HELEN TALBOT'S DEMONSTRATION IN SEPTEMBER

Helen Talbot's demonstration in September was informative and inspiring using different mediums to create moonlight. Helen had also brought many examples of her work.

 Helen said that it is important to control the tonal values in any medium. 

Using a dark paper enabled her to create a moonlit scene using white pastel pencil. Controlling the strength of the strokes and the spacing of the cross-hatching is important.

Watercolour on white paper required a different technique. 

The strengths of the washes had to be controlled and the white paper used for the lightest area - the  moon.

Helen also demonstrated how to use conte crayons with a sharpened rubber to lift out the light areas.

Another watercolour of a deer on white paper began with pencil lines. 

Transparent washes of colour were applied in layers. 

A dark wash created very subtle contrasts with the moon a pale glimmer of white.

Helen convinced us that creating a moonlit scene can be done simply with the minimum of equipment using her methods.

A VIEW FROM A WINDOW USING PRIMARY COLOURS

 Betty Rackham's VIEW FROM A WINDOW workshop focused on the use of primary colours.

We could use any medium but Betty suggested that we use a bright red, bright blue and bright yellow all with the same opacity.

The topic was inspired by the 'Fauves' ('Wild Beasts') French artists who expressed emotion through the use of primary colours and often used the looking through a window device in their paintings.

  

Everyone taking part rose to Betty's unusual challenge!

SKETCHING AT SADDLERS MILL ROMSEY

 A real treat for ten Totton Art Society Adventurous Artists this afternoon at Romsey by the river Test leading to Saddlers Mill.

 

Di did a sketch from one of Helen's photos while she is recuperating at home.

Sunshine, water, old buildings and just a tinge of autumn in the surrounding trees and foliage - what more could an artist need?

After we shared our work and had refreshments at 'The Cromwell Arms' - a delightful end to yet another wonderful sketching afternoon organised by Helen.

ART AFTERNOON WORKSHOP IN SEPTEMBER

 There were six T.A.S. members at our afternoon workshop at Calmore Community Centre in September.

Those two hours relaxing and painting or drawing with fellow artists are always a welcome break from the pressures of everyday life.

INTRODUCTION TO BOTANICAL PAINTING BY BETTY RACKHAM

 Betty's introduction to botanical painting at our August meeting was packed with information on its history, materials and techniques.

The paper has to be smooth and extra white. The paints have to be archival quality so that they do not fade and the lighting must be even.

She gave us a simple tip for reproducing the exact colour on an object.

Paint your chosen colour onto a spare piece of paper. Then punch a hole in the coloured section with a hole punch. When you hold the paper against the flower/object you will be able to see whether or not it is a match.

Watercolour paint is applied in thin layers with a small brush, taking care to erase pencil marks with a small rubber and keep the paper clean.

Betty showed us how she first drew the hibiscus flower on a piece of tracing paper then transferred the drawing on the paper.

Starting with a very thin line around the edges, she painted petals of the flower (held in a block of oasis) very carefully.

Thin washes of watercolour were perfect to describe the delicate petals.

Masking fluid is used to reserve the paler sections or white areas. Betty would then remove the masking fluid and apply the lighter wash.

The thin stamens were loosely brushed on allowing very fluid paint to meander across the paper.

We could appreciate how much time and skill goes into botanical art.

Many thanks to Betty for sharing her techniques.

She is currently a member of the New Forest Botanical Painting Archive group of botanical artists. Some of their paintings of New Forest plants have been showing in local galleries during 2024. Their botanical paintings are destined to be retained in the permanent archive of the New Forest Heritage Centre in Lyndhurst.