Month: July 2026

The Friars, Aylesford, Kent – July 2026 – Saturday

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Last Saturday we didn’t meet at the hall in Chalk, we visited The Friars at Aylesford, Kent for an en plein air drawing and painting day. 20 members came along and Sue’s friend Annick from France also painted with us, using watercolours for the first time, which is quite an achievement.

The Friars is spread over a large area so some sat with a friend and others with a larger group. It was a hot, sunny day but we all found shade under trees by the pond, in the Great Courtyard, the Rosary Way and near the main shrine. When the sun moved and our chosen spots became warmer we changed to a different area and the gentle breeze kept us cool. Most of the photos were taken by Tracy, but thank you to Gloria and Jane who also took photos. Most people had their photos taken but apologies to Pat and Graham as Tracy didn’t find where you were painting during the day!

During the day we drew and painted what was in front of us using watercolours, pen and ink, graphite pencils and coloured pencils. Some pictures are finished and others will be completed at home. Vikki had the brilliant idea of asking a gardener to pose for a photo before starting to paint her. Some members created 3 or more sketches or painted more than one picture so it was a very productive day

The Friars is a peaceful place to visit with beautiful grounds to walk around and quiet areas for prayer and contemplation. They also offer overnight stays if you want a retreat from the chaos of every day life. Some of us were quite tempted to stay for a few days!

It’s free to visit for all faiths or none, with a £2 donation for parking. There’s a good cafe serving hot and cold food and drink.

The Friars website for more info… https://www.thefriars.org.uk/home

Here’s a surfeit of photos because around every corner was another beautiful view.

Thank you for your company, it was a really enjoyable day!

Our whip round raised just over £70 which was taken to the office and more was raised as some members paid their donation to the box in the car park or at the cafe. Thank you all.

Our next session is on Wednesday 12th August 7-9pm back at the hall in Chalk.

David Hockney – July 2026 – Wednesday

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Our evening session on a blazing hot day saw only 9 artists attend the session, but what we lacked in numbers we made up for with enthusiasm for David Hockney! Also painting with us was Christina’s friend, Sharon, who we hope enjoyed the session and will join us again.

The long life of David Hockney and his thousands of drawings and paintings gave us adequate reference material. Many pictures are works in progress and will be finished at home. Most members drew to this theme apart from the last picture.

We start with Jackie’s super painting. She drew a tree at Shorne Country Park with water soluble graphite pencils then painted the subject in the style of David Hockney, using a couple of reference pictures.

Good work, everyone, it was a very interesting subject and some of us will look further into Hockney’s life and works.

Our next session will be at The Friars, Aylesford on Saturday 25th July from 10am to 3pm.

Peta’s paintings

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At last weekend’s workshop Peta came along too and sat quietly by the big window to paint her own pictures.

She begins by intricately drawing the subjects then adding colourful watercolours for all the details.

Lovely work, Peta!

July 2026

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Wednesday 8th – 7-9pm – David Hockney

The recent death of one of the most significant and influential artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, British artist David Hockney, resulted in many articles about him online, in newspapers, magazines, on the news and several programmes on tv.

One article said that David grew up during WWII and post war years and he originally painted with oils, but found them and his birthplace, Bradford, very dreary. He moved to the US in his 20s and his world exploded with bright colours in permanent sunlight and his love of radiant acrylics and California began. In his later years he returned to Yorkshire and embraced photography and painting digitally on his iPad.

Many of the group have seen his paintings in galleries and exhibitions.

– Use any of David’s paintings as a reference and recreate it.

– Use any painting as reference and design your own picture but in his style.

– If you prefer portraits then draw or paint David at any time of his life.

– Use your iPad or tablet to paint digitally.

Here is his official website with many paintings and info… www.hockney.com/home

Wiki page… https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Hockney

Saturday 25th July – 10am to 3pm – The Friars, Aylesford

We don’t meet at the hall two Saturdays a year in the summer. This year we will try one different place to meet not too far from Chalk and see if there’s a good response.

Many of you have probably visited the priory to attend a service or walk around the grounds, but this time come and enjoy the peaceful surroundings to draw and paint what you see.

The Friars is free to visit with a suggested car parking donation of £2. There’s a tea room and shop, toilets, a large pond, the great courtyard, the main shrine with lots of seating, a rosary walk and rooms to go in if they’re not in use. You’re asked to be quiet at the shrine and rosary walk as they are places for prayer and contemplation and there will be a mass at noon. There may be pilgrims visiting so please be aware of them.

There are benches all around the grounds but take a folding chair if you want to sit elsewhere and there are a few places to shelter if it rains.

We need to inform the office how many artists will be visiting, so please email Tracy asap if you’d like to put your name down.

If you can’t make it all day, come for a couple of hours, or if you don’t drive, bribe your other half to take you for part of the session while they have a walk around and have a coffee in the tea room!

The Friars website… www.thefriars.org.uk/home

Map of the grounds… www.thefriars.org.uk/Plan+your+visit/Map+of+the+Grounds

There will be a theatre production in a field there in the afternoon, but as we’re arriving in the morning there should be plenty of parking for us.