NEXT MEETING:  WEDNESDAY 27TH NOVEMBER 2020 AT 7.00PM
FENCIBLE LOUNGE, UXBRIDGE RD, HOWICK (NEXT TO THE HOWICK LIBRARY).
AGM/END OF YEAR PARTY 

President’s Letter

Hello members,

Wow, we made it! This year will go down in the history of our club as a unique one indeed, but we have pulled through, stayed together, and all in all, enjoyed some amazing demonstrations, exhibitions and workshops. New friendships have been forged and a new wave of plein air painters are rising. I’m really looking forward to all that 2021 will bring. Thank you for your patience this year and a big thank you to all our volunteers and committee members. It’s been a team effort.

Our next meeting will be the last one of the year. It will begin with our AGM, followed by our End of Year Party. It will be a great fun night, once the formalities are done, so please join us. Bring along a plate of finger food to share; the club will provide wine and juice.
We will also have our centrepiece decoration competition, so get creative. I’m always blown away by what some members come up with, and I’m sure this year will be no different.

AGM Information
Most committee members are happy to continue with the portfolios. Please see below the Election of Committee information:
President – Elise De Silva
Vice President -Liz Payne – stepping down with Merv Appleton happy to step in.
Treasurer – Ken Tanner
Secretary – Carina Sim-Smith
Committee –
Janice Skinner, Cottage Coordinator
Amanda Gleason, Membership
Jennie Henry, Art Programme
Lesley Keane, Midwinter Exhibition – stepping down from committee
Emma Ritson – Stepping down from committee

We are still in need of someone to take care of the microphone and video camera for demonstrations.
This is an important part of us all enjoying these events. It would be great to have someone step
forward for this role.

Please find attached to this newsletter a committee nomination form which you can complete prior to
the AGM. These forms will also be provided on the night.

In other business, group fees are also due. Thank you to all those members who have paid. If you
haven’t, you can pay online (please make sure you put SUBS as a reference and your name) or at the
cottage. This will ensure you can participate in all our group’s activities next year.

As I mentioned in the last newsletter, I was very happy to be selected to paint the Chorus box on
Meadowlands Drive, Howick. Below are some pictures of how it turned out.
If you have any ‘wins’, please let me know. We’re happy to celebrate with you.

Take care, stay safe and see you back in February.

Elise De Silva

COTTAGE REPORT 

Thank you to all who have done duty at the gallery over this past year.
A very special thanks to Gaye Trembath, Thelma Sobiecki and Pamela Langley who have done duty since the opening of Green Gables which was in 2008 and are now retiring and also to Georgina Farmer and Joan Lu who are retiring from duty. People who do so much for Green Gables and make working at the gallery a pleasure are Pat and Niels Nielsen, Barry Harrison and Wendy Oey, a big thank you to you guys. Lastly thanks to all who support the gallery by bringing paintings and artworks to be exhibited.

At last there is an improvement in the front garden. Our thanks go to the Council for the soil and some plants and to Brenda Tolhurst who donated a lot of Bromeliads.

Please note that 29th November is the last changeover date for the year. Paintings will hang in the gallery until the 31st January. There is no changeover in December.

The Gallery will close on Sunday 20th December and open again on the 8th January.

Dates to remember
29th November Changeover
5th and 19th December – Tents go up at the cottage (weather permitting)
20th December Gallery Closes
8th January Gallery opens
31st January Changeover

Wishing you all a Blessed Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.

Janice Skinner

GALLERY RULES (FOR ALL TOO READ)
ORIGINALITY – (New Zealand copyright law and excerpts taken from Landscape Painting Inside and Out by Kevin Macpherson)
Many artists are not aware that painting from a photograph taken by someone else is copyright infringement. The same goes for painting from another artist’s painting. Photos or paintings by others may inspire you to see a subject a different way, but please do not copy them. To do so is illegal. Copying a painting can help you grow as an artist, but the results should never leave your studio. If working from someone else’s photograph the painting must be so changed that it is unrecognisable as a copy. Copying paintings of the Old Masters is allowed as copyright falls away after they have been dead for 50 years but the original artist must be acknowledged on the artwork.
When putting your signature to a painting, it means that you are the sole artist. No work that has been worked on by a tutor should be entered in a competition or sold. No work that has been done at a workshop from the demonstrator’s photo, or that the demonstrator has worked on, should be put up for sale.
For your own work, find and research your own subjects, including taking your own photos. Make it your view, your idea. Herman Melville said: ‘It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation’.
FRAMED PAINTINGS AND PAINTINGS ON STRETCHED CANVAS – Are to be written up in the Painting Register at a cost of $2. Paintings are hung for one month but can be hung again after a waiting period of at least 4 months.
PRICE – All works including miniatures and unframed items must be for sale and 20% commission added on.
FRAMING – Artwork must be soundly framed with the correct rings and cords attached ready for hanging. The correct picture framers tape must be used. No badly damaged frames will be accepted.
LABELLING – Put your name, title, medium, and price on a card (swing tag) affixed to the back of each painting.
UNFRAMED WORKS – All unframed Watercolours must be mounted and covered in plastic or cellophane. All these works must have stickers on top of the plastic, stating title, name, medium and price. These paintings must be entered into the Miniatures/Unframed register (no cost) and they can stay in the gallery for a period of 6 months.
MINIATURES – These works should be no higher than 7”. A card stating title, name, medium and price must be affixed to the back. These paintings must be entered into the Miniatures/Unframed register and can stay in the gallery for a period of 6 months. There is no cost in hanging miniatures in the gallery.
Janice Skinner – Ph 535 9190 (021 023 68667)

 

CRAFTS FOR THE GALLERY

We are able to display ceramics,  glass, pottery, woodwork and sculptures.  Any of our working members who are involved in the above arts please bring your creations to the next changeover.  The cost to display for the month is $2 per item and 20% commission must be included in your pricing.