Tag: HOS

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.

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.

The Summer’s Over…

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… and we can get back to painting rain, storms, puddles and all the other things we haven’t seen for a while!

We also finished our Summer Exhibition and HOS25 studio. Thank you to everyone who exhibited or took part in the studio section – it was really rocking at times! Also welcome to all those who are now following this website, and hopefully your enquiry about membership has already been dealt with.

Here’s a selection of memories from August, which is followed by the usual monthly update.

… and here comes September

It does not often happen, but we start with a free week! Grab your art kit and get out between showers for a quick sketch – the theme for the month is action/sport.

The first event of the month is on Wednesday 10th, the Drop-In Session at the Community Large Hall on Hursley Road (members only)- Details

On Saturday 13th, Jill Iliffe will be doing a workshop, for which we have some places remaining. Contact Bev if you would like to join in (this may be available to non-members who have already contacted us about membership) The workshop is called ‘Kingfisher in Oils/Acrylics’ and it will be at the Dovetail Centre Hall. Details

Our Sketching Group will be out and about on Monday 16th. Hope for good weather, or at least a nice place with shelter!

Sunday 21st see our monthly Life Drawing resume in the Dovetail Centre.  We have been using the hall, but I think it may be moving to Meeting Room 3 (where we had the HOS studio) where the heating is alleged to be more reliable. The life drawing booking sheet went out in early summer, so if you missed it, you’ll have to join a waiting list. Watch out for the new year’s sign up list, which will be out soon. Details

Finally, we finish the month with our last Live Demo of the year, on Wednesday 24th, when Rebecca Hurst will be demonstrating Something Large (all will be revealed!) in the Methodist church, where there is a lovely video feed set-up so you can see the details wherever you sit. (visitors welcome, for a small charge) Details

HOSts of visitors on Sunday!

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We had a really good footfall of visitors to our Hampshire Open Studio set-up on Sunday. Meeting Room 3 at the Dovetail Centre was a hive of activity. Most also visited the Exhibition, but their active engagement with our artists in the studio made for quite a stir!

Well done and thank you to Alex Phillips for organising it, and to everyone who is taking part over the ten-day event. (ends Bank Holiday Monday.)

Note: If you haven’t viewed the Postcards at the Dovetail Centre yet, they will shortly be moving to the lIbrary, in the Fryern Arcade.

Just three events in August

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There may be just three events in August, but they account for twenty-one activity days!

August 13th sees the Drop-in session at its usual venue at the Community Hall on Hursley Road. This is for members only, and continues to offer free refreshments! It’s a chance to work on your projects away from the turmoil of home.

Summer Exhibition

On Friday evening, 15th August, we have the hand-in of artworks for our Summer Exhibition. As the entries have already closed, and we’re only open for a short window, Roy is amenable to requests for inclusion from those who missed it. But only for the next few days, so act fast. Helpers for setting up the exhibition should also contact Roy if you haven’t already done so.

The Summer Exhibition opens at 10 am on Saturday morning, and runs until BH Monday, 25th August. Please tell your friends, get as much publicity as you can, and bring people along to take a look. The Dovetail Cafe will be open in the mornings Tuesday-Saturday.

Hampshire Open Studios

Once you’ve viewed the exhibition, go to the rear of the complex, where our Open Studio will be in full swing for the duration of the exhibition (16 to 25 August). This is part of the Hampshire Open Studio tour 2025, and leaflets are available to give to friends, visitors, and anyone interested. In addition, the local artists have produced a guide to the Chandlers Ford area studios.

The projects our artists will be working on are diverse, and many artists will be there for only one day, at most two. Practice varies from oils and acrylics, and watercolour landscapes, through printmaking, needlework art, and collage to book illustration.

Many artworks will be for sale in both rooms through the ten days.

Where did June go? Notes for July…

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June whizzed past me, fortunately mostly full of good weather, gardening and family activities. So what’s in store for July, art-wise?

Goldfinch/ Church
Goldfinch (c) Chris Church

Saturday 5th sees a Coloured Pencil Workshop with Chris Church. Intriguingly, those on the participants list have also been encouraged to include certain watercolour brushes in their kit. There is more to pencil work than pencils, obviously.– Details

On Wednesday 9th we have our monthly Drop-In Session at the Community Large Hall on Hursley Road. A chance to finish off the pencil drawings, or perhaps try out the acrylic techniques (I want to try sgraffito), or splash some colour about, as inspired by Jamel Akib. – Details

If you forgot to send back the application for life drawing sessions for the rest of the calendar year, it’s too late. Although, things happen, and Peter Maule tends to keep a reserve list for when spare places arise. Sunday 20th is our next Life Drawing session (at the Dovetail Centre Hall 2-4pm). Details

Monday 21st will see our Sketching Group out and about again. It seems to have morphed from Open Air or Outdoor sketching group to En Plein Air (which is just the French phrase), but still. And don’t forget there are monthly themes and weekly prompts for you if you prefer to sketch at other times and places, and would like a stimulus.

Our Live Demo at the Methodist church this month is on the 23rd, with Julie King demonstrating ‘Flowing Flowers in Watercolour’ – Details

And watch out for news of how to get a space for our Hampshire Open Studio at the Dovetail Centre, dates 16-25 August.

NEW – AND IMPORTANT

On Tuesday 29th will belatedly host our AGM complete with reports of last years activities and finances. Most importantly, we will launch our Postcard garden for this year and have a bit of a social event. At the Dovetail Cafe, starting promptly at 7.30pm.

On with the HOS

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Our Summer Exhibition is over, our studio for Hampshire Open Studios is up and running, and open daily at Meeting Room 3 in the Chandlers Ford Methodist hall complex, on Winchester Road.

Here you have a chance to meet artists at work, talk about their methods, generally enjoy yourself, as Blake demonstrates below.

The cafe is open in the mornings until Sunday, too.

The artists taking part change during the week, some do one day, others do several. If you’ve ever wondered about book illustration, I’ll be there Thursday and Friday.

Susie James was there last weekend. I love Suzie’s work.

If you have a HOS24 brochure, do check out the entries for members who are opening their own studios to the public until Monday.

Will June change its Tune?

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At time of writing, June is… changeable. Some forecast a heatwave, others forecast the new Flood. What’s for sure is that it is possible to be outside, making art, well into the evening – past 9 o’clock even! You could also get up for a 4.30 am start, but that’s entirely up to you.

Members have recently had details of arrangements for the Summer exhibition at the Hillier Gardens. Please volunteer! The submission form will be circulated shortly. Details of Hampshire Open Studios will also be circulated soon. We have the draft programme from the organisers for proof reading (and found some errors!)

What’s on in June

Saturday 8th June at the Church Hall: Wendy Jelbert presents a workshop on Wild Flower Meadow in watercolour.  Details

Wednesday 12th June: Drop-In Session at the Community Large Hall on Hursley Road. An opportunity to turn your sketches into something more substantial, perhaps? Details

Sunday 16th June – Life Drawing session at the Church Hall 2-4pm Details

Monday 17th June – Sketching Group (details in email)

Tuesday 25th June – Art Group AGM and social event (including a general, gentle and fun quiz!)

Wednesday 26th June – Live Demo of a Street/Cafe scene in pastels and/or acrylics at the Methodist Church with Joel Wareing – Details

Summer Exhibition Round-up

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So, the summer show is over for another year. Obviously, the Church Hall does not get as much passing foot traffic as the Hillier Gardens, but it is a great venue, and the Cafe is an added attraction. It has also made a huge difference that we now can store our own exhibition stands in the room adjacent. Thank you to everyone who got involved in making these, from a single nail hammered in to a finishing coat of our special grey paint.

Thank you also to Roy and Gill not only for all the amazing work they do for the group, but also for the daily sales update. Members can access the spreadsheet to see who sold what and when, but here’s a brief taste.

The exhibition in figures

We achieved sales on every day of the exhibition. Tuesday 22nd was the lowest (and was it the wettest?) with just cards sold – about 15 in all.  It’s odd, really as Monday 21st was our most successful day – we took over £700 that day, of which over £500 was for displayed artwork (which includes framed, canvases and sculptures). Browser sales also went reasonably well, with over £100 taken on the first Monday and the last Sunday.

Ruth Ann Lewis and Richard Waite each sold two artworks. Jenny Morgan, Trish Brant, Wendy Sleeman, Jocelyn Halfpenny, Patricia Dorling, Peter Maule, Tony Eaton, Chris Benning, Jane Nash, and Joan Willingham were the other successful artists.

Ruth Ann Lewis – Hanging Around; sold on the Saturday

In all we sold 254 cards. The most successful card art came from Nicola Williamson (29), closely followed by Ruth Ann Lewis (28). Totals in the teens came from (in no particular order) Angela Sweet, Colleen Cockroft, Elizabeth Saunders, Gill Brophy, Jenny Morgan, Lynette Vickery, Pradeepa David, Sue Bowery, Susie James and Veronica Bliss.

The browser sales came to fourteen in all, and several members sold more than one, including Angela Chambers, Ruth Ann Lewis, Trish Brant and Nicola Williamson. Jane Nash’s Dunstan Burgh was the last artwork sale of the show.

We didn’t keep track of the number of visitors, but there was a steady trickle most of the time, i.e. there was usually one visitor present! Roy would be interested in any of your ideas for increasing our footfall.

HOS23

The Open Studio in MR3 for HOS 23, organised by Alex Phillips, was a very enjoyable place to be. It was usually buzzing with activity, creativity, coffee, tea and biscuits. Artists reported several delightful discussions with visitors, and many sold pieces they’d been working on at the event. Lynette Vickery sold some of her jewellery, too. This operated separately from the Summer Exhibition, so we don’t have detailed sales figures.

A notable first came for Hisham Edakandathil, who joined us on Monday, took part in the HOS workshop on Wednesday, and sold a picture! May it be the first of many, Hisham.

Here’s a short (14 seconds) clip (on Youtube) of the HOS activity.

The show and HOS are both time consuming to prepare, and can’t take place without the many many helpers. However small you might feel your contribution is, it is invaluable. Thank you so much.

Watch for details of the Autumn Exhibition, scheduled for 11/12th November.

One week to the Summer Exhibition and HOS23

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Just one week to go until we hand in our exhibits for the exhibition on Friday night and Saturday morning, 19th August.

The committee and many helpers have been working flat out to make the new hanging stands, and get everything ready, including labels for every submission, every artist, and more.

Forty-eight artists are represented, with 164 artworks, not including browsers and cards. Most are for sale.

The exhibition opens on Saturday 19th, at 10 am, in the Church Hall at the Dovetail Centre. It runs through to Monday 28th, 10 till 4 daily.

You can’t miss the banners already outside the Methodist Church, so tell your friends, and everybody else you know, bring them along, have tea of coffee one morning in the Dovetail cafe…

Hampshire Open Studios HOS23

And while you’re visiting, don’t forget to visit our Studio set-up for Hampshire Open Studios this year. Artists will be working on their projects, as well as showing examples of their work.

Artists change from day to day so come back for a second visit and see some different approaches!

This will be in Meeting Room 3 (MR3), which is between the Church Hall and the car park at the rear. Times and dates as for the exhibition.