PwC Panto - Alice in Wonderland

And in a puff of glitter, sadly that’s my PwC Panto stint done for another year.

I know that I say this every year, but I continue to be blown away by the pure talent in the panto. It is so professional. It’s hard to believe that every part is done by amateurs: cast, wardrobe, choreography, directing, hair & makeup, staging, props and probably more that I’ve missed.

I am delighted that the panto actually went ahead this year, despite Covid. I missed it terribly last year and I’m now awaiting the inevitable panto blues to hit. Interestingly, this year I discovered that people who I thought were panto old hands were newbies in the same year as me - 2018. I learnt that I’m too old for clubbing (especially when I’m sober and only drinking water) and I still hate sticky floors! I also know that none of this would be possible for me without Cliff holding the fort at home and I’m very grateful to him for that.

I decided to do something different this year and joined the props team. I LOVED it. I put my new fibreglassing skills to use and made extra large carrots for the White Rabbit and even worked out how to make one vibrate! Who doesn’t need a vibrating carrot?! I lost myself in a cloud of polystyrene dust making mushrooms and this was all before we even got to the theatre. At the theatre, after a moment or two of panic not knowing when or where any of our amazing props were supposed to be, I soon got into the swing of things and enjoyed running about with all manner of things - massive feet, Jay’s beautiful huge crème egg, cakes, shaving foam, fabulous flamingo tails and those bl@@dy letters (as they will now fondly be remembered). And for those of you questioning my use of the word “running”… in true panto style, “oh yes I was”! Act 1 was manic for props but I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I had great fun writing notes for Alice & co on their clipboards, frantically setting up tea party tables with help from my favourite sleepy Dormouse and even sewed a spot on a Caterpillar. I laughed with old and new panto friends and realised that actually there is such a thing as a stupid question. It came from me during a moment of stressful madness to Camilla: “Is it a red or black spade we are looking for?” 😂 I still have no idea why it was always a spade staff that went missing.

It’s a great feeling to walk into a building and think “This is right. This is where I’m meant to be”. That’s what theatre does for me and to have the opportunity to bring some of the delight, wonder and joy of a theatre to so many children is something that I will always be grateful for. Every year #pwcpanto gives away over 8000 tickets to inner city schools and community groups, who otherwise would not have a chance to see live theatre. Hearing the excited screams and singing from the children as the curtain goes up on opening night is just wonderful and makes me grin from ear to ear, much like our beautiful Cheshire Cat.

As the curtain falls for another year, I leave you all with a quote from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland that, for me, sums up panto: “There is a place, like no place on earth. A land full of wonder, mystery, and danger. Some say, to survive it, you need to be as mad as a hatter. Which, luckily, I am.”

Sketch for Survival Competition

I’m delighted with my entry for the Sketch for Survival competition. It’s not very often that I’m completely happy with a piece of work but this is one occasion when I have succeeded in reproducing the image that was buzzing around my head.

I wanted to raise awareness of a vulnerable species in my home country. The main threat to Atlantic Puffins is the change in distribution and numbers of small fish, ground predators introduced to breeding colonies, and pollution.

“Don’t Leave” is an A3 mixed media piece on cradled board. The background image contains the words “Don’t Leave” in reference to wanting to keep the puffins safe from the threat of extinction. The message is accentuated by the puffin flying away. The blurriness of the puffin’s wings also portrays the movement of flying. I love how the many layers of resin bring depth and show glimpses of swirls in the water from previous layers. Scraping back into wax layers provided a variation of colour and texture for the rocks. I was inspired by visiting these comical birds on the Isle of May and wanted to create an image different to the standard image of a sitting puffin.

I’m keeping everything crossed that he is selected for the competition. Wish me luck!

Excerpt from the Sketch for Survival website:

“Sketch for Survival helps to raise vital awareness about species extinction and biodiversity loss while also raising funds for projects around the world.

100 finalists are selected from all competition entries received and ‘win’ a place on our prestigious Sketch for Survival exhibition tour alongside artworks donated by professional and celebrity artists.

The collection is sold via online auction, with all proceeds going to their Project Fund. Sketch for Survival raised nearly £60,000 for nominated conservation projects in 2020, in spite of the Covid pandemic. The youngest contributor was just 6 years old and the oldest was over 80. Entries came from all over the world – China, South Korea, Russia, Iran, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Malaysia, Australia & NZ, Canada, the US, Brazil, Iceland, Dubai, Qatar, Turkey, Tanzania, South Africa and most countries in Europe.

In 2021 our competition is back bigger and better than ever, with two weeks at gallery@oxo on London’s South Bank.”

Necklace of Days - Arla

I’m delighted to have taken part in “Necklace of Days” with Fiona Maher. Each artist creates a small artwork/piece of prose/text in response to the day that he/she has been nominated. It might be how the artist feels or something seen/experienced/encountered.

Dalkeith Arts are currently working on a mosaic project with Woodburn Primary School. My mosaic is constructed with plastic bottle tops to demonstrate the importance of recycling and my desire to reduce single use plastics. My "Necklace of Days" date, 2nd April 2021, included what has become a common occurrence over the past few months, with people popping in to give me their bottle tops. Everywhere I go these days I am given a handful of bottle tops and I have a whole collection of bright colours now which I love. It's a great way to meet people although I'm sure I will become known as the crazy bottle top lady! The 2nd of April was also a bright, sunny, but frosty day with a real feeling of Spring in the air. The flowers have begun to bloom in our garden so I decided to make a flower with some of my donated bottle tops.

I have called the piece “Arla”, for obvious reasons when the back is viewed.

I enjoyed the challenge of a shorter project so I agreed to complete another day for Fiona. This will be 4 August 2021 so watch this space.

The making of “Arla”.

Making of "Magma"

The attached video shows the months of work that went into producing “Magma”. Thankfully for you, it has been reduced down to approximately 7 minutes with the aid of timelapse recording. The sound is just background music so there’s no need to listen with the sound on. “Magma” is 180 x 30 cm, painted using burgundies, reds, creams, and beiges to match the clients bedroom decor and artwork. Unfortunately, the video doesn’t show the making of the Elm and Plywood frame by Tom Cooper Fine Furniture. It starts with undercoating and finishes with 5 coats of resin. The final frame shows “Magma” in its new home. If there is anything that you are particualarly interested in, please do ask. Full details of “Magma” can be found on my “Commissions” page.

Have you ever wondered what needlefelting is?

It’s back to the time of year when I find myself engrossed in making Christmas decorations with wonderful memories of The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre doing Macbeth (https://youtu.be/AVwcjIEpqlE) - stab, stab, stab, deed! Crikey, I’m rambling on the first sentence - this is a record, even for me!

Anyway, back on track. Have you ever wondered how to needlefelt and why handmade goods can be so expensive? I have recorded myself needlefelting a Christmas Pudding in order to show you the process. It is recorded in timelapse so this is about 5 hours of work reduced to 4 minutes. In the video you will see seven different needles, all of which are used at different stages of the process. The biggest needles with the most barbs are used at the beginning of the process and the needles with the least barbs are used at the end for smoothing the piece of work. In short, when the needles are stabbed into the fleece the barbs catch the fibres and knit them together. The more you stab (hence my thoughts triggering to sock puppets and Macbeth) the more solid the piece becomes.

Why is it so expensive to buy handmade? As I said earlier, this Christmas Pudding took 5 hours to make. If I charge myself out at minimum wage (currently £9 per hour) I should be charging £45 plus the cost of materials. Would you pay £50 for a Christmas bauble? Nope. Neither would I! I have priced it at £12, knowing that some people will still think it’s too expensive, however, it means that once I have paid for materials, I have worked for £1.75 per hour. Shocking, huh?! Most artists and crafters often have to undersell unfortunately. Ultimately we don’t do it to make money, we do it because we love it. Yes, you can get similar items mass produced that cost less but I would urge you all to support local artists and local businesses by shopping local instead of supporting large mass producing companies. I can guarantee you that every one of us does a wee happy dance for each and every sale we make and pours a bit of love into each piece made.

This Pudding and other Christmas decorations are for sale on my Etsy site: https://etsy.me/2Ouh3HV and in “The Bank - of Dalkeith”.

Needlefelting a Christmas Pudding

The completed Christmas Pudding.

This photo shows the tiny barbs on the needles.

I have coded my needles in order to easily differentiate them.

Dalkeith Arts Memorial Panel Cards

Dalkeith Arts have had cards made of all the Memorial Panels. They make a wonderful wee set exhibiting Dalkeith’s history. Photography for all cards by Keith Inglis.

Dalkeith Tolbooth - painting in timelapse

Dalkeith Arts commissioned ten local artists to each paint a panel. The panels depict six of the many women who were accused and executed for witchcraft in Dalkeith. The remaining four include a portrait of the local “witch pricker", and the last three are of iconic buildings in Dalkeith - The Watchtower, St Nicholas Buccleuch Church, and The Tolbooth (my painting).  The witch trials were at their peak in the 1600s and six real women's names were chosen to represent all of the women and men who were executed in Dalkeith.

I painted the Tolbooth in Dalkeith which is the site of the last hanging on 1 March 1827 and a building for Dalkeith’s law and order with a courtroom, prison cells, and a dungeon known as the ‘’black hole’’.

The video shows the panel being painted from start to finish. I began with a reproduction of a newspaper article from 1827 reporting about the hanging of William Thomson in Dalkeith on 1st March...

My involvement in recent Dalkeith Arts projects

It has been an incredibly busy and exciting period for me and Dalkeith Arts.

When Mary, our Chairwoman, asked me to become Secretary I was delighted to accept.

We designed and implemented our new modern logo just in time to be released on our new website: https://www.dalkeitharts.co.uk/

Dalkeith Arts, together with One Dalkeith, combined art and history to create a beautiful visual memorial of a horrible epoch in the town's history. We commissioned ten local artists to each paint a panel. The panels depict six of the many women who were accused and executed for witchcraft in Dalkeith. The remaining four include a portrait of the local “witch pricker", and the last three are of iconic buildings in Dalkeith - The Watchtower, St Nicholas Buccleuch Church, and The Tolbooth (my painting - more to follow). The witch trials were at their peak in the 1600s and six real women's names were chosen to represent all of the women and men who were executed in Dalkeith. We have been astounded at the interest and publicity for this project. Here are some of the articles:

https://wildhunt.org/2020/10/dalkeith-artists-give-faces-to-accused-witches-in-scotland.html

https://www.scotsman.com/heritage-and-retro/heritage/portraits-scottish-witches-revealed-2988070

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000n6rt Tune into BBC Radio 4 “The World tonight show“. Mary Blair, Margaret Bitici and I were interviewed by Paul Moss. If you don’t want to listen to the whole show we are on 38 minutes in.

I really enjoyed talking to the general public as the panels were being erected on the outside of the One Dalkeith building. In a time of disruption caused by Covid-19, it is wonderful to be involved with the creation of an art exhibition that the public can see without having to be inside. I like that we can spread a bit of happiness and increase knowledge of the town’s history through art, in what is currently a difficult period. Given the current economic hardships, it is also important to me that the exhibition is free. I find myself thinking about these women a lot now and the persecution they endured. I have no doubt that had I lived in those times, I too would be executed for being a witch due to my outspoken-ness, affinity to animals, and love of nature. I often find myself doing things that I have no doubt others would consider strange in the name of art. For example, last week I was wandering around our estate with my children spraying varnish on dandelion clocks (in order to preserve them in resin) whilst telling nosey dogs to leave my dandelions alone! I am sure this wouldn’t help perceptions of me if I was living in the 1600s, and before anybody says anything, yes I do know spray varnish wasn’t available in the 1600s!

Roll on another week and we are painting bees on the planters in Jarnac Court just because we can and want to brighten up the area we live in.

We also have our work in “The Bank - of Dalkeith”. It is definitely a good place to visit in Dalkeith for cake, coffee, gifts and pampering.

Dalkeith Arts new logo

Just finished my Tolbooth panel

Information panel for the Memoral panels

My Tolbooth painting in final position

Midlothian Advertiser article 1/10/2020

Painting bees in Jarnac Court, Dalkeith

See Dalkeith Arts work in “The Bank of Dalkeith”

Do you want to design a mosaic?

Now that schools are back and we are getting used to another “new normal” caused by Covid 19, Dalkeith Arts are back to focusing on “making Woodburn Primary School playground fabulous”.  We will be splitting this project into parts and would be delighted to get the community involved in some of the designs.

For now, we are looking for ideas for “mosaics” with a board size of 120 x 60 cm. Mosaics don’t have to be done in the traditional sense using ceramics or with traditional subject matter. You could use stones, sea glass, buttons or crockery. The examples below include some these. Bear in mind this is for children and the materials used should not be sharp.

You may wish to include WPS Learning Skills characters:

Caring Cat, Have a go Hedgehog, Investigation Iguana, Teamwork Tarantula, Motivation Monkey, Creative Chameleon, Perseverance Python, Concentration Cuckoo, Determination Dragonfly

WPS parent committee will select the final 4 designs to be installed on the school walls.  If your design is selected, we will be in touch to discuss if you want to create it personally or if Dalkeith Arts should create it.  Materials will be supplied.

Please submit all designs to Dalkeith Arts by 6 October 2020. Feel free to involve children in your ideas and contact us should you have any queries. 

Email: dalkeitharts1@gmail.com

East Linton Art Exhibition and Competition

I’m excited to announce that I have 5 pieces of work in the 52nd East Linton Art Show. All work is available to purchase. https://elas2020.weebly.com/

Edinburgh Sunset

Maggie

Maggie

Maggie

Maggie

Maggie

Maelstrom

Flame

Aberlady Bay

Do you fancy designing a “posing wall”?

Now that schools are back and we are getting used to another “new normal” caused by Covid 19, Dalkeith Arts are back to focusing on “making Woodburn Primary School playground fabulous”.  We will be splitting this project into parts and would be delighted to get the community involved in some of the designs.

For now, we are looking for ideas for a “posing wall”. WPS parent committee will select the final 4 designs to be painted on the school walls. If your design is selected, we will be in touch to discuss if you want to paint it personally or if Dalkeith Arts should paint it.

A “posing wall” is essentially an image that is used for people posing in front of, generally to take photos. We have included examples below. You may wish to include WPS Learning Skills characters:

Caring Cat, Have a go Hedgehog, Investigation Iguana, Teamwork Tarantula, Motivation Monkey, Creative Chameleon, Perseverance Python, Concentration Cuckoo, Determination Dragonfly

Please submit all designs to Dalkeith Arts by 26 September 2020. Feel free to involve children in your ideas and contact us should you have any queries.

Email: dalkeitharts1@gmail.com

My entry for The John Byrne Award

I’m very excited to announce that my entry for The John Byrne Award is now live. Dad, if you are up there watching, I hope you like it.

http://www.johnbyrneaward.org.uk/entries/is-physical-death-the-end-of-life/

Is physical death the end of life?

I recently lost my Dad to cancer and found myself screaming, struggling to breathe in heavy air charged with emotion, tears streaming down my face, calling out "Dad, are you there?  Show me a sign".

I asked the universe - When we die are we at peace? Freed from pain?  Free to enjoy earthly pursuits in a new eternity?  Or is there nothingness, no further experience, only to live on vicariously in the memories of those who loved us?

Silence.  Then creativity stirred.  I took my Dad's old t-shirt; willow and flowers from his funeral bouquets; heather and thistle from the hills he used to roam.  

The channelling of my Dad, my grief, my memories, my hope for his future resulted in "Gone Fishing".  My desire that he should be at peace, doing what he loved, forever.  As I consider his existence I see him grinning and laughing with his infamous shoulder shake, he finally answers "I’ve given you plenty signs. You don't recognise them! ".

Gairloch - painting in timelapse

This is a video of me painting “Gairloch” from start to finish. It’s the first time I’ve filmed myself painting and I found it really interesting to see how much layering actually goes into a single painting.

A timelapse video of me painting a commission, "Gairloch". 25 hours work in 5 mins.

Mention in Grampian Online

I never thought that I would be mentioned in the same article alongside Stephen Fry, Emma Thompson, Sam Heughan, Michaela Strachan, Lorraine McIntosh and Ricky Ross! How bizarre. Even better is the fact that my painting, named “Flatpoint Paua” by the purchaser, raised £200 for Willows Animal Sanctuary and helped keep them afloat. The full article is below.

https://www.grampianonline.co.uk/news/auction-raises-astonishing-amount-for-animal-charity-200947/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

Auction raises "astonishing" amount for Willows 

By Kirsty Brown- kirsty.brown@hnmedia.co.uk Published: 08:15, 27 May 2020

An online auction to raise money for a north-east animal charity has raised almost £8,300 and helped to secure the charity's future. When Willows Animal Sanctuary shared their worries that lockdown may force them to close permanently, animal lovers Hannah Darnell and Laura Appleton decided that they wanted to help. Government guidance meant that the charity's income dropped substantially, and with more than 450 animals relying on the Sanctuary to provide basic care the charity was left trying to source thousands of pounds to stay afloat long enough to reopen when it is safe to do so.

The pair decided to hold an auction on Facebook and were successful in securing support from various celebrities including Stephen Fry, Emma Thompson, Sam Heughan, Michaela Strachan, Lorraine McIntosh and Ricky Ross. It was indeed one of these celebrity pieces which attracted the most attention during the auction. A copy of Further Tales Of Peter Rabbit signed by Emma Thompson raised £522 for the charity. Other popular items included an artwork by Scottish artist Maria Campbell which collected £200 and an Aberdeen Football Club shirt signed by footballing legend Willie Miller which attracted a final bid of £175.

The initial total last week stood at £4600, however the pair then received a number of items from small businesses to extend their auction in an attempt to push them over the £5000 mark. This second auction brought the total to almost £6000. A number of people who had been unsuccessful in their bids offered to make donations to the event to bring up the total and a very generous donation and offer of fund matching from Brodies has brought the auction's final total up to almost £8,300 which the organisers have described as "astonishing". Organiser Hannah said: "Laura and I are delighted to have played a part in raising such an incredible amount of money for Willows, but we couldn't have done it without the kindness and generosity of those who donated items, those who bid on them, and those who made cash donations. "Willows is an extraordinary place, and even contemplating that we could lose them from the community was a motivator to push ahead with the auction and try to raise as much money as we could. "We do hope that the funds raised will help Willows to see out the rest of the lockdown period, and allow them to open again once this nightmare passes."

Willows Animal Sanctuary

I am pleased to announce that I am donating one of my paintings to help save Willows Animal Sanctuary http://www.willowsanimals.com/m/mtop.html?fromGiftAidDeclaration=. 

Due to Corona Virus, Willows Sanctuary, near Aberdeen had to close to visitors and the charity is struggling to make enough money to feed and care for their rescued animals.  If you want to help please do have a look at their auction site: https://www.facebook.com/helpsavewillows/ The auction runs from 7pm on 29 April to 7pm on 3 May.

This is the specific link to my painting: https://www.facebook.com/101203151552178/posts/119575196381640/?d=n

It still needs to cure before being signed, the final coat applied and then framed. The auction winner gets to name the piece.

There are some amazing items for auction including vegan biscuits, votch watch, signed albums, books signed by David Thewlis, Emma Thompson, Nadiya Hussein, David Mitchell, Stephen Fry and Michaela Strachan.  

Covid-19

What does an artist do during lockdown for the Corona Virus? Firstly, I catch Covid-19, stay in bed for a week and then spend at least another week recovering. I might as well get it over and done with quickly. Secondly, I make the biggest sculpture I’ve ever made. I thought it would be a good idea to make a big colourful rainbow as a shout out to all the key workers for continuing their hard work throughout the Corona Virus. Hopefully it will prompt a few smiles around the estate. I added the crystals to create some extra little dancing rainbows and I’m delighted to report that it works. Not a bad creation from some old jeans, old pipe and garden canes!

I like seeing the stitching and pockets from the jeans here and there.

I love the little dancing rainbows that the crystals create.

This is how the rainbow started.

My helper.

My other helper.

Do you want to paint a playground?

I am delighted to announce that Dalkeith Arts have won the proposal for the Woodburn Primary School (WPS) playground renovation [cue excited squeals and my happy dance!].  I am now calling for assistance from members of Dalkeith Arts...

What have we agreed to implement?

4 x chalkboards

4 x mosaics

4 x wall posing images

5 x repainting existing image on tarmac

4 x hydrochromic paint images on tarmac

3 x new paint images on tarmac

How can I get involved?

1. Join Dalkeith Arts sub-committee for WPS Playground Renovation

This includes:

• creating a project plan and timeline

• arranging and contributing to team meetings

• monitoring budget

• clearing designs with WPS Parent Partnership (WPSPP)

• general organising of the project

2. Submit a design to be painted/produced as a mosaic

Brief will be provided.

3. Take part in implementing the designs in the playground

4. All of the above

What other key details do I need to know?

1. You will have no interaction with the pupils

2. The implementation will take place during school holidays and weekends

3.  I work full time so all meetings will be in the evenings or at the weekend

4. What on earth is hydrochromic paint?

This paint can be applied as standard paint and appears semi transparent. Once dry, the paint appears as a solid white colour; but when water is applied to the surface the paint becomes transparent to reveal whatever is behind. Once dried again, the paint returns to the solid white colour.  

Sounds fantastic!  How do I get involved or find out more information?

Please complete the Google Form below.  If you are having issues email dalkeitharts1@gmail.com.

https://forms.gle/PiZbGoZ18NKdHALZ6  

“Alone”

As a selling artist, I believe you shouldn’t get overly precious or attached to your work. If you do then you end up with a house full of your own creations and have no room to enjoy the work of others. This is the first piece that I’ve made in a while that I’m struggling to let go of. Doh! 😣 It was an experimental sculpture made with Powertex and designed to sit on a shelf or architrave. Perhaps I love this piece so much because it’s the first time I’ve used Powertex and it’s the first item that I’ve completed in my new studio. The shadows and highlights have really accentuated the detail in the material and I love his gnarly wee hands. He’s approximately 25cm high. I’ve called the piece “Alone”. To sell or not to sell, that is the question… 🤔

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse

What a fabulous book by Charlie Mackesy! I bought this book purely because I loved the illustrations. I find the variation of line and mark making inspiring and full of depth. I have finally got around to reading it and it is just a beautiful book in its entirety. There are so many messages that resonate with me so I thought I would leave a few pages here for me to refer back to whenever I want to. Thank you Charlie Mackesy for following your dreams and encouraging everyone else to do the same. ☺️

Tutoring for Dalkeith Arts

I am honoured to be given the opportunity to cover Newton Ross’ Saturday classes for him over the next 3 months.  I originally thought I would focus on acrylic painting, however, as I was researching for another project I began to wonder if, in this digital age, drawing has become a forgotten art?  I firmly believe that drawing has many benefits - stress relief, mindfulness and improved co-ordination, communication and memory. I often find myself doodling to help with problem solving. I believe that anyone can draw (despite my sisters objections!) but we have perhaps lost the confidence we had as children and forgotten the joy of creation.  We become self critical as adults. For these reasons I want to get back to basics with drawing - as much for myself as everyone else. The course is designed as an introduction to drawing, with exercises to simply relax, and draw. As the course progresses, the emphasis will shift onto careful observation through line, shape, tone, pattern and composition.  You can attend as many or as few of the classes as you want as each class can also be stand alone. This class is for adults who have thus far been too terrified to pick up a pencil, i.e. for anyone who has NEVER done drawing before, or for more experienced artists who would like a refresher or just some “me” time. These sessions will have limited capacity so get in touch with Dalkeith Arts ASAP if you would like a place. 

https://m.facebook.com/DalkeithArtsnCrafts/

Logistics:

10am - 12.30pm in Dalkeith Arts Centre, £12pp per class.

Sat 22nd Feb 2020

Sat 28th March 2020

Sat 25th April 2020

You will need:

A smile and enthusiasm!

Sketch pad/surface to draw on

Pencils - a mix, 

Conte chalk (black or dark colour).

£12 payment.

We will provide some materials and tea/coffee

Sat 22nd Feb - Line and Mark Making 

• 10 mins - fee collection/set up

• 15 mins - introductions and icebreaker: Inspiration through Music

• Speed Drawing - 1 min, 2 min, 5 min, 12 mins

• 90 mins - Indian ink and blotting paper drawing

• 15 mins - review work and discuss

Further reading (if you wish):

• Wassily Kandinsky - Compositions Series https://youtu.be/2xDnxkzQtdI

• Piet Modrian - Broadway Boogie Woogie https://www.moma.org/collection/works/78682

• Pablo Picasso and Gjon Mili - Light Drawings http://resourcemagonline.com/2013/04/light-drawings-by-pablo-picasso-and-gjon-mili/24125/

Sat 28th March - Tone and Form

• 10 mins - fee collection/set up

• 20 mins - introductions and icebreaker - Chiaroscuro

• 20 mins - pointillism with needles

• 85 mins - Tone, Tear & Stick - creating images with varying tones of paper

• 15 mins - review work and discuss

Further reading (if you wish):

• Georges Seurat - Seated Boy with Straw Hat https://www.georgesseurat.org/Seated-Boy-With-Straw-Hat.html

• Georges Seurat and Paul Signac - Pointillism https://mymodernmet.com/pointillism-art-georges-seurat/

• Henri Matisse - Jazz/Cut Outs https://youtu.be/rLgSd8ka0Gs

Sat 25th April - Composition, Perspective and Viewpoint

Each person to bring in one object to create an overall still life for the whole group. 

• 10 mins - fee collection/set up

• 15 mins - introductions and icebreaker - Worm’s eye/Bird’s eye view

• 110 mins - still life incorporating the following (with prior weeks learning if you attended):

  • Rule of odds

  • Rule of thirds

  • Cropping

  • Vanishing point

  • Isometric/Axonometric

• 15 mins - review work and discuss

Further reading (if you wish):

• Edgar Degas - Two Dancers on a Stage https://courtauld.ac.uk/gallery/collection/impressionism-post-impressionism/two-dancers-on-the-stage

• Andrew Wyeth - Christina’s World https://www.moma.org/collection/works/78455

• Man Ray - Larmes Tears https://www.manray.net/glass-tears.jsp

I look forward to welcoming you.

Maria