Tag: summer exhibition

Farewell Exhibition, Hello HOS

Posted on Posted in Exhibitions, Special EventsTagged , ,

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!

Posted on Posted in monthly meetingsTagged , , , ,

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.

Be prepared for hot weather next time!

Posted on Posted in monthly meetingsTagged , , , ,

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)

The Summer’s Over…

Posted on Posted in monthly meetings, UncategorizedTagged , , , , , ,

… 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!

Posted on Posted in Special EventsTagged , ,

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

Posted on Posted in active art, Exhibitions, Special EventsTagged , ,

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.

Summer exhibition in full flow

Posted on Posted in ExhibitionsTagged ,

We are just over halfway through our wonderful Summer Exhibition at the Hillier Gardens. The weather has often been kind, giving us a downpour during the set-up and handing in, and mostly warm and sunny since. Just the occasional heatwave day, which certainly cut down on visitors.

The artwork is stunning, as always. Several artists have sold more than one piece, the 3D works have been much admired. The wonderful warthog would probably get best in show if we did such a thing. Why don’t do that? Something to mull over.

We have also enjoyed the activities of our artists of the day, intriguing visitors as they work, and discussing all matters of their craft.

There’s still plenty of time to visit, we’re open till next Tuesday, when instead of closing at 5pm, we close at 3pm. Then we do the take down. Visit before you miss it, and do take in the gardens and refreshments while you’re here. Full details here.

July definitely flew!

Posted on Posted in Special EventsTagged ,

There may have been storm clouds, but there was also heat, so I hope you got out to make some art.

Summer Exhibition starts 7th August

You should be nearly ready to submit your entries to the Summer Exhibition, next Tuesday, 6th.

Don’t forget to tell all your friends and acquaintances, and people you’ve never met, to come and see the exhibition. If you can, contact Roy or Alex for some flyers, or download them from the link in a recent newsletter.

Adebanji Alade – 14th September

If you haven’t already responded to the workshop application form you have until 11th August, after which places will be allocated by ballot (members only).

If you didn’t respond to the Demonstration expression of interest, you can still come, but tickets are now on sale to the general public (here) and the number available reflects our capacity including the members who have said ‘yes’. For safety, please let Roy know you would like to come. Details here.

Most importantly – please get your friends to buy tickets!

Adebanji Alade – Sat 14th September, 7-9 (coffee etc from 6). Non-member tickets HERE

More August reminders next week.

Will July Fly?

Posted on Posted in monthly meetingsTagged , , , , , ,

If you thought June was busy – watch out for July… which is mainly preparations for August.

Your entry form for the Summer Exhibition at the Hillier Gardens should be in by July 7. The system closes at midnight.

If you are both exhibiting in the Annual Exhibition and doing Hampshire Open Studios, you will be very busy getting everything ready for next month. Make sure you follow the Presentation Guidelines for the Summer Show.

When you have a spare moment, this is what you can do in July:

  • Wednesday 10 July
    • Drop-In Session – Community Large Hall – Details
  • Saturday 13 July
    • Workshop with Stephen Foster: using silicon shapers and palette knives – Church Hall – Details
  • Monday 15 July
    • Sketching group, details tbc
  • Sunday 21 July
    • Life Drawing –  Church Hall 2-4pm Details
  • Wednesday 24 July
    • Live Demo – Heather Jolliffe – Details to follow

What you may have missed last month:

Will June change its Tune?

Posted on Posted in monthly meetingsTagged , , , , , ,

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