portraits

Open Day – Saturday 26th September 2026

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This year we moved our annual Open Day from cold, wet November to September, in the hope of better weather for visitors and it was a warm, sunny day.

17 artists painted in the hall whilst our paintings were on the walls all around or in browsers. We welcomed about 36 friends, family, local residents and people who had seen the Open Day advertised on social media and in the village.

We enjoyed the day drawing and painting and chatting to visitors and many commented that it’s really interesting to see artists at work whilst they enjoyed walking around the exhibition.

Words from visitors in the comments book included…

“Impressed with art as usual – well done.” “Truly wonderful!!!” “Really impressive work. Thank you.” “So interesting to see all the different mediums and styles.” “Lovely work.” “Some really beautiful paintings. Very talented people!!!” “Amazing work here – we love coming every year. Thank you!” “Some lovely pictures . Lovely to see the artists working.” “I am speechless, everything is amazing.”

75 framed paintings were on the walls with 6 sold, 1 each by Vikki and Jane and 2 each by Mary and Susan.

In the browsers were 40 mounted pictures, with 10 sold. 2 each by Dot and Angela D and 6 by Susan. This is an Open Day record, well done, Susan, you paint beautiful pictures!

Thank you to everyone who helped with hanging on Friday evening and a HUGE thank you to members who kept tea, coffee and biscuits supplied to visitors on the day. Also for washing up and drying the crockery and cutlery. We couldn’t run the day without your help and enthusiasm!

Here are all the framed paintings from the day. (Apologies for the reflections on some paintings from the lights and windows.)

Look out on 1st October for details of the next sessions on Wednesday 14th October 7-9pm and Saturday 24th October 10am-3pm.

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)

‘Portraits’ – Annual Competition – March 2026 – Saturday

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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.

Portraits – March 2026 – Wednesday

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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.

Portraits – The Diversity of Humanity – May 2025 – Saturday

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Twenty members attended the session with the suggested subject being to draw or paint a portrait of a person of a different ethnicity to themselves. It was a busy session with lots of work being produced, along with cuppas and biscuits and natter as usual.

It was pleasing to see that several people used pastels to create their portrait, using techniques learned at the workshop, as well as watercolours, acrylics and inks. Most are finished but some are works in progress.

Cynthia finished her Lynx from the workshop and it’s absolutely beautiful. The lynx’s coat looks real with the highlights the hairs. Well done!

Other members continued with their wild animals from last month or drew and painted to their own theme.

Great work everyone, it was a good, productive session.

Our next session is on Wednesday 11th June from 7-9pm.

Portraits – May 2025 – Wednesday

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Fourteen members enjoyed two hours together being creative by drawing and painting portraits. After our recent soft pastel workshop it was good to see several artists using pastels for their portraits and pictures.

Some drew their grandchildren whilst others used images available online. There are a couple of finished portraits and the others will be completed at home or at the next Saturday session.

Some members drew and painted their own subjects.

Lovely to see so many at the session to have a good natter with! Please send any finished pastel animals or portraits to Tracy for putting on the blog. Thank you :o)

Our next session is on Saturday 24th May from 10am to 3pm with the subject being ‘The Diversity of Humanity’.

May 2025

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Hope you’re enjoying the warmer weather but not getting too hot. Lovely to set up your drawing and painting equipment in the garden to enjoy the fine weather.

If you didn’t pay your yearly subs all in one go at the beginning of the year the next payment of £28 is due at the beginning of this month, which cover the next four months. Please see previous emails from Steve of how to pay this amount. Thank you :o)

This month the suggested subject is for both the Wednesday and the Saturday sessions, but with a slight difference. But if you prefer your own subject that’s absolutely fine.

Wednesday 14th – 7-9pm – Portraits

Many of you love drawing and painting portraits but lots of us find portraits very challenging! Choose any person, male or female, child or adult and create your picture in any medium. Don’t do the whole figure but head and shoulders or just the head.

VE Day 80th anniversary commemorations are on next week so maybe draw or paint a portrait of military personnel, men or women from that time, or their portrait when older.

Info about next week from the VE80 website… www.ve80.com

Saturday 24th – 10am to 3pm – Portraits – the Diversity of Humanity

Using any medium draw or paint any man, woman or child who is not of your ethnicity.

The United Nations had an exhibition in 2019 called ‘The World in Faces – One People. One World. One Love’ with 30 photographs by artist photographer Alexander Khimushin and it’s now available to view online… www.un.org/en/exhibits/exhibit/world-in-faces

Further photos have been released by the photographer (some are duplicates)… www.boredpanda.com/the-world-in-faces-project-diversity-of-the-world-through-the-portraits-of-its-people/fbclid=IwY2xjawKAht9leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFDaUR3REtMRURXaFpXcnEyAR5k7hAnY3_nciwzfFwGSW_LgzyszKfwOtWswTviSFqCz5qD_JUGqO37qxTjAg_aem_R2FkZVAoRtWERVULE-3ypQ

Alexander Khimushin’s website… www.khimushin.com

They’re amazing photos but bring your own reference photos along if you prefer.

If you can’t come to the sessions but want to try the subjects at home, please send photos of your pictures to Tracy or Steve for putting on this blog.