End of Year

Well the end of year has arrived, that is for those of us attending the adult continuing education evening classes at the National College of Art & Design.

The term went really quickly and now all there is to do is have our work framed and ready to submit to the end of year exhibition.

I miss these classes as it seems to be the only "time" that I set aside specifically to paint and be creative, I also miss the human side of metting fellow artists and seeing the different styles and talents that are out there.

I'm looking forward to meeting all the students again and seeing the work on display during the exhibition which is to be held 25th to the 28th June.

Our next exhibition.

We are delighted to announce that we will be holding an exhibition at the South Dublin County Library at Lucan from the 31st August 2009 and running until September 28th.

In the meantime we are preparing to submit our completed pieces for the end of year exhibition at the National College of Art & Design, dates and details to follow.

Mid term break

Well this week is mid term break and although we only started attending classes at the NCAD a few weeks ago, I feel that I've got into a routine each week. Gathering up all the bits and pieces that are required - and the list is growing, has become a ritual each week. But this being mid term the college was closed this week and I really missed getting out of the house for the few hours.

I have however gotten back into the habit of painting and have just this week finished two very large oil paintings that I started last year - got so far and just couldn't get back into it to get them finished. At last they are done - won't my brother be glad. I was tempted to post the pics here, but decided against it - I should really let him as least see them first.

NCAD

Well so far we've had three classes at the national college of art & design, it really is completely different than going along to the local night class.

It's great that we are shown the techniques and how to achieve different effects, rather than jumping straight in and then be shown where we're going wrong so to speak. This way we do it right the first time. It's really up to us how much we get out of it and of course how much we put into it.

I'm looking forward to the remaining classes, its such a good experience.

Off to college.

Well, last Thursday was the first night of the new term of "Techniques in Watercolours", the course that two of us signed up to.

The evening courses come under the heading of continuing education. It was really great to be back painting again. It must be about four years since I painted in watercolours.

It is so different from painting in oils or even acrylic where you paint dark to light, with watercolours you have to consider your light/whites first and then your darks.

We had a go at painting washes, mixing colours and painting - autumn leaves in rich yellows and reds - and fading greens.

I must remember to do the homework!