acrylics
Summer learning
Our counterparts in the Society of Badneoch and Strathspey Artists are holding a week of free art classes in the Iona Gallery in Kingussie.
Subjects on offer include acrylic and watercolour painting, felting and weaving. And there’s even a class teaching how to make “fauxidermy” – needle felting to make a fake animal head trophy.
Organisers are trying to get an idea of numbers interested so they can ensure that there is enough material and equipment to go round and spaces in some classes may be limited.
Best of all, it’s in the school holidays so if you’re babysitting or have some children to entertain, this could be a welcome addition to the schedule. But children must be accompanied by an adult.
The climax of the event is a big exhibition of all the work created during the week
Anyone looking for more information should contact: calypsoart@btinternet.com
Fluffy cloud paintings
Lots more fun with the airbrush this week as we took on the challenge of painting light fluffy clouds into our landscapes.
Angus made it look easy but coordinating hand movement with releasing the switch on the airbrush was tricky to master.
But many members managed to get some clouds into their paintings, creating beautiful skies – as you can see from our pictures below. We also learnt that spraying white ink onto a painting can disguise a multitude of sins/problems!
Feb 8: A bit more airbrushing
Our foray into airbrushing techniques continues this week after a busy class last week.
On February 1, Angus gave a quick demonstration of how to use the equipment to achieve a misty effect. As a base, we painted bright skies, blending in horizontal sweeps to create a smooth transition from blue to white from the top of the paper to the middle. Then we added a mountain silhouette in a greyish-blue tone, taking the colour down a little way more.
Using the same horizontal sweep technique, we used the airbrush and added white mist to the bottom of the mountains, making it appear as if they are fading away. The landscape developed with more hills and trees, each receding into the mist.
There were lots of squeals of delight (and a few of surprise) as members got to grips with the workings of the airbrush. Space was cramped but everyone got a go and was concentrating hard! Hopefully we all avoided the blotchy effect that Angus demonstrated – although as you can see below, it did look quite pretty. Perhaps this will be a useful effect for someone’s work?
On February 8, we’ll continue the painting and maybe get onto doing clouds!
March 16: Committee meeting and a mystery activity
The session on Wednesday March 16 will include a committee meeting (the one which was postponed last week).
If anyone wishes to raise any issues, please contact Carol-Anne.
The rest of the class will be taking part in a special activity – group painting and textured acrylic. We don’t know quite what is going to happen but we’re looking forward to seeing the results!
The Old Spey Bridge Challenge
This week Angus challenged everyone to pick their favourite media and work from the same source. He chose the Old Spey Bridge at Grantown and provided a number of different views. Some showed the whole bridge, some just a section, while one photo even had ivy obscuring the structure almost entirely.
A busy class took to the task with gusto and there was huge variation in approach. Among the media on the go was pencil, pastel, acrylic, collage – two members even got their lino-cutting tools out. We’re looking forward to seeing how their prints turn out.
In an extra twist, at coffee break time everyone had a wonder round the room to look at other’s work. Then Angus opened up a discussion where people had to say a little bit about an element of someone’s work that they liked and how they thought it could improve their own piece. Despite a bit of embarrassment in having to speak out loud (it was like being back in school), everyone had some inciteful things to say. Many admired the freedom which people brought to their painting, while some wanted to emulate the tight detailed brickwork achieved in other works.
Feb 3 – Art group is back!
Now that we’re all rested after Christmas, it’s time to get our minds back into arty stuff.
Art group restarts on Wednesday February 3, when Angus will be telling us about the school’s new laser cutter. As a wee introductory exercise, he will be showing us how it can be used to make simple coasters for mugs etc.
Simple black and white line drawings with minimal shading work best, as you can see by Angus’s example.
On a different note, as you know, Gordon Crisell was a driving force in the Spey Art Group and was secretary for more than 25 years. He died last August, aged 89.
Gordon’s family has donated his art materials to the group and for some to be sold, with profits to go to club’s funds.
Liz Downie is custodian of the materials and will be bringing them to the first session on Wednesday.
Clarty painting
Had lots of fun making lots of lovely expressive pintings with the group today. Very impressed by the range of different works made with palette knives, rags and fingerpainting. Even more mess to be made next week when we’ll be paper casting!
Messy acrylic
We’re going to do one of these on Wednesday. Painting with rag, sponge and palette knife.
Landscape
We’ll be learning to do this on Wednesday! I’ve put a film showing how it’s done on angusgrantart.com as I can’t upload video to this site.
Spey Art Group 