THE WESTRALIAN ARTIST

THE WESTRALIAN ARTIST
West Australian Society of Arts (Inc)
Established 1896
Patrons: His Excellency Mr Malcolm McCusker AC CVO QC
Governor of Western Australia & Mrs Tonya McCusker
SEPTEMBER 2013 NEWSLETTER
FROM THE PRESIDENT
As a result of the extremely inclement weather and the absence of several of the Committee and
other members who are away on trips etc. the attendance at the last meeting was probably the
worst that I have known. This was a shame because Rod Brown’s demonstration was exceptional
and the hardy souls who braved the elements were treated to a fine exhibition of portraiture.
Due to the absence of the members who normally manage the White, Blue, Gold and Platinum
competition there seemed to be a little confusion on how to proceed. I will therefore take this
opportunity to remind everyone once again of the times and structures of our meetings:
Doors open
Paintings must be on display by the
Voting
Meeting
Refreshments, socialising, viewing and discussions etc.
Demonstration commences
7:00pm
7:30 cut-off
7:30pm – 7:40pm (not before)
7:40pm – 8:00pm
8:00pm – 8:20pm
8:20pm
It is essential that we adhere as closely as possible to these times so that we can see the full
demonstration, with time for follow-up questions, and not finish too late.
PROCEDURE FOR ENTERING PAINTINGS IN THE COMPETITION
Please do not put up your painting for display until you have:
1. Received a ticket for your category
2. Entered your name and ticket number in the book under your category. If you are not sure
of your category please look up the list provided.
Then, and only then, display your painting along with the ticket in your category with White on the
far left, then Blue, then Gold and Platinum on the far right. All of this is your responsibility, not
those manning the desk.
Everyone has just received a questionnaire soliciting your views on a number of topics relating to
operations of the Society. Please forward these if you have anything to contribute.
In conclusion do not forget that your Annual Subscription is due and payable. If you are not financial
by the 30 September 2013, you are not eligible to enjoy any of the benefits of the Society.
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By paying as soon as possible you make the Treasurer’s job so much easier. It is not a pleasant task
to have to contact members for non-payment.
Regards
Peter
SEPTEMBER MEETINGS
The next GENERAL MEETING will be held on Thursday 19 September 2013 at The Palms, corner
Rokeby & Nicholson Roads, Subiaco. The hall will be open at 7:00pm and help setting up the tables
and chairs is always appreciated. there will be the usual White, Blue, Gold and Platinum competition.
The next COMMITTEE MEETING will be held on Monday 23 September 2013 at 7:00pm at The
Pavilion.
SEPTEMBER DEMONSTRATION
The demonstrator for the September meeting will be Val Brooks.
Val was Born in the UK and emigrated to Western Australia in
1981. She was immediately struck by the quality of light and the
amazing colours of the Australian landscape.
Val has been painting with pastels for 13 years and oils for 7,
with her subject matter drawn mainly from our beautiful
coastline. She is always ready to explore the strong contrasts of
light and shade on the subject. Recent studies have been focused
on the colours and play of light on the ocean and Rottnest reefs
from an aerial viewpoint.
Val is a member of the Pastel Society and the Wanneroo Arts
Society and her work can be seen at Picasso Gallery, Carine.
For more information about her art, please visit Val's website at http://valbrooksartist.com, or
contact Val by phone on (08) 9300 2389 or email at brooks_val@hotmail.com
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WHITE, BLUE, GOLD & PLATINUM COMPETITION
Congratulations to winners of the August competition who were:
White
Winner Paul Drury
Blue
Winner Sandy Ng
Gold
Winner Anne Gilkes
Runner up Chris Wiles
Platinum
Winner Vi Philp
Runner up Ray Eastwood
Runner up Dave Conlin
Runner up Margaret Mundy
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ROD BROWN'S DEMONSTRATION (Notes by Peter Reynolds)
Rod Brown has been painting for over thirty years and whilst he is skilled in other mediums,
watercolour is his favourite. Rod has painted all over the world and for some time was resident in
the U.S.A. where he painted with many fine artists including the famous Charles Reid who is a
personal friend. We were therefore fortunate that Rod was prepared to demonstrate the art of
portraiture in watercolour to us.
His subject for the evening was Australian swimmer Leisel Jones as she appeared on a recent cover
of the Sunday Times Magazine. Leisel was lit from the side and Rod commented that you use the
shadows thus created to define and achieve form in the painting.
Arches paper is Rod's preference: usually Cold Pressed,
sometimes Rough but never Hot Pressed. His palette mainly
comprises:
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Alizarin and Carmine
Cadmium Red Light and Cadmium Red
Cadmium Yellow Light/Orange
Yellow Ochre
Raw and Burnt Sienna
Raw and Burnt Umber
Ultramarine, Cerulean and Cobalt Blues
At times, Cobalt Lilac and Opera Rose
Rod likes his paints to always be soft and buttery and uses
glycerine to rejuvenate them. Holbein is his preferred brand. Brushes are expensive Kolinsky Sable
for main work, another reason for keeping paints soft and malleable.
For his portraits Rod sketches the face and leaves the linework. He always draws the left (subject’s
right eye) first and uses this to achieve all other dimensions i.e. nose, mouth etc. He never starts
with the outline of a face working in.
Having completed his sketch, Rod commenced to wash in the
skin tones using a mixture of Cadmium Yellow and Cadmium
Red Light. For shadows he used a warmer tone made from
Yellow Ochre and Raw Sienna. Where the light hit the face
(highlights) he used a very thin wash of blue tone. This goes
against the usual rules of landscape painting where the shadows
and darks are made of blues, Burnt Sienna etc. and the lights of
the Ochres and Siennas. On reflection however the writer of
these notes remembered such painters as Charles Reid used the
same process and it certainly gives lovely soft warm glows to
the subject.
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Rod mixes his paint on the paper, which keeps the colours
transparent and lively, and is very fussy about keeping his
palette clean and uncontaminated. For the shadows he starts
with a hard edge and darkest tone and then softens as he works
out.
The eyes in his painting were a stunning feature. While the iris
was still wet he went in with pure pigment for the pupil and
made sure that the eyeball was rounded by the skilful use of
shadow.
We watched in fascination as with carefully applied mixes from a
clean palette, the face began to take on a form and personality
that was lifelike. It proved that a portrait in Watercolour whilst
having the softness and subtlety that only watercolour can
achieve can still make as bold a statement as any oil.
Thank you Rod for a wonderful demonstration.
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS
A reminder that annual subscriptions of $40 for the year to July 2014 are now due. If you have
paintings and your CV on our website please also include the annual fee of $30.
MEMBERSHIP
WASA has 116 members in the database, and of those only 16 do not have email addresses.
Everyone is encouraged to get email as distribution of information and newsletters via email is most
efficient and cost-effective. Please ensure that the committee has your current working email
address.
Regretfully Joan Steggall has submitted her resignation due to family commitments.
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MEMBERS ACTIVITIES
The Melville Community Arts Association recently held their MCAA Awards at the Atwell Gallery,
Applecross. Shirley Winstanley won two awards - Best Traditional Work and a Highly Commended.
Also at the MCAA, Jo Haynes won an award for
Mastery of Technique for a watercolour Cafe at
Riverton Bridge shown opposite >.
Sue Arnautovic held an exhibition of 25
watercolour paintings at Ellis House from 25 July
to 11 August, with 7 paintings being sold. Sue
teaches watercolour painting at the Beaufort St
community centre and has another exhibition of students art on show at Ellis House from 26
September to 13 October. The opening is on Sunday 29 September at 3pm and members are invited
to attend.
Marie Novak sold her painting "EVANESCENCE I" , on left, at the
Cossack Art Awards, as well as her entry into the Rotary Art
Exhibition at Booragoon.
During August members Tim Sewell and wife Pam,
Aurelie Yeo, Sue Cross, Karen Frankel, Sue and Ray
Moss joined a tour organised by Tony Taylor from
the Watercolour Society on a trip to the Pilbara.
The party was made up of 18 artists under the
guidance
of
Ross Patterson
and 20 photographers with master photographer and tutor Dale
Neill.
Two buses transported the group with all their appropriate gear.
Our first stop at Cue Caravan Park taught us about setting up the
26 tents and subsequent pack up. Camaraderie built up, the
group blended perfectly, it was amazing to see how quickly we
could get all those tents up and down - great to see what
teamwork can do!
Ross did demos at the different stopping places and inspired the
artists to produce some lovely works. They had critique sessions
every few days and produced some wonderful work.
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Dale had the photography group working hard with
early sunrise shoots, sunsets and star and the lovely full
moon at Mt Augustus. Every few days the full group
enjoyed a slide show at night with the best 5 images
from each of the photographers..
We were indeed fortunate with the weather being
neither too hot or too cold, although the last tent night
at Murchison was a challenge as it got down to 2˚C.
It was an amazing experience for everyone, the scenery
spectacular. I don’t think anyone is rushing back to book
another camping trip just yet, but we have many
memories, especially in our paintings and images— we’ll
always remember the remote bush camp sites, breakfast
won’t be the same without the beautiful gorge
backdrops, dingoes barking and howling in the middle of
the night at Karijini. A swim in Fern or Python Pool in
lovely clear water, especially after a bush camp site with
no shower, and the snake that went across Python Pool after we had all just got out! Thanks to Tony
for organising such a great tour and to the Brian Casey staff who looked after us so well. The meals
were great, different every night and particularly amazing as they appeared from the specially built
trailer which was towed behind the 4WD bus, with its pull-out barbeque plate and gas burners.
(Written by Sue Moss).
EXHIBITIONS
The Wanneroo Joondalup Art Society are having their 2nd 2013 Exhibition at Sorrento Surf Life
Saving Club on West Coast Drive, Sorrento, at 6:30 for 7pm on Friday 13 September through to
Sunday at 5pm.
ARTIST's CAMP
We are proposing to have an artist's camp at Rottnest next year. The plan would be to arrive by ferry
on Saturday 31 May and leave Rottnest on Friday 6 June 2014. Expressions of interest are now being
taken by Shirley Winstanley - email Shirley at shirleyathome@iinet.net.au and advise if you want a
single room or to share a room. Rottnest cottages generally have 2 or 3 bedrooms each with two
beds, as well as a kitchen/lounge and bathroom. You can share a room or take a whole room to
yourself, at double the price of course. All linen is supplied, as well as TV, microwave, stove etc. We
would need to arrange our own food and drinks, with more details about that later. All monies
would need to be paid once we commit to making this camp happen. Approximate costs for sharing
a room and ferry is about $350, not including food and drinks.
Members have wanted a camp, and here is your opportunity to take part.
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2013 / 2014 COMMITTEE
President
Peter Reynolds
Phone 9444 1185
Vice President
Email charmainepeter@bigpond.com
Glynis Lumley
Phone 9389 5346
Vice President
Email gelumley@yahoo.com
Chris Wiles
Phone 0400 661 476
Secretary
Email chrisjwiles@bigpond.com
Tim Sewell
Phone 6460 8648
Treasurer
Email timsewell@iinet.net.au
Ian Fagence
Phone 9328 7259
Committee
Email wasatreas@gmail.com
June Sullivan
Phone 9300 6294
Email artyjune@bigpond.com
Pam Eddy
Phone 9317 8178
Email theeddys@iinet.net.au
Celeste Heilbronn
Phone 0413 538 546
Email wwater@ozemail.com.au
Shirley Winstanley
Phone 9272 7330
Email swinstanley@iinet.net.au
Dave Conlin
Phone 9386 0498
Newsletter
Chris Wiles
Phone 0400 661 476
Website
Email conlind@iinet.net.au
Email chrisjwiles@bigpond.com
Sue Moss
Phone 9371 8825
Mail
41 Salisbury Street
Subiaco 6008
Web
www.waart.org.au
Email susanjmoss@bigpond.com
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