Book Review: Drawing and Painting Flowers with Coloured Pencils - Trudy Friend

Book Title: Drawing and Painting Flowers with Coloured Pencils
Author: Trudy Friend
Publisher: The Search Press www.searchpress.com
ISBN: 978-1-84448-942-8
Published: 2014, Reprinted 2015
Pages: 144, Colour illustrations
RRP: £15.99

Who For: Intermediate amateur and professional artists wishing to try coloured pencils.

In Drawing and Painting Flowers with Coloured Pencils, Trudy Friend demonstrates the versatility and flexibility of coloured pencils. The book guides the reader from starting out with pencils and materials to tackling complicated compositional pieces.

In the first section, Friend introduces her choice of pencils: the Derwent range. She guides the newcomer through the various types and describes their characteristics and possible methods of application. Coloured pencils are not what they used to be many years ago, these days they are a medium for professional work of the highest quality. This is very evident in Friend's many demonstrations which the book is packed with.

The other sections take the reader through a logical and well organised topics. This makes it possible to dip into the sections rather than reading the book cover to cover. Having said this, for the newcomer to coloured pencils, I would advise a good look through the book so that the various techniques are covered. 

There are two key aspects of the book which I really like. First is Friend's approach to using the full range of pencils, water and non-water soluble, in a multimedia technique. Thus making full use of the potential of the medium and achieving impressive results. Beginning artists may find the approach particularly helpful, especially if watercolour is a medium they are familiar with.

Using coloured pencils in a multi-media approach

The second, is the way Friend uses objects to give the flower paintings and drawings substance and context. For example, she uses objects such as a water pump, a pair of old boots, and even a bicycle! The compositions are effective and the various elements support each other. This is particularly useful for artists who may find painting flowers in a 'botanical' style not easy or not what they want. These compositions can also be found in most gardens

Including objects to give context to paintings

Coloured pencils are the medium of the future. More and more professional artists are finding its versatility, and lucky for us manufacturers of art materials are responding to the demand. New and exciting products are being introduced regularly..

The book will serve the reader well as both an instructional and inspirational resource.

Mo Awkati

Colouring-in Books - A Fad?

Colouring-in books a fad?

What do you think of the recent surge in colouring books for adults. You might have tried them, I haven't. To me coloured pencils are just as good as any other painting medium. But is the use of colouring books a good thing or bad for coloured pencils?

Some coloured pencils users might think this is undermining our wonderful medium and hobby. It might be argued that colouring in someone else's design is not necessarily art in the sense creativity. There is no creativity if it is just a case of filling in the gaps. No thinking , planning, composition, working out lights and darks etc.

Think of it this way: those people who are using coloured pencils with colouring books are in fact spreading the word about coloured pencils, they could become fully fledged artists, they could become people who will appreciate art made with coloured pencils, and may even buy coloured pencil art. So its not a bad thing, coloured pencils as medium will benefit from the publicity. I just wish the media stop calling them crayons!

The only reservation I have is that the colouring books are a fad or craze, how long it will last your guess is as good as mine. What will happen when the fad has gone stale? Will people start to think of coloured pencils as an old fashioned medium? Or worse still as a beginners medium which should not be taken seriously? Or even the public might think coloured pencils are not a serious medium if people use it to colour-in books!

What do you, coloured pencils practitioners, think?

Guest blog post by Mo Awkati

Art Materials Live - Birnmingham NEC

This has come from Will Johnson, Secretary to the society:--

Dear Member,

As you may already know, the UKCPS runs a stand at the NEC each year in
the Art Materials Live show held in November. We have several people
demonstrating their Coloured Pencil skills, and we try to sell a few
items to make a bit of money for the society, including new memberships.
It is a great way to meet old friends and to make new ones. If you have
been before you will know we used to have a hands on area for people to
try out coloured pencils, however the organisers have asked us not to
run the participation section of the stand this year.

I am writing to ask if you could volunteer some of your time to
help. The show runs from Thursday 8th November to Sunday 11th November
from 9:30 until 5:30 (5:00 on Sunday). A free entry pass will be
available for all volunteers that enables entry not only to Art
Materials Live, but also to the sister shows “Crafts For Christmas “and
“Hobbycrafts”.

If you could see your way clear to helping, or think you might be able
to help, please let me know by emailling me at: secretary@ukcps.co.uk and I will let you
have more details.
Sincerely

Will Johnson

Leisure Painter - Simply The Best 2011 results

Congratulations to UKCPS members, Irina Garmashova-Cawton, and Judith Heilbronn-Crown, whose CP pictures are featured in the February edition of  'Leisure Painter' as winning entries in the Hobbycraft 'Simply The Best Competion 2011'.

 The pictures were on display at the recent Art Materials Live Show held at the NEC in November.

I should also mention that the February 'Leisure Painter' contains the 2nd part of a colour pencil article by Veronica Winters, featuring two seperate still-life execises using fruit.

Art Matrials Live - NEC

Just a timely reminder that UKCPS will have their usual stand at the forthcoming Art Materials Live Exhibition which starts next Thursday, 3rd November, and runs through until Sunday 6th. at the NEC, Birmingham.

Besides the 'have-a-go' section, some of our members will be demonstrating colour pencil techniques throughout the exhibition, and will be glad to say hello to visiting members.

There are always lots of offers at the show, but one of the best has been negotiated on behalf of our members with Artistpapers, suppliers of the well recommended 'Strathmore' paper.  Leaflets [illustrated on the right] are available on the UKCPS stand, or visit www.artistpapers.co.uk and enter the code: ' UKCPS' when you checkout your purchases.

UKCPS Awardwinner in "Simply the Best" exhibition at NEC

Sue Clinker has had a coloured pencil picture accepted for the 'Simply the Best' Competition which will be exhibited at the Art Materials Live event at the NEC in Birmingham - where UKCPS also has a stand this week (4th - 7th November 2010).

The competition is sponsored by the Leisure Painter and The Artist magazines.  30 finalists have been selected to have their work exhibited at the show where visitors will vote for a 'People's Winner' and the works will be featured in Leisure Painter magazine in 2011.

Old Blue Eyes by Sue Clinker

This was my first attempt at a 'human' using coloured pencils back in 2008 and I can see lots of things I'd do differently now ... but we never stop learning do we? 

My picture is 'Old Blue Eyes' (attached) which was awarded Reserve Best in Show at the UKCPS World of Coloured Pencil exhibition (Cumberland 2008) - it was entitled 'Eye of the Beholder' then.

You can see more of Sue's work on her website www.sueclinker.co.uk or her blog Sue Clinker

UKCPS at Art Materials Live 

Visit the UKCPS Stand at Art Materials Live, National Exhibition Centre, 4-7th November 2010

Winner of Manga Competition 2009

Congratulations to the winner of the Manga Drawing Competition 2009 for children, sponsored by Derwent, and held at the UKCPS stand at the Art Materials Live Fair at the NEC.

The prize  goes to Peter Stockbridge of Wellesbourne Warwick for his beautiful rendering of the "Vampire boy " chibi.

The judges were particularly impressed with his use of perspective and felt that his colour choices were in keeping with the subject.

A very atmospheric picture. Spookily well done Peter and a hearty thanks for " scaring" our Chibi designer into extra practice.

Peter wins a  " Mater Chibi Manga " set,  created for Derwent by professional Manga Artist Hayden "Dock" Scott-Baron" 

At first glance Manga can seem like a relatively new art form but in fact its roots go back as far as the nineteenth century in the form of Ukiyo-E; a form of Japanese print made from carved blocks of wood. Under the influence of western comic styles the Ukiyo-E art form evolved to become what we now regard as modern Manga. 
Derwent website

Link:  Manga Colouring Competition - Announcement of Winners (2008)

UKCPS at Art Materials Live

The UKCPS information stand at the Art Materials Live

Earlier this month, UKCPS was at the Art Materials Live at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham. This post reports on what happened and provides photographs of the stand and three of the demonstrators

Peter Weatherill demonstrating

UKCPS activities at the NEC helped us to:

• promote coloured pencils as an art medium. The artwork on display and our demonstrators showed visitors the range of different ways that coloured pencils can be used to produce different types of artwork
  
• boost the profile of the Society amongst those visiting the exhibition
  
• increase UKCPS membership - a number of people visiting the stand enrolled for full membership
• identify that Coloured Step by Step Guides (prepared by UKCPS members) are hugely popular with both UKCPS members and other visitors to the stand. Indeed some sold out before the end of the exhibition! They have the potential to generate a lot of revenue and UKCPS is now planning to collect a basic range of these for use and sale by the society. Those still available for sale can now be found on the UKCPS website.
  
• generate a profit after expenses - although the aim of this event was to promote our medium rather than worry about maximizing profit.
• and last but not least, this event enables us to reinforce our relationship with the pencil manufacturers who so generously support and sponsor our exhibitions and events.

Peter Woof demonstrating

Rachel Stirling, the UKCPS Events Manager, comments on our activities this year.

UKCPS has had another successful year at the Art Materials Live show and we have again shown the art world the great variety in artwork which can be produced using coloured pencils.

A big vote of thanks to all who supported the UKCPS this year - demonstrators, workshoppers, sales people and all those members who just dropped by to say "Hi". A particular thank you to those demonstrators who were inexplicably left off the entry list of demonstrators by the ICHF organisers and yet still demonstrated.

We provided a formidable range of work in terms of art on display, demonstrations and activities. I for one am grateful for those demonstrators who put in the hours despite being in a large room full of cut price art supplies! Paper, canvas and prepared boards were all available as supports for work and generated a great deal of interest

We always listen to what people visiting the stand have to say and we received several very interesting ideas and suggestions from visiting Society members.

Members indicated that they would like to have better information at a much earlier stage about which day Demonstrators will be demonstrating so that they can better plan their visits according to their interests. As a result, we'll be working on how we can improve our communication in this respect for next year.

Finally, I'd like to offer my own personal thanks to everyone involved and to all the members who make the UKCPS what it is. Here's looking forward to next year.

Brian Casey demonstrating

UKCPS Demonstrators at Art Materials Live

UKCPS demonstrators will be at Art Materials Live - which is at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, from 5th - 8th November 2009. This is How to get to the NEC.

The table below shows you who will be demonstrating each day. The dark space represents days the demonstrators will NOT be there.

Demonstrators		5th Nov.	6th Nov	7th Nov	8th Nov
Peter Woof UKCPS	award winning artist who trained at the Royal Academy Schools
Suzy Herbert UKCPS
Rachel Stirling	working on a portrait using Luminance Pencils
Peter Weatherill UKCPS	using watercolour pencils for a large marine drawing of Polperro harbour
Gayle Mason SOFA	popular feline and wildlife artist; teaching how to do a cat's eye and fur
Jonathan Newey UKCPS	wildlife artist; Presidents Award 2009
Shirley Henderson
Malcolm Cudmore	Highly commended Annual Exhibition 2009; working on large panels primed with acrylic
Diana Connor	demonstrating floral work
Brian Casey	a self-taught artist with a love of motor sport, doing large scale detailed work
Margaret Edwards	Wildlife and feline artist

On Sunday you also have the opportunity to meet Bev Lewis and Pauline Longley on the stand who will be assisting at the show. Various volunteers will also help run the shop, sharpen pencils and generally help keep this major four day event on track.

All of the above simply relates to the UKCPS contribution to the event. If you look at page about the Hobbycrafts and Art Materials Live exhibition on the NEC website you can see the lists of other exhibitors at this event

Call for demonstrators

Would you like to get involved in a practical way with promoting coloured pencil art? We currently have a couple of opportunities for a number of UKCPS members to provide demonstrations of coloured pencil art this Autumn.

8th Annual Open International Exhibition 2009

We have been allowed to provide demonstrators during the International exhibition at the home of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists. This is an important move for the UKCPS into the Fine Art Community and we need to show what "coloured pencil art" is all about.

The Exhibition is running for two weeks at the RBSA's home at 4 Brook Street, Birmingham B3 1SA (see location map which also provides details of car parking and proximity to the railyway station). The dates of the exhibition are as previously advertised Sept 21st - Oct 3rd and the exhibition is open every day.

We are looking for all types of pencil artist to take up this opportunity to demonstrate in this prestigious gallery. A table and chair will be available for demonstrators.

NEC Art Materials Live

Suzy Herbert UKCPS
demonstrating how she works
at a previous Art Materials Live event

We are also starting to book the demonstrators for the NEC Art Materials Live Event at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC). This is held over 4 days between 5th and 8th November 2009.

This is a huge event for the society and we are looking for help on the two UKCPS stands from UKCPS members who can act as:

• demonstrators,
  
• workshop tutors / aides
  
• and/or people to deal with enquiries and sales
  

If you are available to give a day or half a day to the society please consider joining us at the NEC Birmingham.

These are links to the blog posts about last year's event which give you an idea about what it is like:

• UKCPS at 'Art Materials Live' next week
• Who's going to be at Art Materials Live?
• News from Art Materials Live #1
• Reflections on Art Materials Live 2008

plus this page provides details of how you can travel to the NEC

Who to contact

If you have any queries or would like to register an interest please contact UKCPS Events Manager Rachel Stirling (You can find her email address below - inserted as a picture to avoid it being spammed!).

Manga Colouring Competition - Announcement of Winners

Rachel Stirling writes: A very big thank you to all the children who entered the Manga Colouring Competition at the Art Material Live Event at the NEC this year - sponsored by Derwent and Hannemuhle.

We have received a huge number of entries of a very high standard and it was a great pleasure to see the work of so many budding artists.

With difficulty we have made our final decision and the results are as follows.

FIRST PLACE - Elle Shrive (14) Solihull

Elle entered two pieces of such high quality that it was difficult to pick the ultimate winner. In the end we settled for the Japanese Chibi because of the quality of the colouring and her attention to developing a 3D feel by using tone.

Congratulations Elle!

Elle receives a boxed set of Derwent Gothic Manga goodies.

SECOND PLACE

Catherine came a very close second with her beautifully detailed and colour co- ordinated Goth Chibi. One of our artists now wants those trousers!

Well done Catherine!

THIRD PLACE - Amelia Norfolk ( 11 ) Worcester

Amelia impressed the judges with the smoothness of her colouring and her attention to detail. A very beautiful Chibi Princess.

Well done Amelia!

FOURTH PLACE – Peter Stockbridge (11) Warwick

Peter was one of the few young artists to devise a background for his Chibi. He shows a remarkable understanding of perspective and light. This is a young artist to watch.

Well Done Peter!

The Runners up all receive a pad of Hahnemuhle Manga Illustration paper.

Reflections on Art Materials Live 2008

Here's a report from Rachel Stirling - who did a splendid job of organising the UKCPS Stand and volunteers for the Art Materials Live event at the NEC.

The boxes are packed, the pictures returned, the pencils sorted (thank you Peter) and the aching muscles tended for another year.

Art Materials Live was as usual a mad, cheerful rush of an event.

It was good to see so many old friends and to make some new ones. Several artists demonstrated with us for the first time this year and I hope will return again in the future.

A big vote of Thanks to all of the volunteers who worked so hard to make this event come together…braving the cold, the crowds and the M6!

I can now happily announce that takings totalled £875.00 and that some of this will be returned to Artists shortly as profit from card sales. Other items that we found sold well this year included the “ Step by Steps” and the children’s Manga Competition. We were very lucky to have the prizes for the latter sponsored by Derwent and Hannemuhle…a very big thank you to them also.

We have managed yet again to raise the profile of coloured pencil as a Fine Art medium and, for the first time, this year I feel we have had some success in persuading the general public that to ignore the potential of CP is …well simply silly!

Now…back to the drawing board quite literally,

Rachel

News from Art Materials Live #1

Art Materials Live at the NEC is over for another year.

This week I'm hoping to be able to post some photos and news from the last four days of life on the UKCPS stand at Art Materials Live 2008. However, I rather suspect that a number of the people who've made a major contribution this year might need a short break right now!

Gayle Mason demonstrating
on the UKCPS stand
at Art Materials Live 2008

copyright Bryan Mason

Fortunately, I've already heard from Gayle Mason who was demonstrating on two days - Thursday and Saturday.

Gayle has written about her experience and views about the event on her blog Demonstrating for the UKCPS at Art Materials Live.

I know Gayle met lots of people while demonstrating and enjoyed herself enormously - apart from one incident. Here's a short extract from her post........

Thursday was a major disaster for me as my husband managed to spill a full cup of coffee over the commission I was working on. Not only did the pristine white background suffer, so did my legs, feet and bag. I'd spent around 10 hours on the work up to the coffee incident so I was ever so slightly upset. However my husband was so sorry that he bought me the entire set of Luminance pencils so I recovered a little after that.
Gayle Mason (Fur in the Paint) - Demonstrating for the UKCPS at Art Materials Live

Do please let me know if you have

• any photos of the event which are suitable for posting on the blog or
  
• any comments about participating and/or visiting.

Who's going to be at Art Materials Live?

These are the UKCPS members (and a spouse or two) who are going to be at Art Materials Live Event at the National Exhibition Centre next week (see UKCPS at 'Art Materials Live' next week for more details). They'll be:

• staffing the UKCPS stand,
  
• helping out with the workshop and
  
• demonstrating the use of coloured pencils on the UKCPS stand.

Gayle Mason and feline friends demonstrating on the UKCPS stand

at Art Materials Live 2007

copyright UKCPS blogmaster

A very special thanks to Suzy Herbert UKCPS, Rachel Stirling and Peter Woof UKCPS who are planning to be there on all four days. Both Suzy and Peter won prizes at the recent UKCPS Annual Exhibition in Bristol (see UKCPS Annual Exhibition 2008 - Award Winners)

Thanks also to all those who will be helping out in whatever capacity - with a special mention for all those who are planning to be there on more than one day.

Thursday 13th	Friday 14th	Saturday 15th	Sunday 16th
Suzy Herbert	Suzy Herbert	Suzy Herbert	Suzy Herbert
Rachel Stirling	Rachel Stirling	Rachel Stirling	Rachel Stirling
Peter Woof	Peter Woof	Peter Woof	Peter Woof
Diana Connor		Diana Connor	Diana Connor
Peter Weatherill	Peter Weatherill
Eleni McLoughlin	Eleni McLoughlin
Pauline Longley		Pauline Longley
Gayle Mason		Gayle Mason
Bryan Mason		Bryan Mason
		Will Johnson	Will Johnson
		Nick Baldwin	Nick Baldwin
Audrey Weatherill	Katrina Green	Ann Holden	Dave Richards
	Mike McLoughlin	Alan Wiltshire	Dave Edwards
			Margaret Edwards
			Elizabeth Frearson

This is a great event for anybody who wants to get to know more about coloured pencils and/or about the UKCPS.

Plus even if you do know quite a bit about coloured pencils it's still really good to see how other people approach their coloured pencil artwork! For example, Gayle Mason had lots of questions to field last year when demonstrating how to use pastelbord to produce coloured pencil work which doesn't require any mount or glass when framing.

Here's a note about some of the interests and different ways of working of the people who will be there.

• Gayle Mason has developed her work on pastelbord, colourfix and film
  
• Pauline Longley works on drafting film
• Peter Weatherill likes to work CP over watercolour washes
• Diana Connor is a botanical artist
• Peter Woof enjoys working with still life subjects
• Margaret Edwards (also a prizewinner this year) enjoys portraying cats as does Gayle Mason
  
• Dave Richards prefers to draw landscapes.
• Alan Wiltshire's produces abstract geometric shapes which follow mathematical models

So, as you can see, there's lots of different subjects and varied ways of working.

Hint - Please can everybody remembers to take lots of photos for the blog! :)

UKCPS at 'Art Materials Live' next week

Visitors to the UKCPS Stand at Art Materials Live 2007

UKCPS will be at the Art Materials Live Show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham next week. The show is on in Halls 10 and 11 from 13th-16th November 2008 and is open from 09.30am - 17.30pm (Sun 17.00).

UKCPS would very much like to encourage anyone interested in viewing coloured pencil work to come and visit us at the UKCPS stand. The images in this post are from last year's show.

Suzy Herbert UKCPS
demonstrating how she works
at Art Materials 2007

Features of the UKCPS presence are

• a wide range of talented UKCPS members who will be demonstrating how they work
  
• an opportunity to try a wide variety of different pencil brands and discuss them with artists that use them on a daily basis.
  
• a dynamic gallery of coloured pencil artwork (changed daily)
• a childrens colouring competition for the Art Materials live show.
  

The children's colouring competition involves a selection of Manga drawings to be coloured in at home and then posted back to UKCPS. The prize will be a a Derwent Manga drawing boxed set.

Watch out for my next post on this important art materials event when I'll be indicating who is demonstrating each day

Peter Weatherill with a group of interested people
Art Materials Live 2007

Art Materials Live is a super opportunity to find out about coloured pencils, watch how people work and ask any of those niggling questions that you don't know the answer to.

Plus it's also an excellent opportunity to stock up with art supplies which are difficult to find and/or take advantage of art supplies at discount prices - I went home with two electric sharpeners last year!

For further information:

• This page gives details of ticket prices. It's possible to get a discounted price if purchased before 10th November
• This page gives details of the location within the NEC.
  
• This page provides information about how to travel to the NEC

UKCPS at the NEC

The UKCPS at the NEC 2007

Members will know that for the past three years the UKCPS has had a very successful presence at the NEC, Birmingham, at the Art Materials Live Show in November. We are happy to confirm that we will be repeating this in November 2008, from 13th-16th November - providing we get the support we need from you! Please contact Rachel Stirling - shows[at]ukcps.co.uk - to offer your help on the stand. We need demonstrators, general helpers, people to run the workshops, people to help set-up or take down - just a few hours, half a day if you can manage it would be great. The sooner we can get a list of helpers, the better Rachel will like it. This really is an excellent show, and the publicity it gives the Society is invaluable.

New Year, New Opportunities!

A hopefully useful little pocket money idea to spend some of Auntie's Christmas Cash, to kick off the New Year. Some years ago I did a colour conversion chart, comparing colours across a few of the major brands, which UKCPS members will vaguely recall getting a copy of in their joining packs. With the demise of Karismacolor and the arrival of Derwent Coloursoft, I thought it would be worthwhile updating this and this time including swatches of colour. I have done this and some of you may have seen trial packs at the NEC in November. After some tweaking of the printing process and decisions on pricing, the Society is now offering these for sale. I stress that ALL proceeds go to the UKCPS, nothing comes to me.

The charts are divided into approximate colour groups - the Yellow/Orange page is shown above. Where there is possible ambiguity - is Pumpkin Orange an orange or a brown? - colours are repeated on different sheets. The aim is to find replacements for Karisma, so they are in the first column, and I try to match these colours to Derwent Coloursoft, Derwent Artist, Faber Castell Polychromos, Caran d'Ache Supracolour, Lyra Polycolor and Staedtler Karat Aquarelle. With 10 million colours to choose from, it is not surprising that this is a difficult task, and often no proper match is available. Even given the limitations of colour printing though, I believe this chart does give you a good guide where to start looking. One other possible use, for example, would be to try to find a more light-fast alternative to a colour that you know is fugitive in one brand.

Peter Weatherill has kindly agreed to take on all of the mailing and printing of these charts, and the Society is offering them at £5 including postage for UK residents, £6 ($12) including postage to overseas, with a £1 ($2) discount to UKCPS members - quote membership number with order.

To order, please e-mail Peter at wpweatherill@fireflyuk.net - if you have a PayPal account you can also "Send Funds" to this e-mail address. If you need to send a cheque, Peter will give you details. This offer will also appear in the next "Talking Point", but online members have a chance to get theirs early!

For a review of this chart by member Katherine Tyrrell, please have a look at her blog: http://makingamark.blogspot.com/2007/11/coloured-pencils-colour-comparison.html

And a very Happy New Year to all UKCPS Members!

Milestone passed

Just a reminder of the very first issue of our newsletter, "Talking Point", issued July 2001. I printed about 50 copies of that myself on my HP deskjet, with the front page picture by Hilary Buckley, and the lead article reading "Welcome - to the Society of your dreams!". It is beginning to look like those dreams are more than being fulfilled - thanks to the membership surge at the NEC, our membership has well passed the 500 mark. For the first time ever, over 560 people will receive copies of the latest "Talking Point" due out in December. Congratulations to all who have made this possible. Based on population size, we are now "bigger" than the CPSA!

Of course, with size, comes problems, and our members will be aware of many requests for help from the AGM last October. A letter setting out what we are asking for in more detail will be inserted with the newsletter - along with a small gift to make the request more palatable.

"Magic Memories" Competition Winner

Derwent have recently held a competition to mark their 175th Anniversary, and the overall winner was hosted by the UKCPS at the Art Materials Live Show at the NEC recently. The overall winner was 15 year old Min Kyung Eun from Seoul, South Korea, with her memory of ‘When my friend and I walked under one umbrella on an autumn day’. She won a limited edition print of their winning entry, a 2 night break in Keswick, one to one tuition with a professional artist, an escorted tour of the Derwent factory and pencil museum and a Limited Edition Heritage wooden box worth £500. She also spent an hour on the UKCPS stand at the NEC, and we were happy to present her with a years Membership of the Society, some back issues of Talking Point, and various materials from our sponsors, including some Stonehenge paper. The picture shows Peter Weatherill (nice waistcoat!) with Min and her mother.

The UKCPS at the NEC

The Society had a very successful four days at the Art Materials Live fair at the NEC, Birmingham from Thursday to Sunday last week. Apart from making a considerable sum of money for Society funds, mostly by selling workshop packs containing materials donated by our sponsors, we gained a lot of great publicity, and gave out over 200 membership forms. Many thanks are due to Rachel Stirling and Peter Weatherill who did a super job of organising the event, and to all the many members who helped out as demonstrators, workshop leaders and just general dogs-bodies. A lot of work by a lot of people - thank you all!


Some photos have come into my hands showing various aspects of the show, starting with the ever-present Suzy Herbert on the left, at her easel as she was every day. On the right is Deborah Theobald, who came to help out demonstrator Gary, and a shot showing the exhibition and demonstration space we were given. The pictures changed each day depending on who was demonstrating.


A shot in the other direction shows that most days we had two or three demonstrators - Richard Childs has said he never talked so much in his life! Hard to believe that Richard! On the right is Peter, looking a bit puzzled as he explains to an attentive group just what the difference between blending and burnishing is! This shows the workshop area, where people were able to sit down for an hour - a very important selling point! - and try out pencils and papers using the packs of materials we supplied.

Some of our members have mentioned the show in their own blogs - see Katherine Tyrrell's posts here (scroll down to Art Exhibitions), and Gayle Mason here. We hope to be back next year - if we can persuade people to do this work all over again - and hope to see you there.