Early Autumn Colour?

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With the drought still taking its toll of our trees, it looks like we will be having early autumn colour, and probably holding on for a long time, if the rain comes as promised. So what better reason to get the autumn colour paints and pencils out!

We have what feels like a ‘standard’ programme for the first time in ages. We start with Life Drawing on Sunday 6th September 14:00-16:00 in MR3 at the Dovetail Centre, with a second opportunity two weeks later, on the 20th.

As always the Drop-In Session does not let us down, taking place on Wednesday 9th from 10 till 1 at the Community Centre in Hursley Road. If you want to make some new Christmas cards, this might be a good place to start!

On Saturday 12th, we have a pastel workshop with Brenda Molyneux, who will take things from first steps. If you had pastels for Christmas and don’t know what to do with them, see if you can get squeezed onto this workshop by contacting Bev. (Members only)

By Jim Champion, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3451685

The Sketching Group will be out and about on Monday 21 September, 10:00-13:00 with an outing to Bishops Waltham. I keep meaning to visit the Bishops Palace… maybe it’s time.

Our last event of the month is a live Demonstration by Stewart Beckett on Wednesday 23 September at the Methodist Church, Chandlers Ford. Starts at 19:00-21:30, and non-members are welcome to join for a £5 donation (in cash, preferably). Stewart is a Hampshire artist who has exhibited in London’s Mall Galleries, and works on landscapes, portraits and other subjects. He appeared on Sky Arts TV Landscape Artist of the Year in 2018, and you can see an interesting time-lapse of his entry on Youtube here.

Farewell Exhibition, Hello HOS

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by Jacky Pett

Our wonderful Summer Exhibition at The Hillier Gardens came to a close, and less than a week later we are on display — actively — at the Dovetail Centre.

Exhibition hits the heights

Despite the heatwave, there was a steady flow of visitors. Thankfully the temperatures dropped a little for the final weekend. Total sales were in the region of £6000, and a great many cards were in that total!

When I visited I gained an excellent impression from the layout. Obviously, most art groups that use the space have the same general flow, but the hanging was particularly well done. The Seascapes were beautifully brought together and provided each other with more distinction as a result. Each contrasted with the other, and the different media emphasised the manifold aspects of the sea.

In other areas, someone with a particularly good eye for colour, contrast and surprise had used their talents well. I don’t remember being so impressed with the impact of the display in the past. And the ceramics have gone from strength to strength. Maybe it’s just me.

I wonder how we are going to improve on that!

And so to HOS

Hampshire Open Studios started on Saturday, and the turnaround from Hillier to Chandlers Ford was achieved seemingly without any pressure at all. I doubt whether the organisers would agree.

I visited on Monday, after a busy weekend with good sales, and most were anticipating a few more visitors than had arrived. It’s just Monday in Chandlers Ford I think. The displays were all excellent, but unlike the exhibition, there is the opportunity to talk to the artists about their work, and watch them as they create it. This is not only interesting, but you get to learn some tricks you might not have thought of yourself. All this, and refreshments too!

The exhibits change daily, with some artists doing one or two days, some maybe more when space allows. Altogether we have fifteen artists taking part this year, with only two days not fully booked. I’m on standby, but I doubt I’ll be needed! Thank you to Alex for all his hard work on this event, which has its own complications, not least liaising with the HOS county team for most of the year.

Thank you to everybody who takes part, in front of the public or behind the scenes. It’s a terrific effort, as the results show.

Our HOS studio continues until 4 pm on Bank Holiday Monday.

The Magic of Gouache

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Gouache Workshop by Jill Iliffe 11th July 2026

by Bev Dunstan

Jill returned to Chandlers Ford to provide an excellent workshop explaining and demonstrating the use of Gouache. Many assumed that Gouache was just another type of Watercolour medium but Jill explained that it was more akin to Oils, insofar as it produces a strong flat colour and you can build up layers, even adding white over black.  The key difference though is that, unlike oil or acrylic, when you add water it becomes wet again and mixable on the painting. 

Jill brought plenty of examples illustrating the versatility of the medium ranging from the flat poster type look through to the finer watercolour effect.

Jill explained that watercolour brushes and paper were to be used with gouache and she demonstrated how to use the paint including the technique of blending a colour into white; dry brushwork and mixing the colours both on the palette and on the painting.  Jill brought along a selection of photos to use or the artists brought along their own images to work from.  The attendees returned to their tables to experiment with the medium.

Jill took time to talk to each person and offer advice on tips and techniques as she went around the room.

 The final Gallery provided a wonderful display of how gouache can be used for bright flat colour, simple design and intricate seascape.

Don’t forget to visit our Summer Exhibition at the Hillier Gardens – open 10-5 until Sunday 16th August!

Let’s make an exhibition of ourselves!

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August is synonymous with the Group’s Summer Exhibition. It is also synonymous with Hampshire Open Studios. And since this year the dates don’t overlap, we shall be making exhibitions of ourselves pretty much all month!

Summer Exhibition

If you haven’t been reading your newsletters, filling in forms expressing interest in exhibiting or helping, or forms with your entries, you may only have seen or heard something of the publicity for our Summer Exhibition at the Hillier Gardens (not to be confused with Hilliers Garden Centres).

https://www.hants.gov.uk/thingstodo/hilliergardens/whatson/CAF-Aug26

Previously known as the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, the rebranding took place a couple of years ago, but the Hillier Gardens retain their excellence as a venue for arts, crafts, nature and good food!

We will be exhibiting just inside the front entrance, in the usual exhibition space, so that enables visitors to the exhibition to visit without needing to pay an entrance fee – and they can also get refreshments at the cafe. But if they’ve made it that far, why not encourage them to support the Gardens, spend the day there and explore?

We will be setting up the exhibition on Monday, with hand-in of exhibits followed by hanging them, and our team will be working hard to get out before being locked out!

The exhibition itself opens at 10 am on Tuesday 4th, closing daily at 5pm until the last day, Sunday August 16th, when it closes at 3pm.

Then exhibitors will be rushing to collect their unsold works from 3.30-4, while the team dismantle the show and remove the equipment to storage till next time.

Of course, while there will be casual visitors to the gardens who will come in and look, it is even more effective when you tell your friends (and any enemies you might have made), bring the family, and spend a day at the Gardens yourself.

Other events

The only other organised events we have this month are the Drop-in session (hardly organised, totally free for all) on Wednesday 12th, at the Community Centre at Hursley Road. Then the Sketching Group will be celebrating the end of the Summer Exhibition with a morning at the Hillier Gardens on Monday 17th. Maybe an opportunity to work on an exhibition entry for next year?

Hampshire Open Studios

Ask Alex for flyers to give to your friends and neighbours

Our group Open Studio has proved so popular, we’ve expanded it from MR3 in Chandlers Ford’s Dovetail Centre (Methodist Church complex) to take over the Dovetail Main Hall. This runs from Saturday 22nd (set-up on Friday) to Monday 31st August, from 10 till 4 (except on the last day, when we finish at 3).

That means more artists in residence, doing their thing, chatting to visitors about process, materials, inspirations and everything else that gets talked about at these things, including the quality of the biscuits. Has anyone else discovered a new favourite? Mine’s Chocolate Rich Teas. Much better quality crunch than digestives, and not overly sweet like hobnobs!

There’s a title for a sketching challenge – coffee break!

Enjoy August, and let’s hope for some relief from heatwaves and drought.

Abstract Acrylic Workshop with Rebecca Hurst

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by Bev Dunstan

Rebecca Hurst came to the Chandlers Ford Art Group and provided a wonderful Abstract Acrylic and Mixed Media workshop full of inspiration and insight into using marks and different media to create loose and vivid artworks.

Rebecca provided various demonstrations throughout the day showing how to make the best of random objects such as rag and corrugated cardboard to produce amazing marks, which in turn provided the underpinning of the finished artwork.  She demonstrated the colour wheel and how best to balance the colours in your painting whilst keeping to a simple palette.  

One such demo used her photo of a locked padlock on a colourful shed door to dramatic effect.

The members took the ideas back to their tables and worked them into their own paintings, producing a myriad of paintings throughout the day.

Everyone had a great time, even a watercolourist was converted to the joy of Acrylic!

Be prepared for hot weather next time!

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We start with an apology for the very late cancellation, hopefully only a postponement, of Jake Winkle’s live demo last Wednesday. But it was far too hot for most of us to leave the relative cool of our houses until well after 9pm that day. Safety first, especially in extreme heat. I’m sure Jake will be willing to travel from Dorset to see us on another occasion, and we look forward to it.

Jake Winkle Workshop
Our efforts to reproduce Jake’s Cheetah at the workshop last year!

Thankfully, the forecast for the immediate weeks ahead seem more normal. Which means we won’t have to worry about the heating for the Life Drawing session on Sunday 5 July or the one two weeks later on the 19th.

The last session of the Introduction to Sketching course takes place on Monday 6th, with the Drop-In Session following closely on Wednesday 8th at the Community Hall, Hursley Road Details

Saturday 11th sees a Gouache Workshop with Jill Iliffe at the Dovetail Hall (next to the Methodist Church). Jill did a wonderful workshop of painting a kingfisher last autumn, it’ll be great to see what happens next! Details

Our Sketching Group will be heading off to Hamble for their session on Monday 20th, so we hope the weather stays sunny and warm, without too much need for excessive heat precautions. Take sunhat, water and suncream anyway – even if it’s raining!

Wednesday 22nd is the fourth Wednesday of the month, and so time for our Live Demonstration at the Methodist Church with Caroline Viney. Hopefully Roy will give us more details in the members newsletter nearer the time. Non-members are welcome, for a donation of £5 (preferably in cash) at the door. The demo starts at 7.30, so arrive a little ahead of time to choose your seats.

Finally, your interest forms for the Summer Exhibition at the Hillier Gardens are already in; the next stage will be for your entries, and for helpers to sign up for the things they were interested in. Please respond promptly, it helps the organisers no end! Also, after the sterling work done to arrange HOS in the Dovetail Hall at the end of the month, those of you who have signed up will get your allotted days, and further instructions. Because of these events, the Life Drawing sessions for August are cancelled.

Please spread the word about both events (Posters to come!)

(header picture (c) Heather Jolliffe)

How did June get so busy?

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No, it’s not a rhetorical question, or even an inquiry into a mysterious lady from the past. It simply reflects the amount of activity going on within the group this month… and there isn’t even an exhibition (although there’s a great deal of planning for August going on!)

We start the month with two (fully booked) special events — Behind the Scenes visits to Southampton Art Gallery. I’m looking forward to hearing a report on these from one of the attendees – it doesn’t have to be as detailed as Bev’s workshop reports, but it would be nice to know what you saw and what you thought!

These are speedily followed by the first of our Life Drawing afternoons on Sunday 7th, when Rowan Roberts will be revealing all. I never cease to be amazed at the ability of our life models to stand still in poses I could not adopt for more than a few seconds – they hold them for a few minutes or up to an hour (usually the longest we ask for is a half hour).

Note: this may not be the model for June.

The day after, on Monday 8th, sees the first session in a new Sketching Course, taken by Mandy Axtel. The other sessions take place on 22nd and 29th June, and 6th July. We look forward to seeing your sketches of the St Cross area.

Relegated to a lowly spot, in the listing, but still on the second Wednesday of the month, our drop-in session runs from 10:00-13:00 at the Hursley Road Community Hall.

This month’s workshop is on Saturday 13th, and promises to be a lively Abstract Acrylic and Mixed Media with Rebecca Hurst. It is speedily followed by the Sketching Group’s outing to Romsey Abbey on the Monday, and a brief pause before our second Life Drawing session on the 21st.

Finally we round off the month on Wednesday 24th, with a lively live Demonstration from Jake Winkle. A good time will be had by all.

And that takes us to Midsummer! You realise we will then be closer to next Christmas than last Christmas? Start painting your cards now 🙂

Spring into Sunshine

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Well, maybe. This Bank Holiday looks like it might be a little cloudy, but then we could do with some rain already!

But that won’t make too much difference to us as it’s the Spring Exhibition at the Dovetail Centre Main Hall, with hand-in and set-up tonight (Friday), and the event open from 10 till 4 Saturday until Monday (when its closes at 4pm officially, and hand-out at 4.30, but these things become flexible over time).

Please tell your friends! And bring them along. And visit often yourself. Bring the visitors, bring the kids and their friends. There’s nothing better to do on a bank holiday weekend!

and after that…

Life Drawing! The first session of the month is on May 10th, second on 17th. There were a couple of late spaces available for the extra session put on in April, but the May ones are, as far as I know, fully booked.

Wednesday 13th sees our Drop-In Session at the Community Centre in Hursley Road, 10 till 1. Do whatever you want, enjoy the company, or just enjoy the space to spread out without the cat puddling your paintwork.

After the second life drawing session, we pray for good weather as the sketchers head for a morning at Mottisfont (National Trust, so bring your card if you’re a member). Even if the weather turns inclement, there should be plenty to see and sketch. (You could do the cellars underneath the building on the right hand side of the picture – they have fabulous pillars!)

The most important date is Wednesday 27 May from 18:45-19:30 as it’s our Annual General Meeting. Just a few routine reports to be read, committee to be seen, elected, or co-opted. Just to make sure we run ourselves clearly and correctly. And this is followed by our first LIVE Demonstration of the year, with Marieta Sotirova doing something very interesting.

How hard can it be?

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by Bev Dunstan

‘How hard can it be’ – Watercolor Workshop, Saturday 11th April.

Catherine Cartwright brought a fantastic and lighthearted approach to Watercolour painting with her beginners class.

She began by explaining her background and joy in using watercolour in her work and promised to share tips and tricks that she’d learned over time and wished she knew sooner.

Catherine demonstrated the techniques and provided helpful handouts for the class to practice the different methods used in Watercolour including ‘wet-in-wet’ and ‘variegated wash’ – where the watercolour paint is moved down the wet paper without the reapplication of paint.

wet in wet / variegated wash

The group members took the time to work through the techniques and practice the various tips including creating cloud formations and using splatter for increased mark making. 

Cloud formations
Splatter techniques

Another great tip was to use the edge of a credit card, length cut to suit the need and dip it into the paint to mark lines – useful for fence posts in a landscape.

Catherine encouraged the class to use a minimal colour palette and mix greens using lemon yellow, cadmium yellow, or raw sienna with ultramarine and cobalt blue combinations.

colour chart

After lunch, members put the new found knowledge into practice by creating a landscape painting.  

i

The group had a wonderful time and learnt many new things. There was plenty of time to practice the techniques and Catherine was ready to answer questions and help when asked.

Happy Easter – now paint!

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Happy Easter to you all, and let’s hope the weather is benign over the holiday weekend. A chance for you to get out and paint, perhaps?

Our month starts with the drop in event on Wednesday 8th, 10:00-13:00. I’m sure you know by now that this is a free to ‘do as you please’ event on Wednesday morning at the Community Hall on Hursley Road. I think it’s still with free coffee, tea and biscuits! 

Catherine Cartwirght

On Saturday 11th our Workshop is intriguingly entitled “How hard can it be?” It’s a Watercolour Workshop with Catherine Cartwright and I’m looking forward to finding out how hard it is!

The following weekend we resume our Life Drawing sessions (Sunday afternoon). The form for the next quarter was sent out recently, and has already closed. If you wanted to apply, please do so more quickly when the form comes out for the next quarter!

Monday 20th sees our Sketching Group heading up to Olivers Battery. I hope the weather will be decent for that. A new year of sketching monthly prompts will also be starting: these will now be sent to everyone, so just ignore those emails if you don’t want to be inspired. You don’t even have to do anything with your sketches, although if you want to add them in the Facebook Group, do so. For any help with this, contact Lisa Marshall.

A couple of days later, Wednesday 22 April, we have a social event, particularly to welcome new members, but everyone is invited. There will be an art-related Bring & Buy sale, and a clinic on presenting your work for exhibition.

And please note your entry form for the Spring Exhibition must be in by the 21st April.

There’s still time to do your Postcard painting – theme of Film Title, so you could bring that to the social too. And perhaps pick up some flyers to promote the Spring Exhibition to your friends and neighbours.