Dear Member
Recent Club Events
Sunday Painting
Our 2025 outdoor painting programme got off to a good start on 6th April, with 8 members meeting to paint views in and around the picturesque Chiltern village of Hambleden. The weather was amazing for the time of year, comfortably warm and sunny. This location never disappoints and provided the opportunity to paint some of the attractive village buildings or the surrounding meadows. Several walkers and visitors to this popular venue were interested in stopping by to talk to us about our pictures and our Art club. One local resident even provided cups of tea to anyone who wanted one, so we were made very welcome.
After a few hours painting in the lovely sunshine, we sat outside the village café and Post Office enjoying the tea and cakes available, reflecting on our hard day’s work! A very pleasant day was had by all.
Monthly Meeting
In our March Monthly Meeting, Mark Warner came to show us a woodland path scene. He worked on a scene similar to the painting in the background (on the first photo) to show us how he achieved the range of colours, tones, light and shade. Starting with a few ready mixed greens he added yellows, reds and blues. He is a very good demonstrator and helpfully had his large glass palette in full view below the painting so we could clearly see his colour mixing.
He used large flat brushes, smaller flats, a palette knife and finally his trademark rigger for some finer details. Thanks to Mark for his informative demo. Those of us present appreciate that he would have needed some more time to finesse his painting, but I think it was a good learning experience to watch Mark at work.
Events in May
Sunday Painting
Outdoor Painting Sunday 11th May, 10.30 – 4pm. Stubbings House.
We have arranged to visit the grounds of Stubbings House, off the Henley Rd near Maidenhead, a large Grade II listed mansion, the home of Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands during WW2. Rarely open to the public, this is a special Public Open Day from 10 am – 4pm, under the National Gardens Scheme Charity, for which a £5 admission charge will apply. Free car parking in adjoining garden centre which also has a café and facilities. The Estate Office have agreed to a small group of artists sitting in the grounds on that day, among other members of the public, (in anticipation that our Sunday painting group does not involve large numbers.) They are looking forward to welcoming us and would like to take some photographs of us at work and to see our finished artwork.
The gardens include flower borders, a woodland area and a large Wisteria wall, which should be in bloom at the time of our visit.
Because of this being a privately owned location, there are a few guidelines we have been asked to observe, so may we please kindly ask anyone wishing to take part to contact us by Sunday 4th May as we can then circulate more information to you. Thank you for your cooperation.
Monthly Meeting
Our next Monthly Meeting is on Thursday May 15th, 2 – 4pm in the Parish Centre, Church Gate, Cookham, SL6 9SP. Jenny Whalley will be demonstrating a painting of ‘zebras and other animals’. Rather like Mark Warner last month, Jenny has her own, unique style, which was very entertaining to watch on her previous visit.
We look forward to another good demo! She describes her technique as ‘mixed media/watercolour’.
Member News
Stations of the Cross
With the Easter Weekend coming very soon, I am pleased to hear that a number of our members have completed paintings for Cookham’s annual tradition of ‘The Stations of the Cross’, which has been going on for more than 15 years in the village.
Every year nine artists are asked to paint one of the stations.
Lesley Aston, a long-time resident of Cookham who has just recently joined the club has painted the 3rd station, Jesus meets his mother, which is positioned outside St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Lower Road. (1st image)
Diane Large painted the 6th station, positioned on the mini roundabout where Station Hill joins the Pound at the junction of Maidenhead Road. The painting depicts St Veronica wiping the face of Jesus with her veil as he carries the cross to Calgary. An image of his face is said to have appeared on the veil. (2nd image)
On Good Friday April 18th there is a walk at 11am from St John the Baptist Church in Cookham Dean to Holy Trinity Church in Cookham Village in which traditionally around 80 people gather to look at each of the paintings and reflect on what each artist has said about their paintings.
If you do not take part in the walk, or see the paintings in situ, after Easter the paintings are left on display in the Holy Trinity Parish Centre for a month, where you could view them along with the artists’ commentaries.
Coming soon
A date for your diary – our Summer Garden Party is coming up on July 6th.
Tuesday Painting Workshops
At Cookham Dean Village Hall, Church Road, Cookham Dean, Berks SL6 9PY, from 1.40pm to 5pm.
| Tuesday Painting: cost £2 A topic, appraisal, tea and cake |
Tuesday Extra: cost £2 Painting, tea and biscuits |
| April 29th: A dynamic still life – experiment with colour (see Terence Clark) | May 6th: Paint what you like |
| May 13th: A view from above | May 20th: Paint what you like |
| May 27th: Spring blossoms | June 3rd: Paint what you like |
TIP OF THE MONTH
Many like to start their work with a wash of colour over the canvas, to ‘get rid of the white’ and better judge the tones. In a similar way a palette which has a neutral grey colour can be helpful. A ‘New Wave’ product, this grey, 11×16 inch tear-off palette is available from Jacksons.
Talking of suppliers, have you seen that the old Homebase in Maidenhead has been replaced by ‘The Range’? I’m told it has a good selection of canvasses.
Yours sincerely
Robert Jones
Newsletter Editor