Weald of Kent Art Society

Pat Lock   Talk on Malevich  24th October, 2019

Another fascinating talk from Pat on Kasimir Malevich the Russian avante-garde artist whose art and writing strongly influenced the development of non-objective abstraction in 20th century art.

Life Drawing Workshop    19th October, 2019   10am-2pm

Delightful day's life drawing at Highbury Hall and lots of inspired work.

New Work by our Chairman Clive Dand

Members Painting Day at Headcorn    23th July, 2019   10am-2pm

We had an absolute scorcher of a day in Headcorn and were very grateful for the delightful tea and scones provided by Jenny in the beautiful (and cool) St Peter and St Paul's church. 

Members Painting Day at Camber Sands     26th June, 2019   

Despite the British weather being very....well British.... a fun outing for those who braved it!.

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Thanks from Pilgrims Hospice  30th May, 2019

We raised £160 from the sale of postcards earlier this year and have received a letter of thanks outlining the sort of help and services our donation will help to provide.

Pat Lock   Talk on Egon Schiele  18th April, 2019

Thank you Pat for your informative and interesting talk about this intriguing artist with intensity and raw sexuality...the 'bad boy of secessionism'

Juliette Dodd Demo  28th March, 2019

Juliette's delightful portrait demos were followed by a chance for members to have a go at drawing each other.  For more information about Juliette, her work and classes click on the poster below.

Open Day   16th March, 2019

A fun day was had by one all at our first Open Day.  

The public were invited to come and have a look at WoKAS members in action as well as view their work.  There were a range of drawing, painting and sculpture activities set up for everyone to have a go, and these proved popular.... 

...and of course, our Chairman was tireless in his efforts to congratulate members on their achievements...or indeed, to not miss a photo opportunity!

Chairmans' Report

Dear Member, 

Our Summer Programme has just ended with our last outdoor painting day.  My good intention of attending most of these was not met – other ‘events’ seemed always to clash.  My understanding is that good work was stimulated and started, and even completed at all the venues.  I must admit I rarely complete a work on site, but I do like to use sketches and supporting photographs for much of what I paint.

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I have recently been talking to our Committee and Maidstone Art Society and it may be that next summer we will invite their members to attend some of our painting days and that likewise they will invite us to attend some of theirs.  In this way both Societies will have a greater choice of painting venues.

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The Summer Art Exhibition, if we count the footfall of 729 visitors was, like our Spring Exhibition, a great success.  Unfortunately, yet again, sales were well down on our best of years past, and slightly down on our Spring Exhibition. A sign of the times, I’m afraid.  Congratulations, however, to those who did sell and better luck next time to those who didn’t.

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The Zion Hall is obviously a popular venue and looked good inside and outside. My thanks and the Committee’s thanks to everybody who helped in any way to prepare, put up, take down and run the event.

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The quality of work maintained its usual high standard, and consequently many visitors were encouraged to vote for their favourite work.

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Over 72 different paintings and 28 different artists received at least one vote. 

Below are the paintings and artists receiving more than ten votes.

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Paintings which received more than 10 votes:

‘Nutkin’ by Nicola Colbran                                                       20 votes

‘Abbey Churchyard, Bath’ by David Aspinall                         19

‘The Mint, Rye’ by David Aspinall                                            18

‘Snow White’ by Nicola Colbran                                              18

‘Thames Barge’  by Sara Smith                                               18

‘Splash’ by Nicola Colbran                                                       16

‘Afternoon Low Tide’   by John Hamilton                               14

‘Brollies in Gullin’  by Graham Lock                                        12

Artists who received more than 10 votes:

Nicola Colbran                                                                          59 votes

David Aspinall                                                                           40

Graham Lock                                                                             21

Sara Smith                                                                                 21

John Hamilton                                                                           20

Trisha Skilton                                                                            19

Giuseppe Bertoli                                                                      15

Chris Hautot                                                                             15

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All this suggests that visitors liked what they saw, and that sales will pick up in the future.

Your Committee has been considering the dates of future exhibitions, and the Zion Hall is booked for next Easter for our Spring Exhibition (Sunday 1st April – Saturday 7th April 2018).  Beyond that it is proposed we hold exhibitions during Tenterden

Christmas Shopping Week, usually the first week in December, and during the week that starts with the Spring Bank Holiday in late May. Once again, thank you to all who were in any way involved with the exhibition, and to those who painted ‘en plein air’.  We will be beginning our Winter Programme on Thurs Oct 5th, but more of this in my next letter.

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     Regards,

     Graham I Lock

     Chairman