​Vis Art played host to Mayor Cllr Maureen Morrow on Wednesday 4th March. After a refreshing cup of tea and chat with members Madam Mayor joined us in our “Patchwork Challenge”.
Take one well known painting, make two large copies.  Cut one into 25 similar sized pieces, cover the other.  Each participant is given one of the 25 pieces at random plus a piece or similarly sized paper and have 30 minutes to paint their image on to the paper with accuracy of colour and size.  The object is to re-make the painting from the pieces which have been painted.  For practical reasons we limited participants to the use of Acrylic, Watercolour or pastels.
The normal buzz of conversation was conspicuous by its absence during the 30 minutes we worked on the Challenge and a general moan of disbelief was heard when “time’s up” was called.  When Lesley Sharp, our Society for All Artists coordinator, re-made the patchwork and revealed the original we were all pleasantly surprised. “Oh, that’s what that is.”  “Gosh, it actually meets the rest of the tree trunk.”  “That man’s head is in the right place.”
How well did we do? Judge for yourself.
Madam Mayor expressed her thanks for an unusual and relaxing visit where she met many old friends and made new ones and we all agreed that she’s a great sport for taking on our “Patchwork Challenge”

Sorrel explains our task and takes some of us along way outside our comfort zone!

​The Society for All Artists (SAA) have a challenge called “Artist’s Photo you paint it”.  The photograph is published on their web site and in their Magazine “Paint”. The artist shows his interpretation of his photograph and his step by step method of painting it.
Vis Art took up the challenge and the original photograph and our interpretations, in Watercolour, Oil, Acrylic and Pastel are shown below.  The differing sizes, colours and methods show that diversity is alive and well at Vis Art.  Members were given two weeks to do their paintings.
Vis Art meet on Wednesdays at Ballymena Golf Club from 10.00 to 12.30. for further information contact www.ballymenavisart.com

​Sorrel’s tutorial today was on painting a realistic stone wall. She provided us with her expertise, templates of the wall already drawn out and Vis Art provided the Acrylic paint, brushes etc.
We started with the grey mid tones, then the dark tones for the shadows below the stones and then light tones, where the sun was hitting the wall.
To make the green we added yellow to our grey and proceeded to add moss, lichen and grass.
A good time was had by all. 
Our efforts are shown below.

Barbara presented a gift to Freddy and spoke of all the work he did as Chairperson, ensuring the club was and is going from strength to strength.  Annabel was presented with the Rose Bowl and Karin with the Silver Salver in recognition of the progress they have made this year.  An excellent meal, provided by the Golf Club caterer, was then enjoyed by all.

​On Tuesday 3rd March Jacque McNeill, member of both Vis Art and Paint Pot, treated members of Paint Pot and friends to a demonstration in Watercolour.  Her subject, one of her favourites, a beautiful young calf.  Unusually, Jacque choose to add the sky as a background and gave us a masterclass in how to use the wet in wet technique to produce drama and authenticity.
She used the wet in wet technique in most of her work and allowed the paint to bleed and blend in a controlled way.  Only when painting very dark shadows did she use the loaded wet brush on a dry surface. 
 Jacque advised es to paint the eyes first, then you have only to redraw the image if you get them wrong not scrap your whole painting.
View the photos below to get a flavour of Jacque’s excellent techniques