Welcome Back Workshop

Members are reminded that the Welcome Back Workshop is on Wednesday 24th January 2018 when a Film will be shown. All members and guest are welcome.

Winter Programme

Members are advised that the Rayleigh Art Group Winter Programme starts again with a Workshop on Wednesday 13th September 2017. This will be followed by a Demonstration by Ian Deaves in Watercolour (subject to be advised) on Wednesday 27th September 2017 – a full list will be issued in the near future when it is finalised.

Members are also reminded that Subscriptions are due by the first Demonstration on Wednesday 27th September 2017 and this year will be £26, payable to Rayleigh Art Group. Members can pay Val Belverstone on the Workshop or Demonstration or send a cheque by post.

Workshop and Social Event

On Wednesday 26th July 2017 Rayleigh Art Group will be hosting a Workshop at the Cedars Centre, Castle Road, Rayleigh, commencing at 7:30pm to which all members are invited. An opportunity to exchange views and ideas, whilst painting whatever you choose in whatever medium you like.

Rayleigh Art Group will be holding a Summer Social Event at the Anchor Public House, Hullbridge on Wednesday 9th August 2017, from 6:00pm onwards.

All members and their guests are invited to come along and enjoy an evening of chatting, painting or even drinking, your choice.

Rayleigh Art Group Workshop

A reminder that on Wednesday 28th June 2017 there is a workshop hosted by Rayleigh Art Group at the Cedars Centre, Castle Road, Rayleigh, commencing at 7:30pm. All members are welcome to come along and enjoy an evening of painting, whilst having a friendly discussion with like minded colleagues, so why not come along? 

WORKSHOP WITH BRIAN COPPARD

We were told to bring any medium we fancied using together with an A3 size piece of paper, canvas etc.  So armed with all of this we all began to arrive at the hall in readiness of what exactly? We didn’t know…..

Brian had photocopied black and white prints of a man’s face and told us that we were to consider colour combinations and colour opposites and to, in the words of the ‘Frozen’ song, let it go!

Brian did a short demonstration using acrylic paints and dabbing colours not blending, he worked from the nose out and all the chatter began to stop and we were all deep in concentration from there on in.

It was a really fun evening, we worked in colours that I am sure probably non of us would have used and we all produced an image, possibly not quite like the photograph, but they were all really good and so very different from one another too.

Thank you Brian for another very interesting workshop.

Report and photos courtesy of Cathy Newton

Brian Coppard Workshop–Experimenting with Colour

Brian Coppard is doing a tutored workshop for us on the Wednesday 26th April. The title of this workshop is ‘Experimenting with Colour’ and as always, will be very informative with a short demonstration before we commence our own pictures.

You can work in any medium you wish but you do need to bring all your own equipment. You will also need to bring along a piece of paper or board, canvas or any other surface you fancy working on but in A3 size as a minimum.

If you would like to join in this workshop then please either get in touch with Val Belverstone or Colin Mossman to book in. Places are limited so first come, first served.

Look forward to seeing you there.

Welcome back workshop

Please be aware that the first workshop of the year is on Wednesday 25th January 2017. Members are reminded that the workshops take place in the Cedars Centre, Castle Road, Rayleigh and commence at 7.30pm through until about 10.00pm.

Colin Mossman will be showing a video by the artist Hazel Sloane for those who might be interested.

The workshops provide members with an opportunity to have a friendly chat with friends and like minded people, exchanging ideas and new opportunities. So why not come along to a workshop and not only enjoy an evening of painting with other members, but also have a cup of tea or coffee whilst chatting about all things related to painting or other items of interest.

Brian Coppard’s Workshop

Thirteen members of the Rayleigh Art Group decided to join in this popular workshop with Brian Coppard. Some of us knew from the beginning that it would be a challenging evening as water colour is not everyone’s first choice of medium.

We all started with a stretched piece of paper and were given a choice of picture to work from. The idea was to only pick out part of the picture to paint and using the watercolours and then gouache to fade some of the painting out.

All the photos to be worked from either had a window box of flowers or a balcony again with flowers on. We were only to use 2 colours, the choice to be ours, then the flowers could be done in the relevant colours.

After a quick pencil sketch we set too and  drew on the stretched paper then began to apply our paint, easy you may think. Well needless to say most of us will be trying again, so maybe not so easy.

The end result was good and we laid them all side by side for you all to see. It was a really good evening, plenty of concentration, then chat and laughter. An evening to enlist for if the opportunity arises again.

Some of the paintings produced

A big thank you to Brian, our very own President, always a great support to the club.

Report courtesy of Cathy Newton and Photo from Val Belverstone.

Brian Coppard’s Workshop 27/04/16

Brian Coppard will be holding a Workshop in Watercolour and Gouache, on Wednesday 27th April 2016. There are still a few places available for those who are interested, at a cost of £5.00 per head – to book a place contact Val Belverstone as soon as possible.

You will require a piece of Watercolour Paper (minimum size A4) preferably stretched beforehand if possible. You also will need tubes and pans of watercolour paints and white Gouache, although Brian will have a supply of Gouache for people to use if necessary.

The subject will be features in Italian Houses working from photocopies of photographs that Brian will be supplying.

Why not come and join us and learn something new!!

Demonstration by Michael McManus

On Wednesday 13th April 2016, Michael McManus will be demonstrating ‘A Figurative Street Scene’ in Watercolour – one not to miss!!

This will take place at the Cedars Centre, Castle Road, Rayleigh commencing at 7.30 pm. Members and their guests are welcome with a small charge.

Michael McManus

Michael McManus was born in a small village just outside Cambridge, and while at school, the only subject he was really interested in was art, particularly relief sculpture. He has done a variety of jobs throughout my life, none of which fulfil the creative side of his nature, and that’s probably why thirty years or so after leaving school, he thought he would take up art again. 

He began with acrylics and then moved on to oils, but he was never happy with his efforts. He realised he needed to learn the art of painting from the beginning again and enrolled in an art course at the local college. However, the only course available was for watercolour, so he thought he woul give it a go! 

From there on he was hooked on watercolour and he now paints exclusively in that medium. His style is direct application of paint with no overlay of washes as he believes this gives the finished painting the transparency so desired by many watercolour artists. 

He believes that anyone who is passionate enough about painting can learn to paint. It’s a continual learning experience, but very rewarding when it all comes together and you finish up with a painting you’re happy with. 

He runs a weekly watercolour class, and also do occasional day workshops for art groups. 

His subjects are taken from everyday life, from the UK to France, Spain, Greece – anywhere there’s a moment to be captured in watercolour.

Available on that night will be places for Brian Coppard’s workshop on 27th April 2016 at £5.00 per head – see Val Belverstone to book your place. The theme will be ‘Architecture in Watercolour’ with a difference – should be good, so make a date in your diary.