ART CLUB MEETINGS 2022
There are currently 3 groups which will merge into 2 new groups from September 2022, when the Art Club year begins. More information will soon follow and current members will be offered their preferred group at re-enrolment. The dates will remain but timings will change for the second group.
Each group is now a general painting/drawing group, covering all media. Group 3 is a smaller group, which is less structured and allows our more experienced artists to work on their own projects if they choose to, although there is an optional 'theme' set for those who feel they need inspiration!
Maggie sets the themes for each group and demonstrates as and when relevant.
The schedule and times for each group (until August 2022) is set out below. Meetings are on Thursdays and they take place at Lord Pirbright's Hall, on Pirbright Green (all meetings are in the Main Hall). The hall is spacious and members normally have a large table to themselves where possible. We continue to adhere to advised Covid safety guidelines.
Group 1 meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month. The members of this group often work on their own individual projects but optional 'themes' and a suggested medium are set by Maggie each month, for those who wish to follow them. Maggie will demonstrate some techniques, show examples and will often provide reference. Times 1.15pm - 3.45pm. Intermediate and above.
Group 2 meets on the 4th Thursday of each month. Originally a drawing-only group, it now covers a wide variety of subjects in various drawing and painting media. Members of all levels of experience are welcome on this group, including beginners. Specific 'themes' and media are suggested each month and techniques are demonstrated by Maggie. Times are 1pm - 3.30pm
Group 3 also meets on the 4th Thursday of each month - from 4pm to 6.15pm. The 'themes' are often more concept-based for this group and many of the artists prefer to continue with their own projects, with individual guidance and advice from Maggie. Not suitable for beginners. Several members of this group exhibit widely with other local groups as well as Pirbright. This is our smallest group with a maximum of 18 people.
Tables are set up in small groups of 4 - 6 and members are seated at individual tables where possible. To avoid crowding, tea and coffee is now served in the large hall rather than in the kitchen.
CLUB MEETINGS - SPRING 2022
Group 1 - Third Thursday, 1:15-3:45pm
February 17th
Winter trees – a charcoal study – drawn onto watercolour wash of a sunset sky (optional) prepared in advance. Large scale drawing from photo reference. Bring your own photos and various charcoal sticks.
Maggie will demonstrate and bring examples
March 17th
Bottles and Glass – still-life objects in pencil, charcoal or paint – draw on cartridge paper or watercolour paper. Maggie will provide some still-life objects for your use but bring your own if you prefer.
Maggie will show some tips on drawing techniques
April 21st
Drawing Faces – facial features at different scales – how to draw features using shading, without over-detailing. Bring pencils (eg. HB 3B 6B) and a sketch pad or cartridge paper.
I will show some techniques for simplifying features on small scale faces and give you tips on proportion. Bring various photos of faces at different scales. Maggie will have some reference available too.
May 19th
Painting Small Figures in Watercolour - bring "not" surface watercolour paper, HB pencil and putty rubber, as well as your usual watercolour materials*
* Please contact Maggie for equipment list if you require one.
Work on your own projects if you prefer
Group 2 - Fourth Thursday, 1:00-3:30pm
February 24th
Bottles and Glass – still-life objects in pencil, charcoal or paint – on cartridge paper or watercolour paper. Maggie will set up some still-life objects for your use but bring your own if you prefer.
Maggie will demonstrate/give tips on drawing techniques e.g. elipses
March 24th
Animal Portraits - using pastel pencils on pastel surface (Colorfix pastel paper will be available for sale if you would like to try it). Maggie will provide some reference photos or you may bring your own.
Maggie will show examples drawn on *Colorfix paper
April 21st
Note that Group 2's original meeting on April 28th has been cancelled - Group 2 are now invited to join Group 1 on April 21st at any time between 1:15pm and 6pm. If you wish to join in with the theme, then please join early, as Maggie will be demonstrating shortly after 1:15pm.
Drawing Faces – facial features at different scales – how to draw features using shading, without over-detailing. Bring pencils (eg. HB 3B 6B) and a sketch pad or cartridge paper.
I will show some techniques for simplifying features on small scale faces and give you tips on proportion. Bring various photos of faces at different scales. Maggie will have some reference available too.
May 26th
Painting Small Figures in Watercolour - bring "not" surface watercolour paper, HB pencil and putty rubber, as well as your usual watercolour materials*
* Please contact Maggie for equipment list if you require one.
Work on your own projects if you prefer
Group 3 - Fourth Thursday, 4:00-6:15pm
February 24th
Finding Contrast - an underpainting in monochrome – any medium. Whether landscape or still-life – it is important to establish the light and dark areas and to discover where the contrast lies! Make a black and white photocopy of your photograph to see this more clearly. Or use the edit function on your phone to view your photos in monochrome.
Maggie will show examples and bring books which have specific emphasis on paintings with strongly contrasted light and dark
March 24th
Quick Composition Studies - show how to make thumbnail sketches for your paintings from still-life, photos or en plein air! An important skill in preparation for painting – it is never wasted time!
Use your own choice of drawing media – pencil, charcoal, pen or other dry media – if you
want to give this a go! Examples (various paintings on a similar theme) will be on show to
give you ideas.
April 21st
Note that Group 3's original meeting on April 28th has been cancelled - Group 3 are now invited to join Group 1 on April 21st at any time between 1:15pm and 6pm. If you wish to join in with the theme, then please join early, as Maggie will be demonstrating shortly after 1:15pm. As Group 3 is normally a later group, joining in the latter part of the session is suggested in order to keep numbers manageable.
Drawing Faces – facial features at different scales – how to draw features using shading, without over-detailing. Bring pencils (eg. HB 3B 6B) and a sketch pad or cartridge paper.
I will show some techniques for simplifying features on small scale faces and give you tips on proportion. Bring various photos of faces at different scales. Maggie will have some reference available too.
May 26th
Adding Animals to a Painting – choice of medium …using an existing landscape or combining references to create a ‘scene’. Perhaps to add ‘life’ to a favourite view that you have photographed or a focal point….
Work on your own projects if you prefer
Maggie Read is always on hand to help members with their work on an individual (and socially distanced) basis. Maggie is a qualified art tutor, teaching all aspects of drawing and painting in many different media. For further information about Maggie Read, visit her website www.maggieread.co.uk
There is an optional theme and suggested medium each month for anyone who needs inspiration! Members are encouraged to bring their own reference photos or source material to work from and use their own style and imagination to create original work...
We believe that art should express our own ideas and copying other artists' work is strictly forbidden, especially when it comes to exhibiting and selling art. Copyright rules are respected.
Our members work in a wide range of media, including drawing materials; watercolour; pen & wash; acrylics; pastels and oils.
(Please note, oil painters should only use water-mixable or low-odour oils.)
Normally, the condition for exhibiting at the Annual Exhibition in December is that current members must have attended at least 4 sessions in the previous art club year. New members, joining in September, must attend at least 2 of the 3 Autumn meetings to qualify for entry in the Annual Exhibition in December.
Tutored painting meetings: most members purchase a Voucher Card for 5 x sessions at a slight discount from the monthly fee of £10 (cards are £45). These cards are stamped each time a member attends a group meeting. Voucher-cards can be purchased at meetings.
LOCKDOWN 2020
Polperro Harbour
Staged demonstration
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by Maggie Read
May 2020
The November theme for one group was "A Frosty Garden Scene in White Pastel Pencil on Black Paper". Maggie produced a series of demonstration photos and a slide-show, based upon her own painting for members to view on YouTube, as we entered another period of lockdown. Some of the staged photos are shown below.
2020's April theme was "An Interior Scene in Half-light" in watercolour. Maggie produced a series of demonstration photos from her own painting on this theme, see below.
The pictures should be viewed in conjunction with these documents, which can be viewed in either doc or pdf format.
