Geoff Hewitt Portrait Workshop

Once again an excellent session from Geoff, who gave us a clear and  intro to portraiture before guiding our individual efforts. It was also good to be joined for the first time by members of the Lakeside group. Another first - I actually managed to produce something that looked like the person I was drawing. Here are some of the results:

Drama from Dee

Kate - Guess who?

Subtlety from Julia 

Jan - Quizical

Kath - Not a self portrait

Les - Why me?

Northumbria University Gallery

3 painters are being exhibited until March 28th: Dale Atkinson, Albert Irvin, Norman Cornish in Paris. I wasn't so keen on Albert Irvin's abstract gouache work, but found Dale Atkinson interesting and disturbing, and Norman Cornish's Paris sketches full of immediacy and charm. Well worth a look if you get the chance.

   Albert Irvin

    Norman Cornish

    Dale Atkinson

Postcard from Portugal

Just experimenting with the art app on my new tablet. This is the view from my daughter's window. Not quite 'Eat your heart out, David Hockney.

Your Paintings Website

You might like to check out Your Paintings on the BBC website. They're attempting to catalogue all the nation's paintings for you to view. You can also make your own collection of favourites. It looks a really fantastic site. For example, I searched for Paul Nash and found 86 downloadable paintings of which this is an example:

Here's the link: Your Paintings website

The Barn - Meeting Next Week

This week saw our second meeting at The Barn, and our second with snow and ice to contend with. However, more people managed to make it this week and we are beginning to settle in. There are still some issues to be discussed, particularly storage, so we are planning a meeting after lunch next Tuesday (29/1/13). Try and come if you can. Anyone who can think of a solution to the easels problem will definitely be the next 'Artist of the Month'.

First Meeting at The Barn

Owing to the wintry conditions, attendance for the first meeting at our new venue was a bit down, though not quite as sparse as this photo would suggest:

The view outside was certainly picturesque. Thanks to Julia for sending the photos below - I especially like no3. Thanks also to Julia, Paul and their helpers for going to rescue 2 cupboards (now placed in the kitchen at The Barn) and the lampshades. Anyone for an installation?

New Year New Venue

At a meeting on Tuesday, with the vast majority of members present, we voted unanimously to leave Nature's World and move to Hemlington Recreation Centre. Our first meeting at our new venue will be next week, Tuesday 15th January.

I'm sure we all hope the current problems at Nature's World are resolved and wish the staff there the best of luck for the future.