After our successful Open Day last month, it’s back to our usual creative sessions.

October means it’s annual Inktober time again. Started by US illustrator Jake Parker in 2009, Inktober is a worldwide event for artists of all abilities to improve their drawing habits.

A quote on the Inktober website says “Anyone can do Inktober, just pick up a pen and start drawing.”

Some artists do large, detailed pictures whilst others do small, loose sketches. Divide a couple of pages in a sketchbook into small squares or use Post-It notes and draw with a biro. It’s an easy way to sketch every day, or if you’re busy during the week do several sketches at the weekend.

More details on the website – www.inktober.com

Here are the daily prompts for Inktober 2026…

If you do this challenge please send photos of your sketches to Tracy to put on the blog.

Wednesday 14th 7-9pm – Paint on a Pumpkin

Not paint a pumpkin, but paint ON a pumpkin. Acrylic paint works best as it sticks to the surface. Paint an autumnal scene, animals or something Hallowe’en themed on a pumpkin. A few small pumpkins will be available to paint on, or if you’d prefer to use a large one please bring your own.

Another idea is to use a black Sharpie pen and draw Zentangle patterns on the pumpkin to create simple or elaborate patterns.

Saturday 24th 10am – 3pm – Black and White

When members were asked last year for ideas to do at sessions, one idea suggested several times was to create pictures in black and white.

Any subject – portraits, landscapes, urban scenes, animals, abstracts etc.

Use black ink, charcoal, graphite pencils 8B and upwards, black coloured pencils, black paint or black pastels on white paper. Or any white medium on black paper. Be BOLD!

If you prefer Wednesday’s paint on a pumpkin idea then please bring your own pumpkin to draw and paint on.

Please read everything as there’s lots of info!

Subs of £30 are due for the rest of 2026. Steve will email members who are due to pay. If you don’t get an email then you’re paid up for this year.

Here are the dates of our next meetings-

Wednesday 9th September – 7-9pm – finish paintings

Friday 25th September – 7-9pm – hanging evening

Saturday 26th September – 10am-3pm – Open Day 

(Visitors from 10.30am to 2.30pm)

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Please email Steve ASAP with how many framed paintings you will be hanging for our Open Day (up to 6), along with their names, medium and prices or NFS (Not For Sale). 

The poster for Open Day has been emailed to everyone. Please print some out and pop a poster in your local library and shops and/or screenshot it and pass the info to friends and family. Share it to your social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, X, Threads etc.

If you’re a member of another art group, a sports club, U3A, WI etc, please send a copy of the poster to your secretary and ask them to forward it to all members.

Passing on details of the Open Day this way gets the day heard about. Local Facebook and Instagram groups will also be contacted.

On Open Day you don’t have to hang your paintings on the walls or in the browsers if you’d prefer not to, it’s not compulsory. We call it Open Day as we open the hall so visitors can see what we paint at our sessions. It’s also a good way of showing the group to people looking for a local art group to join. If you have interested friends or family please ask them to visit.

If you aren’t showing your paintings that’s fine, please come along and enjoy a day of painting. 

Wednesday 9th – 7-9pm –  finish paintings

A useful couple of hours to finish any drawings or paintings for Open Day, or spend the time mounting and framing your artwork.

Friday 25th September – 7-9pm  – Hanging Evening

Mounted pictures – any number for the browsers but they must be for sale, all labelled front or back. There won’t be a list of mounted work, so keep a record yourself of which ones you bring along. 

Framed paintings – up to 6 and not too big to hang from the hooks. No clip frames please as they easily break. Use D rings or reversed mirror plates and cord across the back with a label hanging down below the frame or on the front with your name, name of the picture, medium and the price or NFS.

The details must be seen from the front when the paintings are on the walls, the info is no good written on the back!

If you need insurance for your artwork then please make sure it’s in place for today and tomorrow.

From 7pm drop off your paintings or stay and help hang them all up. Please bring scissors to cut the hanging cord.

If you can’t come on hanging evening then please arrange for someone else to bring your artwork. 

Saturday 26th – 10am – 3pm –  Open Day

***** Visitors welcome 10.30am to 2.30pm *****

We open our doors and invite friends, family and Chalk locals to come and see our artwork.  Please don’t be upset if you don’t sell anything.  It’s lovely to welcome people into the hall to talk about art and painting. 

There’s no set subject, just bring along something to paint during the day.  No raffle today as it’s too busy, but don’t forget your lunch.

So no one gets stuck in the kitchen for hours please take your turn making teas and coffees for visitors, even if you don’t know them, and also wash and dry up the cups and saucers. Please wash up the teaspoons too as they don’t wash themselves ;o)

Membership – If any visitors want information about becoming a member please talk to them about the group then take them to Steve who can answer any questions and take their details.

Sales – If anyone is interested in buying a framed or mounted picture please take them to Tracy for payment. We don’t have a card reader for debit or credit cards, it’s cash only.

Enjoy the day!

For our second outdoor session of the summer fifteen members met at Chalk Church for a few hours. The weather was very pleasant with a sunny blue sky and a few clouds. We drew and painted under the trees and with a steady breeze some members wore cardigans and light jackets as it was lovely and cool in the shade.

We enjoyed each other’s company and chatted away for hours. With the recent heatwaves the grass was brown in the gardens and orchard and the pond water low, but with enough water for pond-dwelling creatures. Thank you for donations of nearly £50 for church funds :o)

Most artists sketched the view in front of them and two members painted to their own theme.

Good work everyone, it was a very enjoyable day with good company!

Look out for next month’s sessions published on 1st September with all the details for hanging evening on Friday 25th and Open Day on Saturday 26th September.

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

On a very warm evening 9 members attended after a slightly later start. We all took advantage of some Solar Eclipse glasses to watch, from a perfect vantage point, the partial eclipse of the sun. It was super to share that moment together.

The subject for the evening was Cacti

Some members chose to ‘do their own thing’

Thank you to everyone who pitched in to help set up and clear away the tables and chairs. Also thanks to the members who were unable to attend but let me know beforehand, it enabled us to put out the correct number of tables.

Well done all.

Our next meeting is on the 22nd August in the grounds of Chalk Church between 10am and 3pm but if you just want to come along for just a few hours that is fine. There will be tea, coffee, soft drinks and biscuits as usual. We usually have a collection to give to the Church as a little thank you for the use of the grounds and facilities. We will still meet even if it is raining as there is ample cover on site.