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Mark Making ‘2’ – Workshop with Nick Harrison Jones 29th November 2011

This was an evening of surprises when about 30 members sat down and were confronted with a giant toothpick, blunt pencils, slips of cardboard, a photo of a house and some sheets of paper. Our guide, Nick Harrison Jones, proceeded to demonstrate how shapes, lines and shading could be obtained by dragging paint with the tools to hand at various angles across the paper. Soon members were dunking bits of card and the skewer into paint along with their fingers resulting in interesting patterns, lines and shapes. We were encouraged to break the pencil in half and use the broken ends to further enhance our efforts.

For full report, click here for more details.

14th Members’ Show 2011

VISITORS' CHOICE AWARD
won by Paul Swinge for 'Early Start'.

Once again Hertfordshire visitors enjoyed an excellent display of our very high standard of talent at the Millbridge Rooms, Millbridge, Hertford. From a tentative experiment last year our 3D work is now an integral and valuable addition. Likewise from a previous experiment, our professional greetings card display is now a definite success with our patrons. Many of our visitors commented enthusiastically on our standard and presentation, including praise for the music from John Moss on keyboard, adding to the warm welcome.

JOHN GODDEN AWARD - for Members' Choice
won by Sharon Wright for 'Boats at Wells'.

Awards

• Visitors’ Choice: ‘Early Start’ (Oils) by Paul Swinge. He receives a voucher from Hertfordshire Graphics for art materials.
• May Bennett award (Best Still Life): ‘Tulips at Marian’s’ (Oils) by Sandra Edney-Lynch.
• John Godden award (Members’ Choice): ‘Boats at Wells’ (Oils) by Sharon Wright.
• Mark Ely Award (most Innovative Work): ‘Fiery Ravine’, a 3D piece by Nigel Earle who receives website design time and support from Mark Ely, of SG7.biz, designer of the Hertford Art Society website.

Congratulations from all of us to the winners and my thanks to Members past and present for the funding.

MAY BENNETT AWARD - for the Best Still Life
won by Sandra Edney-Lynch for ‘Tulips at Marian’s’.

Two further special thanks: firstly to Rod Lewis of Hertfordshire Graphics. For 14 years he has generously sponsored our show with a generous prize of art materials and even in these hard times has continued do so. Members and visitors to Hertford are encouraged to frequent his shop at 6 St Andrew Street.

Secondly to our two young people who for the third year running have valiantly carried our banners around town for 4 hours on the Saturday. Many people tell us that the sight of them prompted their visit.

Lastly very many thanks to all those who gave time and effort to get the show on the road.

Enid Fairhead,
Manager of the Members’ show

MARK ELY AWARD - for the most innovative/intriguing work.
won by Nigel Earle for 'Fiery Ravine'.

Click here for report of the 2011 Members' Show

Life Drawing Workshop with Paul Curtis – 27th September 2011

Our first Life-Drawing Workshop of the Winter Programme Season welcomed a very popular Tutor, Paul Curtis. For the first half of the session, Members moved around the room, drawing the 2 models from different angles as they maintained the same poses.

For full report, click here for more details.

Summer Sketching Evenings 2011

Although the weather hasn’t been too kind to us this year, we have managed to get out and about for a few very enjoyable Tuesday evening painting sessions. The Egyptian Goose very obligingly posed for me at Dobbs Weir, and the Horse was so curious he had his head out of the stable for almost all the time. Most people came to the Pub afterwards, so these were very sociable occasions – ending on the last Evening with an excellent meal for members organised by Trevor Chamberlain. - Paintings by Yve Macartney

HERTFORD TOWN COMMUNITY DAY – 17th July 2011

Hertford Art Society was invited to take part in this event which took place in the grounds of Hertford Castle on the afternoon of Sunday 17th July. Despite a few showers, there were many visitors enjoying the Hertfordshire Concert Band, performances from a local group of Morris Dancers, refreshments and, for the children, a bouncy castle. There were many stalls representing local Clubs, Charities and Churches to showcase local groups & organisations which cover a variety of interests, hobbies and charities.

Among the attractions on the Hertford Art Society stall were demonstrations by Fiona Pruden and Ray Ward (watercolour painting) and Margo Ward (acrylics), modelling in clay with Emmanuel Pitsiladis and drawing from a still life with Kathy Burman. Visitors were encouraged to make a small clay item or produce a free drawing in charcoal or graphite to take away with them. The resulting talent was impressive with families joining in the activities. Many found talent they didn’t think they had and enjoyed chatting to Margaret Crooks and other team members about the many opportunities for enjoying practical art workshops, talks and demonstrations hosted by the Art Society at Cowbridge Halls, Hertford.

The Society thanks Mobile Stationery & Printing Centre Ltd of Stanstead Abbotts for their donation of materials for use on this occasion.

Still Life Workshop with Paul Curtis – 9th July 2011

This day was far from still. We were greeted by a long hilly lane of ceramics, statues, vegetation and other knick-knacks, and everybody setting up on tables around. Paul Curtis began the session talking about the importance of finding a spot that grabs your attention and how the organic and inorganic creates an interesting composition. He also asked us to pay careful attention to the negative spaces between the objects. Paul suggested that we start off with sketching and then go on to painting. The room was full of energy as people got started and became focused on their drawing.

Paul spent the morning and afternoon sessions with each individual both complimenting and discussing ways to take their work forward. As a tutor he was generous and inspirational. The variety of work produced was phenomenal and walking round and talking to fellow artists was enlightening and fun.

Everyone was inspired by Paul’s artistic wisdom, and the fact that the day was about more than drawing a few objects, it was about the ‘idea’, the ‘story’. An altogether brilliant day.

Review of 59th Open Exhibition - 1st-14th May 2011 - The Hertford Art Society puts on another outstanding Exhibition

From left to right: Diana Dale: sponsor/donor of the Bill Dale Award; Glanfyll Lewis: Award winner for best Abstract; Jean Noble: Award winner, John Goss award for Best in Exhibition; Geoff Bennett: Chairman of HAS; Janet Benge: Award winner, best Member's submission; Lord Salisbury: President of HAS; Ronald Maddox: Award winner, best Watercolour; Craig Morton: Manager of Edward Mason Ltd, sponsor/donor of award for best Watercolour; Emanuel Pitsiladis: Award winner, Mayor of Hertford Award for best 3D work

The Hertford Art Society Open Exhibition is widely considered to be one of the best showcases for both amateur and professional artists outside London. This year, the 59th year of the exhibition, was no exception.

For full report, click here for more details.

59th Open Exhibition prizewinners, 2011.

The Edward Mason Award – Best Watercolour Ronald Maddox ‘Landforms, Barton Hills’	Lady Laming Award for Abstract Art Glanfyll Lewis ‘Dividing Space’
The Bill Dale Award Janet Benge ‘A Frenzy of Flowers’	The John Goss Prize for Best in Show Jean Noble ‘Dockside’
The Mayor’s Award – best 3D work Emmanuel Pitsiladis ‘Aphrodite de Mylo’	Visitors' Choice Award Heather Fitz ‘Bliss’

Pictures at an Exhibition - 17th April 2011

The Art Society was asked by the Hertford Music Club if it would like to illustrate Moussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition for a forthcoming concert. This was a challenge we were very happy to accept. The venue for the concert was the Friends’ Meeting House in Hertford, the oldest Quaker House in the world. Its venerable wood panel walls provided a fine backdrop to the 10 pictures created by our members to illustrate Moussorgsky’s music.

Click here for more details.

Winter Programme 2011-2012

From September each year Society Members and visitors enjoy a Programme of talks, critiques, demonstrations and workshops. These sessions are on Tuesday evenings from 7.30pm to 9.30pm at Cowbridge Hall, Cowbridge, Hertford SG14 1PG.

Programmes

• Winter Programme 2011-2012 (pdf) - click here for more details.
• Visitors’ Programme 2011-2012 (pdf) - click here for more details.

Saturday Life Workshops

Hertford Art Society runs 9 life workshops per year on the last Saturday of each month. These are essentially run for Members but we do welcome a few enthusiastic visitors at a slightly increased fee of £13.50 per session. The sessions last all day from 10.00am – 4.00pm with a 1hr break at lunchtime and are untutored.

Dates for the coming season:

2011 – 24th September, 29th October and 26th November
2012 – 28th January, 25th February, 31st March, 26th May, 30th June and 28th July
Enquiries to: workshops@hertfordartsociety.co.uk

Click here for more details.

Society's aim

The Society's aim is to encourage interest in the visual arts and to provide opportunities to practice, study and exhibit art in Hertford and the surrounding area.

It is well regarded for the high standard of artworks on display at the annual Open Exhibition. Submissions are received from across Hertfordshire as well as other parts of the country.

Members work in a range of media and styles from traditional painting in oils, pastel, watercolours and acrylics to printmaking, collage, multi-media and digital – computer based imagery. Three dimensional work in wood, clay, stone and metal is also well represented.

This diversity and an approach to art which values traditional skills alongside contemporary art forms combine to make Hertford Art Society a leading light in the local art world.