Catherine Inglis Workshop held Saturday 28th February 2015

Catherine ran a pastel portrait workshop for ten of our members and two from York Art Society. She began with a demonstration picture of her granddaughter,  showing us how to get the correct proportions for a face and how to paint eyes, noses and mouths, not to mention how to put curls into the hair!

Catherine with the picture she painted as a demo

Catherine also brought along a ‘sweet shop’ of pastels and paper to buy all of which we found very tempting.

Then we were left to begin our own portraits, some chose pets whilst others took the plunge into portraiture.  With Catherine’s help and guidance we all produced some good work, whether it quite looked like our chosen subject was another matter but we all had a very enjoyable day.

Everyone hard at work!

Sue receiving a personal critique from Betty!

Of course the Big Painting Challenge, on BBC1, the following day also focussed on portraits and I am sure we all looked on with some sympathy for the contestants as they struggled to get the likeness of their models.  We already knew just how difficult it was!!

Spotlight on Lynda Baker

In this spotlight I am showing two pictures, both are in acrylic and I painted these during the  afternoon sessions at the Newton Art Group. I find that  having a long afternoon session gives me more time to actually get something done besides chatting and of course breaking off for the endless cups of coffee and tea!

I would like a title for this framed one if anyone has any ideas?

This is my latest picture which is still work in progress!

Lynda’s tips for painters

I like making my own textured gesso in different consistencies to give my pictures a bit of depth. I have used it on these two pictures especially on the rocks and the tree foliage. When you paint over these raised areas it means you can catch the hints of light with dry brush work.

1.This is my ‘recipe’ for normal Gesso which can be made at about a quarter of the price

One third each of  talcum powder,  white (or any colour of acrylic paint) and PVA glue

Add enough water to create the consistency you require. I find the best way is to combine the glue and paint first and then the talc and water .

There are quite a few ways of making Gesso, some people use polyfilla (powdered form) or bicarbonate of soda but I haven’t tried either yet!

For texture I crush baked egg shells and mix with the above but you can use anything you wish like sand etc.

2. Maurice Tooby told me how to treat MDF or any other kind of boards you wish to paint on by mixing emulsion paint diluted with 10% of the volume with water and adding some PVA glue to the mixture.  The boards should then be given three thin coats on both sides. I have used this method for a long time and find it works very well. It is also cheaper than painting gesso on to bare boards. Sometimes I paint the last coat on the side to be painted with Gesso.

I usually paint in oils but have recently tried acrylics and with help from Luisa I feel I am getting to grips with a new medium.  I have not had any formal training but have always enjoyed the workshops and demonstrations with the York Art Society and Newton Art Group.  I attended life drawing classes for many years, these did not have a tutor just a model. This experience has really helped me with prospective in drawings and paintings of any kind.

Spotlight on Lin Taylor

Art was a subject that I enjoyed very much at school, where I gained my GCE 'O' Level. However when I married and my children arrived, my interest in art had to take a back seat and it wasn’t until they left home that I had the time to take up art again.  By this time it was 1994 and I was living in South Africa where I found so many wonderful subjects to paint.

You looking at me ?

In 1998 I returned to the U.K. and settled in York immediately joining York Art Society and later the Newton Art Group.  Newton is a small and friendly art group with some very talented artists. I have always enjoyed attending the weekly meetings and the three annual workshops and it is always good to receive help and advice from some of the other more experienced members.

My preference is for watercolour but I also enjoy painting in acrylics. Recently I have been experimenting, painting pictures of birds on real feathers and I feel that these feather paintings capture the imagination and link the art to the spirit of the birds.

Barn Owl (on feather)
Lin Taylor