Newsletter November 1st 2006
Newsletter No 5.

At the time of writing this letter we are looking back over the last week when we have had our first exhibition at the Council Offices in Haydon Wick. The exhibition has been a great success and visitors were very impressed by the standard of the paintings and the way they were set out. We had a visitor’s book, which is worth looking at. This was the first exhibition we have held other than in the library or an art shop.

We had new stands made by Roy Leftwich, and these set off the paintings really well. Another of our members, Norman Cattell made some advertising boards which were strong enough to be put outside, and this all added to the excellent presentation of the exhibition. Publicity is always a problem but we had lots of boards and posters, a mention in the local press, Radio Swindon also gave us publicity, and Richard Angwin, who is the weather man on Points West, gave us a plug. Lots of local small shops gave us their support but unfortunately the supermarkets, Morrison’s in particular, did not feel able to display our posters.

We had members present all the week and some painted while looking after the exhibition. Lots of chatting went on and it was a chance for the members of the Tuesday and Thursday groups to get to know each other, as some of them had never met. We sold raffle tickets throughout the week to win a pastel painting given by Bez Suter. The winner was Barbara Moody!

Some of our members spent a week at the Summer School at Marlborough College doing a course in using mixed media. The week was really enjoyable and we learned such a lot. There are so many activities offered, from Belly Dancing to studying racehorses, as well as art and music. One tip we discovered while at Marlborough was the usefulness of baby wipes. We have used these to clean up when using pastels but we found they cleaned hands and tables etc when using oil paints.

In September we welcomed Lynne Collier to the group and she gave us a short history of painting miniatures and demonstrated how she paints them. We were fascinated by the intricate work involved. Lynne has said she will come back to show us more.

We are still welcoming new members to the group and since the last letter we have had five new members join us. We have no upper limit to the numbers in the group, we welcome any one who enjoys art and likes to be part of a group, regardless of their ability.

Bez is arranging the Christmas festivities. A lunch for the Tuesday group on December 19th and dinner for the Thursday group on December 14th. Last year we had a really good evening and so are looking forward to this year’s meals. Some lucky ones will be at both events!!!

Roy has been asked, by some of the Tuesday group, to do a demonstration/workshop and this will be on November 21st. He is going to show us how he works with oils, and then we are going to have a go. If anyone from the Thursday group would like to join in just come along, it’s from 10am to 3pm and the cost for the day is £4 (this is to cover the cost of the room).

We are looking forward to next year and have our first demonstration on February 15th. This will be given by Christine Russell, an artist from Gloucestershire. She will be demonstrating painting still life using pastels. There will be no charge for members, non-members will be charged £2. I think this demonstration will be very special and not to be missed. If you want to see Christine’s work she has her own web site.

We have an exhibition planned for the first two weeks of May to be held at the Windmill Business Park. There is no charge for the exhibition to be staged, but they ask for a donation of 10% from any paintings sold, which is given to the Prospect foundation. On May 14th we are having our second Exhibition in the Council Offices in Haydon Wick this will be for one week.This gives us plenty of targets to work towards. If any one has any ideas for forthcoming events please let us know, we are hoping to have a plan for the year ahead – at the moment this is just at the hoping stage!

This will be the last newsletter until after Christmas and a reminder that the last meeting of the Thursday group is December 7th and the last meeting for the Tuesday group is December 12th. The first meetings in January are Thursday the 4th and Tuesday the 9th. The Christmas raffle is on the last Thursday in November so any donations to Maureen. Perhaps it’s a good time to mention the income from the raffle and the tea fund is a good source of income for the group, so a big thank you to Maureen for organising these and thank you to all of you for supporting them. Next subs evening is January 4th 2007

I hope you have a happy and peaceful Christmas and have lots of painting goodies in your stockings!

For more information come along or call

Barbara Moody on 01793 722410 e mail barbara.moody@virgin.net
Margaret Freeman on 07778577873
Bez Suter on 01793 531360

 

Past Newsletters

Oct 2005

Jan 2006

April 2006

July 2006