Impressions Newsletter

August 2009

Greetings!

July has been a busy month for us. With lots of picture framing orders coming in, an increase in artists who formerly shopped in Nelson looking for art supplies and the Impressions Regional Art Awards, it may not have been the ideal time for me to take a two-week break. However, my internal motor was in need of a rest, and I have returned refreshed, ready to get stuck in to a busy programme of shop activities and talks to artist groups throughout the Nelson and Marlborough regions. Last Thursday I ran a workshop for the Mapua Painting Group on the use of acrylic mediums and next month I visit Blenheim to talk to members of the Marlborough Art Society.

Arts Council Nelson Impressions Regional Art Awards

Congratulations to the following artists who took out the prizes in the Arts Council Nelson Impressions Regional Art Awards 2009: -

Painting Open Section –

· Winner - Alyssa Watson, “Heart of the Unsaved”, Mixed Media

· Runner-Up – Tony Allain, “Not Another Bloody Vase of Flowers”, Pastel

· Judges’ Merit – Jeanette Marlow, “Industrial Estate”, Acrylic

“Heart of the Unsaved” – Alyssa Watson

Painting Themed Award –

· Winner – Jane Nicol, “The Lead Lined Box of Despair”, Oil

· Runner-Up – Robert Thompson, “Headland #2”, Watercolour

· Judges’ Merit – Dean Bradley, “Tibetan Storm”, Mixed Media

“The Lead Lined Box of Despair”, Jane Nicol

Photographic Section –

· Gold Award – Vibeke Friis, “The Lucky Country”

· Silver Award – Ian Bradley “Katz Deli, East Houston St, NYC”

· Bronze Award – Dianna Hambleton, “Picasso Reflection”

· Highly Commended – Tanja Elzenheimer, “Frozen Bubbles 09”, Clare Ballinger, “Burnt Out yet Beautiful”, & Don Pittham, “Critical Connections”.

The awards presentation took place at the Refinery Artspace Gallery on Saturday 25^th at 4pm. A good crowd turned out to support the entrants. The two painting section winners, Alyssa Watson and Jane Nicol took off the major prizes valued at $1000 each. All place getters’ works are very different from each other – which really typifies the whole exhibition. There is a great diversity in subject matter, approach, style and media represented throughout the exhibition, which provides a great representation of the region’s art as a whole.

Overall, although there were fewer entries than last year, there has been a definite development in the skills represented. We are delighted with the exhibition, and wish to reinforce the sentiments we expressed at the presentation of our appreciation of the tremendous effort put in by Lloyd Harwood and his team at Arts Council Nelson for all their organisation of the competition, and too, to Scooter and Sally from the Dark Room for their co-sponsorship. Not to mention Refinery Artspace for their venue, and a number of other support sponsors who contributed prizes and refreshments.

The next stage of the Awards is of course the People’s Choice Section – to be judged by all the visitors to the exhibition. I urge you to get in to see the works and vote for your personal choice. In some ways, the People’s Choice represents the truest form of judgement – that is of the viewing public. The last date for voting is the 13^th August. Then, at 1pm on Saturday 15^th August, the People’s Choice Winner will be announced and the prize presented, before all unsold works are uplifted by the artists, and the winning entries are brought back to Impressions, for display in Richmond until the 29^th August. I hope you can join us on 15^th for the presentation, to congratulate the winner and runner-up.

August Special for Impressions Art Club Members

Save 20% on all

Daler Rowney and Winsor & Newton Artist Quality Oil Paints.

(Includes Artisan & Griffin Alkyds)

Hint

Painting with Fast-Drying Alkyd Oils

The following “Tips for Success” by Geoff Kersey are extracted from an article on how to paint a woodland scene using alkyd oils in a recent issue of Artists and Illustrators – a valuable resource magazine with lots of informative reading. This monthly publication is on sale in-store for $13.50.

· When blending the colour with a soft brush you need to employ a light touch so as not to blur the colour slightly without disturbing it too much.

· Bear in mind that alkyd dries a lot faster than traditional oil, so if you want to move existing colour don’t leave it until the next day, as it is usually touch dry by then

.· In general, work ‘fat over lean’, thinning the initial colours before applying thicker paint in subsequent layers.

· Try not to overwork! A fast loose approach is more effective for capturing that fresh, spring feel.

Exhibitions

1. A group exhibition comprised of works by Simon Deaker, Anna Leary, Eion Stevens, Jane Barry, Tordis Flath, Holly Lovell-Smith, Lesley Robertson, Paula Cunniffe and Lisa Chandler at Reflections Art Gallery until 7 September.

2. “Six in the City” - Lisa Antonelli, Lisa Chandler, Larisse Hall, Margaret Johnston, Ken Laws and Maria Middlebrook-Wells collaborate for a group exhibition at the McKee Gallery of the Suter, 208 Bridge St, Nelson from 12 August.

3. “Free Spirits” – Betty Salter at Art @ 203, 203 Trafalgar St until 15^th August. Betty comments “Following on from several

successful portraits of Horses in the past year, I became enthused with their power and character and keen to rise to the

challenge with a series of paintings. I am showing a versatile approach through different styles of work, from formal to playful -using either pastels or oils with just a few in charcoal.”

4. “The Leavers”, Year 13 Art Students from Waimea College exhibit paintings, photography and design work at the Fish Bowl, Alton St, Nelson from 3 – 14 August.

5. “All Stitched Up”, an exhibition by Raewyn Oxnam which includes a variety of abstract and realistic images interpreted through thread and fabric.

Painting Competition

To celebrate Isel House’s 160^th birthday this year, a special art competition is being held. You can choose one of the following topics:

· Isel House Past

· Isel House Present

· Isel House Future.

The works will be judged in three age groups:

· 4-10 years

· 11-17 years and

· 18 years and over (adult).

Entry forms are available in-store which set out the conditions of entry.

Art Tuition

Painting Workshops: “Exploration of Pictorial Space” tutored by Errol Shaw.There will be three workshops, each of which is an entity in itself: -1. Exploring Pictorial Space - Saturday 1 August2. Cezanne’s Rendering of Space - Saturday 22 August3. Cubism and Spatial Construction – Saturday 5 SeptemberInformation sheets including materials list are available in-store. For further information contact Errol Shaw Ph 548 8848 or email errol.s@clear.net.nz Each workshop fee is $70 and the venue is NMIT Room B 101, Hardy St.
Drawing Classes tutored by Larisse HallEmbrace and develop your drawing skills in a fun & friendly environmentMondays 7pm – 8.30pm at Art @ 203, 203 Trafalgar St, Nelson $10 per session, pay as you attend. Please register your interest for each class at Art @ 203, 203 Trafalgar St, Nelson, Ph 03 548 3961 or contact Larisse Ph 027 358 2006 or 03 547 4929.
My idea of a Mid-Winter Artist Workshop at St Arnaud has not drawn sufficient interest to proceed. May-be some time in the future?

That brings this newsletter to a close. Once again, we extend our hearty congratulations to all entrants in the Arts Council Nelson Impressions Regional Art Awards, but especially to the winners of the prizes. Remember now, to get in to the Refinery Artspace Gallery to place your vote in the People’s Choice Section, and do come along to the announcement and Award Presentation on Saturday 15 August at 1pm at the Refinery Artspace. From that date, all Award-Winning Entries will be displayed in our window here at Impressions until 29 August. Thanks also to Cindy Hutton, who has kindly let us display one of her oil paintings in the window for a couple of weeks.