The Box Art Group has been unable to meet for our Thursday afternoon sessions for the last 9 months, but we have been able to foster a positive way forward through our weekly newsletter, The Rainbow, currently at 35 issues, and some informal outdoor sessions during the summer. The Rainbow is a weekly compilation of members’ contributions, generally in the form of articles on techniques, artists, and visits, and photographs of recent paintings and sketches. Several challenges have been set over the period, such as ‘view from a window’, ‘a portrait’, and a ‘five minute challenge’. One of our more fun challenges was to draw a picture of your face in the mirror while not looking at the paper. We had some interesting results!
Several informal Thursday afternoon outdoor sessions were held during the summer, at Minchinhampton, Box, Nailsworth and Amberley, and a planned session at Saul Junction was lost to the weather, though a few hardy souls braved the conditions and sent in their efforts.
The Box Village Hall Committee met at the end of August, so we were able to plan the way forward from September. We held our own outdoor committee meeting in early September to discuss the possibility of returning to Box Village Hall as well as our annual Autumn exhibition. The weekly sessions in the hall are still not possible, and the exhibition was postponed, but we hope it will be held in late Spring or October 2021.
Like so many other groups, we all miss the company and stimulation of weekly meetings, and we hope that we will be able to get together again soon, but the weekly Rainbow has helped, encouraging members to get creative.
Membership is currently at 35, with some spaces and a warm welcome for new members. The group is supported by two friendly tutors for advice and who occasionally set competitions. So if you would like a gentle diversion to paint or sketch, or to receive a sample electronic copy of The Rainbow, with no obligation to contribute or join the group, please contact Pete at peter@lyonspace.co.uk For more information, checkout our Facebook page or email boxartgroupuk@gmail.com