Anthony Connolly RP was to run a portrait workshop for Summerleaze Gallery last week at East Knoyle, but as it couldn’t go ahead he sent daily images to would be participants & others over the 4 days & followed up with a critique of their work.
12 of our members enjoyed the challenge of these exercises.
Here are some examples of their work.
Trees in 19c British & American Art by Professor Christiana Payne
16 January 2020
Report by Will Vaughan
Christiana Payne, Professor of the History of Art at Oxford Brookes University, has had a distinguished career researching British landscape art and genre painting of the nineteenth century. In recent years she has been exploring the representation of trees and the significance that they had for artists and amateurs in the period. Her recent book, Silent Witnesses; Trees in British Art 1760-1870, focussed on the work of British Artists, but in this lecture she extended the theme to cover American artists of the period as well.Perhaps it was as a reaction to the growing urbanization caused by the Industrial Revolution that artists in the late eighteenth century became increasingly involved in representing the natural world. Trees particularly
‘Winter Landscapes’ by Colin Wiggins
11 December 2019
Report by Will Vaughan
Once again the Bruton Art Society has enjoyed the pleasure of a talk by Colin Wiggins, former lecturer and curator of special exhibitions at the National Gallery. Colin is well known for the high quality of his lectures, in which he combines entertainment and information in his own unique manner. Last time he spoke to us four years ago, he told of his activities at the National Gallery, in which he encouraged leading contemporary artists like Peter Blake, Sean Scully and Paula Reago to produce works that engaged with major works in the Gallery’s collection. This time he was inviting us to look again at the seasonal theme of Winter Landscapes, with a particular emphasis on snow scenes.
He took us from the earliest representations of snow in the late middle ages – in such exquisite works as the Tres Riches Heures of the Duc de Berry – to fascinating colour explorations of Monet and other Impressionists. He also brought in treatments outside the European tradition, in particular the marvellous winter scenes of Japanese woodcut artists like Hokusai.
New BAS member – Portrait artist Alanna Barker is offering art lessons in Queen Camel near Yeovil
Monoprinting & Ghost Plates 7 – 8 November
Printmaker Jackie Curtis gave 12 of our members a really informative & enjoyable couple of days at Hadspen Hall with lots of demos & guidance. She also worked tirelessly turning the press!
It was amazing to see how feathers, leaves, fabrics, leather, string & all sorts of other unlikely stuff can produce such beautiful monoprints. Many such prints were produced by the group; some really stunning.
It was a really worthwhile couple of days and we may well see some of the results from this workshop in our next exhibition!
Plein air pastel painting with Patrick Cullen 19 – 20 September
For anyone who booked a place on this workshop in January, it was an act of faith in the September weather….. but it turned out hot and sunny on both days – vivid blue skies and bright colours. The orchard next to Hadspen Village Hall was laden with ripening rosy apples – a wonderful place to paint.
Patrick has run three workshops for Bruton Art Society now and was extremely diligent in finding us all in the orchard to give guidance and help on the use of pastels. Some of us were complete beginners with this medium and it was a privilege to learn from him.
On both afternoons he took a little time to paint alongside us & it was invaluable to watch him work.
Dorrie Peat
As Somerset Art Weeks Festival moves into it’s last 5 days we hope all our members exhibiting in their studios or in group exhibitions are having a successful time and getting lots of visitors.
Somerset Art Weeks is 25 years old this year & there are 135 venues.
See venues 26, 65, 67, 73, 85 & 86 for some of our members’ work
Somerset Art Weeks online Guide
Committee member John Baxter has written an illustrated account of a Somerset Art Weeks exhibition organised by Zak Greening in Wincanton on the site of Clementinas. Called Greening the Earth Gallery, this “stunning new art gallery” particularly appealed to John & he recommends it as a “must see” for Bruton Art Society members. (See link below to read all about it & see his photos of the exhibition)
NEW GALLERY IN WINCANTON Report by John Baxter
Member Corinna Leigh Turner will be hosting an Exhibition of Matthew Franklin’s work on 21st & 22nd September 10 – 4 at Knowle Rock, Shepton Montague, Wincanton, Somerset. BA9 8JA
For Private View Invitations please contact corinna.leigh.turner@nullgmail.com
