NEWS
23rd October 2024
STIMULATING CREATIVITY
A warmup exercise to get the creative mind working, before starting a painting, was a key take-away at this Saturday’s workshop with Angela Corben.
Members filled the classroom, as artist and teacher Angela, guided everyone through a series of exercises to inspire creativity.
A variety of paint mediums and tools were explored, as each member had brought along their favourite collection of resources, from acrylic paints to watercolours, and inks, pastels and crayons, along with brushes, sponges, scrapers, pens and pencils.
Angela guided members through the personal process of exploring the effects of treating their chosen mediums in different ways, which proved to be a fun and useful way to release expressive energy in colour and form.
NEWS
23rd October 2024
PALETTE KNIFE MAGIC
It’s always a magical moment to watch a talented artist create a vibrant image and at our Saturday demonstration Fiona Forbes deftly showed members how to use a palette knife to create a sweeping landscape with poppies in a field.
Working in water-based oils Fiona described her techniques as she painted and answered questions throughout the session. She also gave a brief demonstration of a snowscape, showing how to add figures taking perspective into account.
Find Fiona Forbes' website here.
NEWS
6th October 2024
THE COLOURS OF AUTUMN
"Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness..."
This Saturday's Paint Together session was themed ‘Autumn Still Life’ with an array of leaves, seed heads, fruit and flowers to choose from to sketch or paint.
The Art Club's Paint Together sessions are always a relaxed opportunity to get together, have a coffee and a chat, and share our love of art.
If you missed this session, come along on Saturday 19th October when Fiona Forbes will be demonstrating the use of water soluble oils and acrylics with a palette knife to quickly capture a street or market scene.
NEWS
22nd September 2024
THE GIRL IN THE ATTIC
When Janet retrieved from her attic a treasured portrait of herself, she was distraught to find it had disintegrated beyond repair.
The portrait, a delicate sketch on thin paper in chalk pastel, was of her as a young girl.
Janet was keen to see if anything could be done to preserve this precious memory and sought help from Fordingbridge Art Club while visiting their Summer Exhibition in Fordingbridge.
Professional artist and Fordingbridge Art Club committee member Lucinda Nicholas stepped in and offered to paint a copy of the fragmenting original.
A few weeks later, Lucinda presented Janet with her new watercolour portrait. Janet was delighted with the result and said:
'It looks more like me than the original and I am looking forward to showing my painting to the world.”
Remarkably, on the day Lucinda presented Janet with her portrait, Lucinda realised that Janet was wearing an almost identical top to that in the painting – and Janet had no idea she had done that!
In her studio, artist, Lucinda Nicholas (right), with Janet and her portrait.
Original portrait of Janet as a young girl that was found to be disintegrated beyond repair.
NEWS
7th September 2024
A MATISSE MOMENT
Our September workshop was transformed into a Matisse studio.
The stage was set with exotic fabrics, flowers, and a live model wearing colourful clothes and a hat as art club members were encouraged to explore their 'inner Matisse' in their own way.
The workshop, hosted by artist Su Joy, was a full-house and members of all skill levels enjoyed the challenge of capturing the model's form amongst the rich array of the patterns and colours of the draped fabrics.
Purple Robe and Anemones, 1937
Henri Matisse
NEWS
16th August 2024
EN PLEIN AIR AT HYDE FLOWER FARM
Painting en plein air at Hyde Flower Farm was a great opportunity to experience and capture the stunning array of late summer blooms on show.
A big thank you to Lucinda Nicholas for organising the event and to Debs Needham for the photos.
Choosing.... then painting the fabulous flowers at Hyde Flower Farm
NEWS
6th August 2024
SUMMER ART SHOW SUCCESS
Our 2024 Summer Art Show was a great success with visitors impressed by the high standard and variety of art on display.
Congratulations to the winners and to all who took part – and a huge thank you to everyone who helped make the show a success.
We are now looking forward to creating more art for next year’s show!
NEWS
27th July 2024
SUMMER ART SHOW NOW OPEN!
Fordingbridge Art Club's Summer Art Show is open at the Salvation Hall, Round Hill, from 27th July to 3rd August.
Visitors are welcome to browse the paintings, sketches, ceramics, prints, books and greetings cards on show.
With many artworks available for sale at a wide range of prices, the show is an opportunity to buy original artwork by local artists.
JUDGING BY PAUL KIDBY
Judging the artworks on show was Paul Kidby, renowned artist and illustrator of the globally successful 'Discworld' series of books by Sir Terry Pratchett.
Paul Kidby
Paul Kidby, and his wife Vanessa, with Willard Balthazar, President of Fordingbridge Art Club
THE WINNERS OF THE FORDINGBRIDGE ART CLUB SUMMER ART SHOW
NEWS
15th July 2024
'DISCWORLD' ARTIST TO OPEN FORDINGBRIDGE ART SHOW
Paul Kidby, illustrator of the globally successful ‘Discworld’ series of books by Sir Terry Pratchett, will officially open and judge this year’s Fordingbridge Summer Art Show.
Paul Kidby, who lives in the Fordingbridge area, worked with award-winning writer Sir Terry Pratchett to create the iconic artworks for the ‘Discworld’ series - and designed a set of special Royal Mail stamps in honour of Sir Terry Pratchett’s Discworld.
The Summer Art Show features art by members of Fordingbridge Art Club, founded in 1946 by a group of artists including Augustus John RA, one of Britain’s leading portrait artists.
The Club’s enduring success comes from attracting artists of all levels, from beginners to professionals, who gather in a friendly setting of shared interests, that include informal painting sessions, demonstrations, talks and plein air painting sessions.
The Fordingbridge Art Club’s Summer Art Show is held at the Salvation Army Hall, Round Hill, Fordingbridge, from 27th July to 3rd August 2024 10am to 4pm.
The opening ceremony and private viewing will be held on Friday 26th July at 6pm.
‘Discworld Massif’ by Paul Kidby
© Paul Kidby 2024, all rights reserved.
FORDINGBRIDGE ART CLUB SUMMER ART SHOW
27TH JULY TO 3RD AUGUST
NEWS
10th July 2024
PLEIN AIR SESSION - ST MARY'S CHURCH, FORDINGBRIDGE
Left to right: Caroline Wilkins, Willard Balthazar, Felicity Singleton, Jill Leigh, Carolyn Pearce
NEWS
29th June 2024
AVONWAY OPEN DAY
Fordingbridge Art Club was represented at the Avonway Open Day by Carolyn Pearce, Willard Balthazar and Trudi Day who met other groups who share the facilities at Avonway.
The event was an opportunity to build awareness of Fordingbridge Art Club and promote the Summer Art Show.
Carolyn and Trudi displayed examples of their art, which drew much interest from attendees.
NEWS
12th June 2024
PLEIN AIR SESSION - THE COTTAGE GARDEN
(Formerly New Forest Lavender)
VENICE ART HOLIDAY
PLEIN AIR WITH ANGELA CORBEN
MARJORIE THOMSEN
13 November 1926 - 26 November 2020
Marjorie was a member of Fordingbridge Art Club for many years and sadly passed away in November 2020.
Primarily a water colour artist, Marjorie also painted with oils and latterly acrylics and some collage. Inspired by her local surroundings and plants, she developed her own style of abstract art, which would often develop into a series of paintings. Her great experience and love of painting were passed on by teaching others at adult education classes for many years - and one of her paintings was accepted in an exhibition at the Royal Academy.
Marjorie was keenly involved in the local arts scene and joined local art groups, participating many times in the Hampshire Art Trail, and exhibiting in exhibitions in Chichester, Havant, Southampton and Winchester, as well as locally with the Fordingbridge Art Club.