Ali Lindley hosted an excellent Cityscape workshop for the Art Group on 1st April, and a good time was had by all.
Ali provided an excellent semi-abstract watercolour workshop, guiding the participants through a series of exercises to develop the technique of introducing aerial perspective in a painting.
These included pencil sketches, simple loose watercolour brush work and the use of tones and colour to layer up the artwork.
The two hours after lunch set the challenge to the group to put brush to paper and produce the final work. It all sounded easy enough and Ali’s demonstrations throughout the day made it look simple; however simple it was not!
Having the courage to loosen up and ignore the urge to tighten up and define shape and outline demanded concentration and many of the group went home mentally exhausted!
Everyone had a great day, many having departed from their normal work and coming away wiser and more liberated as a result.
The February Workshop was presented by Kirstin White, a successful local artist who specialises in on-the-spot painting at Weddings and Fetes in addition to teaching watercolour painting.
The workshop was full with 16 members who were guided through a series of watercolour techniques.
Starting with the three primary colours the participants learned how to produce colour tones and placement of shapes.
Using a photo of two traction engines as the basis of the workshop the participants experimented with techniques including the use of salt and shaped objects to alter the paint surface; masking fluid, masked areas and candle wax to assist in maintaining colours whist layering the pigments and the use of collage to enhance the shapes within the painting.
A selection of the finished paintings, plus works-in-progress!
Kirstin has also put information about this on her Instagram site, and sent us a 2 min video which is on YouTube, and a 46 second one here:
There is a place available on the Kirstin White workshop:
CREATIVE TECHNIQUES WITH WATERCOLOUR
This takes place Saturday 11 February 2023 from 9.30am-3.30pm at the Church Hall next to the Dovetail Centre.
We are now opening this to non-members, so if you are interested, and would like to try our Art Group out in a practical sense, please contact the treasurer, Roy Brophy.
More details of the workshop, and about Kirstin White, are here.
Well, two for the price of one! Fifty people were entertained as Peter painted, from scratch, two very different pictures – in parallel! – during his demonstration on Wednesday evening.
One, a townscape of a shopfront in Bath. Here is the reference he used…
The other, a loose pen/ink/watercolour of an autumn/winter landscape.
Townscape
Peter started with the townscape using a straight edge to set some perspective guidelines and then sketched in the form of the buildings using a 4B pencil.
A wash for the sky was then followed by some details of the buildings in pen. Throughout the demo, Peter explained the different types of pens and materials. (Click here for a link to a list of some of the materials he was using).
Peter using a ruling pen to apply masking fluid
All change
At this point Peter switched to the second painting.
This was started with some very rough pencil sketching – it was difficult to imagine what was coming – it was all in Peter’s imagination. A wash for the sky followed by some very loose brushwork “daubings” for the ground areas.
A little penwork to the foreground to indicate some grasses then all change again – back to the Townscape for some more detail, and then back to the landscape for some more dramatic work to the foreground.
Where on earth is this going?!
The evening progressed, back and forth between the two paintings, with plenty of information from Peter on his techniques and thinking. By the break the images were….
Second Half
The pace quickened in the second half as more and more detail was added to both pictures.
The techniques described and demonstrated by Peter were of value to any artist. Particularly fascinating was watching the leafless trees develop – and then – hey presto! a few splatterings from a brush and just a few remaining winter leaves. The result was very natural looking.
The results …
Still some work to do, but a very interesting two hours.
Technically Difficult
This was a difficult demonstration for our audio/visual technician Richard, as Peter worked one moment on an upright easel, and then the next – flat on a table. Richard’s camera work was brilliant and everyone had an excellent view of the artworks as they came to life. Thank you Richard!
We can often judge how well the demonstration is working for the audience by how many depart at the break. On Wednesday everyone remained, and the audience were almost silent throughout, and (except for a few pertinent questions) – completely enthralled.
A brilliant demo with lots of inspiration, techniques & information, with time to chat to friends and like minded people, in comfortable surroundings, coupled with super AV equipment with everyone able to see the work in progress very clearly. Thank you Peter and all concerned with making it happen – an excellent evening.
As usual, the workshop for November was fully booked months in advance. Phil Biggs held a ‘capturing atmosphere in watercolour’ day at the Church Hall, and members fully appreciated his time and coaching. Bev Dunstan takes over the story…
In the morning Phil provided a four step watercolour workshop to give everyone a chance to develop their painting based on his lead.
Beginning with a pencil sketch the participants kept a limited palette of blues, yellows and light red to maintain the harmony of colours.
By contrast, the afternoon session was very much more free-style; no sketch but straight into the work after a quick introduction by Phil.
Everyone had a great time producing two paintings by the end of the day.
The feedback from Ali Lindley’s workshop last Saturday (15th Oct) was all good, as usual.
photos and comments by Bev Dunstan
Ali presented a great workshop demonstrating watercolour techniques with autumnal colours. This enabled the participants to produce their individual interpretation of the theme based on hedgerow berries, teasles and hogweed.
Next Saturday 10th September, artist Ron Moody will be taking a workshop for Chandlers Ford Art Group Members. The subject is pen and watercolour painting, which has proved a very popular topic.
Ron Moody (from his website)
This event has been sold out for some time, with a waiting list as well. If you are interested and you are not a member, why not join the group and get early access to the booking system for the new year?
