Elizabeth Cook - Court Artist

A fascinating talk by Elizabeth Cook, one of only three court artists working in the UK. Her work is seen in newspapers and on TV for all the famous trials and infamous defendants. Her work is all the more amazing when you consider it all has to be completed from memory and written notes as no drawing or photography is allowed in court. She usually has to complete the drawings in about 20 minutes so a photo can be taken then beamed to the news desk for the latest bulletin. Her main tip is to concentrate on the 'muzzle' i.e. the mouth and area under the nose as this area is critical to getting a good likeness. She works with pastel pencils and grabs any available surface to work on, such as a baby changing area in the toilet or even outside on the pavement.

Recalling some infamous trials

Demonstrating how changes to the eyes only can change the entire facial expression

Recent drawing of Vincent Tabak  (Joanna Yeates muder suspect)

Competition Devon Landscapes 17th March

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2.

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4. David Matthews

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7. 1st prize

8. Glyn Cowles

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10. Cherrill Bailey

11. Add caption

12. Paul James

Critique by Diane Broady

absence

I have been thinking a lot about the critique that Ernest gave at the AGM. One of the paintings he showed was of his sons bedroom just after he had left home and married. Apart from its technical brilliance it showed clearly those feelings that every parent knows so well. He and Cath talked about the importance of putting oneself into the painting and I have been musing over our 'competitions'. How would it be if we had an emotion to put to our themes? Perhaps a 'wild' or a 'soft' or a 'polluted' or 'overdeveloped' Devon landscape, maybe a 'futuristic' or 'modern' or 'olde world' architectural landscape. Figure or portrait showing 'age', 'loneliness' or 'joy' or togetherness? etc etc

Perhaps then we could move away from technical skills, ( and usually won by the same people) and open up to those having something to say but still exploring their media.

Just a thought.

Skills Evening

A good turnout for the skills evening, with demos ranging from sugar decoration to digital image creation.

Tree Planting at A La Ronde

Colin and myself spent an enjoyable (but exhausting) morning planting fruit trees at A La Ronde.
The art group and other local societies contributed to the cost of the thirteen fruit trees which have now been planted in the garden and field of our local NT property.

Happy Christmas

Happy Christmas and a very creative and healthy New Year to all members of Exmouth Art Group. I hope the white stuff disappears from pavements and roads before long to make it safer for us all to venture out more.

Angela

David Harris

David Harris gave a talk on the influences and history of architectural lettering and also talked about his calligraphic artworks and the techniques he employed to create them.