all the images on this site are the copyright of the artists, if you want to reproduce , copy or buy please contact me on brigdale@hotmail.com

barbara d. 

When I semi -retired I wanted to make the most of my spare time and thought to myself, what were you good at, at school. The answer was art and languages- I had continued to study languages but art has almost ceased to be part of my life at the age of 14.   So I signed  up for Harriet's Absolute Beginners class. I was probably one of the few who almost fitted that description, having had only a couple of terms of art class 25 years ago.  At those art classes I wasn't taught a thing, so I soon gave up.

However , at Harriet's class we were learning from the start , all about colour, light and shade , and techniques. We learned how to draw, then we progressed to watercolours. Next term we go on to water based oils and I am really looking forward to it.

We are a mixed bunch talent -wise but we are all very supportive of each other and Harriet is so encouraging. Monday morning's art class is one of the highlights of my week. I'm still not an artist but with Harriet's guidance and practice, you will never know..................

gloria

Executing these paintings has been a big challenge that has been both enjoyable and frustrating in equal measure ! There is a real element of problem-solving, whether in terms of techniques or grasping and applying a concept, as in the case of the negative paintings where it is necessary to paint the space around the shape in order to reveal it, rather than outlining it directly.

Trying watercolours has really made me appreciate the complexity of skills involved: the subtle effects of combining and blending colours: manipulating the brush strokes : an awareness of composition and developing a "vocabulary" of images, as well as the need for practice and experimentation.

I have enjoyed the opportunity to spend several weeks at a time on a project in order to produce a finished product that has then been exhibited and would also find it useful to try some shorter exercises to develop skills.

Above all the experience has been stimulating, absorbing and thought provoking. It has been interesting to push some boundaries and see where that leads and I very much want  to push some boundaries and see where that leads and I very much want to try some of these ideas again in order to improve.

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