New Year’s Resolutions – who’d have them? How do you make sure they last beyond January 3rd? In my household we are busy with plans and resolutions with varying degrees of probable success. Here are some Measham thoughts – going to more exhibitions, being a bit tidier, less chocolate (yeah yeah) and some of us want to be more rigorous about painting and drawing EVERY DAY.
So many plans. Good.
‘Keep busy, keep trying new things, and learning new skills, join groups of people doing things they enjoy doing’
The Mantra for 2017 (no mention of chocolate)
We have lots of classes on offer. Some are one off chances to try something new, others are like putting on something comfortable. There are some short courses and some things that will last all year. As the year goes on new classes will be offered so keep an eye on the website.
There are classes at Wherwell Priory Studio, the Riverside Yurt Café (and its winter quarters) and at Rum’s Eg in Romsey.
For more information about times, costs etc click this link:
The River Test will be the subject of a year long investigation, (The River Test, Source to Sea, A Journey) and there will be a weekly instagram drawing for anyone to join.
January classes are as follows:
Monday, 9th Jan, Seeds, Shells, Stones and Skulls, at Wherwell Priory
Wednesday, 11th Jan, River Test, Source to Sea, a Journey, at Overton
Sunday, 15th Jan, Size Matters, at Rum’s Eg, Romsey
Other classes to look out for – more information soon:
Upcycle Dolls and Stuffed Toys. Give new life to old toys (yours, a loved one’s, or from a charity shop) Turn them into monsters, fantastic creatures, or something altogether more avant-garde. This is not designed as a dolls hospital; more Frankenstein revisited with plastic surgery.
Time; Ephemeral, Past and Present. A photo can capture a moment but how can we approach time passing, and time passed?
Russian Doll Painting. Mess with tradition. Instead of a Matryoshka with head scarf and flowery pinafore create a nest of dolls with a story, maybe a family history, your own hidden characteristics, secrets and aspirations. Or animals, bugs, skeletons, muscles, or your last three meals…endless possibilities.
Please contact me if you would like more information, or to book onto a course:
Bits and bobs for artists (or even major purchases) are easy – there are so many useful, fun, interesting, innovative things that could slip into a stocking, or hide under the Christmas tree. This list could be endless. You might find you rather fancy taking up painting too. Below are a few ideas, with links to make it easy.
If you want to touch and feel the goodies you are buying and are in Stockbridge have a look at ELEF, the new art supplies shop, opposite the Greyhound. They stock top of the range supplies in all media.
There are lots of sets available for beginners/returners. They all look so inviting – like sweeties in a shop window.
Oil painting involves paints, brushes, palettes, paper, blah blah blah. For a cheap and cheerful set with all you would need to get started have a look at Daler Rowney Starter bundle. There seems to be a bit of a gap with linseed oil and thinners and palettes but enough to get started, or to take to classes.https://www.jacksonsart.com/daler-rowney-georgian-oil-paint-starter-bundle
For the artist who seems to have quite a lot of stuff already…
There are three options in this category: something they use regularly, something unusual they might not know about, and something you can’t have enough of…
Something they use regularly is a tricky one. My husband is a keen fisherman and it seems to me that trawling through the kit is one of the pleasures of fishing. Likewise with painting. I use Old Holland paints and love them. It is delightful that anyone should have noticed and thought they could buy me a few, but actually I want to choose my own. You are a brave person to think you know what to buy in this category. I’d leave it.
Something unusual can be fun. Pip Seymour’s ancient drawing materials are certainly unusual, and fun to work with – some are easier than others, but that is part of the fun.http://www.pipseymour.co.uk/ancient-drawing-materials.php
Things you can’t have enough of… The two things I would put in this category are brushes and books. Buy the best brushes you can afford to give, and have a look in every Oxfam, Scope, Hospice shop for art books – second hand they are not too expensive.
Each Mabef easel is made in Italy from good quality beech wood. Amongst professional and ametuer artists Mabef easels have been the popular choice for over 50 years.
In 2017 there are a variety of courses on offer to appeal to many different interests. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Vouchers are available for classes as presents for Birthdays, Christmas or any other occasion.
Start the year with a return to the natural environment. NO BLING, no tinsel, no presents, no washing up, but all of life in a Still Life. There will be a number of different seeds and seed heads, exotic, large and small shells, stones collected locally and from beaches far and wide, and a selection of skulls.
The aim is to examine the variety of texture, tone, shape and subtle colour in these natural objects. This is a no pressure morning; you can paint or draw (I will help if anyone wants assistance).
The River Test, Source to Sea, a year’s journey
Once a month, different venues
One day at a time
£25/day (plus entrance fees where necessary, but nearly all in public spaces)
Suitable for all
I have spent many years living near the Test, or in the Test valley itself. In 2017 I want to record different parts of the river, and different seasons, and to capture something of the way a river changes over its journey. This is something I want to do and invite anyone who is interested to join me along the way.
We will start near the source of the Test and the end of year will be down stream at Testwood Nature Reserve where the river is tidal. It may be cold and wet occasionally, but that is part of the story. There are many warming pubs along the way if we are overwhelmed by weather.
The River Test, Source to Sea, a year’s journey – dates
January 11th, February 6th, March 6th,
April 3rd, May 8th, June 7th, July 12th,
August 9th, September 11th, October 11th,
November 8th, and December 6th
January 18th,
Just painting – Oils – a reminder…
9.30am – 1.00pm
Wherwell Studio
£40/morning
Suitable for all who have done an introductory course
A chance to practise all those things you have learnt in classes. There will be a Still life set up and a reminder about the process of painting in oils. Don’t shy away from oils because you haven’t used them for ages and you remember the whole thing as being complicated. This class will guide you through and remind you what a wonderful thing it is to paint with oil paints.
Jan 25th
Oil painting for beginners a 3 day crash course at the Yurt
Riverside Yurt Cafe
6.00pm-9.00pm evening
£45/evening (or £120/3 if you pay in advance)
Beginners
The world of oil painting is vast, exciting and relatively straight forward. Once you learn the basic methods you will be able to tackle anything. I will introduce you to painting in oils using charcoal drawing. This helps you to get to grips with tone, mark making and various other techniques.
If you have had little, or no experience of painting in oils this is the class for you. Basic principles will be introduced and reinforced. As with all things, practice makes painting easier.
Oil painting for beginners also on – 1st Feb and Feb 6th
Feb 13th
Life Drawing, Rip it up and start again
Wherwell Studios
6.00pm-9.00pm evening
£45/evening (or £80/2 if you pay in advance)
Intermediate
This class is slightly in the spirit of ‘let’s NOT make boring pictures’. This will be life drawing and life collage (a new art school discipline?) I like to take the anxiety out of the studio and introduce a sense of playfulness and adventure.
In this class you will recycle and reuse your own marks, tones and textures, and introduce others from outside sources. Once you have tried this technique you will have a fresh approach to drawing.
Feb 20th mon
Just painting – Oils – a reminder…
9.30am – 1.00pm
Wherwell Studio
£40/morning
Suitable for all who have done an introductory course
A chance to practise all those things you have learnt in classes. There will be a Still life set up and a reminder about the process of painting in oils. Don’t shy away from oils because you haven’t used them for ages and you remember the whole thing as being complicated. This class will guide you through and remind you what a wonderful thing it is to paint with oil paints.
February 22nd
Experimental Drawing– exploring the senses.
9.30am – 1.00pm
Wherwell Studio
£40/morning
Intermediate
Art is a creative subject, but the hardest leap seems to from what you can see to what you have to imagine when you can’t see.
In this drawing class will look at translating, smell, touch, hearing, taste and memory into a visual format. Rhythm, colour, mark making will all be called upon to extend your visual vocabulary into the unknown. What does the inside of your mouth feel like? Can you draw the sharp, salty tang of stilton? How would you portray the feelings evoked by a song sung in a language you don’t recognise? These are hard steps to take, and there is no right or wrong answer, but no reason not to try.
Mar 20th mon
The luck of the draw
Riverside Yurt Cafe
6.00pm-9.00pm evening
£45/evening
More information to come.
May 8th
The River Test, Source to Sea, a year’s journey
Half way through the journey, show and tell at the prizewinning Riverside Yurt Café
May 17th
See and be Seen, Beyond the Selfie
Self Portraits now.
Riverside Yurt Cafe
9.30am-4.00pm
£85, light lunch and materials included
Suitable for all
Everyone thinks they know what they look like – selfies are everywhere – but take another look. On this course you will investigate different ways of drawing yourselves, and each other.
Through the day you will be drawing, using colour and modelling with clay (more than a chance you will get messy). We will provide the materials needed for the day if you bring smallish mirrors for everyone doing the workshop. It will involve paint and clay so wear appropriate clothes.
There will be a lunch provided using the same fine ingredients sourced for the café.
May 31st
How would the Fauves do it?
Riverside Yurt Cafe
9.30am-4.00pm
£85, light lunch and materials included
Suitable for all
The Fauves were a group of French painters prominent from 1905, including Matisse, Vlaminck, and Derain, characterized by the use of bright colours and simplified forms.
You will be interpreting the landscape by the river and yurt, embracing the Fauves use of colour. Suggested materials would be bright inks, watercolour dyes, acrylics –basically anything bright and quick drying.
We have lots of classes on offer. Some are one off chances to try something new, others are like putting on something comfortable. There are some short courses and some things that will last all year. As the year goes on new classes will be offered so keep an eye on the website.
