...finally - five years in the making - The Downham Market 2013 Calendar!...

I prefer to set up an easel and draw from life, using photographs as back up reference in the studio, rather than entirely from photos. I find this gets you out of the studio and allows you get to know your subject better, and check on any details directly.  

Another added bonus of course is that it puts you in the public eye, and in touch with the people of Downham Market. This is great for being more sociable, and getting comments and feedback from your audience - most of it complimentary. 

So a big thank you goes out to all the toddlers, teenagers, mums and dads, and senior citizens for all your stories, support and interest over the past few years. And finally - having talked about it for some time - here's the Downham Market 2013 Calendar! 

Hope you enjoy it as much I did while drawing it.

...'tyger burning bright'...or...'Chango Must Go!'...

Not sure of the age of this fabulous machine - 80 years?

Pamela's tyger, tyger burning bright...

In the forests of the night...

What immortal hand or eye...

Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

Thanks to Marie for the fabulously organic sewing machine she kindly lent us this week - along with the lantern, hibachi, bongos and plant in a pot!  

From the top - Marie's wonderful apparatus, Pamela's pastel tiger, Chango's inspirational meditational, Sarah's flowing sewing machine, bongos.

Well done to Maurice for grappling and persevering with the baffling mysteries of one point perspective - keep up the good work. We all get to the vanishing point in the end. 

By the way, that red glow is the heat of our passionate creativity - baby it's not cold outside... 

And so long Chango. 

I knew Chango's days were numbered, but not having seen him for some weeks, I had not mentioned that as far as being our one and only canine cohort, he was on his last legs - all four of them. 

How people like us artists - who are supposed to be a little more observant than most - managed to not see the 'No Dogs' sign in the porch as you come in, I don't know. 

I guess like most people - 'you just see what you wanna see...' 

Apologies. Chango has been relegated to his home studio, sketch book and pencil in paw... 

...and keep drawing... 

...Chango.

...daleks, ducks and multi media...

OK, I am surely running late with  my blog. 

Having diverted my attention to the completion of my 'Downham Market 2013 Calendar' - drawing, designing, marketing and printing - and what an education it's been, I thought I'd better get my Hilgay Art Group posts up to date. 

I'm not going to ramble on - too much - just to say thanks to all the members for making the art group as enjoyable and sociable as it is. 

And also a big thank you to Marie for contributing all and sundry plants and objects regularly to the two still lifes we have each meeting. 

Animal, vegetable, mineral - what shall I choose this week? 

Although I tend to walk a set drawing path, it is exciting and inspiring to see other artists this week, such as Sarah - pastels and crepe paper, Ann - watercolour and anything to hand I expect, and Jinx, correct me if I'm wrong - acrylic on canvas - approaching their own work with a much broader media palette and versatility. 

Exterminate?

Germinate?

Multi media - ate?

Half past eight?

Wait.

Perhaps when I come in to the art group myself I should leave pencil and pen & ink behind and make a point of using other media such as pastels, acrylics, charcoal and - well - you name it. 

Anything you do which is beyond your chosen area of expertise can only serve to inform and refresh your abilities and outlook. 

Too Late.

Mate.

Hmm, better start listening to my own advice...

...flamin' Framin' Art...

You might think that of all the demonstrations you can attend, that a demo on the art of picture framing might be a tad less interesting than say a talk on drawing animals using pastels, or pen and ink watercolour landscapes. 

Thankfully - owing to the to the expertise, knowledge and downright entertainablity of Framin' Art's Simon Prior we all enjoyed an evening which not only matched more obviously artistic demos but according to some fellow members - exceeded them for sheer enjoyment value!

Framin' Art - Downham Market High street.

During Simon's talk he handed out sample corner mounts with frames  and asked us to extend our painting and presentation skills into selecting the appropriate frames and mounts for the accompanying pictures. 

In view of the fact that a few of us go into our local framers and often ask for the 'usual' please - it was interesting to see the possible alternatives, or how a different frame or mount can alter or enhance a painting or illustration.

Assorted mounts and...

...frames.

Following our tea and coffee break we were invited to try our hands at  the new selection of Pip Seymour acrylic and watercolour paints. Needless to say we were in our element! 

Pip Seymour acrylic and watercolour paints.

All in all, Simon's comments that this was his first demo to the contrary -  he entertained and enlightened us like a seasoned professional. I'd like to think that after 20 years or so in the Air Force, his experience of the The Downham Art Circle wasn't too demanding.

Look forward to seeing him again, and if you can't wait for the next flamin' Framin' Art roadshow - Simon can be seen at the well known site of Knott's Art Shop where alongside a broad selection of art materials, he'll be dispensing advice on framing at - where else? - Framin' Art. 

And what is the secret of that invisible glass...?