Members Only Exhibitions

Enter these members only exhibitions -

Keswick and our 2nd Regional Exhibition at Richmond, Yorkshire

Two more opportunities to exhibit your coloured pencil pictures at our members only exhibitions - we look forward to receiving your entries.

The Pencil Museum, Keswick
29 August - 3 October 2015
Closing Date 19th July 2015

Members may enter 1 picture free of charge.


The Station Gallery, Richmond, Yorks
2nd UKCPS Regional Exhibition
3-14 October 2015
Closing Date 10th August 2015

Members may enter up to 5 pictures - £5 per picture

Rules and Entry Forms can be found on our website.

13th 'World of Coloured Pencil' Exhibition 2015

 

Alan Jones -Beau
2014 Derwent Best in Show

Venue: The Cumberland Pencil Museum, Keswick, CA12 5NG
Saturday 29th August - Saturday 3rd October 2015

Free entry open to all UKCPS members only, 24 pictures chosen by ballot. Pure coloured pencil or mixed media with coloured pencil as the main medium.

Closing date for entries 19th July 2015.

Entry is online only. Please ensure you read the rules of entry before completing the entry form.
When completing your entry form you will need your image in jpg format, max size of file 5MB, ready to upload. You will also need following info:
Title of Picture
Price including commission
Dimensions: Height x Width in cm - framed and unframed
Information for label - materials used and brief description of why you chose the subject.

Rules of Entry - read before completing Entry Form

Online Entry Form

Awards:
Derwent - Best in Show and People's Award.
UKCPS - 'Reserve Best in Show' and 'Runner Up' plus award for a 'Best Local Group Member'.
Leisure Painter - 'Best Newcomer to Coloured Pencil'.
People's Prize based on votes from exhibition visitors

Thanks to our sponsors:

UKCPS 2nd Regional Exhibition

UKCPS Open Exhibition 2015

UKCPS Annual Open Exhibition 2015

Menier Gallery, London - 6th-16th May 2015



If you have not already submitted your entry this is a reminder that you have less than 2 days to do so.

All entries need to be in by midnight of 11th February - just go to our website, check the rules and complete the entry form.

If you are a full member it will cost you nothing to submit one picture, but you will have to get the picture to London (and collect) should your picture be selected for hanging.

We look forward to seeing your pictures and good luck!

AGM Clarification

There seems to be some confusion about the members workshops being held in the afternoon after the AGM.

There are 3 workshops at £25 each. David Lewry - fur, Morryce Maddams - buildings, Malcolm Cudmore - complimentary colours. These are hands on and are NOT demonstrations. For booking and further details check out the members page of our website or contact the tutors direct.

In the morning before the AGM there is a talk and demonstration also by Malcolm Cudmore about 'composition' this is open to all members and is free.

Please do come and support your society, hear what is being planned for the future and if you wish you can have your say too, we don't put you under any pressure. Your Executive Committee will be pleased to meet you and you will have the opportunity to meet other members from beginners to professional artists. You all have one thing in common, a love of coloured pencils.

The MAC centre is an art venue and there is often other things going on. There is plenty of parking and a good cafe.

UKCPS AGM

Indulge in a Day of Coloured Pencil

UKCPS AGM, Talk and Workshops

19th October 2014
MAC, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, B12 9QH

10.30 - 11.30 am
Free talk by Malcolm Cudmore on Composition

11.45-1.45pm
AGM - meet the exec and have your say.

2.30 - 4pm
3 coloured pencil workshops as detailed below. Cost £25 and log in at the members section at the UKCPS website to book your place.

Log in and book your place now

Malcolm Cudmore
Using complimentary colours to add impact!

David Lewry
Fur Techniques
Techniques for rendering very realistic animal fur using coloured pencils

Morryce Maddams
Architectural features in fine detail, coloured pencils give the wow factor.

Notice of upcoming AGM

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Annual General Meeting of the UK Coloured Pencil Society will take place:--

On:      SUNDAY 19TH OCTOBER 2014
At:       THE MAC CENTRE [MAC Birmingham]
CANNON HILL PARK
BIRMINGHAM
B12 9QH
                        Commencing at:  11.45 am
Location
MAC is located in Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, opposite the County Cricket Ground on Edgbaston Road, off Pershore Road (A441) and Bristol Road. (A38). Free parking available in Queens Ride, Cannon Hill Park (owned by Birmingham City Council).  The Centre is served by a number of buses from Birmingham City Centre including 1, 35, 45, 47, 62 and 63.
\
Proposed Agenda (subject to amendment)

Apologies for absence
Minutes of last meeting – 24 November 2013
Matters Arising
President’s Comments
Chair’s report
Secretary’s report
Treasurer’s report
Exhibitions report
Regional exhibitions
Publications
Internet Reports (Web, Blog and Facebook)
Executive Committee – election of members
Any other business

In addition to the AGM, extra events have been arranged which members are welcome to attend.  The full programme for the day is as follows:

10.30 to 11.30             CP demonstration by Malcolm Cudmore
11.45 to 1.45               AGM
1.45 to 2.30                 break for lunch
2.30 Onwards             CP workshop (Artist to be advised)

Any Other Business Items for inclusion in ‘Any Other Business’ should be notified to the Secretary in writing, or by email, to arrive not later than Saturday, 4th October 2014

Election to the Executive Committee The Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer of the Society stand for re-election at each AGM.  In addition, vacancies exist within the Executive Committee to which members can nominate themselves or others (with their consent).  Nomination forms can be obtained from the Secretary on receipt of a stamped & self-addressed envelope, or via email on request, and must be completed and returned by Friday 19 September 2014.

Constitution   A copy of the UKCPS Constitution can be obtained from the Secretary on receipt of a stamped & self addressed A4 envelope, or will be sent as a Msoft Word (.docx) file on request.

Contact:          UKCPS Secretary, 32 Noctorum Dell, Prenton, Wirral, CH43 9UL
                        Email: secretary@ukcps.co.uk
__._,_.___

Notes from the UK Coloured Pencil Society AGM

UKCPS Annual General Meeting 1st October 2010

The Annual General Meeting of the UKCPS took place at 5pm on Friday 1st October.

This is an edited version of the Chair's note which summarises key points in advance of the publication of the full minutes to all UKCPS members.  It broadly follows the order of items on the agenda

Society Finances / Sponsorship / Membership

The current economic climate is generating pressures on two important sources of future UKCPS revenue.  It is proving increasingly difficult to gain sponsorship and also to retain members who are having to review their outgoings.  The latter particularly affects those who are retired and/or whose income is increasingly squeezed.  It's therefore essential to keep the Society's running costs under control.

However, the good news is that the UKCPS has accumulated a significant reserve which currently provides:

• the equivalent of a year’s running costs which acts as a buffer against any financial difficulties or insolvency.
• an opportunity to invest funds to take forward both the aims of the Society and to add value to members.

Annual Exhibition / Venues for future exhibitions

Changes have been agreed to how UKCPS exhibits in future.

In order to maintain maximum accessibility for members, the new plan is to hold the Annual Exhibition at a venue in London and a suitable venue elsewhere in the UK in alternate years.

• The 10th Annual Exhibition in 2011 will be in London.
• The venue for 2012 has not yet been decided.  Prestigious galleries outside London are being sought and any help identifying suitable locations is most welcome.

10th birthday celebrations / a new mixed media class

The occasion of the first Annual Exhibition by UKCPS in London will be used to promote the use of coloured pencils as a fine art medium within the capital and to figures in the fine art establishment.   Invites will be extended to the latter re attendance at the Private View and involvement with the judging.

The 10th exhibition will be a larger event.  It provides an opportunity for members to get involved in running workshops and demonstrating.  Members are also invited to make suggestions for new ways of how to use the Exhibition to communicate coloured pencils to a new audience

A new mixed media class has been proposed and agreed.  The AGM agreed that UKCPS should pilot a judged 50% mixed media class alongside the pure coloured pencil workls in order to extend the scope of the Society and to enable keen users of pastel pencils to participate.  This does not mean that the Society is losing its primary focus of being the Society specialising in pure coloured pencils.

UKCPS Committee 

There have been a number of changes in committee membership during 2009/10 which have resulted in fresh ideas coming to the fore.  The spreading of roles between more people is working well.  This has relieved pressures on existing committee members and enabled more attention to be given to the development of new ideas.

Currently there are urgent outstanding vacancies for:

• PR and marketing
• Co-ordination of the UKCPS annual attendance at Art Materials Live at the NEC

Anyone interested should contact the Chairman.  You don't need to be proposed - you can volunteer.

If better forum webware can be found (given the current way Yahoo displays artwork separate from threads) a volunteer is also needed to make this happen and then run the forum.

Forward notice was given that the following roles will be vacated in 2011

• Chairman
• Exhibition Director
• Sponsorship

Communication with Membership

The Annual Committee Meeting enabled discussion of new ways of improving communication to members using a variety of channels.

In future, the plan is to:

• Create a membership area on the web.  This will include a searchable set of resources based on articles in Talking Point and useful threads in the Forum
• Develop a new approach to Local Groups to create a more geographically based approach to the provision of information and workshops at a local level.
• Develop an interim newsletter for members who do not use the web to provide top tips from the Forum inbetween editions of Talking Point

Timing of Annual Committee Meeting / AGM

It has been customary to hold the Annual Committee Meeting on the same day as and just before the AGM.  It was agreed that this is not working.

Next year a revised timetable will create more opportunity to develop ideas for consideration by members in advance of the AGM

It was also noted that the change of day on which the AGM was held had also prompted many members to ask that the UKCPS AGM returns to being held at a weekend so more members can attend. 

Exhibition Awards

Pat Heffer presents the Derwent Award to Peter Woof

The Exhibition Director distributed the following awards to those prizewinners able to attend.

• Caran d'Ache Award for Best Picture in Show (£400) ‘Loire Valley Harvest’ by Jane Pirie (Mrs Thorogood)
• UKCPS Award for ‘Reserve Best in Show’ (£200) ‘Daydreaming Tiger’ by Sue Clinker UKCPS 
• The President's Award (£100) ‘Challenging Stereotypes’ by Kate Clarke UKCPS 
• The Peter Weatherill Award for Best Landscape (£75) ‘Surrey Spring Elstead Moat Pond’ by Jean Canter UKCPS
• The Staedtler Award (£50) ‘Strawberries’ by Irina Garmashova-Cawton
• The Faber Castell Award (Large box of Polychromos Pencils) ‘Ross’ by Brian Ainsworth
• The Derwent Award (£100 of art supplies from Derwent catalogue) ‘Japanese Still Life’ by Peter Woof UKCPS Silver
• The Lyra Award (Large Box of Pencils) Plum & Blossom 'Marjories Seedling' by Jane Pirie (Mrs Thorogood)
• The Ann Swan Award for Botanical Art (copy of her new book)  'Pear 'Conference' by Jane Pirie (Mrs Thorogood)

Prizes were also awarded to those Highly Commended.

Following the close of the meeting, an enjoyable social gathering was held.

After that, volunteers (and partners) dismantled the exhibition and packed up artwork for despatch back to members. 

NOTE:  Distribution of artwork:  “The postman” is away next week on a course so there will be a short delay before pictures are returned to artists.

Pauline Longley, Suzie Herbert and Malcolm Cudmore pack up the exhibition
assisted by members' partners

UKCPS Annual General Meeting: 1st October 5pm

This is from Elizabeth Frearson, the Chair of UKCPS

Here is a reminder to all our members that it is the AGM next Friday (1st October) at 5pm at the Stamford Arts Centre with a social gathering afterwards.  We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible there. 

Under the Constitution of the Society, the committee roles are formally ratified at the AGM.  If there are any alternative candidates seeking appointment to any committee post at the AGM please could you let the Chair know by midday 30th September by e-mailing chair@ukcps.co.uk.  If you wish to raise any other business it would be likewise useful to do so in advance because the committee are having a meeting that morning and can be prepared with a consensus view for a  better use of the time available.

Agenda for the AGM:

1. UKCPS Committee 
2. Scope of the Society
3. Sponsorship
4. 10th birthday celebrations and the annual exhibition
5. Keswick
6. NEC and the resources available
7. Venues for future exhibitions
8. Communication with Membership
9. The Web
10. Forums
11. Membership
12. Local Groups
13. Schools
14. Any Other Business - Timing of the AGM, Private View, committee meeting and incorporation into the annual exhibition 

Looking forward to meeting you all there.

Note: The UKCPS Annual Exhibition at the Stamford Arts Centre Gallery will be closed next Monday

Deadline for UKCPS Open Exhibition entries: 12th June 2010

This is a reminder that the deadline for all entries to the 9th Open International Exhibition 2010 of the United Kingdom Coloured Pencil Society (UKCPS) is Saturday 12th June

Stamford Arts Centre

(Source: Google Streetview) 

This blog post Call for Entries: 9th UKCPS Annual Open International Exhibition 2010  summarises the conditions of entry. 

However you should also read the Call for Entries (downloadable form in pdf) in full.

Exhibition Venue: Stamford Arts Centre, 27 St. Marys Street, Stamford, PE9 2DL

Submissions due: SATURDAY 12th JUNE 2010

Submission is open to all living artists. The work must be original (concept, design and execution by the artist), 100% coloured pencil, demonstrate compositional and drawing skills, and ability to use colour from a pencil source. Entries must not have been shown in a previous UKCPS exhibition.
The Exhibition will run from Monday 13th September to Friday, 1st October 2010. Open during normal gallery opening hours - Monday-Friday 10.30am - 5.30pm, Saturday 10.30am - 5.00pm and Sundays 1.00pm - 5.00pm.

Awards: Caran d'Ache Award for Best in Show (£400), UKCPS Award for Reserve Best in Show (£300), the President's Award (£100), the Peter Weatherill Landscape Award (£75), the People's Choice Award (£50), plus other awards donated by our sponsors.

Call for Entries: 9th UKCPS Annual Open International Exhibition 2010

Any coloured pencil artist, anywhere in the world,
is invited to enter
the 9th Open International Exhibition 2010
of the United Kingdom Coloured Pencil Society (UKCPS)
sponsored by Caran d'Ache

The UKCPS has issued its Call for Entries for the Ninth Annual United Kingdom Coloured Pencil Society Open International Exhibition 2010. Artists working in coloured pencil and living anywhere in the world are eligible to enter.

The exhibition will be held at the Stamford Arts Centre, 27 St Mary’s Street, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 2DL between 13th September 2010 and 1st October 2010.

If you are thinking about entering and are wondering about the type and standard of work submitted to and selected for this exhibition, you can see images of exhibited and award-winning work in the blog posts below relating to last year's exhibition and also on the exhibition page on the UKCPS website

• UKCPS Annual exhibition 2009 - Award Winners
• UKCPS Annual Exhibition 2009 - Highly Commended
  
• UKCPS Annual Exhibition 2009 - now online

Winner of the Derwent Award for Best in Show (£400) and the People’s Choice Award (£50)
UKCPS Annual Open International Exhibition 2009
Old -Timers, One, Two, Free! by Kate Clarke
3x(39x26) cm, coloured pencils (£845)

Call for entries – what you need to know

The combined Call For Entries and Entry Form document was despatched with the March edition of Talking Point to UKCPS members last week and should now have been received by all members living in the UK.

Members, associate members and on members can also now download the formal Call for Entries (pdf downloadable form) and Entry Form from the calendar/events page of the UKCPS website. The form contains details about the topics identified above plus insurance, shipping, post, collection, sales and commission.

The key aspects of what you need to know when deciding whether to submit work have been set out below as a check list. However please ensure you read all of the call for entries form carefully before submitting your entry.

Eligible work

• Submission is open to all living artists. You do not need to be a member of UKCPS or live in the UK.
• Entries must not have been shown in a previous UKCPS exhibition.

Originality, reference material and copyright:

• The work must demonstrate compositional and drawing skills and an ability to use colour from a pencil source
• The work must be original (concept, design and execution by the artist)
• Any photographic reference used for the entire or as the primary source must be taken by the artist
• Subject to UK and International copyright laws, reference images may used to contribute and build up a final composition provided the final work does not resemble any reference source in a recognisable way.

Eligible Media

• The work must be 100% coloured pencil
• Coloured Pencils and crayons that are wax-based, oil-based or water-soluble (e.g. Caran d’Ache Neocolor II or Derwent Aquatone)
• Graphite pencil used in moderation under or between layers of coloured pencil
• Solvents or water used to dissolve the pencil
• Manufactured coloured support (paper, board etc.)
  
• Artist prepared uniform white background (eg gesso)

Ineligible Media/Work

• Pastel pencils; acrylic, oil, ink and watercolour
• Collage, montage, three-dimensional work
• An image produced by drawing over a digital reproduction
• Only one work can be marked 'not for sale'; any second and subsequent submission marked 'not for sale' would be ineligible
• The Society and the Stamford Art Centre may refuse to exhibit selected work presented for display if it is not up to the entry submission standard or pictures are not suitably framed.
• The Society has the right to refuse to accept works not meeting all specifications and conditions set in this prospectus. It is the artist’s responsibility to provide evidence that the work is in compliance if there is a challenge.

Selection

• The 2010 judges will include: Ann Swan (an RHS gold medal winning botanical artist), a representative of Caran d’Ache and a representative of Stamford Art Centre.
• Judges review images which are anonymous. Only details of the title and size are provided.
• Judges will be asked to select works to produce a varied exhibition showing the full range of capabilities of the coloured pencil medium.
• Every effort will be made to maintain true quality to the submitted image, recognizing that the print or electronic medium may affect the viewed image.

Awards

• Cash prizes include: The Caran D’Ache Award for Best in Show (£400), the UKCPS Award for Reserve Best in Show (£300), the President’s Award (£100), the Peter Weatherill Landscape Award (£75), the People’s Choice Award (£50).
  
• In addition, each of the exhibition's commercial sponsors (various manufacturers and suppliers of coloured pencils - see side column of this blog) will provide awards involving art media and materials. There will also be other smaller prizes of art materials for highly commended works.
• The judges present on 12 September will select the works for the Awards (except those specifically given). The decision of the judges is final.

Method of Submission

• NO ORIGINAL WORKS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED. NO SLIDES.
• Fees are payable with each submission and vary depending on the status of the entrant. Members are able to submit the first work free. Payment should be by cheque or via online payment only (see form)
• Initial submissions should comprise entry form, fee and image only by post. Good prints or photos (no larger than A4/8.25” x 11.7”) or high resolution scans on a CD. Both prints and file names need to indicate the name of the artist clearly.
  
• Both sides of the entry form must be completed and submitted with the image. Framed & Unframed sizes need to be supplied in centimetre. All prices must include commission.
• Include a short CV (resume) and for each entry, give brief details including type of pencils and support used and reasons for choosing the subject. The CV and descriptions will not be part of the judging process, only for the interest of the public during the exhibition.
• All entries should be submitted to the Elizabeth Frearson, Chair of UKCPS (details on the Call for Entries form)
• Artists whose work is selected will be notified of detailed arrangements for submission of the artwork proper. It's been possible to arrange regional collection points in the past and UKCPS will endeavour to make this service available to entrants again this year if possible.
  

Artists intending to submit entries should note that, with submission, they grant permission for the UKCPS use of the accepted images for publicity and promotion for purposes wholly related to UKCPS.

All queries should be directed to Pat Heffer (details on the Call for Entries form)

Important Dates

The Exhibition will run from Monday 13th September to Friday, 1st October 2010. Normal gallery opening hours are 10.30am - 5.30pm from Monday to Friday, 10.30am - 5.00pm on Saturdays and 1.00pm - 5.00pm on Sundays.

Key dates include the following

Key Date/Deadline	Action/Event
12th June 2010	Deadline for receipt of all submissions
w/c 9th August 2010	Notification of judges selection sent to artists
10th September 2010	Last date for receiving works by post or courier
11-13th September 2010	Handing in of artworks (Pat Heffer will advise re arrangements)
13th September 2010	Judging, Opening and Private View 6pm to 9pm
13 September – 1 October 2010	Exhibition open
1 October 2010	4:00 – 5:00 removal of works 5:00pm Annual Meeting (AGM)

Call for entries: 8th Annual "World of Coloured Pencil" Exhibition 2010

The Annual "World of Coloured Pencil" Exhibition will be held at the Cumberland Pencil Museum in Keswick, Cumbria between 30th May and 26th June 2010

This is the 8th consecutive year of exhibiting at the Pencil Museum and UKCPS would like to acknowledge and thank Derwent yet again for both their generous sponsorship and hosting the Exhibition.

The Derwent Gallery at the Cumberland Pencil Museum
- where the exhibition takes place
(photograph courtesy Pencil Museum)

The World of Coloured Pencil Exhibition

Both the aims and rules for this exhibition are very different from the Open Exhibition.

This is a members only exhibition which:

• aims to reflect work produced by all abilities within the membership, ranging from beginners to professional artists
• caters for those artists who combine coloured pencils with other media.

It is NOT a juried exhibition. All entries submitted by members have the potential to be exhibited. Beginners are encouraged to enter and there is an award specifically for this group.

Changes for 2010

This year there are some changes from last year:

• The pictures to be hung at the exhibition will be decided by ballot.
• There is a new award for the Best Work by a member of one the society’s Local Groups
• Artists eligible for The Leisure Painter Award for the Best Newcomer are defined as those with up to 24 months experience
  

ENTRY: What you need to know

• Who can enter? Submission is only open to UKCPS members. (See the membership page if you want to find out more about how to become a member of UKCPS)
  
• How many works can I enter? One entry per member.
  
• What media can I use? Work can be in mixed media so long as coloured pencil is the main medium.
• What type of work can be entered? The work must two dimensional and original. That means the concept, design and execution must by the artist. Any photographic reference used for the entire of the majority of the drawing must have been taken by the artist. The accepted work should demonstrate compositional and drawing skills, as well as ability to use colour from a pencil
• What's ineligible for entry? See the call for entries form for more details. For example, work which is ineligible includes pictures which have been accepted into another UKCPS exhibition; collage, montage or three dimensional work and work done in a workshop under instruction. Pictures which exceed 80 cm (longest side) cannot be hung and are also ineligible.
  
• How do I submit work? Initial submissions should comprise entry form and image only by post. Good prints (no larger than A4) or high resolution scans on a CD. Both prints and file names need to indicate the name of the artist clearly. Both sides of the entry form must be completed and submitted with the image.
  
• How much does it cost to enter? Entry is free to all UKCPS members
• What's the deadline for entries? The closing date is 10 April 2010. Entries may be submitted at any time before this date.
  
• How will work be selected? All entries received the closing date by will be entered in the ballot and the first 24 drawn will be accepted.

The combined Call For Entries and Entry Form document was despatched with the March edition of Talking Point to UKCPS members last week and should now have been received by all members living in the UK.

Members can also now download the formal Call for Entries (pdf downloadable form) and Entry Form from the calendar/events page of the UKCPS website.

The form contains details about the topics identified above plus insurance, shipping, post, collection, sales and commission.

Please ensure you read all the call for entries and the form carefully before submitting your entry.

All entrants will be contacted and advised whether or not they have been successful by 30th April.

A list of the successful artists will be posted on this blog. If you are successful and want a link to your website to be identified on this blog next to your name, please ensure that you complete the part of the form which asks for your website address.

Awards

The "World of Coloured Pencil" Exhibition awards are as follows:

• Derwent Award for Best in Show (Prize donated by Derwent)
• UKCPS Award for Reserve Best in Show (£150.00)
  
• UKCPS Award for Runner Up (£50.00)
  
• Artists with up to 24 months coloured pencil experience are eligible for The Leisure Painter Magazine Award for ‘The Best Newcomer to Coloured Pencil. (two year magazine subscription)
  
• UKCPS Award for Best Local Group Member (£50.00)
• The People’s Prize (Prize donated by Derwent) voted for by those visiting the exhibition.

Prizes of art supplies are also awarded for Highly Commended work.

Members must indicate on their form if they wish their work to be considered for the awards for Best Newcomer or Best Local Group Member.

Demonstrations and workshops

As always the Pencil Museum has a comprehensive programme of demonstrations and workshops throughout 2010. These include demonstrations and workshops during the Exhibition by UKCPS member Malcolm Cudmore from 8 to 10 June.

8th June 2010 to 9th June 2010 - Aquatone Sticks with Malcolm Cudmore

FREE Event. A must see demonstration, Malcolm's technique is unique. This is a FREE event please collect... More

10th June - Tuition Workshop - Big and Bold, Wet and Dry in Aquatone Sticks with Malcolm Cudmore

This workshop is suitable for beginners and intermediate levels. Watercolour pencils are amazingly versatile... More

The museum is also worth a visit for those interested in pencils and has many discounted offers in the well stocked shop.

Links:

• UKCPS website - 8th World of Coloured Pencils Exhibition
• Cumberland Pencil Museum - how to get there
  
• Google Maps - location of Pencil Museum
• Derwent
• Leisure Painter Magazine
  

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

7th 'World of Coloured Pencil' Exhibition 2009

The Call for Entries for the 7th ‘ World of Coloured Pencil’ Exhibition 2009 has been published. The Exhibition will be held at The Cumberland Pencil Museum in Keswick from Sunday 31st May to Saturday 27th June 2009.

"Friend or Foe"
Karen Coulson Winner of the Derwent Award for "Best in Show" 2008

KEY POINTS:

• Entry to the exhibition is open to all UKCPS members.
• Mixed media with coloured pencil as the main medium
• Artwork submitted must be the original work of the submitting artist from concept, through design, to completion
• Entries accepted on first come basis and restricted to the first 24 received.
• Earliest sending in date 30th March 2009: Closing date 16th April 2009.
• Entry forms will be included with March issue of Talking Point and as a download from the relevant website page at the same time (first week of March).
• Exhibition runs from midday Sunday 31st May to Saturday 27th June and is open during normal Museum opening hours.

Purpose of the ‘ World of Coloured Pencil’ Exhibition 2009

This exhibition has different aims and different rules to those applicable to the Annual Open Exhibition. It aims to:

• show the wide range of abilities and ways of using coloured pencils that exist within the Society, so is open to UKCPS members only.
• cater for artists who combine coloured pencils with other media.

Beginners are specifically encouraged to enter and there is an award specifically for this group.

Awards

Artists whose work is accepted into the exhibition are eligible for consideration for the following awards. Awards are judged by Derwent after the pictures are hung.

1. Derwent Award for Best in Show (Prize donated by Derwent)
2. UKCPS Award for Reserve Best in Show (£150.00)
3. UKCPS Award for Runner Up (£50.00)
4. Leisure Painter Magazine Award for ‘The Best Newcomer to Coloured Pencil’ (two year magazine subscription) for those with up to 18 months experience. If you wish to be considered for this award please tick the box on the entry form.
5. The People’s Prize (Prize donated by Derwent) based on votes by those visiting the exhibition.
   

Prizes of art supplies are also awarded for Highly Commended work.

Special thanks are due to Derwent for sponsoring the exhibition and to Derwent and Leisure Painter for donating specific awards.

How to apply

This is a members only exhibition with entry being free to all full members. Only one entry per member is permitted. Pictures must not have been hung at any previous UKCPS Exhibitions.

part of the 2008 Exhibition

The available hanging space in the Cumberland Pencil Museum is restricted and only 24 pictures can be accommodated. Consequently the size of picture which can be submitted for this exhibition is also restricted. Pictures should not exceed 80cm, measured to the outside of the frame either horizontally or vertically.

The exhibition is NOT juried.

The way it works is as follows:

• the first 24 pictures to apply after 30 March 2009 will be accepted, based on the date postmark.
  
• As indicated above the March issue of Talking Point will include entry forms. This can also be downloaded from the relevant website page at the same time (first week of March).
  
• The closing date for entries will be 16 April 2009.
  
• Those who enter a work will be contacted and advised whether or not you have been successful by 30 April 2009.
  

Note that successful artists will be required to present their framed picture to ‘The Cumberland Pencil Museum’ before 3-00 pm on Saturday 30 May 2009 ready for hanging. UKPCS aims to arrange a network of members to deliver pictures. Pictures may alternatively be posted or sent by carrier directly to Derwent in Keswick (address details will be advised later). Pictures must be collected by the artist or his or her agent on Sunday 28 June 2009.

Conditions of Entry

The Society wishes to see work submitted that is essentially the original work of the submitting artist from concept, through design, to completion. In this way the exhibition will clearly demonstrate the compositional and drawing skills of all the artists, as well as their ability
to use colour from a pencil source.

Members who are interested are advised to read the Call for Entries carefully, paying particular attention to what it says in the "What is eligible work?" section and noting what is ineligible.

Download Call for Entries and full rules

Previous "World of Coloured Pencil" exhibitions

You can see the some of the work accepted into previous ‘ World of Coloured Pencil’ Exhibitions on the website. These are the links to:

• 6th Annual "World of Coloured Pencil" Exhibition June 2008
• 5th Annual "World of Coloured Pencil" Exhibition June 2007
• 4th Annual "World of Coloured Pencil" Exhibition June 2006

Membership of UKCPS

If you're interested in entering but are not a member of UKCPS consult the membership section of the UKCPS website to find out how you can become a member.

Links:

• UKCPS Exhibitions
• UKCPS - 7th 'World of Coloured Pencil' Exhibition 2009
  
• UKCPS Membership
  
• Venue: The Cumberland Pencil Museum, Keswick, CA12 5NG
• How to get to the museum
  
• Sponsors: Derwent and Leisure Painter

8th UKCPS Annual International Open Exhibition 2009 - key dates

This is an early alert about the key dates for the 8th UKCPS Annual International Open Exhibition which comprises 100% pure coloured pencil art.

Another picture from the UKCPS Annual Exhibition 2008 at Bristol
copyright Felicity Grace and used with kind permission

The formal Call for Entries, with full details including notice of changes to the conditions of entry previously announced, will be published in March 2009 - in Talking Point (the UKCPS newsletter sent to all members), on the UKCPS website and on this blog.

However, for those of you who plan ahead and are beginning to mark up next year's calendars and diaries with important dates, here are the key dates you need to make a note of if you're thinking about entering next year's exhibition.

• Exhibition dates: Monday 21st September to Saturday 3rd October 2009
  
• Closing date for entry: Wednesday June 24th 2009
  
• Handing in day: Sunday 20th September 2009
  

In 2009, the exhibition will be held at the gallery of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, 4 Brook Street, Birmingham B3 1SA. The number of entries selected and hung in 2008 was limited by the size of the gallery in Bristol. However, the Executive have fortunately anticipated the growing enthusiasm for coloured pencils and in 2009 the annual open exhibition will be held in a much larger gallery.

As usual, there will be a number of awards and prizes (details to be announced with the formal Call for Entries), however UKCPS is pleased to acknowledge and announce that the major sponsor for next year's exhibition will be Derwent.

Just to recap, there will be an announcement on this blog when the formal Call for Entries is available on the website. Details will also be sent separately to all members.

In the meantime, if you have any queries you should contact Pat Heffer, the Exhibitions Secretary. Pat's contact details are available on the website (Click the 'email' next to the Exhibition Secretary title to get the email address).

Janie Gildow

The UKCPS is delighted to announce that we have managed to get Janie Gildow, CPSA, to be part of our Jury for the 7th Annual Open Exhibition, sponsored by Faber Castell, in October 2008. Full details of the exhibition submission procedures will be available with the March edition of Talking Point, but for now we can reveal that Janie will be one of the panel of three jurors who will decide on which pictures get accepted into the exhibition.

Janie will be well known to most of us through her books - "Coloured Pencil Solutions" (with Barbara Benedetti Newton) and "Coloured Pencil Explorations". On her website she gives some clues as to what she might be looking for in a picture when she says:

"Good art is a result of careful planning, creative expression, strong composition, excellent craftsmanship, and a confident and complete exploration of the medium."

So - time to get the pencils out again! The deadline for submissions will be July 9th, and some other important dates can be seen on our Calendar page. Full details will be coming soon.