FHAS has been busy!

Sue Green gave an excellent talk on pastels - her forte! She gave an inspiring insight on the media, the tools of the trade and showed some very good examples of her work. Well done Sue!

Ann Zwets brought the delicate task of creating raindrops in water colour to the Society. What appeared to be quite a challenge turned out to be a lot of fun, and not that complicated. Thanks Ann.

On Saturday 07 October the FHAS joined up with the Garden Society's exhibition in the Civic Centre to show a collection of paintings that suited the theme. The show was well attended and the painting attracted interest but sadly sales were absolutely minimal - two works only.

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!