Ballymena Vis Art and Zoom Technology: April 2021


Thanks to a grant from the Mid and East Antrim Council Covid - 19 Community Recovery Grants Scheme our club has been able to use Zoom technology to engage members in meeting, painting and socialising together. We have used the month of April 2021 to pilot this.  Using Zoom technology as a way to give access to on-line teaching by artists Jacque McNeill and Sorrel Wills has been an adventure and also, for the facilitators and participants alike, a steep learning curve.
We have been able to make contact with members who have been in isolation for almost all of the Pandemic, thanks to their spouses, children and grandchildren helping with the technology.  We have all learned a lot.
After all, Zoom technology was something that I was aware of-my daughter has used it for years for her work- but I’d never used it before we were locked down for the first time in March 2020.  Even then, I was a participant, not a facilitator.  Thanks to Andrew of Orion Design, our training was precise and concise and very much geared to our aim of engaging our members in their chosen pastime-Drawing and Painting.  Maria, Sorrel, Jacque and I learned, not only how to use Zoom but to use our phones as a second camera, record the event, and then distribute the video to all our members. Below you’ll find some photographs of our events, and links to the videos we produced. 
I have to thank Maria for assisting me with her enthusiasm and drive in getting the grant and ensuring we fulfilled the criteria laid down,  Andrew for his excellent tuition, Jacque and Sorrel for being  brave enough to be our “guinea-pigs”.  Most of all I must thank the Mid and East Antrim Council for their foresight in setting up the Covid-19 Recovery Grant Scheme, it has been invaluable to us.

Zoom 7th, 21st and 28th April Plus...2021
Zoom Chat 5th May 
28th April, Sorrel Wills demonstration of the shore of Lough Neagh in pastels.
As you will see, I made a mistake and Sorrel's video is in two parts but be assured it's all there.  Enjoy.
21st April,  Jacque McNeill's demonstration of Portglenone in watercolour
7th April Zoom Coffee morning show and tell

Ursula's houses

Ursula's painting before 
The original photograph is below
  and after consultation with Sorrel.
Ursula is very pleased with her painting now -  and quite right too.
" we spent about 15 mins on video what’s app and I found it really useful. Sorrel had 4-5 key learning points for me, feedback on the painting and taught me some key points of perspective theory. I got the chance to ask her about 2-3 queries I had regarding colour choice etc. I found the technology useful- could switch between shots of self and painting and reference photo when required. That helped us both focus on specific areas of the painting that either of us was talking about at the time. Sorrel also has sent me a few relevant articles in answer to my queries about improving my technique for more expressionist painting. Overall I really appreciated it as I was feeling really ‘stuck’. So that contact has given me motivation to just ‘get on with it’!  
​And stop procrastinating!!  Thanks, Ursula "

Maria's cow and calf

Before 
After Sorrel's support over the telephone. You really show the character of the mother Maria.
 ​Artist Support Template for you to use when contacting  us both before and after consulting Sorrel.
Email ballymenavisart@gmail.com with your query 

  • Who’s stuck?
  • Who helped?  Tutor?
  • What were you painting?
  • How did you get stuck?     Attach photo
  • What advice did you get to improve your work?
  • How were you helped. Attach finished work
  • What did you learn from it that you would like to recommend to other members?
​Artist Support 

  • Who’s stuck?  Maria.    
  • Who helped?  Tutor Sorrel
 
  • What were you painting? 
 
I came across this photo on BBC News site of a cow with her calf and was moved by the emotion of cows showing a mother’s love. I wanted to paint it even though it’s a subject that I’d find difficult. 
I worked in pastels. 

  • How did you get stuck?
 
My paintings are usually in colours I love such as blues yellow and magenta. I found it difficult to work with browns. In particular I got mixed up with darker browns within the cow and with dark shadows caused by the bright sunny day.   I knew my shadow colours were wrong but didn’t know why and what shadow colours were better. 

  • What advise did you get to improve your work?
 
I sent Sorrel a photo - of my stuck cow’ and over the phone explained my dilemma. 
She immediately saw the issue and we  spent but time discussing the shape and form of mother cow. Particularly area around ear and jaw. Sorrel suggested blue/purple for shadow around ear. I was delighted as I was in my ‘favourite colour time zone’ purple worked beautifully so I quite happily extended the strong purple into the creamier area. Sorrel was relieved when I said ‘hmm this doesn’t look right’. For the light creamer colours Sorrel suggested that I should change to a light lilac. This was perfect  

  • What did you learn from it that you would like to recommend to other members?
 
Try Purples and lilacs to make great shadow colours for animal to get a nice dramatic look which I like. The purples with brown/ orange are complementary colours which when mixed give grey and the ‘bing’ when used separately. I love my painting - thanks Sorrel!