Dear Member
It will still be 2023 when you receive this newsletter, so may we wish all our members a very
Happy Christmas!
We held our Club Christmas Party on 14th December. It was lovely to meet so many fellow-members. As ever, the feast you brought along was superb – many thanks!
We had a raffle and a ‘name the artist’ quiz waiting for us on the tables. The highlight of the afternoon was certainly our second quiz – ‘how well do you know Cookham?’ Photographs ‘zoomed in’ on features seen on Cookham buildings and the Cookham area were projected for us to identify. Much lively discussion ensued!
Many thanks must go to Freddie for taking the photos and taking us on the tour of hidden (and not so hidden) corners of Cookham.
Membership Renewal
Your membership renewal will be due on 1st January, 2024. We do hope that you will decide to remain a member of Cookham Arts Club. To renew, simply send your fee by bank transfer to our HSBC account (payee: Cookham Arts Club, sort code 40-42-09, a/c number 41157671) with your name followed by the word SUBS as reference. Fees are £20 for single membership and £34 for a couple at the same address.
If you can do this as soon as possible it will be very helpful. We are not asking members to submit a renewal form this year so if any of your details have changed, please do remember to let us know. If you wish to pay by cheque, let me know and I will make sure you are sent the necessary details.
Recent Club Events
The AGM
We had a good turnout for the Annual General Meeting, when we heard a review of all the things our club had been involved in over the last twelve months Following the general business of the AGM, we had a fascinating talk by the National Trust’s Jacqui Edwards about Cliveden and the Astors. Jacqui volunteers at Cliveden and had a wealth of tales about the house and its occupants as well as the wonderful statues to look out for when we next visit the gardens.
Events in January
Monthly Meeting
Our first Monthly Meeting of the year is on 18th January 2024, 2 – 4pm at The Parish Centre, Church Gate, Cookham, SL6 9SP.
It is a Critique of our paintings by Jan Gaska. Jan is an artist based in the Chilterns hills. He produces landscapes and portraiture in oils. His landscape paintings reflect his love of being outdoors. He sees a magical dream-like quality in the landscape suggested through reflection, light and atmosphere.
If you would like to participate, bring one painting not seen at a CAC critique before. It can make for an interesting critique if some of you bring ‘not quite finished’ paintings or ones you have specific questions about – but of course you must feel free to bring along any of your paintings/drawings/pastels/mono-prints etc. (One painting each usually fills the time very nicely, but do bring a spare if you like.)
At the end of the afternoon, we will vote for our favourite, with a small prize for the winner.
Coming Soon
Club Workshop Day
Club Workshop Day is on Saturday Feb 17th, 10am – 4pm in the Parish Centre, Church Gate, Cookham, SL6 9SP.
Do you sometimes look at an artwork, such as the one on the right, and wonder ‘how did they do that?’ Come along to our workshop and our very own Gill Griffith will show you how. It involves a resist technique with gouache and Indian Ink. We plan to charge £10 plus the cost of the materials (gouache, ink and paper; less than £10) which we will supply.
To join the workshop, please contact us requesting how many places you will require by Friday 19th January. Numbers will be limited to about 16, so get your requests in as soon as possible.
Sue Sepehri will then email your confirmation and outline your payment options. No payment will be required until Sue has emailed you and confirmed your place.
Member News
The Artists and Illustrators magazine run a national competition each year. We are very excited to say that two of our members, Karen Comber and Amy Lovell, have both had paintings shortlisted in the final 50 of ‘The British Art Prize 2023’ competition. The winners of the various categories have been chosen by the judging panel and will be published in the February 2024 magazine – we do hope that our artists each win one of the major prizes! The winning paintings will be Exhibited at Gallery Oxo, 19th – 21st January.
One category which has yet to be decided is the People’s Choice Award. If you would like to give your vote to our artists, please go on line to www.artistsandillustrators.co.uk/2023-shortlist where you will see all fifty on the shortlist. Closing date is 2nd January – so vote soon if you would like one of our artists to win the award.
Tuesday Painting Workshops
At Cookham Dean Village Hall, Church Road, Cookham Dean, Berks SL6 9PY, from 2 to 5pm.
| Tuesday Painting: cost £2 A topic, appraisal, tea and cake | Tuesday Extra: cost £2 Painting, tea and biscuits |
| January 2nd: Liquid in a glass | January 9th: Paint what you like |
| January 16th: An animal of your choice | January 23rd: Paint what you like |
| January 30th: Still life |
TIP OF THE MONTH
If you have a stretched canvas that is a bit ‘loose’ or has a dent in it, try spraying the back of it with water. As it dries it should shrink and regain its tension.
Yours sincerely
Robert Jones
Newsletter Editor