Tag: postcards

An inspiring AGM

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After a few delays (it was due in April) the Group finally got its AGM business done, with chairman’s and treasurer’s reports presented, accounts accepted, and officers and committee elected. It is fair to say that the Group’ affairs are in good order, but like many voluntary organisations, finds committee members in short supply. The workaround has been to find small jobs that need doing, but that can be carried out by one or two people on a regular basis.

Secretary Bev opens proceedings, with Roy standing by with his report.

To all who help run the Group, we offer our thanks and encouragement.

Discussion afterwards was wide ranging, and plenty ideas for events in greater variety came forward. Repeats of some we enjoyed in the past are no longer repeatable, but some, like the arty cream tea, could be rejuvenated in a different fashion. Group trips to places and venues of interest might be investigated. An opportunity for an organiser who does not want permanent commitment, perhaps?

As well as the business side of the evening, we had refreshments, a view of the sketching group’s work, and the unveiling of our ‘floral’ postcards. The quality of these is superb! They will be on display at the Dovetail Centre for the rest of the summer, including at our exhibition (16-25 August) and our Hampshire Open Studio alongside.

Thank you to all who volunteer, in whatever capacity, and thank you for attending, and for your ideas.

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.

February brings Roses

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Well, I hope it brings roses for you. What the Group brings this month is lots of lovely activities.

Active Art

ron moody

On Saturday 8th February, Ron Moody will be taking a workshop at the Methodist Church Hall, with a pen/ink outline drawing to be followed by watercolour wash techniques.  Details

Wednesday 12th is our regular Drop-In Session at the Community Large Hall. If, like me, you got some new drawing materials, you may be tempted to get yourself away from the distractions of home, and start using them! Details

Sunday 16th sees another Life Drawing afternoon at the Church Hall 2-4pm. If you saw Paul Berryman’s zoom demonstration last month, you can brush up those same techniques using a live model, rather than working from a photo. Details

And on Monday 17th, our intrepid Sketching Group will be visiting Romsey. If It’s a nice day I might join them as there are some wonderful nooks and crannies in Romsey!

From the comfort of home

Wednesday 26th is this month’s Zoom Demo. Kaili Fu will be discussing and demonstrating Chinese brush art, which is bound to be interesting.  Details

Everyday Sketching Challenge

Lisa has set up a February sketching challenge. She will be emailing participants a prompt for a 5 minute sketch each day in February and people can share their outputs in a private group. Check the January newsletters for more details and the link to the sign up page.

Don’t forget your Postcards

Your postcard theme this year is ‘Flora’. Any medium, any interpretation, on a postcard sized piece of card. Must be with Roy in time for the AGM in May… but try not to leave it till the last minute!

Early Warning – Spring Exhibition

This year’s Spring Exhibition is at Hillier Gardens, from 24 April to 6th May 2025. The ‘higher’ standards apply to framing for exhibitions at Hilliers, so spruce up or stand by with your work and make sure you’re meeting the submissions requirements, which will be circulated shortly.

AGM tomorrow!

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Just a reminder that our Annual General Meeting takes place tomorrow (Tuesday 25th) at 7.30 prompt, at the Dovetail Cafe, part of the Methodist Church complex. It is open to members only.

This has a small amount of business, like approving the accounts, which have been circulated along with the rest of the official papers (including the Chairman’s report). We also say farewell, but only in responsibility terms, to our fabulous membership secretary, Gill Brophy, who has kept going through very difficult times recently. Her words about changing from a completely paper based system, which it was in 2011, to a wholly online – and in the cloud – basis were very interesting. That took me back!

The AGM will formally appoint her successor, Brenda Molyneau. Thank you for volunteering, and best wishes, Brenda!

We will be socialising afterwards with a fun quiz, and our display of postcard animals. You can bring yours along to add to the collection if you’re a real last-minuter!

Postcard Portraits are up at the Dovetail Centre!

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by Roy Brophy

The self-portrait postcards are now up in the Methodist Church Linkway – near the Dovetail Café entrance. We had just enough to fill the two boards perfectly – amazing!

What a mixed bag! We have some from artists who find portraiture easy, but it’s not simple to make a portrait – and some have been very inventive. We now know that Peter not only struggles with noses, but also with apples – or is it a plum, or a pepper or avocado? – who nose?!

I have to be honest about my offering – I cheated. Of course, I would claim that I just used the tools that were available to me at the time – isn’t that what Caravaggio did in the 16th century, and plenty of others since?!

Full marks to everyone who entered – thank you very much. It takes some courage to put your work out there! But you had a go, joined in and put forward your portrait. It’s actually not about the individual pieces, it’s the whole, and you are part of it – well done! As we were leaving this morning there were a group of people around the boards in animated conversation, pointing, laughing and thoroughly enjoying the work. It made all the effort worthwhile!

Do pop along to see the two boards of self portraits, and have coffee/tea in the Dovetail Café at the same time – best (and cheapest) place in Chandlers Ford – the teacakes and crumpets are excellent.

The Dovetail Café is open to all in the mornings – Monday to Friday 9:30am to 12 noon. Saturday 10am to 12 noon. Closed on Sunday – for the congregation to use.

The display will be there for two weeks. Let us know what you think.