Month: May 2026

Sir David Attenborough – May 2026 – Wednesday

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Fifteen members met on Wednesday evening with the suggested subject being Sir David Attenborough as he reached his 100 birthday last week. An event about his life was filmed at the Royal Albert Hall, London on his birthday and was broadcast on BBC1. If you missed it, it’s called ‘David Attenborough’s 100 years on Planet Earth’ and is currently on BBC iPlayer through your tv or online. Well worth watching.

Many portraits were started and one picture was inspired by David’s animal kingdom interest around the world. Mediums used were graphite pencils, coloured pencils, Quink ink, watercolours, acrylics and pastels. Some are finished but most are works in progress and will be finished at home .

Some artists drew and painted to their own theme, starting or continuing with their work. The first photo is of Sandra’s beautiful landscape using pastel pencils on Pastelmat paper with amazing attention to detail. Super work!

Well done everyone, it was a very productive evening.

The next session is on Saturday 23rd May from 10am to 3pm, see the post from 1st May for more info.

The follow was seen on Instagram. Given David’s long life and his decades of documentaries, is it a possibility? ;o)

Meopham Art Group Exhibition

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On next weekend is another local exhibition, this time by Meopham Art Group.

The scout hall in Meopham is up the left hand drive opposite Bartellas restaurant. The signpost says ‘Judson’s’ which is a hall on the left. The scout hall is on the right with plenty of free parking.

Dot’s penguin painting

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World Penguin Day is held annually on 25th April, coinciding with the northern migration of Adélie penguins. It is a day to educate about and appreciate all 18 different species of penguin.

Dot used acrylics to paint Emperor penguins and the picture measures an impressive 60cm x 50cm. Lovely use of bold colours for the sky, whilst also giving the impression of a very cold place. Well done, Dot!

May 2026

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Subs of £30 are due this month for the next 4 months if you didn’t pay for the whole year in one go. Please read Steve’s email that he sent to everyone yesterday. He will send individual emails to everyone who is due to pay £30. If you don’t hear from him, you have already paid for the whole year.

For our sessions in May, the recent portrait and ink sessions proved very popular so let’s continue these themes whilst we’re in the mood!

If you want to draw or paint to your own theme that’s absolutely fine, come along and enjoy the sessions with arty friends over a cuppa and biscuits.

Wednesday 13th – 7-9pm – Sir David Attenborough

Sir David Attenborough reaches 100 years old on 8th May. His presenting career began an incredible 72 years ago in 1954 and over the years his natural history programmes have informed and delighted millions.

Draw or paint Sir David at any time of his long life in any medium. Try using coloured inks or a cocktail stick and Quink for a loose portrait. Add any animals if you want to.

Saturday 23rd May – 10am to 3pm – Inks and watercolours

There are 5 Saturdays this month, so please note that we meet on the 4th one.

Follow on from the inspiring Victoria Wainwright’s workshop last month. If you didn’t come to the workshop please read the blog post to see what we did.

Many people said they had bottles of colours inks and Quink at home so bring them along. Or they can be bought reasonably from Amazon, Hobbycraft, The Range etc. Use pens too, either permanent or water soluble, for different effects.

Use inks, watercolours and pens loosely.

Finish or retry the pictures we did at the workshop. Doodling, small still life, birch trees and the fishing boat. Bring your own objects for a still life, either household kitchen objects or items that you think would make an interesting collection.

Or bring any reference pictures for a portrait, a rural or urban landscape, or any animal on land, sea or sky.

Use inks in a free and loose way to appreciate their fluidity or use watercolours wet in wet for colours to mix into each other. Use pen to highlight areas or to outline. Using Quink and cocktail sticks was a revelation, try that combination again.