Hugh Murdoch - how it went!

The annual Hugh Murdoch competition was the highlight of a chilly August and well attended.
18 people came along, 13 members and five visitors.


Above, Ann Zwets, with librarian and finance lady, Sue Green, keeping records up to scratch.

Most artists favoured work in watercolour and the quality was of a high standard.

Acting chairlady, Ann Zwets, was on good form to hand out the prizes.

The overall winner was David Parry with his wonderful painting of a wall, door and window in blue.




That shadow on the left makes the painting!

Cynthia Fletcher was not present to pick up her second place with the beautiful watercolour of a (correct me if I am wrong...) medieval crumbling arch and door.

The third prize went to John, see below, for his very rustic doorway in a stone wall.

Committee member Maureen took care of the raffle (which Val Parry won) and organising the tea - thanks to all, and to Rob McAlpine for getting some photos to record the evening.

Here, below are the major events for the rest of the year.

Hugh Murdoch Trophy Competition

This year the theme is doors and doorways. Open for plenty of scope.
The date to diarise is 23rd August, evening.
You've got another 11 days to either sort out one of your pix or to get going on a new work.
Think colour. Think design. Think black and white. Or sepia.
Oil, watercolour, ink, acrylic... all are acceptable.
Don't think only vertical. Horizontal works well too. Square canvas? Why not!

We look forward to seeing you and your interpretation of doors and doorways.
Here's some that inspired the author.

Negative Painting Techniques

It was the turn of committee member Cynthia Fletcher to share her knowledge of negative painting this week in the monthly workshop.

Many thanks to Cynthia.

The afternoon meeting was very well attended - 13 members came armed with materials, and three guests also swelled the ranks. We were pleased to welcome Gladys Currie as a guest and look forward to seeing her again as a member.

Cynthia made it more difficult (or perhaps easier?) by limiting the palette to one red, one blue and one yellow paint, and showed us how to use this technique effectively.

The technique involves painting a darker background around the lighter objects. In other words, you define various objects from close to distant, gradually revealing their shapes and creating more depth and dimension with each layer of colour.

Some participants got the hang of the technique quickly and were amazed at the excellent results.

Maureen also brought along some of the cute pottery pots she crafted during the previous pottery workshop. You weren't there? Your loss. It was fun!

Thanks to photographer Rob McAlpine and secretary, Ann Zwets for the pix.

DRAWING COMPETITION, 24th May 2017

Where were you, fellow, FHAS artists? So few of you supported the annual drawing competition!
13 drawings were entered into the competition and Liz de Jager (née Vels) kindly officiated the evening.



We had fun despite the poor attendance.
The winner was the adorable kitten drawn by Fiona.
John Strickland came in second and third place.

Many thanks Rob McAlpine for your photos.

COLOURFUL ACRYLICS with Ronnie Biccard

This was an evening demonstration that we will remember!

Ronnie Biccard, a relative newcomer to Fish Hoek, brought along some of her bright and beautiful acrylic paintings to inspire and encourage FHAS artists to try this medium.

As a professional artist, Ronnie has taught art, had her paintings published in books, calendars and cards, and now works at her studio in Fish Hoek selling nationally and overseas. She painted for many years in oils but has now adopted acrylics as her medium of choice for its wide range of colours, ease of application and speed in drying.



Looking back, it is not often we have had an artist work at the Society in acrylics so this was very exciting,

In less than 20 minutes (and Dave Parry was timing her...) she produced an abstract landscape which was vibrant, colourful and very impressive. We were all mesmerized by the speed with which the painting emerged from its black background.

Ronnie was a great demonstrator, a warm and charming lady with a real enthusiasm - and talent - for what she does.

She did much to promote using acrylics and there were many in the audience who commented that they too would like to try the medium.

Thanks Rob for the pix.

On the move - sketching as you go by Barbara Moore

This was a great workshop and the enthusiasm that Barbara brought to Fish Hoek Art Society should encourage us all to take up a pencil, if not pen, and get on with sketching.

She pointed out that you don't have to be in a special place to do a sketch: just waiting for a friend in a café, bored by the boys watching rugby, stopping on the edge of the road, or even waiting for supper to warm: you use those five minutes to sketch. And Barbara does so very well!!



18 members and guests came along - those that didn't missed a treat.

As Barbara comments, sketching is a way to create a visual diary - a journal of her life, as she says, one sketch at a time. And slowly it becomes a habit, one that constantly improves your style and drawing.

Being part of a sketching group is a great incentive and many of these groups can be found online in Facebook, where their work is shared. And groups go out sketching together.

So what does Barbara suggest as tools for a sketching moment?

Firstly, a good sketch book. She favours one that opens up to give the option of a panorama. One that can take water too for cartridge paper is great for a single line drawing but if you use a brush with water, this paper isn't the most apt. She usually uses pens, and enjoys the colours that fountain pens can produce with old fashioned Quink ink. She also uses platinum carbon ink pens. See below:

https://www.gouletpens.com/platinum-refillable-carbon-fountain-desk-pen-medium/p/Plat-DP-800S-M

and the refill cartridges https://www.gouletpens.com/platinum-carbon-black-cartridges/p/Plat-SPC-200

The Lamy Safari fountain pen favoured by many sketchers worldwide, including Barbara, is available on line in South Africa:  These come with water soluble ink.

http://writegear.co.za/product/lamy-safari-fountain-pen-blue/

  

Barbara looked at why people sketch, and the varying styles and quirky ways that people choose to record their lives.

She showed simple line drawings with soluble ink and wetting the ink to create shading and then looked at hatching and cross hatching using permanent ink. 

Here are more of Barbara's own sketches from her travels - but remember: you don't have to travel to sketch!!!

THANK YOU BARBARA!

March newsletter

We were happy to see Clive Tyler visit us briefly at our workshop this past Tuesday. He looks well and coping with his difficult situation. We will continue to pray for Clive's and Lilian's wellbeing.

PAST EVENTS :

The previous coloured pencil workshop by Fiona was well attended and was enjoyed by all.

We had 12 people who enjoyed the paint out at The Range which is off Spaanschemacht Road. We gathered around the stone church to capture the beautiful surroundings. We also welcomed a visitor from STAG ... Simon’s Town Art Group. We are truly blessed, living in beautiful Cape Town.

Our AGM went off smoothly and the quiz proved to be a huge success. Karen Davel won First prize and Els Dorat, second prize.

Our Life Drawing Workshop this past Tuesday was an event sadly missed by many members, We had 8 or 9 folk enjoying their opportunity to draw  our model Thola who exuded confidence and beauty.

John gave us valuable advice on drawing with pencil. He takes drawing extremely seriously and certainly is passionate about us doing the right thing.

Thank you Fiona for arranging another successful and highly enjoyable Life Drawing Workshop,

And Thola, we look forward to seeing you again !

FORTHCOMING EVENTS :

Our Paint out to Rondevlei on Tuesday 21^st March was cancelled because it fell on Human Rights Day. But we will be visiting there shortly.

Wednesday 22^nd March : Yvonne Ankerman will be presenting her work and speak about her recent trip to the Antarctic. Please do not miss this one ! It promises to be extremely exciting and interesting ! Bring you friends and relatives: They will not be sorry,

Let us show Yvonne that we are a society which believes in the adventure of art.

Also please read our latest update of our Events Calendar and note the events you should all be participating in.

Any suggestions from you are always welcome. Your input is valuable to our Art Society.

The Drawing Competition is on 24^th May and we trust that you ALL are drawing away, Let’s have a record number of entries this year !

GENERAL :

Almost two years ago the South Peninsula Gallery opened in Kommetjie. If you have not paid them a visit, we urge you to do so.

A variety of artists have their work on display and it is in our interest to collaborate and participate in other art ventures such as this. Let’s broaden our vista and learn about displaying one’s work and gathering useful information we as artists require to survive in this competitive art form.

Don’t forget that Jacqui’s Framers supply acid free backing boards for artists who prefer that way of mounting their work.

The Write Shoppe at Longbeach Mall offer 10% discount on all purchased over R200.

Also note that Write Shoppe has a small branch in the Sun Valley mall.  They carry a limited stock but their branch at Steenberg has a comprehensive range of product, similar to Longbeach Mall. We will check to see if these branches will honour the 10% discount.

Rob discovered a workshop in Obsevatory called Made by Hand. They do framing and also offer old frames to be refurbished.

They are willing to offer art societies their services and so we shall be in touch with them to see what terms and discounts they would offer us. They appear to have a dedicated team who are proud of their product. We have the owner's contact details and further information will be passed on to you. 

We are finding that more and more folk are discovering the world of Google.

Because we have the tools available to us, we should be going online more and more to enlarge our borders and discover a wealth of art in our “office / home / smart phone.

We often ask questions about certain topics and forget that the answer lies in our bag / pocket / laptop / desktop. The answer is a click away. We hardly need a newspaper any more.

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

                       John Steer, Silverglades, tel: 0832631798

                        Frame 4 U, Marlene, tel: 082749652

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

                       The Deckle Edge, www.deckleedge.co.za, Constantia Village,

                        tel: 021 794 8995 or Brickfield Road, Salt River, tel: 021 180 4442

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

                        Riverside Mall, Rondebosch

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

FISH HOEK ART SOCIETY – 2017 EVENTS CALENDAR 

	Workshops 2nd Tuesday 2 pm	Paint outs 3rd Tues 9.30 am	DEMOS 4th Wednesday 7 pm
MARCH	14 LIFE DRAWING FIONA	21 RONDEVLEI Cancelled due to public holiday	22 SHIP TRAVELS AN ARTIST’S VIEW YVONNE ANKERMAN
APRIL	11 PowerPoint presentation and sketching workshop BARBARA MOORE 081 271 3238	18 RONDEVLEI	26 DEMO RONNIE BICCARD 081 271 3238
MAY	9 Tips on handling perspectives JOHN S *	16 NOVA CONSTANTIA OR OHIO FARM tbc	24 DRAWING COMPETITION NO THEME
JUNE	13 CLAY WORKSHOP JOHN S***	20 ALEX 12 Dabchick Quay Eastlake Island Marina da Gama 021 788-2244	28 DVD
JULY	11 Painting negative spaces INGE SEMPLE	18 ANN 1 Fynbos Rise off  Pass Road Fish Hoek 021 782-6297	26
AUG	8 USEFUL COLOUR MIXES	15	23 HUGH MURDOCH TROPHY THEMED
SEPT	12	19	27
OCT	10	17	25 Demo INGE SEMPLE
NOV	14	21	22 ALMA BYNG COMPETITION

* FOR THE PERSPECTIVE WORKSHOP PLEASE BRING SOME KIND OF BOARD, DRAWING PINS, STRING AND SHIRRING ELASTIC IF YOU HAVE

*** FOR THE CLAY WORKSHOP - CLAY WILL BE PROVIDED AT A MINIMAL CHARGE. BRING NEWSPAPER, A BOARD TO WORK ON, SCULPTING TOOLS OR SIMILAR