Team Anna and the Waterfront Gallery Competition – Part 2
Our second meeting begins with Anna Waters showing us the image she has created, using torn paper, of Pentre Ifan. It’s not yet finished and with an artist’s eye the group are asked for their input. “It’s often difficult , Anna explains to know when something is finished. In this instance I am thinking an addition of some orange would be good.”
What do you think?
Anna is working with the theme of Hiraeth, which is that longing for home.
We are encouraged to let our ideas flow, and Anna advises any budding artist to collect materials that they can experiment with. Coloured paper, including wrapping paper, much of it from the recycling, is a useful addition to the artist’s kit and Anna says she collects paint brushes of all shapes and sizes from places such as Aldi or Lidl where they can be found cheaply.
“I use flat brushes for oils and acrylics, and round-edged brushes for loading up with paint to throw at the canvas,” Anna says, and the others laugh at the memory of their own messy artistic experiments and the need to keep some painting clothes to wear so all your everyday clothes are not ruined.
“If you are painting with oils, why not add highlights with acrylic pastels?” she adds. “And another useful tip for painters who can’t wait for the canvas to dry is to use a hairdryer.”
Lucy Hinksman, who is celebrating a new job today, is keen on the history of Wales, Welsh culture and particularly castles. She is experimenting with some ideas.
James was impressed by Anna’s images last week of coal mining and has started an image of a coal miner, and Anna shows us how to use a pencil to get the best light and shade, rubbing areas out for the best contrast. She gets us to experiment with pencils to see what shades and marks we can make. Soft pencils are best.
Maxine is keen to experiment with collage. She has memories of the coal pits with her grandad as a child, but ideas about a line drawing of the Rebecca Riots and Pentre Ifan, the latter with the addition of fairies, are also in the pipeline.
Being a writer, rather than a visual artist, my first ideas are a mind map. I am a bit out of my comfort zone but Anna is a great teacher and the group are very supportive and encouraging with each other.
“Learn by doing,” Anna instructs as we come to the end of the session. “Practise every day.”
Watch out for the next session with tips on painting and creating.
The little group that meets on Zoom has been put together by artist Anna Waters as part of a project with the VC Gallery, Haverfordwest, to experiment with ideas and materials and create one or more pieces of work for the Waterfront Competition on the subject of Wales.
Find Anna Waters, Pembrokeshire artist, at : www.artistannawaters.com
The VC Gallery is a voluntary charity for veterans and the community through arts and creative engagement;
The Waterfront competition: Front Wales Contemporary / Cymru Gyfoes is an international open competition for 2D and 3D artwork in any medium excluding photography.
Artists are invited to submit work that is inspired by Wales’ ancient history, its art history, its heritage, its landscape (rural, urban or political) and its contemporary culture.
For more information go to : thewaterfrontgallery.co.uk
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