enquiries via the internet over Christmas so that’s encouraging news.
If you’ve not viewed the exhibition, it closes next Sunday, 8th Jan. Congratulations to all whose work has sold. A sale is very good in this present economic climate.
Please collect your works from the gallery next week between Tuesday 10th and Saturday 14th January, 10am to 4pm.
Works not collected could be charged storage fees by the gallery.
We ended our year with a ‘Festive Feast’ at the Fingerpost pub in Pelsall.
A good meal and good company. Thanks Elizabeth for organising it.
Our new year begins with a demo by Jess Pritchard on Thursday 12 th. January 2023
Jess is a self-taught, award-winning artist. She creates her wildlife works not only for viewing but also to raise awareness of the animal’s beauty. Her medium of choice is pencil, producing highly detailed images, laying layer upon layer of fine strokes on the paper. It should be a very interesting evening. Not to be missed!
February brings our AGM, your chance to say what you think of the society, to suggest changes that would make it work better for all members and of course your opportunity to join the committee to help keep the society going.
Following the AGM (same evening) will be our light hearted critique session
Please bring along a piece of work you are struggling with or one that you’re really pleased with and want to discuss it with others.
They will be positive in their comments, giving only gentle, constructive criticism aimed at helping us with our work.
So, let the chair, David McGuire, know in advance (email me and I’ll pass it on) if you intend bringing a piece of work along.
Finally, could I ask you to write your email address on the membership form clearly so we can see all dots, dashes, uppercase and lowercase letters and numbers properly. Thank you.
Looking forward to an interesting, creative year.
Pam.
Quote for this letter:
There is no doubt that creativity is the most important human resource of all. Without creativity there would be no progress and we would be forever repeating the same patterns.
Edward de Bono
