Last month Simon Manfield, an artist from Todmorden, ran a ‘Drawing from Observation’ workshop. We were invited to bring an item that held some importance and to draw it using charcoal, graphite and dark coloured pencils. Simon gave lots of encouragement and advice.
On Friday 8th April our member Lynne Hickins gave a well prepared talk about how to draw portraits of people wearing glasses. As she used our microphone and camera everyone could follow with ease. We were astonished to learn that the history of glasses goes back a lot further than we had assumed.
It was first recorded in 1280 that crystal workers in Venice were creating lenses for focusing eyes. The first portrait we have of someone wearing eyeglasses was painted some 70 years later in 1352. This shows Cardinal Hugo de St Cher, and was painted in a fresco in Treviso, Italy, by Tomasso da Modena. Demand for spectacles grew after the invention of the printing press in 1452, but it was not until the 1700s that spectacles that were held in place by arms that fitted over the ears – that look essentially like modern spectacles – were invented. Before then, they had to be held in place with the hand, or perched on the nose!
The Halifax Art Society‘s Friday meeting held a workshop on the importance of using a sketch book, run by Dorothy Simister.
Most of the members knew Dorothy and were aware of her techniques as an artist, and her helpful advice was readily given. Dorothy brought her many sketch books to show us how she does quick drawings/paintings whilst on walking holidays. She used our screen and projector to show us photos of landscapes that she wished us to sketch using Inktense pencils or watercolour. A few minutes were allotted to each task and we quickly found that we had no time to bother with detail. Concentrating on lights and darks, format and colour became most important.
We met as usual at 10:30 am at ‘All Saints Parish Hall’, Godfrey Road in Halifax.
Halifax Art Society 