Dot’s penguin painting

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!

Spring Flowers – April 2026 – Wednesday

Eleven members met on Wednesday evening and most drew and painted to the theme of Spring Flowers.

It was a very colourful session with beautiful flowers painted in watercolours, acrylics and also with coloured pencils. The black backgrounds work well don’t they? Good to see a couple of vases with flowers for a still life approach. The last two photos are paintings from previous sessions and other art groups.

Other artists created picture to their own theme. Vikki’s super black dog picture in coloured pencils is finished and for a friend.

Lovely work, everyone, do finish your paintings at home!

The next session is the ink/watercolour workshop on Saturday 25th April from 10am to 3 pm.

All twenty spaces are taken and two people are on the waiting list. If you’re booked in and your plans change, please let Tracy know ASAP and your place can be taken by someone on the waiting list. Thanks.

‘Portraits’ – Annual Competition – March 2026 – Saturday

Twenty members met on Saturday to start or continue drawing and painting for our annual competition, this year on ‘Portraits’. Our competitions are friendly affairs and not fiercely contended so there was lots of chatter throughout the day over a cuppa and biscuits.

At the end of the session sixteen portraits were entered and after studying all the pictures we all voted for our favourite one. After counting there was a clear winner with two paintings tied for runner-up. After another round of voting and counting we had the second placed picture.

Here are the portrait entries of family members and famous people…

The runner-up was Susan with her pencil study of Devon based sculptor Peter Randall-Page, RA. The portrait was in pencil with delicate marks and bold strokes defining Peter’s face. Well done, Susan!

The winner was Mary with her portrait of Keith Richards from the Rolling Stones. Painted with energy and positive mark-making the portrait was bold and outstanding. Well done, Mary, we loved your painting!

Other artists painted to their own themes or didn’t enter the portrait competition. Some are works in progress and will be finished at home…

Well done everyone, you rose to the challenge with your amazing paintings!

Look out for the next newsletter on Wednesday 1st April, with the next session on Wednesday 8th April from 7-9pm.

Jackie’s finished paintings

Jackie has finished three paintings from previous sessions. The Year of the Fire Horse picture was painted in acrylics with several layers of paint being used on black paper, giving a great impression of the heat and brightness of fire.

People in Winter was painted in watercolours, with the colourful sound waves above the people being listened to by the young lad in headphones. What a clever idea!

Jackie sketched this wintery landscape at Shorne Country Park then painted it in watercolours. With a great depth of field, one could walk straight into this landscape and follow the meandering path deeper into the woods.

Well done, Jackie, your pictures are beautifully painted!

Portraits – March 2026 – Wednesday

Fifteen artists attended the Wednesday evening session, including Denise’s granddaughter, Sophie, who painted with us to see if she’d would like to join the group.

Most members began their portrait drawings and paintings in readiness for our annual competition, to be held at the next session.

Other members drew, painted and cut paper to their own themes.

Our next session will be on Saturday 28th March from 10am to 3pm.

People in Winter – February 2026 – Saturday

The hall was abuzz with chatter and laughter on Saturday with 26 members attending the session. The suggested subject of People in Winter was popular and everyone worked industriously on their pictures.

Some members were inspired by the Winter Olympic Games in Milan/Cortina in Italy. If you enjoyed watching the events, don’t forget to watch the Paralympic Games which start on Friday 6th March

Some paintings are finished and others are works in progress. There are so many interpretations of the subject, it’s interesting to see all the themes.

Some artists drew and painted their own themes. Sandra’s stoat is beautifully drawn in many colours and looks a cheeky chappy.

Paintings from previous sessions on Animals in Winter and the Chinese New Year of the Fire Horse were worked on and some completed.

Fantastic artwork, everyone, you did so well this month!

Our next session is on Wednesday 11th March from 7-9pm when we start drawing and painting for our annual competition.

Chinese New Year of the Fire Horse – February 2026 – Wednesday

Fourteen members met on Wednesday evening and one artist worked at home. The Chinese New Year of the Fire Horse begins next week and happens only once every 60 years.

The subject was popular and it was challenging to draw and paint not only a horse, but fire too. We used coloured pencils, pastel pencils, watercolours and acrylics to achieve the depth of colour needed for the flames. Most are works in progress. When finished, please bring them along to the next session.

Other artists drew and painted their own themes, which we are always interested to see. Special mention to Patrick who used coloured pencils to draw a scene from the life of Pocahontas.

Lovely work everyone!

Our next session is on Saturday 28th February from 10am to 3pm.

Animals in Winter – January 2026 – Saturday

Twenty two artists met at the hall last Saturday, whilst one poorly artist painted at home then sent in photos of her pictures. It was a lovely relaxing day with arty friends catching up with each other over a cuppa and biscuits. To all members ill with this sore throat/cough bug, get better soon!

The suggested subject of ‘Animals in Winter’ was a popular one and several artists produced two pictures during the day. There were squirrels, highland cattle, foxes, squirrels, deer, birds, puffins, a snow leopard, hares, butterflies, a rabbit, ladybirds, a dormouse and robins. Several different mediums were used, such as watercolours, soft pastels, graphite pencils, acrylics, coloured pencils and inks. Some pictures are finished and others are works in progress, such as a landscape waiting for the animal to be added. The last 5 pictures were created at another art group but are of the same subject.

Some artists chose their own themes to draw and paint with pencils, pastels and watercolours.

Well done, everyone, it was a very productive day!

Ideas for next month will be published on 1st February and the next session will be on Wednesday 11th February from 7-9pm.

Jane Austen – November 2025 – Wednesday

Ten members came along to Wednesday evening’s session and enjoyed painting together and having a chat over biscuits and a cuppa.

The suggested subject was Jane Austen as this year is the 250th anniversary of her birth. Unfortunately it was not a popular subject with only one member having a go. The picture took a long time to draw out so only a little watercolour paint was added at the session and it will be finished at home.

Other artists drew and painting to their own subjects with many themes started or continued in watercolours, acrylics and coloured pencils.

Our next meeting is on Friday 21st November 7-9pm when we hang all the paintings for our Open Day on Saturday 22nd November. It’s a normal timed session from 10am to 3pm, with visitors from 10.30am to 2.30pm.

Please email Steve asap with details of all your paintings! Thank you :o)