GLOUCESTERSHIRE SOCIETY OF ARTISTS
www.gsart.org.uk
Newsletter No 97 September 2011
Committee Report
I hope you all have enjoyed your summer break and have been creating some wonderful works of art. We have an interesting and varied programme for you at our studio evenings this autumn; Roy Lang with seascape in oils, Jackie Garner with her nature paintings, Erica Bibbings with mosaics and of course the Christmas Social. The programme for 2012 studio evenings is well underway including forthcoming attractions, pastel artist and wife of David Bellamy, Jenny Keal, and David Wilcox watercolour artist of ballet dancers, and witty and humorous artist Beryl Maile.
Recent studio evenings
The recent Studio Evening in June with author and art tutor Trudy Friend featuring drawing techniques in graphite was a useful and informative evening. Trudy went through her 8 stroke teaching technique which was a help to any artist. Her new book “The Ultimate Art Bible is an interesting addition to an artist’s library. The camera projector lent to us by Nature in Art was a positive help. I might add that the June studio evening was originally intended for outdoor sketching. Thank goodness we opted for an indoor demo. The evening had the heaviest downpour of the year!
Trip to Compton Verney
Margaret Shotton reported that the trip to Compton Verney was an enjoyable day out after the coach finally manoeuvred its way out of the car park in NIA. The GSA was warmly welcomed at the gallery where they saw paintings and shown around the Capability Brown gardens. The coach was not entirely full and perhaps next time we have a trip we could invite WAG members as well.
Exhibitions
The GSA Exhibition at Painswick has now passed and it appears to have been fairly successful. We sold 6 paintings, 2 sculptures and 1 print. The venue at the Town Hall was charming and surprisingly spacious. Our thanks go to the depleted committee ( some of which were on holiday) for their hard work in hanging the paintings and arranging the sculptures. Our work was much admired and we had around 300 visitors. The pre-view was a convivial event with wine and nibbles and we were honoured to have some of the residents of Painswick village join us.
The Annual Exhibition at St. John’s Northgate Gloucester City will take place on 10th-22nd October. Handing in is on Thursday 6th October between 6pm and 7.30pm and on Saturday 8th the selector will attend at 9am and then hanging can commence.
Please note: This year we are having a slightly different time for the pre-view. After the committee have hung the pictures and arranged the sculptures the President will select the Presidents cup and awards and an informal pre-view with light refreshments will start at 3pm on Saturday 8th October. All are invited.
Stewarding
Many thanks to all who helped out with the stewarding at our exhibition at the Painswick Town Hall.
You will find enclosed exhibition submission and condition forms for the GSA annual exhibition 2011 at St John’s Church, Northgate Street, Gloucester Saturday, 10th October to Saturday 22nd October, so of course there is also a blank rota form for volunteers to steward the exhibition.
Early return of the stewarding rota to Peter Morley would be greatly appreciated.
Members Notes
The Muffin Man
There has been a rumour that the Muffin Man Cafe in Cheltenham is closing. This is untrue and they are carrying on as usual. The Muffin man Cafe has very kindly given the GSA some space to exhibit in the cafe area. There is room for about 15 medium size paintings. The proprietor would prefer works with a local or a food related subject. The commission is 15%.
If you are interested in exhibiting your work in the Cafe please bring a maximum of 3 paintings to the next studio evening and Rosemary Harvey will take them to the cafe. The work is usually kept for 2/3 months and if unsold will be brought to the next Studio Evening. If you are interested you can get further details from Rosemary Harvey or email http://linro@sixty-ninesee.fsnet.co.uk or telephone 01452 521770
Appeal for a portrait painter
Recently a local young mother died from swine flu leaving a young baby. Unfortunately the family do not have any pictures of the mother and baby together.
They have separate photographs of the mother and baby which they would like combined into one “sketch” or painting. Friends have tried to combine the pictures by computer but apparently the results have not been satisfactory. It is probable that the photos were taken at different times and in different lights. A professional photographer quoted about £2000 to do this!
The family have therefore turned to the GSA in the hope that one of our members can rise to the challenge of producing a memory of the mother and baby together either by sketch, painting or possibly some skilled computer magic.
If anyone can thinks that they can help please let me know and I will put you in touch with the family.
Robin Peacey
Please note that this space is available to any members who wish to advertise events. In return we ask that members promote GSA events amongst the membership of their other societies and groups. Please let me have details by the next deadline – Ed.
GSA Treasurers Report
The recent Painswick exhibition realised the sale of six paintings, one print and two sculptures totalling in value £1108.00 which considering the present economic climate and the short length of the exhibition was a good result. We paid the Painswick Town Hall £135.40 for the use of the hall and the GSA took 10% commission which came to £110.80.
Terry Aubrey
Your Committee
- Terry Aubrey (Treasurer)Tel: 01452 520062
- Anne Smith (Secretary and Programme)Tel: 01452 812427
- Robin Peacey (Publicity)Tel: 01452 614149 GSA, c/o 12, Larkhay Road, Hucclecote, Gloucester, GL3 3NP email: robin_peacey@hotmail.co.uk
- Rosemary Harvey Tel: 01452 521770
- Peter Morley Tel: 01452 413960
- Vivian Tilley Tel: 01452 410949
- Neil Gow Tel: 01453 886067
- Margaret Shotton Tel: 01452 301596
- Erik Lowis (Membership/website)Tel: 07877 407124 email: erik.lowis@yahoo.co.uk
Not forgetting Jonathan Nixon who looks after our website: http://www.gsart.org.uk
Copy for the next Newsletter
If you have any items of interest to members, letters to the editor or comments please send them to Martyn Dymott, preferably as an e-mail attachment, but paper copy will be accepted, in time for the next issue. Also if you have any ideas for improving the format of the newsletters; size, font, items of interest etc. please don’t hesitate to let me know. Newsletter Editor – Martyn Dymott: jd.md@blueyonder.co.uk
GSA Studio Evenings Diary 2011
Nature in Art, 7.00pm for 7.30pm To 9.30pm
Monday 19th September - Roy Lang - Seascape in Oils Demonstration
Roy Lang is a marine artist who has been painting with passion for the past twenty years. He was voted SAA Artist of the Year 2000 & 2002 and was short-listed for the Daily Mail's “Not the Turner Prize” in 2003. This demonstration will be a seascape in oils. www.roylangartist.com
Monday 17th October – Jackie Garner
How did a naturalist interested in art become an artist interested in nature? Discover Jackie’s artistic journey and look behind the scenes at the realities of being a professional wildlife artist. www.jackiegarner.co.uk
Monday 21st November – Erica Bibbings – Mosaics
Erica is continually fascinated with the movement and texture that can be created with unpromising little chips of glass or ceramic, playing with rhythms, movement, flashes of colour, sparkling lights, and mysterious shadows. Much of her work is inspired by Nature and it is always a challenge to try and capture something of the magic of a particular subject.
Monday 19th December – Christmas Social
Please come and join us for our usual evening socialising and fun. Full details will be announced later. Any help in setting out chairs at the start of the Studio Evenings and clearing up the room afterwards is always very much appreciated If anyone knows of any speakers or demonstrators who they think would be of interest to members, please let us know.