Autumn Term week 1
Date: 1st and 2nd October 2024
Tutor: Rob and Sian
Harbour House : First Floor Studio
Free Painting
what to bring
Enthusiasm! The start of a new term is full of promise…bring along your ideas for what you hope to achieve this term.
THIS Week: INTRODUCTION to the theme for the term
This week we will be introducing the time for the term, and discussing some of the directions we wish to take it in.
We will also hope to discuss with each of you what you would like to achieve this term, and encourage you to make a note of your intentions, maybe in your sketchbook. Try to think not in terms of specific gaols to be achieved by Christmas, but more of the direction you would like your art to take this term.
image of the Week
Image of the week
Japonica, Chiddingstone 1910
Charles Rennie Mackintosh
Watercolour and pencil
I am a great admirer of CRM’s watercolour flower paintings, and was over the moon to see one in the flesh last week during a visit to the Mackintosh House in Glasgow. Although the paper seemed to have suffered a little with the passage of time, the colours were still bright. On close examination ( as usual I had my nose right up to the painting) I could see just how delicate and confident the line drawing was … no sign of rubbing out! The simplicity of this drawing belies the acute observation of the flowers themselves; botanically accurate yet arranged in a pleasing composition. Note how the flowers are drawn in their entirety, as though CRM has ignored the fact that they overlap, and that the colour has been applied to balance the composition. Wonderful ! Siân
weekly sketching challenge
If you are not already in the habit of drawing regularly spend some time this week thinking about how you could make this a really easy habit to acquire, and set yourself up to make sure it is. Suggestions:
Keep a drawing tool handy; anything from charcoal ( ugh, messy in yer handbag) to a biro will do.
Lose the idea you need a sketchbook handy; any old scrap of paper will do. In the olden days, when we took a daily newspaper, Siân used to do a day sketch in the margin.
Remember you don’t have to keep these sketches. It is the process of active looking that is important for improving your skills. If you do one on the back of an envelope you like you could pop it in a folder or stick it in a sketch book later.
You could be really organised and keep a little sketch book and pencil somewhere handy, e.g. next to the kettle, or in a handbag or coat pocket.
If you are already in this habit, make a quick sketch everyday, and if you feel you could, bring them to class next week to encourage everyone else. The encouragement is particularly effective if you are not that happy with them, but can say whether you enjoyed doing them, or what is right/wrong about them! Don’t worry you won't be expected to do a presentation to the class, maybe just offer to show them quietly over a coffee if people want to see them.
Quote of the week
“No painting is a failure. It is an experiment, a lesson or inspiration for the future.”
Anon
ArTIST (?) of the week
Autumn in Glencairn, Moniaive Oil on canvas. 102cm x 127cm
James Paterson (1854-1932)
In an all too brief visit to The Scottish National Gallery in Edinburgh last week Rob was transfixed by the painting you see picture here. As ever reproductions do not do justice to the original, which was breath-taking. Technically everything come together perfectly in this painting : his observational skills, colour, tone and brushwork are exquisite. The sharp detail in the foreground with softer blended forms in the distance convey a wonderful sense of space.
Paterson was known as one of The Glasgow Boys, although his work differed from the others. His preference was for painting landscape in which figures played a minor role.
Last updated: 11.12.23
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