Glorious day and a paint out at Simon's Town

Are we lucky or it is just chance?!?

So many of our recent paint-out reunions have been on sunny days, enforcing the colours and, even better, without too much wind to whisk those watercolours up into the air and beyond.

This month nine FHAS members and friends went along to Simon's Town Yacht Club and were challenged by the very full marina of masts and hulls. Watercolour was the preferred medium, though some good pen and wash paintings were also accomplished.

This venue is especially good very early in the artist's morning or later in the afternoon as it is a challenge looking into the direction of the sun. But that didn't deter us!

Thanks again to Rob McAlpine for recording the event.

Di Breeze presents pen and wash workshop

This month's workshop was chaired by Di Breeze who is a long time doyenne of pen and wash technique and one of the longest-standing members of FHAS. 

    She brought some sketch books to show us and a few mounted works. 



Some 15 people enjoyed the afternoon and although it wasn't in the usual venue  in the complex, we were made very comfortable in the café at Nerina. 

Di emphasised the necessity to ensure a balance between penwork and paint – ensuring that artists do not overdo either. 




Di showed us that she favours a good quality watercolour paper, five different sized dip, fountain or Unipens for a variety of thicknesses of lines.


Starting with a rough, light pencil sketch of the prominent features, she then uses waterproof ink for light loose broken lines taking care not to let any part overpower the picture. 

Members used watercolour, pencil and aquarelles to add the colour emphasis.



   

We have Rob and Maureen to thank for photographing the workshop, and another thank you 
to Maureen for the information.

Are you up to a challenge?

While in the Cape, the weather veers from 'spring is on the way' to 'the winter rains are still here', in Europe it is heading slowly if not directly into autumn. In a month there will be harvest festivals and with the centuries old traditions, produce is harvested with autumn in mind. Of course, no-one wants it to arrive tomorrow with winter on its heels.

I received a photo of home-grown garden produce harvested from a keen gardener who has been around his garden this weekend; he also has hens and amongst them there is an Araucana hen that produces beautiful blue eggs!

Such were the colours and the tasteful arrangement of the produce, I got out my largest watercolour block and am attempting a rendition of this autumnal bounty.

Are you up to the challenge too?

You don't have to do all the items and you don't have to use the same colours. Frances helped you open up a few weeks ago with colour and form.

Have a go on your own. Pencil. Ink. Crayon. Watercolour... acrylic. Go for it!

Send me a photo of your finished work (my email is on the masthead above) and we'll put it on the blog.

Hugh Murdoch Trophy

A great evening with a total of nearly 40 paintings depicting the sea shore - our theme this year.

The event was very well attended by some 25 members and there were so many good works that it was rather difficult to choose between them.  The 'voting' was by those present and of course all names were well hidden! The beach and sea featured, as did some attractive fishermen's cottages at Arniston and graceful sand dunes. There was one unusual entry which was a montage of four, 7x7cm canvases that was of particular interest. 

Ann Zwets was awarded the Hugh Murdoch Trophy for her horses on the beach, and also the third prize of a sunrise over False Bay - all in watercolour - while Dave Parry, with his beautiful sunrise painting in oils, was second.  

After the prize giving (Sue Green did the honours), John Strickland gave a short talk on the merits of the first six works chosen.

Aided by a glass of wine or juice, it proved to be a very pleasant evening and everyone appreciated the ambience and the competitive spirit.

Thank you to all of you who brought paintings and attended the evening, especially our newer members.  Without you there would be no art society.

Once again we have Rob McAlpine to thank for the photos.