A Happy Christmas to all our members
Dear Member
Our AGM too place in November
It was very pleasing to see such a good turnout of members to hear our reports on the year’s events, and to hear our visiting speaker. If you would like to read the full minutes of the AGM you will find them at the end of your newsletter email. Alternatively, these will soon be published on the Newsletter page of this website.
We welcomed Karen French as our speaker after the AGM. Her topic was Putting the Power in your Art. Karen is a very well-established artist, writer and public speaker and her work emphasises the connection between art, specifically, compositions and geometry. Karen did her best to pass her knowledge and enthusiasm for her subject on to our members but somehow despite her experience and keen interest in her subject she did not hit the mark. Perhaps she got too bogged down in theory, rather than tailoring her talk more specifically to works of art and examples of how we could look at our own paintings in light of what she had described. It is worth taking a look at her website for some more information at www.karenlfrench.com.
Membership Renewal
We do hope that you will decide to remain a member of Cookham Arts Club. Details of how to renew are as follows:
Your membership renewal will be due on 1st January, 2025. 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. Please remember that if you joined only recently (i.e. during or since the Summer Exhibition) your membership runs until Dec 31st 2025.
Member’s News
Have you seen this wonderful mural of a saxophonist at The Curve, an arts and culture venue in Slough?
It was painted by Maralin Cottenham, who was born in Slough, as part of a project by the Slough Hub charity. This impressive work took Marilyn more than 100 hours to complete. She says ‘I’ve had so many positive comments about it – people were passing by as I painted it, saying we need this colour in the rest of Slough. People were taking pictures and videos – it’s been really wonderful.’
It was inspired by a brilliant busker she heard playing the sax in Windsor, who was very happy to give his permission to be included in the mural.
Following its completion, Maralin was also awarded Artist of the Year for her work with the mural and other projects around Slough.
Well done Maralin – brilliant work and a well-deserved award!!
Events in January
Monthly Meeting
Monthly Meeting: Thursday 16th January, 2 – 4pm at the Parish Centre.
Our first event in 2025 is a Critique by Laura Reiter. Laura is a very experienced artist and tutor. She studied for a painting degree at Kingston and then went on to Wimbledon School of Art to study for an MA in Printmaking. Her semi abstract work derives from both her travels abroad and nearer home with a second strand of unconventional still lives. She has also won a number of prizes throughout her career and has written two books on Abstract Art.
Critiques are always enjoyable events, with the opportunity to hear what our visiting artist has to say about our art. Do come along and bring one painting which we haven’t seen before. Please also bring a reserve painting which we may ask Laura to review if we have time. It can be interesting to bring an unfinished work, or one which you have specific questions about.
Coming Soon
Club Workshop Day
Club Workshop Day Saturday February 22nd 10 – 4 pm in the Parish Centre
Pouring Acrylics with Wendy Mercer. I am sure we have all seen some of the amazing patterns which are made by pouring different colours onto a canvas. Try an internet search, and you will find lots of examples. This workshop will be a great opportunity to try the technique without having to buy in all the materials (and make a terrible mess at home!!) Your workshop fee will include virtually all of the materials, including two or three canvases, mixing pots, PVA glue, some acrylic colours etc. You will bring some of your own acrylics and protective equipment for you and the tables! We will send participants a more precise list of what to bring, later.
To join the workshop, please contact us requesting how many places you will require by 1st February. Numbers will be limited to about 15.
Sue will then email your confirmation and outline your payment options. No payment will be required until Sue has emailed you and confirmed your place. Cost: £25/person to include the materials
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 7th: A nightscape: depicting a busy town or city | January 14th: Paint what you like |
| January 21st: A contre-jour picture – focusing on the effect the light has on colour mixing | January 28th: Paint what you like |
TIP OF THE MONTH
Painting on a gold background (or iridescent background) can be a great way to add a new effect to your still life paintings. Pebeo produce some very good metallic paints which adhere well (available in Hobbycraft). In some areas allow the gold to show and in other areas just allow glimpses of it through the layers of paint, as in this great acrylic example by Satu. This photo doesn’t do justice to the pleasing metallic lustre of the painting.
Yours sincerely
Robert Jones
Newsletter Editor