Greetings!
Yes it's really me once again; I've returned as if 'back from the dead', after my second long break from posting and updating my blog, which is something I now know I have missed.
My own little 'art world' has gone through some major changes and upheavals since the last post for various reasons: namely apathy, frustration and some circumstances beyond my control, as they say. One thing it was not this time was my health!
Firstly, the children's art club where I helped finally closed as the owner (Jon) decided he had had enough. Numbers in the latter weeks varied from 1 to maybe 4, but during the 'good times' we regularly had over a dozen, maybe 15. Still, times change, and so did the children; I could go on but it's probably best to just say it all ended.
Secondly, the adults club kept going itself for a few weeks after the kid's closed, but that too finally fell as Jon got himself involved in other schemes and ideas (workwise), and he lost heart and interest.
This became a double blow as the Life Drawing Group I had been going to at 20/21 along with some of our local adults group also closed, which was a great pity. I have to say that I could honestly see an improvement in my work since I had been going there, but a slight case of 'Catch 22' had seen it's demise.
We had been enjoying the luxury of alternate male and female models, but the female dropped off as it became financially unfeasable for her to continue, and despite trying to keep regular female replacements, we were left with just our reliable male, who became our only model week after week. Smashing bloke as he is, folks become bored, fed-up, disinterested - call it what you will - of working on the same model each week. Things no longer became a challenge as we knew his every shape, shade and contour. The earlier double figure numbers of artists dropped below the minimum number required to sustain it, and so it too, drew to a close.
Since then the 20/21 Arts Centre have tried to revive things, this time on a monthly basis instead of the previous weekly one. I am pleased to say that they have since had their first session earlier this month (sadly I missed it), but I will be looking forward to the next one, you can bet!
Back to our local group, which was now in great danger of folding as we had no venue - especially one we could afford, until Margaret stepped in and invited us to hold our weekly sessions in her very large conservatory, which is so much lighter, brighter, and warmer than Jon's. Sadly it seems we have lost Jon, having previously lost Brian as he had moved out of the area, so this now leaves a 'hard core' of 5 - Philip, Margaret, Kerry, Martin and myself. We have Suzy who will be available in the New Year due to other commitments, and Brian does make 'guest appearences' from time to time.
So, some things do seem to work out for the best as they say, though it often seems hard to see at the time.
An unexpected bonus from Jon closing is that Martin, Philip and myself now travel around 15 miles to another group at Goole (close to where Brian lives), so the four of us are now reunited! This group have welcomed us into their fold, and we enjoy the banter and new challenges that await us. The biggest difference I feel is that the Goole Art Society have 2 well established exhibitions each year at which member can showcase their work. The first, which has it's hanging day next week, is at the Town's library/museum, with the second next Spring at the Waterways Museum.
This has given me a fresh impetus as my work now has more meaning. Instead of it being painted, then put away, or maybe the odd piece hung in our home, it can now go out on public display. I have been out with sketch pad and camera looking for material, and already have several new pieces completed, hopefully producing enough to have new work at both these exhibitions.
I feel this is so important, both as an artist and to me personally. After taking time to produce an end product, be it a cake, a story or a painting, whether it's be sold or not, it must give the maker a great deal of satisfaction from folks looking at, eating or enjoying your end product. This is what I feel - it gives more of a purpose to what I have done, what I have experienced and to how I have interpreted that experience. I hope this makes sense to you, and that in some way you agree.
Until next time, whatever your art - please enjoy it.
Paul
Yes it's really me once again; I've returned as if 'back from the dead', after my second long break from posting and updating my blog, which is something I now know I have missed.
My own little 'art world' has gone through some major changes and upheavals since the last post for various reasons: namely apathy, frustration and some circumstances beyond my control, as they say. One thing it was not this time was my health!
Firstly, the children's art club where I helped finally closed as the owner (Jon) decided he had had enough. Numbers in the latter weeks varied from 1 to maybe 4, but during the 'good times' we regularly had over a dozen, maybe 15. Still, times change, and so did the children; I could go on but it's probably best to just say it all ended.
Secondly, the adults club kept going itself for a few weeks after the kid's closed, but that too finally fell as Jon got himself involved in other schemes and ideas (workwise), and he lost heart and interest.
This became a double blow as the Life Drawing Group I had been going to at 20/21 along with some of our local adults group also closed, which was a great pity. I have to say that I could honestly see an improvement in my work since I had been going there, but a slight case of 'Catch 22' had seen it's demise.
We had been enjoying the luxury of alternate male and female models, but the female dropped off as it became financially unfeasable for her to continue, and despite trying to keep regular female replacements, we were left with just our reliable male, who became our only model week after week. Smashing bloke as he is, folks become bored, fed-up, disinterested - call it what you will - of working on the same model each week. Things no longer became a challenge as we knew his every shape, shade and contour. The earlier double figure numbers of artists dropped below the minimum number required to sustain it, and so it too, drew to a close.
Since then the 20/21 Arts Centre have tried to revive things, this time on a monthly basis instead of the previous weekly one. I am pleased to say that they have since had their first session earlier this month (sadly I missed it), but I will be looking forward to the next one, you can bet!
Back to our local group, which was now in great danger of folding as we had no venue - especially one we could afford, until Margaret stepped in and invited us to hold our weekly sessions in her very large conservatory, which is so much lighter, brighter, and warmer than Jon's. Sadly it seems we have lost Jon, having previously lost Brian as he had moved out of the area, so this now leaves a 'hard core' of 5 - Philip, Margaret, Kerry, Martin and myself. We have Suzy who will be available in the New Year due to other commitments, and Brian does make 'guest appearences' from time to time.
So, some things do seem to work out for the best as they say, though it often seems hard to see at the time.
An unexpected bonus from Jon closing is that Martin, Philip and myself now travel around 15 miles to another group at Goole (close to where Brian lives), so the four of us are now reunited! This group have welcomed us into their fold, and we enjoy the banter and new challenges that await us. The biggest difference I feel is that the Goole Art Society have 2 well established exhibitions each year at which member can showcase their work. The first, which has it's hanging day next week, is at the Town's library/museum, with the second next Spring at the Waterways Museum.
This has given me a fresh impetus as my work now has more meaning. Instead of it being painted, then put away, or maybe the odd piece hung in our home, it can now go out on public display. I have been out with sketch pad and camera looking for material, and already have several new pieces completed, hopefully producing enough to have new work at both these exhibitions.
I feel this is so important, both as an artist and to me personally. After taking time to produce an end product, be it a cake, a story or a painting, whether it's be sold or not, it must give the maker a great deal of satisfaction from folks looking at, eating or enjoying your end product. This is what I feel - it gives more of a purpose to what I have done, what I have experienced and to how I have interpreted that experience. I hope this makes sense to you, and that in some way you agree.
Until next time, whatever your art - please enjoy it.
Paul
