November Workshop: Ceramics – Creations In Clay

The workshop was held on Thursday 23rd November 2017 at Llanelltyd Village Hall. The workshop was tutored by Sue Barnes.

Sue gave a short introduction about clay, firing and glazing. Three different types of clay were available, for making different types of pots. Sue explained the differences between each of the different types and how they were fired and glazed.

Most of the day was spent fashioning pots from our chosen type of clay – or pots from each type if that took your fancy. One of the types of clay was air drying clay, which could be painted with acrylic paint, if you wanted to complete it without having to wait for the firing process.

At the end of the day there was an amazing variety of pots, sculptures, buttons and flowers – as you can see from the pictures (courtesy of Ian Roberts) below. For those who wanted their creations to be fired in the kiln – we await a follow-up session to glaze and fire our creations.

I think it fair to say that the day was greatly enjoyed by all.

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Rhinogydd: Ancient Routes and Old Roads

Photography and Text by Jean Napier MA ARPS

Jean’s fifth book entitled “Rhinogydd – Ancient Routes and Old Roads” has just been published and she will be giving a series of talks and book signing at a variety of places. The book has evolved from Jean’s project for her recent Masters in Fine Art at Aberystwyth University and is full of text on the history of the Rhinogydd written after months of intensive research and contains dozens of Jean’s photographs.

“I have been exploring the county of Meirionnydd for many years and find the varied landscape endlessly fascinating and one particular area, the Rhinogydd mountains and surrounding high moorland, is especially captivating and full of the remains of human habitation that date back centuries.”

Dates and places for Book signings:

6.00pm            16 November – Draig Dipsy Dragon Gallery – Dolgellau
7.00pm            22 November – A Likely Story Bookshop – Tywyn
6.30 pm           23 November – Pen’rallt Bookshop – Machynlleth
2.00pm            24 November – Artworks Gallery – Aberdyfi
7.00pm            25 November – Hamdden Ardudwy Leisure – Harlech

Book Price £5.95

Contact Jean on 0771 8228 791 or info@jean-napier.com

Jean Napier

Jean Napier was born in East London, but has lived in the Snowdonia National Park since 1991 and the magnificent scenery of the Park is the main inspiration for her photography. Man’s influences on the landscape of North Wales through the ages are a recurring theme in her exhibitions and photography books. Her first book Rhosydd A Personal View – Golwg Bersonol (bilingual Welsh/English) depicts the remains of an old slate quarry in northern Wales with historical text. This was followed by three books that explore nine North Wales rivers from their source to the sea with photographs by Jean and text by Alun Richards.
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The Old Ways – A Journey through the Rhinogydd Mountains

Join local Photographer and Author Jean Napier MA for a visual journey through this wild part of Meirionnydd. She will present an illustrated talk and short film produced as part of her Masters featuring the life of the drovers and gold miners among other tales.

Her fifth book entitled “Rhinogydd – Ancient Routes and Old Roads” has just been published and will be available for sale.

Ceredigion Museum – Aberystwyth

Friday 1 December 7.30pm
Admission £5

Jean Napier MA ARPS
info@jean-napier.com
http://www.jean-napier.com

Rhinogydd: Ancient Routes and Old Roads

One of our members, Jean Napier, has a new book being published on 15 November.

The Rhinogydd mountains are littered with the remains of human habitation that date back centuries. This little book gives you a taste of the drovers’ routes, old coaching roads, derelict gold mines and ancient tombs that still exist in this magnificent landscape.

Jean has explored this wild upland of Meirionnydd extensively over many years. Her passion for this unique land is evident in every photograph taken and word written.

Art Show 2017

The judges for the competition theme ‘Last Light’, Nick and Kate Coldham artist and proprietors of ArtWorks, Aberdyfi. The winner is ‘Last Light’ by Glenys Lawson’. Highly commended goes to ‘Mawddach Sunset’ by Huw Lewis-Jones, ‘Llyn Peninsula’ by Jean Napier and ‘Purple Reverie’ by Valerie Land.

The People’s Choice winner is Ken Bridges with his work ‘Rain Clearing the Rhinogs’.

A few snapshots at today’s preview. Head spinning busy and lots of smiles.

Some of the hanging team looking cool and one of the team playing peek a boo.

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June Workshop: Making a Silk Purse Out of a Sow’s Ear

Meirionnydd Artists Society workshop, Thursday 1st June 2017, 10.30.am. to 4.00.pm, at Llanelltyd village hall. The workshop will be tutored by Wendy Murphy. You can use Painting & drawing materials of your own choice. Costs for members is £10, and for non-members is £12.

Wendy will bring photographs and encourage and show you how to create paintings and drawings from them. You should bring with you drawing and painting materials of your choice to use on the day. Please also bring protective covering for the tables and carpet etc. in the village hall. Also avoid getting paint on other items e g. crockery & glass.

Valerie Land

Valerie studied art and design at Norwich and Farnham and took a post-graduate course at the University of Reading. For some years she was head of art in a private school in Suffolk. Since 1999 she has been a professional artist living in Wales. She exhibits, works to commission and is a freelance tutor. Her work is solitary, restful and contemplative, capturing a particular mood rather than a specific location.

Valerie Land: Dandelions
Water-soluble pencil and gouache – inspired by scenes in Fairbourne and Friog, walking distance from Valerie’s home

Valerie Land: The Coming of Spring
Water-soluble pencil and gouache – inspired by scenes in Fairbourne and Friog, walking distance from Valerie’s home.

Valerie Land: Free Spirits
Gouache and watercolour – inspired by a boat Valerie saw ages ago in Aberdyfi

Valerie Land: Flame
Gouache – inspired by scenes in Fairbourne and Friog, walking distance from Valerie’s home.

Visit Valerie’s website

Huw Lewis-Jones

I was born and raised in Dolgellau, North Wales and went to school in London attending a Grammar school well known for its Art and Design section. After art O and A levels and preparation of a Foundation course portfolio I moved to Liverpool to study Medicine. I became a Consultant Radiologist at University Hospital Aintree in a Head and Neck cancer unit. I continued with my Art development during my Medical career and have now taken early retirement from the NHS to pursue my Art career further. I have exhibited between 2 and 3 times a year in Liverpool and North Wales for the last 10 years. I love the dark Welsh landscapes of my home town area in South Snowdonia and the bright night time landscapes of the city of Liverpool. My recent work has also included portraits of famous faces from these areas.

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Chris Owens

I was born in Somerset, and lived and worked in various parts of the UK before settling in Dolgellau. Following a career that spanned education, IT and media, and with over 30 years of photographic experience, I decided in 2009 to “retire” and pursue my love of art and photography.
My passion is for the natural world, the patterns of nature, the grandeur of coastal and mountain landscapes, and for the wildlife they contain. I have been greatly inspired by the welsh coastal and mountain scenery. I work in both colour and monochrome, and now entirely within the digital realm. However, my early photographic education was in the darkroom, and I apply this to the development of my images using digital techniques that emulates darkroom processes.
Much of my work is inspired by early photographers, such as, Edward Weston, Imogen Cunningham, Dorothea Lange, and Ansel Adams. I have also been influenced by the work of artists like Georgia O’Keefe, Caspar David Friedrich, John Piper, and Paul Nash.

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