EXMOUTH ART GROUP

James Tatum, SWAc*

I have been drawing and painting since my

very early years.  In 2007, I moved to Devon

in order to paint full-time.  All of my paintings

begin en plein air and then the larger works

are completed in my studio in Exeter.

I conduct painting workshops and courses

through out the year.  In March 2014, I was

elected Academician, The South West Academy,

* SWAc.  In March 2017, I was awarded

“Landscape Painter of the Year” by Devon

Life magazine.

Reverse:  Primal Seeing, A Personal View.

Book available:  email: jtatum@btconnect.com

My demos and workshops are about how to see like an artist

i.e. not seeing objects, but seeing shapes, tones and relationships.  It is all

about learning to see reality abstractly.  I will be demonstrating with mostly

acrylics.....with some mixed media.

Belinda is an acclaimed contemporary landscape artist who lives and works in Devon. She immerses herself in the landscape where she finds freedom and a love of space. She holds a BA Honours degree in Illustration from Chelsea School of Art and an MA in Narrative Illustration and Editorial Design from Brighton University. Belinda has previously won Devon Life’s Landscape Artist of the Year and was longlisted for the Jackson’s Open Oil painting competition. Her work has been exhibited in London on the Southbank and also at Green and Stone Gallery in Fulham. Belinda shared her sketch book with us, where ideas for her land and seascapes are planned, using a range of media and photos. The completed painting will be completed in her studio as an amalgam of images, which are removed from the actual landscape.

Mor info to follow

I will demonstrate how to create a portrait from life using some tools such as:

• A model from the audience
• Your fingers and thumbs
• Proportional dividers
• Zorn palette - only 4 colours
• Plus how I use:
• Chroma Magic Ap
• Grid painter Ap
• Value Ap

The result should be a quick but recognisable portrait.

Although I was born in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in 1955 I have both a rich Celtic heritage, through my Irish and Scottish roots, and a strong independent streak that I take from my Yorkshire ancestors. I had the pleasure of living in Canada and all over the UK before finally settling next to the sea in Paignton, Devon.

I originally had a forty-year corporate career as a Chartered Accountant and Business Psychologist (working mainly in the creative sectors) before I gave it all up to pursue my dream of being a full-time artist in 2020.

I have been lucky enough to have travelled to some remote parts of the world to have experienced other cultures, artistic styles and visited amazing art galleries and many museums. My paintings incorporate some of the colours and designs that I have encountered on those travels.

My creative journey began with watercolours and dry mediums before transitioning to oils in 2020. I’ve since studied under some incredibly talented international artists such as Martin Kinnear RCA, David Grey, Cesar Santos, Danny Ferland, Louis Smith, Tina Garrett and Teresa Oaxaca.

I have been lucky to have lived in beautiful countryside all my life from the coastlines of Count Antrim, the hills of the Cotswolds and finally the dramatic countryside of Devon. These natural landscapes have allowed me to commune with nature, to feel at one with the land and the skies, to see how people interact with the land, to find peace and listen to the mood music that nature creates. My paintings try to capture the music and beauty of the landscapes and of the people I live amongst. Devon, and especially Teignmouth, has provided me with friendships which I have reflected in paintings of people from the area and allows me to suggest the powerful emotions that these people, landscapes and local scenes evoke in me.

I recently completed an 18 month Diploma in Oil Painting with the amazing contemporary artist Martin Kinnear RCA. Martin taught me studio craft and encouraged me to look at the many different genres of paintings. The course allowed me to develop my artistic practice, to use my imagination and be braver with my paintings both in colour, composition and in all technical aspects. This exhibition effective reflects learnings from my course.

My favourite artists include Bouguereau,  Sargent, Vermeer, Rembrandt, Degas, Sorolla, Van Gogh, Klimt, Schiele and Monet yet, as each month goes by I discover another!

All these influences have encouraged me to paint in a contemporary style with an emphasis on modern realism with supporting abstraction. I like bold, colourful compositions and where applicable I try to link them to how we as humans interact with others and nature.

You can see some of my latest work and some work in progress shots on Instagram IG:mcsparron_artist.

Workshop

In the longer session I will help the attendees:

• Explain why using Aps can speed up your ability to create a more accurate portrait whilst still allowing you to be creative
• Understand the use of value and lighting
• Create your very own Zorn palette
• Establish the structure of your portrait
• Explain blocking-in
• Explain underpainting
• Add crucial details to bring your portrait to life

Bio:

Tricia describes herself as an artist/maker.  She is passionate about creating, whether it is with recycled materials to build garden sculptures, upcycling otherwise redundant pieces of metal to produce something beautiful, or using brand new paint and paper to produce something for the indoors.  Tricia currently runs workshops to teach how to make art journals, sketchbooks, etc, from materials in our recycling boxes, stamp making from unusual sources, making Christmas decorations using Mexican tin art technique, and she hosts the monthly Mixed Media Art Club at the Cuppa Cabin where she encourages others to try out new techniques and to discover more of their own potential. In her professional life as a psychotherapist, Tricia is very keen to encourage the same with her clients:  for them to discover their potential and if that can include a creative life, all the better.

Neurographic Art:  I like to think about neurographic art as Simple, Mindful, Elegant Doodling.

In the demo, I will discuss the positive impact on the brain that comes from using a mindful practise, especially one that includes art.  We will look at how artists going back in history have used doodling to enhance their work. Time allowing, I will begin the process of showing the techniques and, for any who wish to, members of the group can follow along with me.

The workshop:   We will mindfully explore the techniques to create some beautiful pieces that will be worth framing or repeating as cards.

Watercolours, black Sharpie markers, black fine liners, and white ink pens will be used. If you have any or all, please bring them.  I will also have some that can be used.  In the workshop you will all be given various sizes of plain paper to practise the techniques, once those techniques feel comfortable, the same processes can be repeated on watercolour paper that I will have already painted for use. Everyone will be given examples of typical doodling styles that can be added into the art pieces.

Stamping With A Difference:

In the demo I will show examples of the uses of stamping and pattern creation.

The workshop:  My fascination with using unusual and unexpected objects to create pattern in combination with colour will be in full flow in this workshop.  There will be an opportunity to test out some unique objects as well as to make stamps to take home for further use. The patterned papers that are created can be used to create collages or enhance other art pieces.

We will use acrylic paints which I will bring.  If you have a brayer or brushes that you are happy to use for acrylics, please bring them.  I will also have some that can be used. There will be an opportunity to carve small stamps.

I followed a foundation course at Bourneville School of Arts and Crafts then took a degree in Landscape and Literature at Birmingham University before becoming a teacher. My own time was full of sewing and drawing and I earned a living from dressmaking skills- bridal gowns, re-upholstery, ball gowns-anything and everything before my 32 years teaching textiles up to A level and adult education. As soon as I retired I reached for the art materials to catch up on my journey. I always work from something I have seen, creating a felt background then stitching back into it with a great variety of other materials- textiles and other. I also paint, print and make papier mache items large and small. Attached a textiles picture "The One That Got Away"

Brief intro , explaining different materials that can be used, wool, silk and other fibres.

Quick look at needle felting equipment and methods.

Wet felting:

Demonstrations

1)Making a floral corsage- with a central ball. This is a bit girly but is a very good way to show basic techniques. An alternative is to make a larger piece of flat felt for a mat or spectacles case. Slippers and boots can be made from flat felt, stitched together, stuffed with bubble wrap and finished in the washing machine.

2)Making the ball or bead. Perfect cat toy ! Or key fob.

3)Making a piece of nuno felt for a scarf or other item.

Probably time for a tea break then people can have a go at making a ball or buy wool fleece and felting needles from me if they wish to.

Workshop

Make a floral corsage , bowl or bag using a calico resist and a scarf felted onto cotton cheesecloth.

Maximum 12 people . We will need to spread out and use quite a lot of equipment.

Cost £28 inc. materials- wool, calico resist, fabric for scarf.

All other equipment will be provided apart from an old towel and rubber gloves should you wish to protect your hands- and an apron if you wish to avoid getting splashed with soapy water.

Please note, felt making is very physical and full on- it may not be suitable for people with arthritis in hands . A certain amount of stamina is required to get to the end. Some processes can be finished off at home in a washing machine !

1. Make a corsage.
2. Make a bowl or bag using a calico resist.

Break.

1. Make more beads/balls as desired for decoration.
2. Make a nuno felted scarf.

About

📷Veronica Gosling at Studio 36

The initial impact of entering Studio 36 is a rich, visual experience. It is a personal and stimulating world where art runs riot through the whole house, along corridors and up walls. There seems to be no division between thinking and seeing.

Studio 36, in the heart of St Leonard’s, Exeter was established by Veronica Gosling following her relocation to Devon from The Forest of Dean where she instituted the Barn at Hay Farm Gallery. The description of that as “a secret special place that people find and then want to bring their friends” has been transposed to Studio 36 which now has some of the same reputation.

In addition there is a wild sculpture garden with many objects hanging from trees, including a washing line, bicycles and people.

Since Gallery 36 has become Studio 36 more emphasis and space both indoors and outdoors has been given to Veronica’s work.

Events have led to further ideas, and further happenings: such as an interesting discussion group for artists of one kind and another entitled The Beast Within, where contributing artists talked about the beasts that made them work, stopped them working or altogether stirred up (or destroyed!) the creative urge. This was followed by Pounce, roughly speaking of when thoughts and ideas come to fruition.

📷Reflection

As artists of diverse media meet up new

NIC GEORGE -

PROFESSIONAL ART EDUCATION CONSULTANT AND ARTIST

Talk and Demonstration


Nic originally hails from the village of Cil-ffriw near Neath, in the South Wales cvalleys and comes from a family of artists, inventors and stone masons. He moved to Exmouth in 1987 to study Primary Art Education at Rolle College and quickly fell in love with the sea and surrounding areas.

On the most dramatic of days, Nic can be found windsurfing off Exmouth or exploring the coast around Exmouth or the Devon hills with his lurcher Betty. These are the times that inspire him the most and provide the influence for his dramatic work which captures the relationship and movement between the land, sea and sky.  

Nic’s work is predominantly in acrylic and he uses a process of layering to create paintings with atmosphere and emotion. The titles of his paintings are linked to the poems of Dylan Thomas who is one his personal heroes and inspirations.

In 2021, Nic set up his art education consultancy which has gone from strength to strength. He trains both qualifying and experienced teachers in primary art education primary, regularly works as an artist in residence and leads a variety of art workshops both in schools and community settings.

Nic is also the Art Education Officer for the South West Academy of Fine and Applied Arts (SWAc) which is dedicated to advancing the creation and appreciation of art in the South West of Britain.

Nic’s talk and demo will give a fascinating and lively insight into his professional work as an art consultant as the various elements he incorporates that form art education. After our break, Nic will give us an insight and practical demonstration into the process of how he creates his latest seascapes painting which incorporate bold colours and exaggerated form.

Instagram – nicgeorgeart

www.nicgeorgeart.com