Dear Member
CAN YOU HELP? We are still seeking a venue for our SUMMER GARDEN PARTY which is quite soon now!
On Sunday July 7th, 12 – 4pm, we plan to hold our Summer Party. In previous years one of our members, with a suitably large garden, has been good enough to host our get-together.
Do you think you could offer a venue for the Club? Please get contact us if so.
Recent Club Events
Sunday Painting
The sun shone on us for our first outdoor painting day in April. Four painters braved the spring temperature and came to paint in Guards Club Park beside the Thames in Maidenhead, from where three bridges could be seen – Maidenhead Bridge, Guards Club Bridge and Brunel’s railway bridge. All chose to tackle the perspective of Brunel’s sounding arch, carefully edging along the bank as the sun moved over.
Afterwards we took the very short walk to Carol Baughan’s house when she had kindly prepared tea and cakes for us to round off the day. Thank you very much Carol. Much appreciated.
Monthly Meeting
In April Keith Hornblower came to demonstrate a watercolour landscape and produced this lovely loose painting of the Kings Arms in Cookham High St.
He explained his train of thought throughout the process and highlighted some interesting, practical aspects to remember. Starting with the simple outline drawing of his composition, he drew in perspective lines of the ground level and eye level, affirming that other lines above the eye level, went downwards to the vanishing point and lines below the eye level went upwards. A light-yellow wash was added to the whole painting before he added shadow areas on the building loosely and finally the foreground details and figures in brighter colours and in sharper focus.
He used a fairly limited palette and only three brushes with sharp points. He uses squirrel hair brushes for their ability to hold lots of water and form a good point. He maintains that tonal values are more important than colours in making the painting “work” and adding a sharp edge between light and dark occasionally can draw the eye into a picture very effectively. The final result was very pleasing, looking very realistic seen from a distance but retaining an attractive looseness viewed close up.
Workshop
On April 21st, sixteen members took part in the seascape workshop run by Susan Gray. She did a very thorough demonstration using acrylics, pictured on the right, first using mainly two different types of palette knives, one wide and the other long and thin. She had reference photos to borrow but people also used their own.
The subject was quite difficult with crushing waves hitting the shore but after some hesitations and false starts our members dived in and the results were superb as the photo shows.
Events in June
Sunday Painting
Sunday Painting June 2nd 10.30am to 4pm.
Taplow Court is a lovely location for outdoor painting, so we are very pleased to have been invited to return for a second visit. This is a mid-19th century mansion set high above the Thames near Maidenhead, the home of SGI-UK, a lay Buddhist society. The house has much earlier origins – indeed there has been a manor house on the site since before 1066. Last year we visited in September and we hope that the extensive gardens will be even more lovely in June.
June 2nd is an open day at Taplow Court and they have agreed that we may enter the grounds at 10.30am, earlier than their usual opening time. Refreshments (cream teas!) should be available at the café. Parking is free on site.
Monthly Meeting
Monthly Meeting: Thursday 20th June 7 – 9pm in the Parish Centre (Church Gate, Cookham, SL6 9SP).
This month we look forward to meeting Cathy Read SWA, who will demonstrate a Watercolour townscape.
Contemporary artist Cathy Read has twice appeared on Landscape Artist of the Year. A quote from her website tells us a little about her approach:
‘Using vibrant colours of watercolour and acrylic ink, she conveys the mundane and the ordinary next to the glorious and spectacular. Cathy’s distinctive paintings depict geometric shapes and inherent patterns of architecture in a free, expressive style, where she brings the city to life.’
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 |
| May 21st: A portrait | May 28th: Paint what you like |
| June 4th: A mono print (any lettering will print in reverse!) | June 11th: Paint what you like |
| June 18th: A waterfall or fountain | June 25th: Paint what you like |
Coming in 2025
Cookham Arts Club Holiday 2025
Fancy a week’s holiday in the Cotswolds with full board?
The Club is planning a 7-night Painting Holiday, based in the Cotswolds, with HF Holidays
Date 6th-13th June 2025
Staying at the Grade II Listed Harrington House, Sherbourne Street, Bourton on the Water, GL54 2BY
Although the HF Holiday title is ‘self-guided walking’ it is a holiday week with options to sightsee or walk independently and, of course, paint. For the non painters you may be able to book and pay extra to join the walking groups if any are available that week. Members may share a room with a non member.
Bring your partner or a friend – someone with whom you are happy to share a room.
Go sightseeing or if you decide to paint join one of the club members who is painting.
If you join the walks, follow the route suggestions that fit your requirements and fitness level, (details planned by HF Holidays).
The Grade ll listed retreat is just a skip from the heart of Bourton on the Water. This pretty Cotswold town with chocolate box cottages, old fashioned tea rooms, and low arched stone bridges that span the River Windrush is within walking distance of plenty of places to visit.
Harrington House has 27 well-appointed guest rooms in two categories (Classic and Premium) spread across the main house and the converted coach house.
HF Holidays have reserved for us:
7 classic singles
1 premium singles
3 classic doubles
Our discounted group price:
The price for Classic rooms is £959 per person per week.
The price for premium rooms is £1029 per person per week.
If we have more than 15 persons £959 will be deducted off the whole invoice.
This price includes: comprehensive breakfast choices; pre ordered packed lunch; 3 course evening meal; evening’s entertainment.
If you would like to go on the holiday, please see more information and how to book on our Holidays page or complete the slip which was in your personal copy of this newsletter.
TIP OF THE MONTH
A little roller is useful for painting the edges of a stretched canvas.
A small tear in a stretched canvas can be repaired by glueing a patch of cotton cloth, (e.g. from an old pillow case) to the back. After the glue has set, if the canvas has lost its tension, spray the back with water. It should tighten up as it dries. PVA glue or an acrylic glaze medium is suitable for attaching the patch. Any residual evidence of the tear can be filled with thick layers of acrylic paint or gesso.
Yours sincerely
Robert Jones
Newsletter Editor