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

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

Left: Mayor of Hertford, Mrs Brenda Haddock presenting 3D prize to Emmanuel Pitsiladis

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. Every year there are over 500 submissions from a wide geographical area, not just Hertfordshire, from which only some 250 are selected. Selection is by an independent panel of judges, from both 2D and 3D works of art, in the full range of recognised contemporary media including oils, acrylic, watercolour, gouache, pastel, printmaking, linocuts, sculpture, pottery etc. Prospective buyers have the chance to purchase, at reasonable prices, works by many nationally and internationally recognised artists who regularly show at this exhibition.

Five awards are given and the winning artworks are displayed with due prominence in the exhibition:

• The John Goss Prize, awarded to the picture considered by the judges to be the ‘best in show’ was this year won by; Jean Noble for her picture ‘Dockside’ (acrylic);
• The Mayor of Hertford’s Award for the best 3D work was won by Emmanuel Pitsiladis for his work ‘Aphrodite de Mylo’ (stoneware);
• The Lady Laming Award for abstract art was won by; Glanfyll Lewis for his picture ‘Dividing Space’ (the first time digital art has won an award in this exhibition);
• The Bill Dale Award is for Hertford Art Society members only and was this year won by Janet Benge for her picture ‘A Frenzy of Flowers’ (acrylic and pencil)
• The Edward Mason Award for the most outstanding watercolour was won by Ronald Maddox PRI HonRWS HonRBA for his picture ‘Landforms, Barton Hills’.

The Cowbridge Halls is an excellent space for an exhibition such as this, and one never fails to be pleasantly surprised by the wealth of talent on display, and this year’s successful submissions did not disappoint. The paintings are always sensitively presented, and the first impression on entering the hall is of spaciousness and calm. There is no indication of the frenzy of activity and hard work that the organisers and their helpers have put in to make this show the success that it is.

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.

John Jarratt

Marie Goldsmith

Maureen Batty

• John Jarratt: The cabin on the legs of chickens
• Marie Goldsmith: Limoges Market
• Maureen Batty: The Great Gate of Kiev

The concert was given by Alexander Ardakov, born in Samara, graduate of the Moscow Conservatoire, prizewinner at the Viotti International competition, Italy and currently Professor of Piano at Trinity College of Music, London. He can now add Hertford to this glittering career, the icing on the cake.

Jim Haley

Janet Benge

Margo Ward

Paul Swinge

• Jim Haley: Bydlo – A cart with huge wheels drawn by a couple of oxen
• Janet Benge: TheTuileries An avenue in the garden of the Tuileries
• Margo Ward: Catacombs
• Paul Swinge: Samual Goldenberg and Schmuyle - Two Jews

Mr Ardakov gave us a flawless performance of works by Tchaikovsky, Chopin, Liszt and Scriabin as well as the Moussorgsky piece with which he ended the concert. As the music swirled around the Friends’ Meeting House we were able to rest our eyes on splendid pictures from Veronica Shaw, Brenda Reid, John Jarratt, Jim Hailey, Maria Goldsmith, Maureen Batty, John Scrope, Janet Benge, Paul Swinge and Margo Ward.

Brenda Reid

Veronica Shaw

• Brenda Reid: Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks
• Veronica Shaw: Gnomus

My thanks to them and to the Hertford Music Club for the opportunity to put on a combined event that added to the Hertford cultural scene.