TOTTON ART SOCIETY BLOG

The blog contains society news and activities. You are welcome to comment on the pages. Find out more at: tottonartsociety.org and Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/134056857189218/

Saturday, April 5, 2025

ARYLIC POURING WITH 3 ARTISTS

Three T.A.S. members: Sue Canton, Henry Newman and Deb Manclark, each demonstrated acrylic pouring after the annual general meeting in March. 

Deb, who owns Thea Acrylic Art and runs workshops in Marchwood, brought some of her small paintings. 


Work surfaces have to be protected with a plastic sheet or tray. 
She used Pebeo Studio Acrylics High Viscosity paints and showed how to mix two or more colours in a paper cup then pour the paint onto a level canvas. (Canvas boards are unsuitable for this technique.)

 
 Tilting the canvas and sometimes warming the paint with a hairdryer created swirling patterns.

Henry used a large canvas to create a more complicated painting

He did not use a pouring medium, only liquid acrylic paint. 

Tilting the canvas, occasionally warming it with a small blowtorch and knowing which way each pigment behaves created his effects. 

He worked patiently to achieve this final result. 

Sue encouraged several members to try acrylic pouring for themselves.


It is possible to varnish a poured painting when it is dry. We were very grateful to the three artists for bringing all their equipment and showing how it is done.


Sunday, March 16, 2025

AFTERNOON IN MARCH

 


 No time for art? 
Get cracking by coming to our afternoon session once a month. 





With time and patience, your results will be amazing!





Thursday, March 6, 2025

HELEN TALBOT'S FOUR SEASONS WORKSHOP IN FEBRUARY

Our evening workshop with Helen Talbot was full of surprises!

Helen showed us how to develop the theme of the seasons with a concertina sketchbook using thick cartridge paper or thin card and a glue stick.

She suggested collecting photographs natural materials for collage. She keeps hers in labelled envelopes. Natural textures can be used to decorate the pages.

Helen's seasonal art featured flowers and wildlife, with different colour choices appropriate for the season.

Helen explained how washing-up liquid can be used to thin paint. A thin coating on a leaf will enable paint to make better leaf prints.  A little fabric conditioner can also be used for thinning acrylics.

She showed how effectively a few simple pieces of printed text torn from a newspaper or magazine can be glued into paintings to convey a message.

When one sheet is folded into four, it could be displayed by standing it up. Alternatively, sheets glued end-to-end may be folded to create a small concertina book and hung up on a pin-board.

Our members were inspired to try out some of the new techniques.
















Wednesday, February 26, 2025

SKETCHING AT LEPE BEACH

 Lepe was lovely and lively today with half term in full swing.



Eight adventurous artists set about painting the day....


..but a heavy mist rolled in and joined the sea to the sky and hid the Isle of Wight, not ideal.




Nevertheless everyone showed their determination and presented impressive work.



We went to the Lookout beach cafe for refreshments and arty chat and would you believe it? The sun came through and lifted that mist away!!



Friday, February 14, 2025

FEBRUARY ART AFTERNOON

 

Once a month, for a relaxing couple of hours on a Tuesday afternoon, we have the chance to share art tips, different ways of making art and encourage each other.


Our lives are so busy, it is one of the best ways to increase our commitment and motivation, as well as our creativity!  










Wednesday, February 12, 2025

GEORGIA O'KEEFFE WORKSHOP WITH GAIL

 Our February workshop at Calmore Community Centre was enthusiastically presented by Gail, taking inspiration from the work of Georgia O'Keeffe the influential American modernist artist. 

Georgia wrote: “I often painted fragments of things because it seemed to make my statement as well as or better than the whole could.”








Such a range of paintings from the enormous to the minutely observed.  

A huge thank you to Gail for her inspiring guidance. Well done to all who came.  

What fun in such good company!