Wednesday 2 January 2008
"You don't know till you try - simple painting" by Diane Hounsome
A talk and demonstration
This was the first for the Probus Club of Ewell, the first presentation for 2008 and more importantly the very first for a lecture and ongoing painting from a blank sheet to the finished product, "not one I produced earlier", this in front of the critical male membership of the Club, so well done Diane.
She took us through the basics similar to her student where she lectures to U3A (University of the Third Age), not with all the high powered concepts of perspectives and vanishing points, but how to achieve a pleasant and colourful drawing with apparent ease.
Without appearing to lecture she imparted a wealth of information that we all take for granted without realising the need to be super observant for painting. Observing the visual effects such as sunlight casting ripples on the sea, no reflection as per a pond, shadows at the base of rocks and the highlights on the tops due to the sun normally being overhead, etc are high consideration to remember.
In the process she covered, brush types, paints of various formats, paper, crayons, pencils, use of fingers and indeed kitchen roll paper with the odd techniques of wet upon wet and dry brush. And many other brush strokes.
The ease of painting humans into the scene, without getting the normal hang ups was demonstrated with consumptive ease. The ability to put blobs of paint and leave the human intelligence to determine whether this was a pool, bush, vegetation, or any other objects. Below are some examples of first stage U3A class work, afraid these digital images do not do justice to the originals.
It seemed no time at all before her presentation was finished and indeed the painting also completed, as John Mills said in his vote of thanks, the quality of presentation is reflected in the number of questions asked and these were numerous and elicited even more useful data. The membership responded with enthusiastic applause.
So again thank you Diane.
Painted with dry pastels and merged with fingers.
"The Club accepts no responsibility for any statement, views, opinions of whatsoever nature expressed or given above which is just a summary of a talk given to the Club and does not necessarily reflect those of the Club or its members."
