Sketching at the Trusty Servant

Adventurous Artists visit to The Trusty Servant

Minstead is a picturesque village and the Trusty Servant Inn is popular with visitors. Nine of us had a beautiful bright May morning sketching there on Friday. The churchyard was a popular sketching venue although Hilary and Peter did some sketches at the Trusty Servant, where we later had our refreshments.  

Not all photos are featured here because Di had her camera on the wrong setting. however there are enough to show the variety of sketching styles. Members bring their own materials and select their own positions. The aim is to relax and enjoy the experience rather than worry about accomplishing a finished piece of work.

Di

 

Following are some sketches and artists at work 

 

 

MAY DATES

ADVENTUROUS ARTISTS MEET ON THE   10TH   AT 10AM   AT THE TRUSTY SERVANT   AT MINSTEAD.

ART NOUVEAU WORKSHOP is on the 18TH IN THE PALM ROOM 10AM TO 4PM.

ART EXTRA IS ON THE 21ST IN THE LILAC ROOM AT 1-30 T0 3-30pm

Next Demonstration evening is on the 22nd when LOUISE LUTON will show us how to add expressive colour to naturalist paintings

WATERCOLOUR LANDSCAPES WITH PETER FINCH

PETER FINCH - WATERCOLOUR LANDSCAPE

 

Peter worked for many years as a draughtsman drawing maps for the military but is now a fulltime artist.

During the evening he showed us how he painted two landscapes - one a country landscape in Norfolk with a church in the distance and the other a bridge near Warminster. 

The paper used for the church scene was Arches 300gms Rough. Firstly he painted the sky in Ultramarine using a one inch household brush and adding water to decrease the density of colour nearer the base. The picture was inverted, allowed to dry and the church dabbed out. A mixture of Alizarin Crimson and Ultramarine was used to paint the church and distant landscape in tones of grey using an Escoda brush or a Jackson 505 which has a good point and plenty of body. By taking off the grey in the appropriate place Peter was able to show the mist lying in the fields.  The near trees were rendered with Raw Umber, Raw Sienna and Burnt Sienna with a touch of Ultramarine with red flicked over to give autumn tints to the foliage. Finally Cadmium yellow and Ultramarine gave the colour for grass which he painted at the base of the picture by rolling a hogs hair brush along. Field boundaries and foliage were painted using a natural sponge and branches were done with a rigger or dip pen. Field posts, cows and shadows added finishing touches.   

For the painting of the bridge Peter used Arches 300gms Cold Pressed paper. He started with a wash of Naples Yellow followed by a second of Ultramarine bringing both down to the base. Highlights were dabbed out with tissue. Neutral tint added to Ultramarine gave a good grey and using the side of the brush trees were added. Tree branches gave structure and foliage added with a natural sponge. Ivy on the main tree was painted by dabbing with a stiff brush and cherry blossom on other trees by using gouache. The bridge and it's reflection were painted with dark colours and lighter colours added using a pen to put in mortar. Foreground rushes were scratched out with finger nails. This was the final stage as scratching out can sometimes destroy the surface.

Peter was the first artist we have had to finish two paintings in one evening! It was a brilliant evening and we gained much from Peter's skill, knowledge and experience.

Art at King John's

The Adventurous Artists had a beautiful morning for sketching at King John's House. Such a sketchable venue - the gardens are beautiful and the tearoom is excellent. We enjoyed the art exhibition in the house as well. 10/10!

ART NOUVEAU WORKSHOP

ART NOUVEAU WORKSHOP SATURDAY 18th MAY

Sign up for our next Saturday workshop with Betty Rackham at the next Demo Evening. Names and fees to Claire. The workshop will run in the Community Centre from 10am to 4pm.

Watercolour Landscape

WEDNESDAY 24TH APRIL

PETER FRENCH will demonstrate how he paints a landscape in watercolours.

AGM ,Demo on Painting surfaces, Bring and Buy

AGM AND PAINTING SURFACE DEMO 

AGM

All current members of the Committee who agreed to continue were re-elected and Henry Needham was elected onto the Committee.

We still need a Publicity Officer and a Treasurer but hopefully we will have these soon!! 

Full details of the meeting will be available in the minutes. 

BRING AND BUY

Claire had organised this so thanks to her and to everyone who brought and bought. 

Demonstration on painting surfaces by Di.

It was obvious that Di had spent many hours investigating and preparing this demonstration.

She explained the advantages and disadvantages of different surfaces and their preparation for painting. 3mm MDF is rather thin so it is best to use a thicker MDF as is the case with plywood. Plywood  and hardboard bend and are affected by heat and water.  All surfaces have to be primed and it is best in the case of MDF to use a sealer or shellac. As MDF is carcinogenic and contains formaldehyde it is best to cut it wearing goggles and thoroughly seal it on both surfaces and sides.

 

An ordinary paint primer is no use as it doesn't last - it cracks and peels off.

Di then showed us how to make gesso from 2 parts paint : 1 part whiting : 1 part PVA glue : 2 parts water. Texture can be added using eg. egg shells, vegetable netting or pulses or by making it thicker to use it as a texture paint. The first coat of gesso should be thin but the next 2 or 3 thicker.

 

All the boards can be covered with fabric. First cut the board to fit the frame then cut the fabric either to the edge or leaving an edge to be folded over. A disadvantage is that it can wrinkle.

 

Aluminium is another surface which can be used. It is light and indestructable and can be used with many media but not pastels. It must be cut to fit the frame. It is first sanded with a block then wiped over with alcohol to remove dirt and dust before priming with gesso. Pictures can be hung by attaching wooden stripes with superglue then using hooks or self-adhesive hooks can be used.

 

We thank Di for a very interesting and useful demonstration which will prove very useful for future paintings. Full details are available on her website

  http://www.oldenglandfineart.co.uk/preparingrigidsupports.html