SUBSCRIPTION FEES ARE NOW DUE! Still £20 individual, £30 Family, and £10 for matriculated student. Please send to Jonathan Burns, Membership Secretary, 21 Jacobson Terrace, Dundee DD3 9TD, with Gift Aid form if you pay tax.
From the President
Ken Constable
The many members who knew him will have been sad to learn of the passing of Ken Constable. He was a long term stalwart of the Society who had held several offices with distinction. He was Gallery Hire Officer on the Council I inherited when I became President, but I came to know him best when we needed a Secretary, and he agreed to return in that position. He was a loyal, dedicated and meticulous officer, who would cheerfully tackle any problem that arose in the Society, and would stick at it until he got a satisfactory solution. His determination seemed to be typified in his reaction to a diagnosis that gave him three months to live, because the months went by and became years and Ken was still there. I would ask him what the doctors had said after one of his check-ups, and he would reply, in his dry humour, “Well, they always seem surprised to see me”. We shall miss him very much.
Embarrassed apologies – in my haste to get news of the forthcoming programme to you before I went to France, I forgot all about the Gilbert Dunlop (q.v.) exhibition and scheduled two workshops and a Friday evening meeting for dates which fell in the exhibition period, so these have had to be changed. I’ll try to get it right this time! Partly because of the increased use we are making of the Gallery, and partly because I try not to schedule workshops for the day after a Friday evening meeting or the Saturday after one of Fiona’s Friday Pastel Workshops, it is becoming difficult to find enough Saturdays for workshops, so I am trying the experiment of scheduling my Beginners Workshop on a weekday We are indebted to the new Programme Convener, Fiona Haldane, who was left to put the programme together during my absence in France, for her very efficient work. Where possible, I have include websites where members can preview the work of speakers or tutors.
The Gilbert Dunlop Exhibition
Gilbert Dunlop was born in Alloa in 1909, and was educated at Alloa Academy. He had no formal art training, and was largely self-taught, but from 1927 he was employed by D.C.Thomson and went to art classes in the evenings His war service was with the RAF Air/Sea Rescue, mostly in Portsmouth, though by the time the war ended he had been posted to Holland. After the war he came back to Dundee and worked as an illustrator, working inter alia with Enid Blyton, Pat Arrowsmith, Lorna Hill and Jane Shaw, and in the 60s’ designed greeting cards for Valentines. From 1969 he worked as a freelance, doing illustrations for the Scots Magazine, the Fireside Book, the People’s Friend and similar publications. He died suddenly in1984.
This retrospective exhibition in his memory has been arranged by his daughter Jennifer and his granddaughter Joanna. In view of his strong Dundee connection they felt it was appropriate that the exhibition should be held in Dundee, and we are glad to have it in the Gallery. Since both Jennifer and Joanna live at some distance from Dundee, any offers of help with invigilation would be particularly appreciated.
Workshop Programme, 2007/2008.
Joy Scott, the new member of the Council, will be helping with the administration of workshops this year. Her number is 01828 633811. If you book for a workshop and then cancel, you will be responsible for the £10 fee unless a replacement can be found.
Date Tutor Subject
Sept 07 Fiona Haldane Pastels 1
Sept 29 Allan Perera Oils 1
Oct 06 Dr James Morrison Masterclass
Oct 13 Allan Perera Oils 2 cancelled
Oct 19 Fiona Haldane Pastels 2
Oct 20 Alan Perera Oils 2 resheduled
Nov 10 Allan Perera Oils 3
Nov16 Fiona Haldane Pastels 3
Nov 21 John Berridge Beginners Painting
Dec 14 Fiona Haldane Pastels 4
Jan 12 Allan Perera Oils 4
Jan 18 Fiona Haldane Pastels 5
Jan 26 Alfred Allan Painting Boats and Harbours
Feb 02 Liz Yule, watercolour
Feb 09 Allan Perera Oils 5
Feb15 Fiona Haldane Pastels 6
Feb 23 Elena Lopez-Nicoll Colour Theory & Practice
Mar 01 Liz Yule, watercolour
Mar 08 Allan Perera Oils 6
Mar 14 Fiona Haldane Pastels 7
Apr 11 Fiona Haldane Pastels 8
Apr 13 Spare
Apr 26 Spare
May 09 Fiona Haldane Pastels 9
Description of the Workshops
Most members of the Society will be aware of the structure and operation of the workshops. Nevertheless, new members will need to known how they operate, and because we have some new workshops this year I have included notes on those and on the tutors.
All workshops are from 10.30 until 4.30, in the Gallery and cost £10, so you will need to bring a packed lunch. All except Fiona Haldane’s pastel workshops are on a Saturday; whose workshops are on Fridays because she works on Saturdays. If you book a place in a workshop you are expected to turn up, and will be charged if you do not unless we can get somebody to fill your place.
Normally the tutor will give some instruction on the medium, and perhaps do a short demonstration, before setting you to work and coming round from one to another to give help and advice. All workshops have participants of mixed ability, unless otherwise specified – my beginners workshop, for example, which may be one other exception to the “all workshops are on Saturdays” rule. We have run out of Saturdays this year, so I have to try the experiment of putting my Beginners’ Workshop on a weekday.
At all workshops, bring something to paint, preferably something for which you have the copyright. If you are completely stumped here, the tutors will give you something to start you off. Photographs are allowed except for Dr.Morrison’s Masterclass.
The Tutors
Fiona Haldane, the Programme Convener of the Society, is a distinguished local pastellist whose work may be seen in the Eduardo Alessandro studios in Broughty Ferry or on her website www.fionahaldane.co.uk. Many competent pastellists in the Society – and outside, for that matter, began their careers in her classes or workshops - so although her workshops for the Society have a good regular following you need not hesitate to join if you are a beginner. Fiona will spend extra time with you to introduce you to the medium. The number of pastellists exhibiting in Society exhibitions has increased dramatically since our workshops started, and no doubt will continue to do so.
Allan Perera’s Oil Workshops are also developing a regular and enthusiastic following, but every year members who are new to oil painting join the workshops and are delighted with their results. Most people are using traditional oils, some use water-soluble oils and one or two paint in acrylics. If you are new to oils, get a minimum of materials to start with (ring Allan on 01764 6632175 or me on 668572 if you need advice), and Allan will give you more guidance at the first workshop. He is an established artist who works in oil and watercolour and his work can be seen on his website www.pereraliyanage.co.uk
John Berridge – that’s me! – takes the Beginners’ Workshop, which was started around three years ago for non-painters, despairing painters, befuddled painters or those who have been to painting classes where everybody else seems to know the terminology etc and now wish that they could do a basic course on materials and techniques. I explain the types and properties of the different papers, brushes and paints, then deal with colour theory and colour mixing, and the various watercolour techniques. That’s most of the morning; the afternoon is where all the participants get to have a go! Some of my work can be seen on the Society’s website www.dundeeartsociety.co.uk/memberswork
Elena Nicoll, is our Mexican member who was a University lecture in Fine Art before she came to Britain. This workshop is a little different from the others, since it concentrates on one important area of painting – Colour Theory. Elena was Head of Design & Lecturer at UNIMEX University, Mexico City. There is an outline of Elena’s workshop on the DAS website under “Breaking ∂News”
Alfred Allen is a well-known artists from Fife. His workshop is also a little different – it’s a themed workshop, on Painting Boats and Harbours. This is frequently a subject for painters in the Society, it should be very useful. Painters in all media are welcome.His work may be seen on his website at www.alfredallan.co.uk
Bookings & Enquiries
Joy Scott is helping with the administration of the workshops this year, and it is hoped she will gradually take over. Her telephone number is 01828 633811, and all bookings and enquiries can be directed to her, even if another number is given for particular workshops.
For Fiona’s pastel workshops – John Berridge 668572 or Fiona herself on 778577
For all other workshops and the Masterclass - Joy Scott 01828 633811 or John Berridge 668572.
All workshops run from 10.30 to 16.30 and cost £10, except for Dr Morrison’s Masterclass, which costs £20. There will only be ten places for the Masterclass, first come first served. Students in the Masterclass should bring a sketch or coloured study done in situ to work from, and their painting materials. Dr. Morrison works in oils, but he will not insist that students who normally paint in watercolours or acrylics must use oils. Use of a sketch or coloured study done outside as a basis for work in the Masterclass, however, is de rigeur.
Society Meetings
Because of the way in which the Friday evening dates fell this year, the first meeting of the Society in September is the Private View of the Autumn Exhibition, and the normal pattern is further interrupted in October because of the Gilbert Dunlop Exhibition - what would normally have been a Friday Evening meeting on October 26 is in fact the Private View of that exhibition, and in consequence the organisers, Gilbert’s daughter Jenni and his grandaughter Jo, extend a warm invitation to all DAS members to the Private View.
DAS Programme 2007/2008
Sep 08 Handing in, Autumn Exhibition
Sep 14 Private View Autumn Exhibition – All Members welcome
Sep 28 Phyllis Fenton: Acrylics demonstration
Oct 26 Private View, Gilbert Dunlop exhibition All Members welcome
Nov 09 Dorothy Alexander: Crit Evening
Nov 23 Angus Arthur: Modern Architecture in Dundee
Nov 24 Handing-in Dec Exhibition
Nov 30 Private View, December Exhibition. Jean Craig Cup
Dec 01 Exhibition open to 9th December
Dec 07 Christmas Party
Jan 11 David Vallis (Jessops): The Camera as an Aid to Painting
Jan 25 Nichola Martin: The beauty of charcoal
Feb 02
Elizabeth Yule: Watercolour Painting
Feb 08 - John Stewart Young (Director of the McManus Project) will substitute for E Webster who has cancelled her Friday demonstration.
Feb 22 Dave Torrie: Desperate Dan – alive and well and living in Dundee
Mar 07 Elena Nicoll: Mexican Art
Mar 21 Eileen Gardner: Seascapes in Pastel
Mar 22 Handing-in, Spring Exhibition
Mar 29 Private View Spring Exhibition
Mar 30 Exhibition open till April 06
Apr 04 Margaret McIntyre: Painting Time
Apr 18 Douglas Roulston: Painting Demonstration
May 02 John Gifford: Acrylics Demonstration
May 16 Sheena Laurie: Pottery Talk and Demonstration
May 30 Shauna McHugh: Art From School To Collage And Beyond
June 13 Social Evening and AGM
Notes on Speakers
September 28th: Phyllis Fenton is a fairly recent member of the Society whose work has been attracting a lot of attention, particularly amongst mountaineers and hillwalkers. She paints in acrylics, a medium not used by a lot of members, and will be trying to pass on some of the skills she has acquired.
November 9th: Dorothy Alexander I try to ensure that we do not keep repeating speakers, but Dorothy Alexander’s crit evenings have been so popular that members ask for it to be repeated the next year. This one has been deliberately timed so that members can bring in for a constructive crit work which they may be hoping to submit in the December Open Exhibition
November 23rd: Angus Arthur is an architect brimming with enthusiasm for his subject. Since we have had so much new building in Dundee recently, it is very apposite that he should be taking an critical and analytical look at the way Dundee is developing. He has a huge collection of slides which he will use to illustrate his talk.
December 7th: Last year saw the introduction of a Christmas Party on the last Friday evening of the programme. I was abroad, and missed it, but it had very favourable reports and there has been a strong demand that it should be repeated, so here it is.
11th January David Vallis is manager of the Dundee branch of Jessops in Reform Street. He will give an illustrated talk on the camera as an aid to painting, ranging from the perennial debate on the acceptability of paintings done from photographs to developments in digital photography and the use of the computer in manipulating images. He will be happy to give advice on the purchase of cameras by artists specifically intended for use as an aid, or on the value of members equipment.
25th January: Nichola Martin, BA (Hons) Fine Art. Each year we try to get a recent graduate to talk about his or her work., and Nichola is this year’s Award winning Duncan of Jordanstone student, speaking tonight on “The Beautiful World of Charcoal on Paper”
8th February: Ethel Webster, the well known local floral painter, does a slightly different demonstration in still life. Best known as a flower painter, not everyone has seen her magnificent still life's with flowers
22nd February: Dave Torrie brings to bear a different point of view on Desperate Dan. We always think of the artist as the creators of Desperate Dan, but for 45 years Dave Torrie was the scriptwriter on the Dandy and The Beano, writing the storylines which other colleagues then illustrated, and was often asked “How do you get your ideas?” So this is a talk on the Birth, Life and Continued well being of Desperate Dan.
7th March: Elena Nicoll. Not everyone knows that we have a Mexican member, who was a university lecturer on art there before she came to Britain. Tonight she has constructed from her lectures an illustrated talk on Mexican Painters.
12st March. Eileen Gardner is an accomplished local pastellist who has demonstrated her skills to the Society before, but she was so popular we have asked her back. Tonight she is demonstrating painting Seascapes in Pastels
4th April. Margaret McIntyre is a respected member of long standing, and a former President of the Society. A professional artist, it is difficult to typecast her work; just as you think you have a handle on it, she goes off to another part of the world and produces something quite different – the only thing that is consistent is the quality. Her title tonight – Painting Time – is intended to leave us ambivalent – is “Painting” a verb or an adjective?
18th April Douglas Roulston, BA(Hons) Fine Art, is a fabulous young painter whose work shows his belief in the Romantic Landscape, which is illustrated tonight in his demonstration. His work can be seen on his website - www.douglasroulston.co.uk/paintings/
2nd May: John Gifford is an established Fife-based Artist: born in Inverkeithing, he has spent all his life in the Kingdom of Fife. A completely self taught artist, who has painted professionally for the past eight years, he specialises in golf scenes and landscapes of the beautiful Fife coast. He paints in oils, acrylics and watercolours. Tonight he is using acrylics, to demonstrate the strengths and possibilities of the medium. His work may be seen on his website www.standrewsart.com
16th May: Sheena Laurie, the well-known potter, is going to give us a talk and demonstration which she has entitled “The Three Dimensional Art Form that is Pottery.”
30th May Shauna McHugh, an External Examiner in Art and an Artist herself, presents an illustrated talk on the up and coming talent from School to College and beyond.
13th June – Social Evening and AGM
John Berridge, Editor |
