On Monday 24th June, we will be enjoying our fourth week with Louise Man Art. Louise has sent the following message: "We’ll be doing watercolour birds next Monday, back again by popular demand Please bring any photos, pictures of the birds you’d like to paint and I’ll do some demos. Watercolours, paper, pencils, brushes etc." Please remember to bring a mug for a half time cuppa and remember that if you see a sign at the entrance to the car park that it is closed for a private function, we are the private function! See you on Monday!

 

The countdown is on for the Dunmow Art Group Open Studios Trail! There are 21 artists taking part at locations across a 13-mile radius from Great Dunmow, North West Essex on Thursday 27th, Friday 28th, Saturday 29th & Sunday 30th June. The Open Studios Trail offers art lovers the chance to visit artists’ working studios to buy original art directly from artists in an informal setting. But more importantly, it’s a chance to go behind the scenes, meet the artists & find out about their processes. A downloadable brochure and Studio Map is now available on the Dunmow Art Group website with more information available via @dunmowart group on Facebook, Instagram and https://dunmowartgroup.blogspot.com/p/open-studios.html Visitors can expect to see painting, drawing, ceramics, textiles, printmaking, willow work, woodwork, mixed media & encaustic. Artists include printmaker Jacqui Eykelbosch in Ongar, professional sculpture ceramicists Linda Morris & son Peter Morris in Takeley. Dunmow artists include abstract & mixed-media artist (Dunmow Art Group chairperson) Audrey Bowling & artists Rosamund Ulph & Christine Runacres at her studio. The Dourdan Pavillion, located on The Causeway in Great Dunmow, will also be hosting six painters, on Sat 29th & Sun 30th between 10 – 4pm. Artists Carole & David Pullen, Fabienne Hanley, Mandy Whittick, painter & model maker Daniel Hurst & showcasing the work of the late John Grimshaw, an accomplished painter of local farming scenes in particular containing scenes with working horses. Anne Oates’ Shepherd’s Hut studio in Bacon End & Roger Lawrence of Felsted, showing paintings of familiar places in the area, are both well worth a visit. As is Julie Bull, exhibiting for the first time with Open Studios in her beautiful garden studio in Stebbing. Tracey Ingram will be displaying her work in Flitch Green, Little Dunmow. Local artists Debbie Goodman joins fellow artist Liz Parker at her studio at Gallows Green. Douglas Payne’s exquisite craftsmanship is on display at the Blake End Craft Centre, Rayne. Deb Hart’s wonderful willow work is found in Bocking, whilst Jo Mayo is exhibiting painting & ceramics at Blue Jacaranda Studio in Blackmore End.

 

Just over 1 week until our Open Studios! (27th - 30th June) Today’s spotlight is on Deb Hart (Studio ‘M’) who enjoys Sculpture, Woodwork and Willow work. “For twenty years I have run willow & basket weaving workshops in the UK, Canada, for the National Trust, English Heritage, RHS, Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Great Dixter, Beth Chatto gardens, Scout Jamboree, charities & schools. I build willow structures, fences & gardens at Chelsea & Hampton Court Flower Shows & horse jumps for Burghley Horse Trials, working in horticulture 26 years as a keen wildlife gardener, avoiding unnecessary impact on our environment. For five years I’ve run studio workshops in Bocking & worked on art installations; two World War 2 tanks on the Chelmsford roundabout, Broomfield Hospital’s baby loss garden & the Historic Walk, the life size stegosaurus at Hyde Hall, 50ft whale & U-boat on Harwich beach.” For information on all the participating artists, follow this link to our webpage: https://dunmowartgroup.blogspot.com/p/open-studios.html

 

Just over 1 week until our Open Studios! (27th - 30th June) Today’s spotlight is on Julie Bull (Studio ‘H’) “I have always enjoyed being creative and involved in art in one way or another. For some years I ran my own cake decorating business which gave me an outlet for painting on pictures I had created in icing and moulding delicate flowers in paste. I now have a studio in my garden which I often share with grandchildren, and I love having the opportunity to work in many different media, including various forms of paint, inks, charcoal, pastel, collage and print. I often work on commissions and have won several international prizes, including a grand champion in Australia.” For information on all the participating artists, follow this link to our webpage: https://dunmowartgroup.blogspot.com/p/open-studios.html

 

Just over 1 week until our Open Studios! (27th - 30th June) Today’s spotlight is on Jacqueline Eykelbosch (Studio ‘A’) New Zealand born Jacqueline Eykelbosch enjoys weaving, spinning, knitting and embroidery, first studying art & printmaking at Teachers’ Training College. In 1989 she won a place at the University of East London to study Textiles & Art History, followed by an MA in Dress & Textile History at Winchester School of Art, & further printmaking courses at Gainsborough’s House, becoming a member of the Printmaker’s Group. She produces landscapes, still life, portraits & abstracts, in oils, acrylics & mixed media as well as Linocuts, Woodcuts, Monoprints, Monotypes & Collagraphs. Jacqueline lectures on Art History, Textles & Gardens. For information on all the participating artists, follow this link to our webpage: https://dunmowartgroup.blogspot.com/p/open-studios.html

 

On Monday, Louise will be painting fruit and veg in watercolours. Attached are some paintings Louise did about 4 or 5 years ago. “I’m going to bring along some beetroot that I’ve got as that always makes for a nice painting with the lovely dark purples and magentas. I’ll focus on keeping it loose and working with shadows.” Please bring an item/items of fruit and veg to paint along with the same materials as previously. As always, please bring along your own mug so you can enjoy a cuppa halfway through! ☕️ 🙏🏼 We look forward to seeing you! Foakes Hall, Great Dunmow. (£1 for members; £5 for non members) CARPARK - If you see a sign stating that the carpark is closed, or closed for private function, please ignore this and use the carpark. This signage is for the DAG class.

 

Only 2 weeks until our Open Studios! (27th - 30th June) Today’s spotlight is on the late John Grimshaw (Studio ‘E’) who enjoyed painting horses: John Grimshaw passed away earlier this year. He was the oldest member of Dunmow Art Group, aged 98. He was an active member who was still taking part in the Spring Exhibition in March this year. During his long life, he had a variety of jobs and had a smallholding at home where he kept pigs which he later let out for others to keep their horses in the loose boxes there. That gave him a ready source of subjects. He was a lifelong artist, working mainly in acrylics and watercolour. Some of his works will be available as part of Open Studios, on show in the Dourdan Pavilian. For information on all the participating artists, follow this link to our webpage: https://dunmowartgroup.blogspot.com/p/open-studios.html

 

Only 2 weeks until our Open Studios! (27th - 30th June) Today’s spotlight is on Fabienne Hanley (Studio ‘E’) who enjoys painting, particularly portrait painting: “I am a local artist specialising in portrait painting, especially commissioned portraits of children. I particularly enjoy working with watercolours but can work with any media.” For information on all the participating artists, follow this link to our webpage: https://dunmowartgroup.blogspot.com/p/open-studios.html

 

Today we enjoyed painting antique cutlery & teacups and the shadows they created - thank you Louise Man Art! Enjoy our gallery (in the comments) which includes examples of both as well as artists own projects they were working on today. 🎨

 

Just over 2 weeks until our Open Studios! (27th - 30th June) Today’s spotlight is on Liz Parker (Studio ‘G’) who enjoys painting and drawing: “I work mainly in watercolour & have been painting for five years. My main passion is portraying animals in various poses; I just love their characters. I also enjoy painting houses (I take commissions), wildlife, & flowers. As I live in a rural location, I am surrounded by my preferred subject matter in which to immerse myself.” For information on all the participating artists, follow this link to our webpage: https://dunmowartgroup.blogspot.com/p/open-studios.html

 

Just over 2 weeks until our Open Studios! (27th - 30th June) Today’s spotlight is on Debbie Goodman (Studio ‘G’) who enjoys painting, drawing and encaustic art: “My love of art started when I was a child, where I would draw on any scrap of paper I could find. My favourite subjects are birds & wildlife. My medium of choice is gouache. I also enjoy using watercolours & encaustic wax. Since joining Dunmow Art Group, I have had the chance to try many others, from oil to lino cut & look forward to what comes next.” For information on all the participating artists, follow this link to our webpage: https://dunmowartgroup.blogspot.com/p/open-studios.html

 

On Monday 10th June, Louise will be focusing on shadows with sketching and painting pretty tea cups and saucers as per the example. You can also paint old cutlery to focus on shadows, as per the attached. So if you can bring pretty tea cups and saucers with you and some old cutlery that would be great. Louise will bring along a selection too. Same materials as last week in terms of watercolours, 300gsm paper, paint pot, brushes and B or 2B pencil and rubber, plus kitchen towel for lifting any mistakes! Please also remember to bring along your own mug. ☕️

 

Just 3 weeks until our Open Studios! (27th - 30th June) Today’s spotlight is on Roger Lawrence (Studio ‘J’): “A good teacher at primary school ran a class where I drew a distant house, seen through strong trees in black ink, later framed & hung at home. Secondary school art was first year only. I painted an elegant building for my boarding house art competition. It surprised everyone including me. Occasional pictures followed through National Service & university. I retired from music & maths teaching, attended classes & now produce work monthly. I had excellent watercolour tuition from Ashley Bryant & paint with his Millenium Hall Group, Great Saling Tues 10am – 3pm. Dabbled in acrylic & pastel, but mostly in watercolour, with pen & wash efforts in a permanent garden room studio.” For information on all the participating artists, follow this link to our webpage: https://dunmowartgroup.blogspot.com/p/open-studios.html