Still Life - 2nd & 9th September 2024
For 300 years still life painting was scoffed at and denigrated by powerful fine art academies, and the still life artists were labelled ‘copyists’. However, the academies's snootiness was ignored by wealthy middle-class Ductch merchants, scholarly Spainish Catholic cardinals and the powerful Medici dynasty, famous for their support of the arts. Indeed, when photography arrived, it changed everything. Still life not only survived but thrived.
Van Gough painted his sunflowers, Picasso his fragmented fruit and bottles, Morandi moulded porcelain with light and Warhol made the everyday can of soup into an iconic work of art. Other artists such as Ben Nicholson, Eric Ravillious, George Hunter, Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, Eileen Agar, Patric Caulfield and many others, have all given still life their own unique treatment. In ancient Greece the best artists were those who could imitate nature, such as Zeuxis.
Dan Evans (2024) ALL IS STILL, The Art Society Magazine, Summer 2024.
It's now our turn to make of this genre what we can in a two week, three discipline attempt, in our own unique takes on STILL LIFE .......
For 300 years still life painting was scoffed at and denigrated by powerful fine art academies, and the still life artists were labelled ‘copyists’. However, the academies's snootiness was ignored by wealthy middle-class Ductch merchants, scholarly Spainish Catholic cardinals and the powerful Medici dynasty, famous for their support of the arts. Indeed, when photography arrived, it changed everything. Still life not only survived but thrived.
Van Gough painted his sunflowers, Picasso his fragmented fruit and bottles, Morandi moulded porcelain with light and Warhol made the everyday can of soup into an iconic work of art. Other artists such as Ben Nicholson, Eric Ravillious, George Hunter, Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, Eileen Agar, Patric Caulfield and many others, have all given still life their own unique treatment. In ancient Greece the best artists were those who could imitate nature, such as Zeuxis.
Dan Evans (2024) ALL IS STILL, The Art Society Magazine, Summer 2024.
It's now our turn to make of this genre what we can in a two week, three discipline attempt, in our own unique takes on STILL LIFE .......
Having Sketched, Painted and Collaged this still life the results are below ....
Japanese Haiku - 10th June 2024
It was time for another in-house workshop and Angela came up with the excellent idea of a Japanese Haiku. After some deliberation the haiku below is what she came up with to inspire us all to paint something that represents the small poem. This comes from a book called "One hundred Famous HAIKU".
In its original language a haiku is an unrhymed poetic form consisting of 17 syllables arranged in three lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables respectively. The haiku first emerged in Japanese literature during the 17th century, as a terse reaction to elaborate poetic traditions, though it did not become known by the name haiku until the 19th century. It is a word picture, and in this case, of a typical Japanese small town, many of which have a brook running through the middle of the main street. Here is where women gather to wash their rice and clothes while gossiping; children laugh, cry, and play; and old men sit under the shade of drooping willows to meditate, greet their friends, or make an occasional remark.
A talented writer of both prose and poetry, Masaoka Shiki (1867-1902) died of tuberculosis when he was thirty-five. Though a city man, he greatly loved and admired natural beauty and went to rural and mountain areas as often as possible.
Through the town’s center
A little stream flows, bordered
By weeping willows.
It was time for another in-house workshop and Angela came up with the excellent idea of a Japanese Haiku. After some deliberation the haiku below is what she came up with to inspire us all to paint something that represents the small poem. This comes from a book called "One hundred Famous HAIKU".
In its original language a haiku is an unrhymed poetic form consisting of 17 syllables arranged in three lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables respectively. The haiku first emerged in Japanese literature during the 17th century, as a terse reaction to elaborate poetic traditions, though it did not become known by the name haiku until the 19th century. It is a word picture, and in this case, of a typical Japanese small town, many of which have a brook running through the middle of the main street. Here is where women gather to wash their rice and clothes while gossiping; children laugh, cry, and play; and old men sit under the shade of drooping willows to meditate, greet their friends, or make an occasional remark.
A talented writer of both prose and poetry, Masaoka Shiki (1867-1902) died of tuberculosis when he was thirty-five. Though a city man, he greatly loved and admired natural beauty and went to rural and mountain areas as often as possible.
Through the town’s center
A little stream flows, bordered
By weeping willows.

Portraiture - 26th February 2024 - Led by Rob
Rob has been painting with us for several years now, his speciality is portraiture currently he has a portrait which is being exhibited in The Mall Gallery's by The Royal Institue of Painters in Watercolours. For a cheeky preview click here. He has been a contestant on the Sky Arts, Portrait Artist of the Year in 2022 Episode 3 and you can also follow him on Instagram @rob-in-cottenhm.
Rob gave us a comprehensive guide as to his approach to portraiture. He threw in some history together with his personal analysis of how he views portraiture. Then it was time to get stuck in!!! To warm us up Rob gave us some copy which involved a pair of glasses into which we had to draw a pair of eyes. He kept it simple, working only in pencil, then it was onto the portrait. Some of us worked form the copy Rob supplied others went off piste and brought in their own copy. Most of us never do portraiture but we were certainy up for the challenge and I think you will agree there are some good results.
Rob has been painting with us for several years now, his speciality is portraiture currently he has a portrait which is being exhibited in The Mall Gallery's by The Royal Institue of Painters in Watercolours. For a cheeky preview click here. He has been a contestant on the Sky Arts, Portrait Artist of the Year in 2022 Episode 3 and you can also follow him on Instagram @rob-in-cottenhm.
Rob gave us a comprehensive guide as to his approach to portraiture. He threw in some history together with his personal analysis of how he views portraiture. Then it was time to get stuck in!!! To warm us up Rob gave us some copy which involved a pair of glasses into which we had to draw a pair of eyes. He kept it simple, working only in pencil, then it was onto the portrait. Some of us worked form the copy Rob supplied others went off piste and brought in their own copy. Most of us never do portraiture but we were certainy up for the challenge and I think you will agree there are some good results.
Andy Warhol and Shepard Fairey - Visual artists from the early and late 20th Century - 29th January 2024
Portraits were the order of the day in the styles of Warhol and Fairey. Whilst Warhol and Fairey's iconic works were produced by silk screening we worked in pen, ink and watercolour. We were all way out of our comfort zones which made it all the more of a challenge. Great fun was had by all and I think you will agree the results were varied and stunning. |

Off Piste Wreath Making -
11th December 2023
After such a successful wreath making workshop in 2022 we decided to repeat the event. Definately off piste but neverthless very enjoyable and I think you will agree the results are quite spectacular.Not all of us wanted to participate so the stoic artists amongst us joined in the festive spirit and happily painted. They were ever so slightly smug when the rest of us ended up with very sore fingers at the end of the session :) :) :) but great fun in a relaxed sense of community was had by all.
11th December 2023
After such a successful wreath making workshop in 2022 we decided to repeat the event. Definately off piste but neverthless very enjoyable and I think you will agree the results are quite spectacular.Not all of us wanted to participate so the stoic artists amongst us joined in the festive spirit and happily painted. They were ever so slightly smug when the rest of us ended up with very sore fingers at the end of the session :) :) :) but great fun in a relaxed sense of community was had by all.
Zentangle - follow up - 18th Sepetmber 2023
Having enjoyed our foray into zentangles we decided to take it a step further. Watercolour pen and ink with an eye on negative space, balance, tone and repative shapes. The emphasis was on having fun with the concept and as always the results are as diverse as our artists. Take a look below ......
Having enjoyed our foray into zentangles we decided to take it a step further. Watercolour pen and ink with an eye on negative space, balance, tone and repative shapes. The emphasis was on having fun with the concept and as always the results are as diverse as our artists. Take a look below ......
Zentangles - Monday 6th March 2023
*Zen - meditation and intuition *Tangles - a confusion of lines This week we are having some 'zen' time. Heavily influenced by Japanese repeat patterns the art of zentangles is to make pictures or patterns which are subdivided into various sections which are then filled with repeat patterns of choice. Some can be traditional but you can also let your imagination run riot. The making, creating and construction of these patterns has a calming affect contributing to individual wellbeing. The results are below ..... enjoy |

Off Piste Wreath Making! - Monday 5th December 2022
It had to be done!!! It's Christmas!!!
This week we went 'off piste' thanks to a gift from one of ur members of many wicker wreath bases. As you would imagine our members have many talents as well as being creative artists and Evelyn is no exception. She has a great deal of experience of flower arranging and volunteered to give us a workshop on wreath making. An enormous amount of fun was had and I think you will agree the results are quite spectacular, take a look below. Thank you again to Evelyn.
It had to be done!!! It's Christmas!!!
This week we went 'off piste' thanks to a gift from one of ur members of many wicker wreath bases. As you would imagine our members have many talents as well as being creative artists and Evelyn is no exception. She has a great deal of experience of flower arranging and volunteered to give us a workshop on wreath making. An enormous amount of fun was had and I think you will agree the results are quite spectacular, take a look below. Thank you again to Evelyn.

Fun with pointillism - Monday 20th June 2022
Thank you to Angela for her inspiration to have fun with some monochrome pointillism. It turned out to be an interesting morning with excellent results. Take a look at the slideshow below.
Thank you to Angela for her inspiration to have fun with some monochrome pointillism. It turned out to be an interesting morning with excellent results. Take a look at the slideshow below.
Matisse - CUTOUTS 1941 - 1954 - Monday October 4th 2021
Another fun workshop this time based on Matisse's last decade. We all felt a little of Matise's energy, inspiration and sponteneity. Take a look at this 30 minute Youtube video - Janet's inspiration for the workshop (74) Henri Matisse A Cut Above the Rest(2013 - 2014) - YouTube
Another fun workshop this time based on Matisse's last decade. We all felt a little of Matise's energy, inspiration and sponteneity. Take a look at this 30 minute Youtube video - Janet's inspiration for the workshop (74) Henri Matisse A Cut Above the Rest(2013 - 2014) - YouTube
The results of our Matisse inpired workshop.
Fun with Abstract - Monday 20th September 2021
This was our first workshop for far too long. Janet put together a workshop, the aim of which was primarily to loosen up and have fun. 4 or 6 (artists choice how many) sectioned off areas on the paper were worked with precribed marks, followed by a 2 section piece of more structured marks finished off with an individual piece putting together all the earlier elements .....
Below are pictures taken on the day. A lot of us were well and truely out of our comfort zones (Peter's face says it all) but we had a lot of fun and laughter and most of all it was joyous to be back painting and creating together ....
This was our first workshop for far too long. Janet put together a workshop, the aim of which was primarily to loosen up and have fun. 4 or 6 (artists choice how many) sectioned off areas on the paper were worked with precribed marks, followed by a 2 section piece of more structured marks finished off with an individual piece putting together all the earlier elements .....
Below are pictures taken on the day. A lot of us were well and truely out of our comfort zones (Peter's face says it all) but we had a lot of fun and laughter and most of all it was joyous to be back painting and creating together ....
Pastel on Sugar Paper - Monday 27th January 2020
Laura and Janet put together a workshop to make us observe closely the highlights, shadow and mid tones using a mid tone sugar paper. Simple ……… not at all. Observing distinct tonal areas is made difficult by the surface texture and the color of the object in question. First we brought in our own simple object for a quick half hour sketch to galvanise our minds and focus our eyes. Then we were presented with a still life with more challenging surfaces and forms. Have a look below to see what we achieved.
Quick half hour sketches
The Still Life
The Results
Collage - Monday 9th December 2019
A fun and challenging workshop organised by Laura and Janet. Most of us were seriously out of our comfort zone but all of us threw ourselves into the fray. A table full of 'bits and bobs', a free choice of subject matter and lots of glue and paint transported us all back in time to find the child within. The perfect antidote to Brexit, the General Election, Christmas shopping and all of life's stresses. A creative morning spent with broad smiles and lots of laughter. To see us in action and to view the results …….. see below ……..
A fun and challenging workshop organised by Laura and Janet. Most of us were seriously out of our comfort zone but all of us threw ourselves into the fray. A table full of 'bits and bobs', a free choice of subject matter and lots of glue and paint transported us all back in time to find the child within. The perfect antidote to Brexit, the General Election, Christmas shopping and all of life's stresses. A creative morning spent with broad smiles and lots of laughter. To see us in action and to view the results …….. see below ……..
Autumn Still Life - Monday 11th November 2019
Angela and Laura compiled a quick but very successful still life on an autumnal theme. The remit was simple; paint or sketch the still life in which ever medium you prefer. The group had lots of fun and I think you will agree the results were exciting and quite different.
Angela and Laura compiled a quick but very successful still life on an autumnal theme. The remit was simple; paint or sketch the still life in which ever medium you prefer. The group had lots of fun and I think you will agree the results were exciting and quite different.
Urban Sketching continued - Monday 29th July 2019
The group so enjoyed urban sketching that we had a follow-up session. Following on from last week's workshop and in the footsteps of Turner from an earlier workshop we urban sketched on tinted paper. Turner almost always tinted his paper before sketching and he was probably the ultimate urban sketcher about 230 years before this skill acquired a 'label' … the.Tate’s holdings of his sketchbooks, drawings and watercolours are among its greatest treasures. The vast majority of these, numbering approximately 37,500 accessioned works, came to the nation after Turner's death as part of the Turner Bequest in 1856.
Here are some of our results:
The group so enjoyed urban sketching that we had a follow-up session. Following on from last week's workshop and in the footsteps of Turner from an earlier workshop we urban sketched on tinted paper. Turner almost always tinted his paper before sketching and he was probably the ultimate urban sketcher about 230 years before this skill acquired a 'label' … the.Tate’s holdings of his sketchbooks, drawings and watercolours are among its greatest treasures. The vast majority of these, numbering approximately 37,500 accessioned works, came to the nation after Turner's death as part of the Turner Bequest in 1856.
Here are some of our results:
Urban Sketching - Monday 22nd July 2019
Laura and Janet challenged Monday Studio yet again, this time with Urban Sketching. In 2007, a global community of urban sketchers began to form when Seattle-based journalist and illustrator Gabriel Campanario created an online forum "for all sketchers out there who love to draw the cities where they live and visit, from the window of their homes, from a cafe, at a park, standing by a street corner... always on location, not from photos or memory", and the rest as they say is history. A large community of avid urban sketchers (a bit of a misnomer as you can sketch anywhere, urban or rural) can be found at www.urbansketchers.org where the ethos of urban sketching is mapped out, images of their work, information about local chapters and details of sketchcrawls can be found. We took a look at Peter Sheeler's video of him sketching a scene from Porto in Portugal and for the purpose of practice we did use a copy of this screenshot as our guide. If you like what you see here take a look at the urban sketchers website and have a go.
Laura and Janet challenged Monday Studio yet again, this time with Urban Sketching. In 2007, a global community of urban sketchers began to form when Seattle-based journalist and illustrator Gabriel Campanario created an online forum "for all sketchers out there who love to draw the cities where they live and visit, from the window of their homes, from a cafe, at a park, standing by a street corner... always on location, not from photos or memory", and the rest as they say is history. A large community of avid urban sketchers (a bit of a misnomer as you can sketch anywhere, urban or rural) can be found at www.urbansketchers.org where the ethos of urban sketching is mapped out, images of their work, information about local chapters and details of sketchcrawls can be found. We took a look at Peter Sheeler's video of him sketching a scene from Porto in Portugal and for the purpose of practice we did use a copy of this screenshot as our guide. If you like what you see here take a look at the urban sketchers website and have a go.
The results of a fun and very productive 1 hour urban sketching workshop ...………...
Watercolour on Tinted Paper and JWM Turner - Monday 8th July 2019
Laura and Janet challenged the Monday Studio members to create a Turneresque watercolour using tinted paper working on line, tone and colour. After watching 3 short YouTube videos of Mike Chapman taking a look at some of Turner's watercolour works in the Tate Gallery, members had 60 minutes to produce a watercolour painting. There was a choice of subject, either a tree or a landscape with windmill. Everyone participated and although it was out of some peoples 'comfort zone' some good work was produced. Take a look at the slideshow below.
Laura and Janet challenged the Monday Studio members to create a Turneresque watercolour using tinted paper working on line, tone and colour. After watching 3 short YouTube videos of Mike Chapman taking a look at some of Turner's watercolour works in the Tate Gallery, members had 60 minutes to produce a watercolour painting. There was a choice of subject, either a tree or a landscape with windmill. Everyone participated and although it was out of some peoples 'comfort zone' some good work was produced. Take a look at the slideshow below.
Further follow-up workshop - Watercolour, watercolour pencils, pen and ink - Monday 29th April 2019
Laura and Janet had some more fun experimenting with all the above. The lilac tree outside the village hall proved to be the perfect if not challenging subject. The unfinished results are below, take a look and see what you think?
Laura and Janet had some more fun experimenting with all the above. The lilac tree outside the village hall proved to be the perfect if not challenging subject. The unfinished results are below, take a look and see what you think?
Follow-up to last week's workshop - Monday 15th April 2019
Several members thought they would like to take last week's workshop in pen and ink a little further. A still life of a gorgeous piece of old gnarled wood under the spotlight of a lovely sunny window position. Enjoy the results below.
Several members thought they would like to take last week's workshop in pen and ink a little further. A still life of a gorgeous piece of old gnarled wood under the spotlight of a lovely sunny window position. Enjoy the results below.
Monthly Challenge - Laura & Janet - Monday 8th April 2019
Thank you to Laura and Janet for this month's challenge. Another still life but this time concentrating on techniques for pen and ink. Laura presented us with a 'pick & choose' still life because the emphasis was on technique. We were encouraged not necessarily to draw the whole still life but to choose one aspect of it and concentrated on ways of cross hatching, scribbling, parallel lines, contour lines etc. to achieve tone and form. We were guided in some of these techniques by the hand-out shown below. Sue also showed us ways she had used similar techniques in her water colour botanical drawings as show here. The challenge was well received and some of the members will be taking this way of working further.
For those of you who would like some help and advise setting up your own still life click here. This aricle is well worth taking a look at for that 'perfect still life' set up.
Thank you to Laura and Janet for this month's challenge. Another still life but this time concentrating on techniques for pen and ink. Laura presented us with a 'pick & choose' still life because the emphasis was on technique. We were encouraged not necessarily to draw the whole still life but to choose one aspect of it and concentrated on ways of cross hatching, scribbling, parallel lines, contour lines etc. to achieve tone and form. We were guided in some of these techniques by the hand-out shown below. Sue also showed us ways she had used similar techniques in her water colour botanical drawings as show here. The challenge was well received and some of the members will be taking this way of working further.
For those of you who would like some help and advise setting up your own still life click here. This aricle is well worth taking a look at for that 'perfect still life' set up.
Monthly Challenge - Angela & Evelyn - Monday 28th January 2019
Thank you to Angela and Evelyn for this month's challenge. A still life and an exercise in observation, the concentration was palpable... Considering our diverse styles this was an exercise very much enjoyed by all.
Thank you to Angela and Evelyn for this month's challenge. A still life and an exercise in observation, the concentration was palpable... Considering our diverse styles this was an exercise very much enjoyed by all.
The Concentration
The Results
Discovering Brusho - Laura & Janet
Monday 19th November - 10am-12pm Thanks to Roger, our IT wizard, we were able to view some YouTube demonstrations and together with various practice pieces presented by Laura and Janet Monday Studio threw themselves enthusiastically into Brusho!! Less is usually more but Terry proved otherwise and Eve created some exciting effects with tooth picks. Some of us were more successful than others but a great deal of diverse techniques were employed with accordingly remarkable results. |
Bleach Art - Laura & Janet
Monday 22nd October - 10am-12pm
Laura and Janet demonstrated various techniques using bleach on watercolour, ink and Brusho all of which allowed the artist to rework the piece using the original media by adding acrylic inks, Indian ink and other permanent media un affected by the bleach.
Monday 22nd October - 10am-12pm
Laura and Janet demonstrated various techniques using bleach on watercolour, ink and Brusho all of which allowed the artist to rework the piece using the original media by adding acrylic inks, Indian ink and other permanent media un affected by the bleach.