art groups
Leicester Market, relief, Glen HeathI sometimes talk about the small group of graduate friends who I meet up with once a month for critiques, art talk and to arrange group exhibitions. I thought I'd show some work by one very talented member, Glen Heath. Some of you will know her work through the sketch book exchanges.
The image above is a relief in plaster, about 2 ft square and full of the bustle and noise of the market. Glen uses these limited colours really well to enhance the sense of space and place.
Below are plein air pastels done in a local deer park - the ancient home of Lady Jane Grey, beheaded when her family tried to claim the throne for her. The park was left to the city years ago and is a lovely area to walk, with hills, ancient oak trees, the ruins of her house, rocks, bracken and deer.
Just look at those anthropomorphic trees With Glen's larger paintings, the more you look the more faces and animals and creatures you find. She says she never does it deliberately - they just appear in whatever she does.Below is a poster from a past exhibition showing a glimpse of some of the other members work.
It's so good to have this support network. After finishing the degree it's easy to lose touch with friends and a critical eye on work in progress and finished pieces can be incredibly helpful. It's good too to have people to work on projects with, sketch plein air with, go to exhibitions, on weekend paintaways ......I belong to several larger groups and value them but its the informality of this one, the conversations and instant feedback that's so good. There are only 8 of us (one less than on the poster) so no formality. Mary is our secretary, Ros is our treasurer and I'm the publicist. Others take responsibility for organising nibbles and drinks for private views or boards for hanging work - we make a good team.
our group website is The Association of Leicestershire Artists (we'd change the name 'cos it's rather long winded, but we've built up a good reputation with it so we are dubious about a change)
Do you have a similar group?
Comments
ronell
Well, I had a mixed group years ago which worked in the same way.
I think the link, the binding thread, is the shared learning process; probably a lot more, but I do know what you mean.The easy transition from colleague to friend
People just take along anything they want to show and get feedback on and we are totally honest about anything that we think isn't working. Total honesty is essential or it doesn't work - clappies are nice but not unless they are truly meant. Because we all survived the crits at uni we arent' intimidated or threatened by them and value each others input. Fragile egos are something to be careful of! the person who says 'tell me straight' and then is upset if people do!
The crit is always constructive, considering ways of resolving problems, talking about the strong points as well as anything weak of course.
We are all girls together Dinah and the dynamics do work well because of it - but it wasn't a deliberate policy.
Cath exactly - the honesty and open mindedness is crucial - prima donna's or hyper fragile ego's don't work !
Your group must be inspiring, Vivien. I feel one needs to have eye contact when one asks 'What do you really think?' Well I guess I can't have everything.