And the winner is...

Fish Hoek Art Society held its annual Alma Byng trophy evening - the major event of its artistic year - on Wednesday 28th November.

18 members brought works to display and they were joined by some spouses and friends. It was nice to see some members again – and ex-members –  whom we have not seen for a while. This year a record number of works - eighty! - were submitted for consideration. It is interesting to see which categories were popular.

Landscapes 13

Towns buildings   3

Portraits etc   8

Seascapes   7

Flowers / Still life 20

    Animals etc     13

    Abstract       5

    Mini pix             11

Our judge was Angela van Lienden, ably assisted by two artist friends. Her task was to evaluate and nominate a winner in each category and then share information as to why the winner had been selected. From these winners an overall winner was chosen and awarded the Alma Byng Trophy.

Angela admitted that in some cases the choice was difficult - and judging opinions differed -
but a winner was chosen in each of the nominated categories. Digital and Interiors had no entrants.

Angela, centre, and fellow judges pose behind some of the winning entries.

John Strickland very ably organised the display of entries, and collected the winning works one those winners were revealed.  

Di Breeze, once more, kindly wrote out the winning certificates with her careful and beautiful calligraphy.

And the winner was...  Karin Davel - who also won  the categories of   Landscape, and Still-life.  She takes home the Alma Byng trophy and a cheque.

See her winning works below.

The winner of the category, People or Portraits, was Cynthia Fletcher with her watercolour of a herdsman and his cattle. Cynthia's watercolour of a street scene won the category of Townscapes. Cynthia also won the category Wildlife with her watercolour of flamingos

    

The Category, Abstract and Experimental, was won by Chairlady, Ann Zwets.

Usually popular, the category Seascapes, was won by Val Parry - her oil painting of Fish Hoek beach of a misty morning.

The new category, Mini Pix, was won by Fiona Nichols.

Committee member, three category winner and chief bar-lady, Cynthia poured the juice and wine for everyone after the winners had received their certificates and the party started.

Thanks to all the organisers who made this a fun evening and especially Ann and John who, aided by Cynthia and Maureen, were responsible for the success of the occasion.

We hope to see all you fellow artists again soon, and more often, in 2019.

Please note that the subs for 2019 are due at the beginning of the year and we are pleased to confirm that there is no rise in subscription – it is still only R120 annual membership. 
A BARGAIN!

Meanwhile all the committee at Fish Hoek Art Society wish you, fellow artists, a very Happy Christmas and may 2019 bring health, peace and plenty of artistic inspiration.

USEFUL INFO pre-Christmas

  

Getting ready to offer arty gifts for Christmas and need some supplies, a mount or a frame? 

Here are our local options.

Framers:       

Jacqui’s Framery, Main Rd, FH, tel: 021 782 7324

John Steer, Silverglades, FH, tel: 0832631798

Frame 4 U, Marlene, tel: 082749652

Art@Tokai, André Loubser, 51 Forest Glade, Tokai Rd, Tokai, cell: 082 623 5632, www.capeframing.com 

Art Supplies: 

The Write Shoppe, Long Beach Mall, tel: 021 785 7614

The Deckle Edge, www.deckleedge.co.za, (note: Constantia branch closed down)

13 Brickfield Road, Salt River, tel: 021 180 4442

The Italian Artshop: www.italianartshop.co.za  tel: 021 685 1877

Riverside Mall, Rondebosch

Artsauce, 62 Roeland St, Gardens, www.artsauce.co.za tel: 021 461 0885

Printing: 

Art Assist, specialized printing, artassist@cybersmart.co.za,

tel: 082 257 4896

Lam it All, repro printing cards etc lamitall@vodamail.co.za.

Recreation Rd, FH, tel: 021 782 7397

Websites to see art works:

FACEBOOK PAGES

For pastel work: pastel artists UK 

Watercolours: watercolor collection (US artists)

watercolours UK,  also https://www.royalwatercoloursociety.co.uk

general art: artists and illustrators magazine

coloured pencil: UK coloured pencil society also www.ukcps.org.uk

South African Society of Artists: SASA, sasa-artists.co.za

Miniature Society of South Africa: miniatureartsocietyofsa.co.za

Royal Society of Miniature Painters: 

royal-miniature-society.org.uk

How did the workshop go?

Fiona gave a thought provoking and interesting workshop on Christmas cards on Tuesday afternoon.

She  began by asking what kinds appealed - traditional, fun or stylised and went on to give ideas and tips about how to create simple and effective cards from old cards, packaging, old magazines, paints and glitter.

The ones she had made to show us inspired everyone to get on with making their own. The group worked on creating a card with stylised trees: in paper, card and cloth, decorated with stars, ribbon and other recycled material. 

Doug came up with a great idea of including a cut-out protea in the centre of his card - reminding us that the inside was also important. He brought a copy of GETAWAY magazine and chopped up photos. Sue brought a glitzy wine presentation envelope. Delia found some gorgeous bright fabric.

Di Breeze, who has immense experience with handicrafts, cards and calligraphy, showed us how to make an envelope quickly and simply. Very effective - and with the added benefit one one being able to size the envelope to the handmade card.




Accompanied  by some relaxing music some very pretty and unusual cards were produced and put up for show.  

  

The afternoon was much enjoyed by everyone and Fiona was thanked for putting so much time and effort into inspiring us to make our own unique Christmas cards.

By the way: ideas that were exchanged among the group are just as valid for making birthday cards, anniversary cards or a special card for a special occasion.

MINI PIX but maxi impact !

They are small, colourful and have an immediate appeal.

Mini pix do not fit into the traditional category for miniatures but are small images that are gaining appeal for their size, portability, versatility and their economy of space and materials. The subject matter can be anything though you'll find some are more appropriate than others.

What could be a more seductive combination?

At Fish Hoek Art Society we are introducing this size of painting, indeed featuring it in our annual Alma Byng competition,  and it can be executed in any medium (oil, watercolour, ink, pencil, acrylics... whatever).

The rules that guide its size are fairly simple.

The painted picture area, before the white surround or coloured mount that we see in the images above must not exceed:

62mm x 87mm - the size of a playing card!

The Miniature Society of South Africa offer the following guidelines that we shall also adhere to:

The subject must be no more than one sixth of life size (A human head would be 38 mm or less). 

The “spirit” of a miniature should be intimate and delicate with fine brush strokes. The colour may be intense and vibrant. The signature should be neat and very small.

For the sake of presentation, all these small paintings should be mounted on some form of backing, stiff card, or within a small frame so that they present well.

The Alma Byng will be held on November 28th, at Nerina Gardens. Entries must be brought to the venue between 5pm and 5:45pm and the judging will take place before the party starts at 7pm.

As you know, no late entries are accepted!!!!

TUESDAY 13th WORKSHOP

Good morning fellow art lovers

Please be reminded that the workshop on making Christmas cards will be held at Nerina Gardens on Tuesday 13^th at 2 pm

·        STICK GLUE

·        NAIL SCISSORS

·        CUTTING BLADE, BOARD AND A RULER – STEEEL IF YOU HAVE ONE

·        SMALLISH PAINT BRUSH (ORDINARY)

·        A4 GUILLOTINE IF YOU HAVE ONE 

·        SET SQUARE IF YOU HAVE ONE

·        WHITE CARD FOR YOUR FIRST CARDS

·        A FEW SHEETS OF THIN A4 SIZE PAPER (TYPING PAPER, TRACING PAPER, SCRAP PAPER (DOESN’T MATTER IF IT HAS BEEN USED ON ONE SIDE)

·        ACRYLIC PAINTS IF YOU HAVE OR POSTER PAINTS – RED, BLUE AND YELLOW.  METAL GLITTER IF YOU CAN PINCH SOME FROM GRANDCHILDREN !

·        OLD CHRISTMAS CARDS

·        APRON or PROTECTIVE SHIRT

·        NEWSPAPER TO WORK ON

This is a fun workshop so please come along and enjoy yourselves.

This could get messy! Christmas card workshop

Christmas Card Workshop Tuesday 13th November.

This could get messy! So be prepared.

Firstly, you need to do a bit of homework. 

We will make cards that fit in the size of envelopes available. No point making a beautiful card then not finding an envelope that it fits!

So go look at the range of envelopes, both coloured and white. See and note the sizes. 

Both CNA and Write Shoppe have options. 

Or look out what you have at home and note the sizes.

You’ll then be able to gauge how much card you need to make the actual cards to fit in your envelopes.

Apart from ideas, suggestions and discussion, we’ll make a design or two at the workshop.

If you will be attending the workshop and plan on starting on some Christmas cards, here are some suggestions of things to save or collect from home in the next two weeks.

COLLECT/SAVE and BRING

Cardboard boxes (cereals, whatever)

Used dishcloth

Plastic bin liner to aid against the mess

Styrofoam plates (cleaned!) from under your supermarket sausages, veggies, or fruit 

Check out and bring any bits of old Christmas ribbon you may have 

Some round lids: spice bottle lids, medicine bottle lids, R2 coins!

Look out any previous years’ cards that you are willing to cut up. Or brightly coloured images from magazines.

BRING

Stick glue

Nail scissors

Cutting blade, cutting board and a ruler, preferably steel if you have on

A plastic set square is also a good idea for accuracy

Do you have an A4 guillotine?!?! This is a GREAT help if you do.

A pinafore or old shirt to protect your clothing!

White card for your first cards
A few sheets of thin paper A4 size (typing paper, tracing paper, scrap paper (doesn't matter if it has been used on one side)

Acrylic paints

BORROW OR BEG  some metal glitter bits from your grandchildren and, if you don’t have acrylic paints, then also from them a red, blue and yellow pot of paint.

White card to make the actual cards

DVD evening

Painting watercolour with big brushes? 5cm-wide brushes?

This was the fascinating approach that we learned from American artist, Sterling Edwards, during a short but entertaining DVD that John S kindly brought to us at the FHAS meeting.

A dozen members and friends attended the meeting and were amazed at the versatility of this artist who doesn't do detail with small brushes. He uses a more sophisticated (ie softer) version of brushes you can buy at Builder's Warehouse or Mica!

It was food for thought!

Look him up on the web. He has his own site: www.sterlingedwards.com.



























































John also brought along some examples of mini-painting that he has been working on. They are more or less conform to the international standard for miniature paintings in size, but are slightly larger - and indeed these were impressive, being both colourful and detailed without being slavish to detail.

He is suggesting we have a mini-painting competition to coincide with the AGM in early 2019.
John demonstrated the range of supports and framing material that could complement these small paintings (around the size of a playing card).


















Again, food for thought!

Thanks Rob for the photos. Not bad for a cellphone under such low lighting!

Paint out - Noordhoek Garden Emporium

Good coffee, a variety of plants, plenty of interesting pots and some sexy sculpture: Fish Hoek Art Society members enjoyed their morning paint out at the Garden Emporium this last week.

We all agree that garden centre venues do provide a great range of themes for sketching - especially as there is a good café just behind the plants - and we don't want to travel too far.

So, whilst some chatted over charcoal and pencils, others - like Frances - got right down to work!

 LOVE THE HAT, MAUREEN!

Thanks for the photos, Rob McAlpine.

Karin Davel's workshop

Twelve members and two guests attended this week's workshop in wonderful spring-like weather.

It was nigh windless!

We were lucky to have Karin Davel - a semi-retired high school art teacher and a very gifted all-round artist - come and show us colour mixing using pairs of colours (see below). From these pairs we noted a wide range of browns and greys, and with water were able to vary their intensity. 

Useful and interesting.

Karin had brought an unusual subject for us to practice on: teddy bears!

Without thinking detail (a bit like painting when you have taken your glasses off!) Karin suggested we painted her big teddy with circles and ovals, and using some of the colour mixes we had previously created. 

Karin is articulate and well versed in so many different aspects of art that it was a privilege to have  her spend time with us.

Thanks Rob McAlpine and Maureen Copley for the photos.