A little note from Joy Dansette- Art Group member
I don’t know how you have been occupying yourself during lockdown after the daily walk?
Reading, cooking EATING, writing, gardening? I usually, BC (Before Covid) attend a weekly art class run by Rachel Cronin in the village. It’s a lovely group and we have a wonderful lady who arrives armed with THE most delicious cakes each week. So, we are all missing our weekly meeting.
Normally, I have to be honest, B.C. usually I’m really busy and sadly, I never have time to paint – or if do I always feel guilty that I should be cleaning, filling the washing machine, thinking about other things. SO for me – this lockdown has been really positive – I’ve been painting or drawing most days and loved it.
Why? Well in case you didn’t realise it – painting is incredibly relaxing- whilst you paint you are able to focus specifically on what you are creating and not on whats happening in the wider world outside your room. It’s a kind of meditation. Its not so much that I’m expecting to be Picasso when all this is over – I just seem to be getting satisfaction from creating something myself. At first I panicked because I thought “I’ve not idea how to mix this colour” “What shall I paint”-“ I need my tutor”. Then I thought – "Well that’s not happening for a while – get on with it!"
Having the time to really create something from start to finish does take a lot of time and focus – but I have got time- oops the canvas has dried – ready for the next colour -off I go!
Try it – you know it makes sense!
Hook Norton Brewery- a term time project
In the weeks leading up to the lockdown , one pf the last projects the group undertook was to sketch Hook Norton brewery using the artist Trevor Grimshaw as inspiration. The brewery is such a fantastic building with its unusual shape and detailed decoration. Certainly, measuring and perspective are not easy techniques to master and the project presented students with a number of challenges. I don’t think that I have ever known the group so quiet! Below are a selection of sketches the atmospheric and skilled sketches that the members produced.
