THE WILDLIFE ART SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL EXHIBITION

I handed my paintings in to the ‘Nature in Art Museum, at Twigworth. Nr. Gloucester yesterday.  The Museum is housed in a fine old mansion near Gloucester. TWASI is fortunate to have the use of a Marquee set up on a lawn in front of the house for their annual exhibition. It makes a wonderful venue.

I found a team of members working hard preparing lighting in preparation for hanging work on the screens and erecting display stands for unframed work. Val Briggs checked in my entries and revealed that there had been over 290 works submitted more than last year – an indicator of the Society’s growing reputation.

A big thank you to all the energetic volunteers for the time and effort they have contributed to making the exhibition a success.

The exhibition runs from 24^th May to 2^nd June 10.00am. to 5.00pm. daily.

Do pay a visit there will be something for all artistic tastes.

 

ERIC ENNION

Years ago I bought a book which was part of a series of ‘Field Study Guides’ I was attracted by the dustcover which was covered with line drawings. The title was ‘Oaks and Oak Woods’ and the author was A.E.R.Ennion who was the warden of the field study centre at Flatford Mill in Suffolk. I still treasure my copy because it is illustrated with coloured line and wash drawings. He also wrote ‘The Lapwing’ which was the first book in the series.

The books have long been out of print and I didn’t realise until quite recently that he was one of the most influential 20^th century wild life painters. Robert Gillmor described him as "... a man of great humanity, intelligence, energy and fun."

 The following links to pages on his website show examples of his watercolours.

http://www.ericennion.com/Eric_Ennion_Pied_Wagtail.html

http://www.ericennion.com/Eric_Ennion_Great_Tits.html

http://www.ericennion.com/Eric_Ennion_Ringed_Plover.html

TALK OF TWO RIVERS

Last Sunday's Countryfile programme contained a short feature about an old Somerset papermill. The presenter had collected some wild flowers and these were dropped onto the pulp and were incorporated into the paper.

The mill is where the high quality Two Rivers watercolour paper is made. Back in November 2011 Neil Hopkins - the owner - visited Ludlow and gave a demonstration. He brought some sample packs which sold like hot cakes!

I believed at the time that nothing could beat Waterford so I never bought any - perhaps that was short-sighted! If any blog members have used Two Rivers do tell us about it.

Follow the link to see Neil Watkins demonstrating.

http://ludlowartsociety.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/pictures-from-two-rivers-paper-demo-and.html
click on a photograph to view it full size

PAINTING IS MORE ABOUT THE LONG STARE THAN THE QUICK GLIMPSE

I’ve just received the Summer 2013 issue of ‘Birds’ the RSPB magazine. Filled as ever with stunning photographs; there’s a particularly attractive shot of a Redstart on the cover. Digital photography has brought a revolution in the way wildlife subjects can be portrayed. The Redstart on the cover reveals more detail in a fraction of a second than is seen by the naked eye even after long study.

Photographs are a good source of reference for the artist but it seems to me that many artists are preoccupied with achieving laborious detailed realism because we are visually fed too much photography. Much of the enjoyment in painting both for the painter and the viewer comes from the enjoyment of the hand-made mark. All hand crafted media offer distinctive ways for the artist to interpret and exploit what he sees.  For me the expressive marks made by a moving hand are what make painting interesting. The starting point of expressive mark begins in front of the subject with a long stare.

Lars Jonnsson advocates looking at a bird for six minutes before starting to paint it – good memory training? My current favourite wildlife painter though is Darren Woodhead. A watercolourist who works outdoors from direct observation. He can be found on Twitter or visit his website at:

http://www.darrenwoodheadartist.co.uk/

Welcome back to the newly revived TWASI blog

This an ideal forum for people to post images of new work and discuss amongst other members. Also comment on all aspects of TWASI life.

WAY 2012

'Poise' makes the exhibition folder at WAY 2012

(wildlife artist of the year) for David Shepherd conservation fund,at the Mall Gallery,london end of May