top of page

Welcome to WOKAS

The Weald of Kent Art Society is a fun, vibrant and friendly group of enthusiasts of all ages and artistic levels. 
We embrace art in all its forms and have demonstrations and talks, members' painting sessions,
and painting days out, as well as exhibitions.

This website provides a platform where members can share some of their art and find
information about current and future events. 

Non-members are very welcome to browse this website to find out more about the society and its artists. 
We hope you like what you see and are tempted to join us via the membership page.

News

2023Exhibition
WOKAS newsletter 

See the current issue of our new WOKAS newsletter that is now available. Click to download your copy of issue 12.

We do hope you enjoy reading it.

Newsl_12 front page.jpg
And more exhibitions...

Exhibitors' works from previous WOKAS exhibitions are archived on this website so you can still browse the wonderfully diverse pieces of art created by WOKAS members.

PLUS you can view art created from all of our regular online art challenges online here 

ArtUnlocked2.png
WOKAS Art Challenges 

Since the 2020 lockdown we have been running creative challenges where members have just a few weeks to produce a piece of art to a specific theme.

The results have been amazing across a whole range of media ... pen, pencil, watercolour, oil, acrylic, clay, maplewood, and more.

Melanie Cambridge oil demo
Melanie Cambridge demo 1.jpg

In February 2023 full time professional artist Melanie Cambridge treated WOKAS members to a demo using oils. It was by all accounts a thoroughly informative as well as entertaining session. Melanie, in her engaging manner, set out to create a beach scene with high rocks on a canvas washed with grey. She made a point of the fact that with oils you can change your mind so one need not be afraid to make mistakes. She also showed that you do not have to be beholden to your original motif – the important thing is to make it work for the composition of your painting and to have an area of rest in the overall picture. Our members went away with lots of tips and ideas to try themselves.

https://melaniecambridge-fine-art.co.uk

Acrylics demo with Hash Akib
Hash fin m2.jpg

In March 2023 WOKAS members were treated to an acrylics demo with Hash Akib. Hash always impresses and fascinates our members with his daring interpretations of motifs. He starts very broadly and - working very quickly - then skilfully transforms this into a recognisable image. On the night Hash produced two demos from very different images.  

Hash stage 1 m2.jpg
Hash  state 1 m1.jpg
Hash fini m1.jpg
Adrian Leppenwell watercolour demo

The early February 2023 watercolour demo with Adrian Leppenwell unfolded in front of a good turnout of WOKAS members. Adrian has been painting for about 15 years and doesn’t like to take too long over a picture. He says his style is ‘a little bit on the loose side’, just loose enough to enjoy it. He tries to suggest rather than paint every detail. For this demo he had chosen Bodiam Castle as the subject and as he was working the paper (Bockingford 140) he gave a most instructive running commentary. He limited himself to five colours – Burnt Umber, Ultramarine Blue, Light Red, Yellow Ochre and Hookers Green. Hookers Green proved a very versatile colour – by mixing it with Yellow Ochre or Burnt Umber Adrian produced many different hues of green.  

Adrian Leppenwell.JPG
WOKAS
Open Day
November 2023

 

 

The WOKAS Open Day on 18 November at Highbury Hall in Tenterden provided a good showcase for the varied work that the members of the society are renowned for. From paintings in a variety of mediums to sculpture and beautifully handpainted miniature boxes and cards there was a lot to look at and choose from as some of our artists demonstrated their skills throughout the day.

 

Despite the very inhospitable weather the attendance was good throughout the day. Visitors expressed interest in the nature of the society and we were able to welcome a number of new members as a result.  Thank you to all the members who exhibited and to all the committee and friends for helping to make this a successful event.  

20231118_111105.jpg
WOKAS 2024 Summer Exhibition
Sunday 26th May - Saturday 1st June 2024
St Mildred's, Tenterden

For our 2024 exhibition we will return at the end of May to the beautiful space of St Mildred's Church in Tenterden. 

Members of the Weald of Kent Art Society will exhibit a wide range of mediums and techniques that are likely to include watercolour, ink, oil, acrylic, pastel, pen, mixed media, and digital print.

WOKAS Committee Members
Graham Lock, January 2021.jpg
Clive Dand, February 2021.JPG
John Hamilton.jpg
Alison Chandler, March 2021.jpg
Fani Azikri - new WOKAS Treasurer.JPG

Graham Lock

Alison Chandler

IMG_2401 Wendy Phillips cropped.jpg

Clive Dand

Pat Lock.jpg
IMG_2079 Kate Rundell crop.jpg

John Hamilton

Wendy Phillips

Fani Azikri

Pat Lock

President   Graham Lock

Chairman   Clive Dand

Vice Chairman   John Hamilton

Secretary   Alison Chandler

Treasurer   Fani Azikri

Website   Kate Rundell

Programme Co-ordinators

Alison Chandler, Wendy Phillips

Exhibition Co-ordinators

John Hamilton, Pat Lock,

John Robson

Press, Advertising, Publicity

John Hamilton

Kate Rundell

John%20Robson_edited.jpg

John Robson

Artist Profiles

We are building up a set of member profiles that will help you get to know us better and, hopefully, encourage you to find out more about our work and possibly even consider becoming a WOKAS member!

The profiles created so far can be seen on our member profile page and include :

WOKAS programme 2023 - 24

Full details of the demos, talks and workshops planned for the 2023-24 season are now online. Whether you want to be inspired or hone your skills further, there is something for everyone: life drawing, clay modelling, pastels, watercolour, oils, oil & wax resist with acrylic overlays, mixing colours. 

We also have a varied and full programme of summer painting en plein air which our members and their guests can enjoy. In early May we enjoyed painting the motifs in Water Lane Garden, Hawkhurst, on a perfect day. 

All demos, talks and members’ painting sessions are free to all WOKAS members and we are happy to welcome guests for a fee of £5.

 

​Our Saturday workshops cost £30 (£35 for non-members) and must be booked in advance. 

 

All indoor sessions are held at Highbury Hall, Highbury Lane, Tenterden TN30 6LE.

DSC_0925.JPG
DSC_0934.JPG
DSC_0926.JPG
DSC_0931.JPG
bottom of page