Our plans to return to the King’s Orchard, the private gardens behind Rochester Cathedral, were thwarted by the very heavy rain that fell for hours on Saturday. A huge thank you to Kay who got permission for us to draw in the cathedral instead, where we were based on tables in the north transept right by the stone rood screen. Some members used their folding chairs to sit by the tall columns in the nave.

Nine members came along and we were also joined by Ron’s two very polite and well behaved granddaughters aged 7 and his son-in-law. A whip round collected £40 and this was gift aided so £50 will be received by the cathedral.

We were initially disappointed not to paint outside but we all thoroughly enjoyed our day inside being creative. Annoyingly it finally stopped raining as the last two members left the cathedral at 2.45pm!

We couldn’t use any paint or water inside the cathedral so everyone sketched using dry mediums of pencils, coloured pencils, charcoal and pens. Most members drew the architecture and views around them but as usual we don’t mind at all if you come along to a session and ‘do your own thing’, so a giraffe and highland cow join the gallery. We start off with the girls’ pictures, including a super picture of Grandad Ron…

A few months ago some members embossed metal scales for a project at the cathedral. 12500 scales now adorn the Draco Roffensis dragon sculpture that is hanging above the nave. Here are photos of the sculpture and views in and around the cathedral.

The cathedral’s website with lots of info if you want to visit… www.rochestercathedral.org

Thank you to everyone who braved the weather, we had a good day!

The next session is back at Chalk Parish Hall on Wednesday 11th September from 7-9pm.

It was lovely to see ten members at the session, all eager to try their hand at drawing and painting horses, which we all thought was quite a challenge. The session was inspired by the birth of George Stubbs 300 years ago this month and his extraordinary paintings of horses in Georgian Britain. His most famous painting is ‘Whistlejacket’ in The National Gallery in London where visitors admire the horse’s perfectly formed body against a plain background so nothing distracts from the horse himself.

A good start was made with the pictures and hopefully they’ll be finished at home. Patrick finished his pencil drawing inspired by an old postcard.

Kay was disappointed not to come to the session as she loves horses. At home she found her sketching book which she had begun at just 5 years old and continued with until her mid teens. The pyrography was done when she was 14 and the last image was painted a couple of years ago as a gift for a friend of her own horse.

Lovely work everyone, do try the subject again!

Details of our visit to Rochester Cathedral on Saturday 24th August will be sent in a couple of days. Do email Tracy asap if you want to come along too.

Here’s what we’ll be up to in August but as usual you can draw or paint anything you’d like to.

Wednesday 14th August – 7-9pm –   Horses – inspired by George Stubbs 

English artist George Stubbs (August 1724-1806) revolutionised the drawing and painting of horses as he studied their anatomy in great detail. Without doubt the most important painter of horses in the 18th century his paintings are in galleries worldwide. Stubbs’ most famous horse painting is ‘Whistlejacket’ in the National Gallery in London and is the most asked-for painting by visitors.

Using any medium draw or paint a horse or horses in detail, either the whole body, just the head and neck or any part.

Here are details about George Stubbs and gallery websites of his paintings and drawings…

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Stubbs

https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/artists/george-stubbs

https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/george-stubbs-538

https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/art-artists/name/george-stubbs-ara

Saturday 24th August – from 10am to 3pm –   Rochester Cathedral’s private gardens

We will be meeting in the King’s Orchard, the private gardens behind Rochester Cathedral, for this month’s outdoor session. We first visited these gardens two years ago when Kay gained permission for us to sit and enjoy the gardens whilst either painting the view or painting your own idea.

There are a couple of benches but not enough for everyone so you’ll need to bring a chair to sit on. You’ll also need to bring your own water container and lunch, but hopefully the cafe in the crypt will be open if you fancy eating there. The Cathedral are not charging us to use the gardens so we will be having a collection on the day.

A few months ago some of our members pressed patterns on to copper, silver and gold coloured metal scales which now adorn the dragon flying above the nave… https://mcartgroup.wordpress.com/2024/05/12/decorating-dragon-scales/

Hopefully we will be able to see Draco Roffensis on the day… https://www.rochestercathedral.org/dragon

Please email Tracy asap if you would like to attend or not, as we need to know names for the lanyards that must be worn at all times.

Further details about dropping off your art equipment and parking information will be sent by email nearer the time.

Here’s the session from August 2022 on the blog… https://mcartgroup.wordpress.com/2022/08/29/rochester-cathedral-august-2022-saturday/