Eye Arts Guild

thursday 17th January, with sandra

17/1/2019

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Click on images to enlarge them.

This was Sandra’s debut as presenter of the model and still life, and didn’t she do well! One still life set up was kitchen-themed with the whole gamut of utensils and other objects (although, where was the kitchen sink, Sandra?) The other still life had a natural theme. Sandra was herself our model and posed with attitude!

The Bank/EAG exhibition finishes this weekend so do go along and see it if you have not already done so. Pictures should be collected on Monday, preferably between 11am and noon but see Hannah’s email to exhibitors.
There are still places left on the trip to Cambridge on February 12, either to see the Whistler exhibition or just to do your own thing there.
The workshop on gouache sounds interesting. Watch out for more details on the website soon.

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thursday 10th January, b.y.o.

10/1/2019

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Due to the cancellation of the workshop (Sally Hirst had an accident) this was a Bring Your Own projects session. It turned out to be a very interesting morning, with people talking a lot to each other about what they were doing, why and how. We had everything from still life, personal projects, preparation of bird pictures for the Earsham exhibition in March to ... doodling! No-one yet seemed to be working on the Chairman's Project.

It was good to hear from Sally P that we have had five picture sales at the current Bank exhibition (payments for which will come via Ian). She also showed us the now complete patch picture from the Christmas party - we may arrange to have a gallery page where all available patch pictures could be placed. Don't forget to sign up for the planned coach trip to the Whistler exhibition on 12th February, which Jackie reminded us of. The cost is £16.

Next week It is Sandra's turn to take charge. Looking forward to it.

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thursday 3rd January, with Sally P.

3/1/2019

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It felt good to put Christmas and New Year aside and get back to ‘work’ at a regular Thursday meeting with fellow artists. It seems to me that you can soon get out of practice, even after quite a short break. But Sally provided lots of great things to practise on. For still life there was a choice of the red and gold set-up in anticipation of Chinese New Year (5th February), or the natural world set-up presenting all sorts of textures and colours, from a fox’s skull to flints, cones, logs and plants. For the model Sally posed herself, looking very elegant - and I loved the washing-up bowl. Great prop!

Unfortunately, Sally had to announce that next week’s acrylic workshop has had to be cancelled as Sally Hirst has had an injury to her foot. We wish her a speedy recovery. Multiple suggestions instead: bring something for a still life; plan or work on your “birds” picture for the exhibition in March, work on the Chairman's Project (Inheritance), or work on any other project you like. And see Ian about refunds.

Some sketches below.
Click to enlarge images

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thursday 13th December, eag Christmas party

13/12/2018

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It’s pantomime time again! Oh, no it isn’t! Oh, yes it is. Oh, NO it isn’t We shall see later ….

Welcome mince pies and coffees greeted us on arrival and Diana had provided her traditional quiz boards to keep us entertained. How knowledgeable Diana is about art and what a lot of work must go into her preparations! Click on the questions to enlarge them and you can also download the files with the answers if you want.

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Wait! Eye Arts Guild to the rescue!!! In no time at all a whole herd of animals was created, following Emily’s sample and instructions, and using vast quantities of newspaper, sticky tape and sundry other items. Yes, THIS was the pantomime.

Exhausted from these efforts, we found the bar open for some pre-lunch refreshment.

Enter Father Christmas, aka Richard, along with his two tireless helpers, Emily and Beth. He was in a bad way, bemoaning the fact that he had no reindeers to deliver his presents. “It’s going to be a disastrous night” says he.

Sally P then presented this year’s patch picture (somewhat incomplete as one of us had failed to turn up with their patch!) However, it was interesting just the same, and here is also a copy of the original, complete. It is a late 15th centry painting by Hieronymus Bosch, “Death and the Miser”. More can be found out about this interesting picture via Google, or from Sally’s book.

Some rousing music was provided by Avril’s husband, who entered in full Scottish regalia, playing the bagpipes. We then all joined in the singing of Christmas carols accompanied by Adrian, interspersed with renditions of poems by Guild members. Ian really brought his tale to life, and Irene’s accent lent itself perfectly to the tale of The Lion and Albert.

Adrian Beatty kindly performed as our music master and finished with a rousing accompaniment to “We wish you a Merry Christmas…” on the accordian.

The lunch buffet comprised no end of different dishes, all provided by members, and their deliciousness was clearly highly appreciated by all.

Many thanks, as always, to the committee who organised everything. Sally P paid special thanks to Les for his brilliant pantomimes of previous years, which personal matters had prevented him from repeating this year. Next year perhaps …..?

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.
See you on 3rd January.

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thursday 6th December, Hilary's session

6/12/2018

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Hilary produced Malcolm to be our model today, looking pukka in his leather jacket and orange trousers. Look at the variety of approaches below, including the use of printed fabric and paper as a background, and in another case the use of black ink. For the still life we had a variey of interesting pots, some squash and vegetables. I noticed one wit put the title “just a potty exercise” on one of the pencilled drawings! But I hope you agree that the results showed much more than potty exericses. (Click to enlarge images.)

Christmas party time next week. I look forward to seeing you all at ten or soon after.

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thursday 29th november, Harriet's session

29/11/2018

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We had a pretty full room today. Harriet provided plenty of challenge with plant life and fruits for our still life artists, while her husband Dave posed as our model for the rest of us. This resulted in some good work, I think you’ll agree, and it was interesting to see members experimenting with a variety of mediums and styles.

Click images to enlarge them.

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thursday 22nd november, printing with lesley

22/11/2018

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A shutdown of the gas supply in Eye last week seems to have had more lasting repurcussions for the Bowls Club. Clad in extra jumpers and with stray heaters dotted about, members set to work on their printing session. Lesley had the usual array of Gelli plates, rollers, trays and more for us to share, as well as examples of work she had done. What a wonderful effort Les makes to prepare for these printing sessions, which are clearly much appreciated.!
The resulting work varied from bold and colourful to gentle, rhythmic, complex, simple - as you will see below.

Click to enlarge images.

Lesley even kindly brought in some very exotic looking squash for two lonely still lifers.

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thursday 15th november, jackie's session

15/11/2018

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Jackie gave us two very interesting, differently coloured, and seasonal, still life set ups, and a lively model, dressed with panache as a flamenco dancer, with all the poise of her costume. I think it's fair to say that she gave those who drew her a thorough workout, as I think the pictures below demonstrate.

Lesley had a list of materials for the printing session next week, which you will find on the 'Messages from Members' page. There won't be a still life set up, but if you don't want to try the printing (which sounds very interesting), please feel free to bring something to draw or paint with you.
The images below show her practicing what we might do next week - hope it whets your appetite!

Diana put out a plea for quirky questions (with the answer) to add to her Christmas Quiz. Yes, it's nearly that time of year again! So if you have an idea, let her know.

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thursday 8th November, John shave's workshop

8/11/2018

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John demonstrating

Work in progress

Demo complete

Framed!

Painting a landscape in oils.
It was so interesting to watch John Shave’s demonstration and at the same time hear him say what he was trying to do and how he was achieving it. Right from the start he stressed the need to look for the darkest darks and lightest lights and think how the composition was going to work. Getting colour into the darks was important, as well as repeating them in lighter areas.
He also talked about brushes (quite cheap ones are useful too), paints (student quality oils, though not so pigment rich as artists quality, are still good for most purposes), also about thinners, canvases, scumbling, glazing, brush strokes and more. All helpful and reassuring advice!

After the coffee break we were all very keen to get started on our own landscape paintings. John had a large selection of photos to choose from as subjects. From what I could see, members were benefiting greatly from John’s individual advice on our work as he went round. And at the end, I thought his critiques were helpful and inspiring for all of us.

Our members excelled themselves and the resulting artwork was great. You get a gallery view today, so click on individual pictures to see them in full then scroll through them.

I’ll miss you all next Thursday as I have another commitment but Hannah will be doing the blog.

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Thursday 1st November, Avril's session

1/11/2018

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For the still life Avril presented boots and shoes, or plants and booze (oh, no, the bottles were empty!) with some delightful results. See below.

For the model, she presented her husband, and we started off at a rattling pace with three ten-minute poses. Bearing in mind he was dressed in full cycling gear and posed complete with pro-looking bike, we had our work cut out. A twenty-minute pose followed, then a whole hour after the break - without bike. I don’t know about you, but I often feel I would like to start all over again, bearing in mind some lessons I have learnt along the way, and do things rather differently - be more focussed. However, I would probably end up making all the same mistakes!

Sally announced that anyone who has not yet brought in a picture for the Earsham Wetlands exhibition can still do so next week. Also, there are still some places left on John Shave’s workshop on landscapes in oils, so do come if you can.