.

Artists Society of Canberra Inc. Registered as a Cultural Organisation ABN : 85 510 725 624

www.asoc.net.au

CONTENTS page

President’s Report……………...….2 - 3

AGM announcement, welcome to new

members, Volunteers needed….……3

Photos out & about, Members

News.……………………………….…...4

2018 Spring Exhibition………………...5

Spring Exhibition and SAE………...….6

Sponsors………………………………..7

My First Flight by Alan Jones…………8

Quick Reference calendar &

Workgroups…………………………… 9

Drawing Creatively Report……..……10

Library Locker .………...……..….... 11

Through The Studio Window with Isla

Patterson………………………….......12

Management Committee and

The Creative Web.…….……………..13

From the Editor………….. …...……14

ASOC Nomination Form…………….15

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018

NEWSLETTER Issue No 474

Artists Society of Canberra Inc.

PO Box 3629, Manuka Post Office, ACT 2603 Studio D, 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith ACT 2603

“A supportive creative community for visual arts and artists”

Founded 7 October 1927

It’s that time of the year…..

when ASOC has its AGM. We are such a vibrant society, brimming with talent and energy. The organisation brings so much joy to so many people from within our group and to the wider community through our exhibi-tions and the many learning opportunities in the form of workshops, workgroups and the Summer Art Experi-ence. Alan has outlined in his penultimate President’s letter, just how you can help ASOC continue to flourish. Please consider joining the committee. Alan will very gladly outline any position you are interested in.

Several members have exhibitions taking place which you may enjoy visiting during the next couple of months. Isla Patterson is letting us peak inside her studio window in this issue. It has been an absolute hive of activity as she prepares for her upcoming exhibition at Kyeema Gallery in Hall in September. Tim Hardy has the Drawing Creatively group report featured with some very inspiring photos of this groups many and varied activities. And, Alan shares with us a secret and little known passion. There is also infor-mation about the Spring Art Exhibition and the 2019 Summer Art Experience.

Thank you to all members who have renewed their 2018-2019 ASOC membership. A gentle reminder to those who have yet to do so, in order to continue to enjoy store discounts, entry to the Spring exhibition and dis-counts on Workshops and the SAE.

Until next time, Michaela Laurie

ASOC Member’s Meetings

M16 ASOC Workroom

Sunday 26th August

AGM

Sunday 30th September

Guest speaker TBA

Please bring along a plate of afternoon tea

to share if you are able.

August meeting members surnames A-K

Septmeber meeting members surnames L-Z

Meetings begin at 2.30pm

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Dear ASOC Members and Friends of our Society

I recall as a twelve year old seeing the famous Lord Kitchener Poster for the first time and asking my step-farther what it was all about. He told me it was the recruitment poster for the 1914-1918 World War, to try and get people to enlist in the armed forces. You might think this a bit dramatic, but this is my penultimate President’s Letter to YOU the members of ASOC, and our

plight differs little from calling our men to arms. In our case it is calling YOU as members of ASOC to enlist in fully support-ing your organisation for the future. As it stands the healthy Artists Society of Canberra needs your involvement in forming an almost completely new Man-agement Committee to take the next step forward. ASOC’s program is quite modest, but we have to plan a year ahead, and you will be aware of the plans for the expanded Annual Member’s Exhibition to be held in the Fitters Workshop in November. In addition the foundations for the 18th Summer Art Experience for 2019 have been put in place with a great line-up of experienced tutors to further both member’s and non-member’s art experiences; and similarly planning for the 2019 ASOC/ACT Catchment Groups Exhibition (affectionate-

ly still known by many as the Molonglo Event) includes a new Grant Application to the ACT Heritage Group, with funding guaranteed by our major sponsor Icon Water. I have met with a great deal of reluctance in attempts to turn my role as President over to someone else, even with the promise of a hands-off handover, in digital form, of everything we have done over my term in this Office. It has been an honour to serve you, but unlike many other Arts organisations in our vicinity we have a Constitution that sensibly limits the tenure of the President, and I have overstayed that period already. Furthermore, and a good reason for change is that my health and that of my family is not the best, and frankly I’m tired. The only thing that I would like to hang on to is to attempt to bring the written History of ASOC into some final, even published, form. Again, my wife Dian and I are happy to assist with the hand-over. Indeed YOU have a new Treasurer now fully trained to handle the books. SO BACK TO YOU. We have tended to “hark-on” that what YOU need is a new President – but the reality is that OUR greater need is for a New Management Committee. Given an MC without a so-called Presi-dent still gives YOU the opportunity to sustain and provide ideas and input to the organisation. The newly inducted Treasurer and the Public Officer will continue with the Committee, and we have a great, but small group of volunteers, running our communication networks – the Newsletter, Web, Facebook, and Instagram. We have put out numerous appeals for handover of the Librarianship so ably officiated by Jean Willoughby. Our Library is an outstanding asset that needs to be maintained. THUS - from the ranks of the whole Society what we need are nominees for at least 5 or 6 additional Management Committee positions. Given a New Management Committee a Chairperson can be gen-

erated within the group – they don’t have to be called a “President” immediately – but someone who can offer some form of future view and leadership will eventually emerge. My interest in the History of ASOC serves me well in this regard, but this is not the place to go into too much detail. In the early 1970’s Mr Kenneth O Johnston President (1970-71 and 1974-76) and Ms Dawn O’Dea (President 1971-73) both had enviable reputations as distinguished artists. Tragically Dawn O’Dea died at the age of 46 in 1977. However, the annals tell us that by 1976 the Society was near collapse! Its’

FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK

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reputation was one of an elitist group which was rejecting change. A number of different groups were offering a wider variety of activities – classes with an “Art – Be In It” approach. ASOC was seen to be uninvolved and uncaring in the face of change on the local scene. No one was prepared to take office and the future was fragile. At the 1976 AGM two people stepped forward - Dawn Wilson (President 1976 - 78) and Audrey Peters (President 1978 - 79) rescued the situation by becoming President and Secretary, respectively. They expressed the hope that “we (ASOC) may prosper in the best cultural sense and continue to provide a warm, and long-lasting link between fellow artists.” Please - for the purpose of maintaining the oldest and healthy cultural organisation in the ACT Region can I implore YOU to act now to pull together a Working Management Committee by nominating for a position on the Management Committee.

Alan

Volunteers needed for non-executive positions in ASOC

Please consider volunteering for these important roles. Workshop Co-coordinator and Librarian. Please contact Alan for details.

A very Warm Welcome to our new Members

Angela Johnston, Sally Sargeson and Jianjun Zhung

The nomination form can be found at the back of this newsletter

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Photos – out and about

Members News

Val Johnson

“Colours of Cornwall”

26 July – 19 August Strathnairn Homestead

Galleries1 & 2 Meet the artist floor talk 2pm

Sat. 11 August

Susan Willemse

Raw “Ovation Exhibition”

23 August Albert Hall, Yarralumla

Thursday 6.30 pm

Michaela Laurie

“Whimsey – Narratives of the Imagination”

1 August – 9 September

Rochfort Gallery 317 Pacific Highway,

North Sydney

‎Frances McMahon

23 August Albert Hall, Yarralumla

Thursday 6.30 pm

This is like a big artist's expo, but with fashion, performing arts and music as

well! Please come along to support local

talent! :)http://rawartists.org/

Isla Patterson

“Hall and Beyond”

Kyeema Gallery 13 Gladstone Street, Hall

1st – 23rd September

Opening Saturday 1st September at 2pm by Helen De Jong, President of

Goulburn Art Society

10.30am – 5.30pm Thurs - Sun

Please let me know about your news and

exhibitions for October and November.

Members meeting Presentation by TOMMY BALOGH Workshop by KATH DAMCEVSKI

Wow – what an inspiring afternoon!!

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The 2018 Spring Exhibition please visit the ASOC website for all details, your

entry form and Duty Roster. www.asoc.net.au

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The 2018 ASOC Spring Exhibition continued….

Categories/Mediums for this year’s exhibition include: Acrylics, Drawing, Oils, Pastels, Printmaking, Watercolour, Mixed Media, Digital Art, Miniature plus the inaugural Capital Chemist $1,000 prize for indoor sculpture. The sculpture award is also open to non- ASOC members. Your entry form to enter the Spring Exhibition must be submitted by the 14th October 2018.

The 2019 Summer Art Experience please visit the ASOC website link listed below

for the full brochure and all details of tutors and your booking form

Pauline Adair, Chris Blake, Denis Clarke, Tracey Creighton, Jo Hollier, Lucy & Barry McCann,

Chris McClelland, Carmel McCrow, Mignon Parker and Craig Penny.

https://asoc.net.au/2019-summer-art-experience/

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Alan is sharing with us an article he wrote and which was first published in the June 2018 issue of International Auster Club News, Vol 41, number 2. We wish Alan many more take offs and low flying adventures when he has bit more time soon. I’ll have to remember to ask him if he’s in the plane which often flies very low over my studio from the Burra direction. It scares the living day-lights out of me every time – but looks like great fun. I’m sure the pilot looks down has a great laugh.

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alan

2018-2019 QUICK REFERENCE CALENDAR

August 4-5 Wayne Davis Oils Workshop

26 ASOC Meeting 2.30 pm at M16. AGM

September 1-2 Amanda McLean Workshop Pastels

30 ASOC Meeting 2.30 pm at M16 Guest Speaker TBA

October 13 - 14 Tracey Creighton Organic Abstract Workshop

14 Spring Exhibition form submission deadline. Online, post or by hand to M16 ASOC workroom

28 ASOC Meeting 2.30 pm at M16

November 16 -26

17 Sat

ASOC Spring Exhibition. The Fitters Workshop. Please see the ASOC website.

Grand Opening Afternoon and prizes announced.

December TBA ASOC Christmas get together

January 7-11 The 2019 Summer Art Experience

WORKGROUPS – please see the ASOC website for full details of workgroups

http://asoc.net.au/asoc-workgroups/

MONDAY

Pastel Explorers

9.30 am - 1:30 pm Convenor: Ian Bignall: ianjbignall@gmail.com

WEDNESDAY

Ways with Watercolour 10.00 am - 1.00 pm Convenor: Graham Skyring gwskyring@grapevine.net.au

6241 1036

FRIDAY

ASOC Contemporary 10:00 am – 4.00 pm Convenor: Cheryl Parkins cparkins@grapevine.com.au

0414 819 719

MONDAY

Experimental Expression 1.30 pm - 5.30 pm Convenor: Sue Cook: susicook@tpg.com.au

0413 297 834

WEDNESDAY

Drawing Creatively 1.30pm-4.30pm Convenor: Tim Hardy timahardy@hotmail.com

6258 7178

SATURDAY

Saturday Oils 9.00 am – 12.30 pm Convenor: Anita Shooks ALS-2@outlook.com

0428 919 843

TUESDAY

Portrait & Life Drawing 10.00 am -1.00 pm Convenor: Jim Tweddle jhtweddle@hotmail.com

6247 7769

THURSDAY

All Comers 9.30 am - 12.30 pm Convenor: Libby Schick schickelizabeth@hotmail.com

0403 681 910

SATURDAY -

Saturday Sessions 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm - Convenor: Louise Spencer - louise.spencer666@gmail.com

TUESDAY

Fun with Printmaking 1.30 pm - 4.30 pm $5 per session Convenor: Simone Doherty: simonemdoherty@gmail.com

62592095

THURSDAY

Flora and Fauna 1:00 pm – 4.00 pm Convenor: Gillian Bellas bellasgillian@yahoo.com.au 6288 5041

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lan

Drawing Creatively Report

Over the past few months our workgroup has continued a varied program with contributions from a num-ber of members. The sessions have included explorations of drawing from multiple viewpoints and comb-ing these; capturing movement of objects; using acrylics for mark making; experimenting with ink and bleach; and collage.

In one session Denise shared her experiences as an illustrator of published children’s stories, followed by group members illustrating poems, including two written by Denise. A highlight of last term was the creation of a large mural by the group as a whole. Members brought in one or more small diverse drawings, and then these were copied to a large piece of paper. The basic challenge was a com-positional one: how to bring it all together. Ink and washes were added, and in a later discussion we decided to take it further. (The photo shows the mural in its unfinished stage.) This was a particularly rewarding activity in which cooperative group creative activity emerged.

Our plein air sessions were held in excellent weather conditions, including an initial visit to Mount Stromlo with a lovely range of options for drawing, including the relics of the domed buildings. Chris had the expe-rience of completing a pen and wash there accompanied by a fox which lay behind him for half an hour!

We had two sessions in the beautiful and varied surrounds of Strathnairn where we hired a room as our base. Our group is currently in the process of discussing plans for a possible public exhibition of our work in 2019. Tim Hardy Drawing Creatively Convenor

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The donation of art books by members is greatly appreciated.

The library is open to members on the last Sunday of each month during the monthly ASOC Meetings.

News of new publications added to the library will be listed in the next issue.

Jean Willoughby Acting Librarian

Art Auction Catalogue:

Important Aboriginal +

Ethnic Art; Deutscher &

Hackett, Melbourne 2001.

Caricatures, Drawings

and Prints by John

Spooner. Foreword by

Michael Leunig. Published

by Thomas Nelson Aus-

tralia, 1981.

StellrScope by Eleanor

Gates-Stuart. Published

by CSIRO, 2013. A fusion

of art, science and digital

technologies. Kindly

donated by the author.

Discover Art: Oil Paint-

ing: First Steps to Becom-

ing an Artist by Mike

Chaplin with Diana

Vowles. Published by

Select Editions, Selecta-

book Ltd, Wiltshire, 2005.

The Complete Oil

Painter by Brian Gorst.

Published by New Bur-

lington Books, London,

2003.

The Art and Craft of

Appliqué by Juliet

Bawden. Published by

Mitchell Beazley. Folk

and Ethnic Art; colour;

design. Kindly donated

by Patricia Newton-

Howieson.

James Gleeson: Land-

scape out of Nature.

Published by The Beagle

Press, Sydney, 1987.

Kindly donated by Patri-

cia Newton-Howieson.

Hilda Rix Nicholas and

Elsie Rix’s Moroccan

Idyll: Art and Oriental-

ism. Published by The

Miegunyah Press. Kindly

donated by the author,

Jeanette Hoorn

Australian Artist Nr 408

June 2018. Panoramas;

Shadows and Reflection.

Australian Artist Nr 407

May 2018. Watercolour

Salute to Birds; Chasing

the Rising Sun.

Australian Artist Nr 406

April 2018. Managing

Colour; Acrylic Tech-

niques.

The Art of Watercolour

Nr 30 March-May 2018. Ekatrina Sava; Preview

of all Major 2018 Exhi-

bitions.

NEWS FROM YOUR LIBRARY LOCKER

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Through the Studio Window with Isla Patterson

If we looked through the window of your studio what would we see and hear?

Looking through the window of my studio you would see about 70 paintings on the walls, a table with mat cutter on it. Easels. sink & fridge, air compressor, desk & chairs.

What would we find in your studio?

I am in the studio almost every day from about 9 am till 5pm.

How long have you been creating?

I started painting a bit over 50 years ago.

What mediums do you work in?

I went to a class one night a week while my husband looked after the baby & two toddlers. I used to paint in oils, pastels, do ink and pencil drawings and watercolour but now I main-ly concentrate on the watercolours. This medium is exciting because you cannot predict what the washes will end up doing.

Do you have a favorite subject, cause or theme which you are drawn to or return to?

My favorite subject is probably water & reflections. I also am keen on old buildings, landscapes & birds

What drives you on when the sparks of creativity are not coming your way?

Panic mainly. The desire to keep going & be creative.

Is there something or someone who inspired you to become an artist?

When I was in grade 6 at a country public school in SA the teacher’s wife introduced our class to the story of the Snow Goose. I thought this was wonderful and the experience awakened in me the wonderful artistic world.

Can you share with us one item from your creative wish list?

I wish to give some pleasure through my art to other people.

Contact Ilsa: Web: http://patterson.homemail.com.au/index.html

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MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE CONTACTS

PRESIDENT Alan J Jones alanjjones@netspeed.com.au

SECRETARY Kathleen Mills emeraldmoon13@gmail.com

TREASURER Dian Jones dian.jones@netspeed.com.au

ASSISTANT TREASURER Paige Le paige.le21@yahoo.com

PUBLIC OFFICER Susan Reynolds susanreynolds6@hotmail.com

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY

Sue Cook susicook@tpg.com.au

COMMITTEE MEMBER Ian Lester ihlester@mensa.org.au

COMMITTEE MEMBER Mike Lester mikmarlester45@bigpond.com

COMMITTEE MEMBER Tracy-Ann Collins (Gen Y Rep) trace89@hotmail.com

OTHER CONTACT DETAILS

ACTING LIBRARIAN Jean Willoughby Wil05low@bigpond.net.au

NEWSLETTER EDITOR Michaela Laurie michaela.laurie1@gmail.com

ACTING WORKSHOP COORDINATOR

Di Jones workshops.asoc@gmail.com

WEBMASTER Jenny Millett jmillett@iimetro.com.au

FACEBOOK Katie Volter

Alan J Jones

katie.volter@hotmail.com

alanjjones@netspeed.com.au

INSTAGRAM Tracy-Ann Collins trace89@hotmail.com

Thank you very much to Gillian Bellas for sending us a link to this fascinating article about the history of

8 familiar colour pigments which are housed mainly at Harvard University.

The article is from New Scientist No. 3179 of 26th May 2018.

The names of these colours and their history is incredibly interesting. Who couldn’t fall for and want to

use a colour named Tyrian Purple, Egyptian Blue or Vantablack in their work.

These descriptive names are so much more inspiring than the recent Crayola crayon colour. “Bluetiful”,

a bright blue which replaced yellow “Dandelion” in Crayola’s box of 24 colours.

Here is the link to the article.

https://www.sott.net/article/386580-Nine-curious-colours-that-influenced-the-history-of-art

The Creative Web Here is another way that you can get lost on the internet.

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Please contact me if you would like to be our next ‘Through the Studio Window’ artist for the next newsletter issue. Here are your questions.

If we looked through the window of your studio, what would we see and hear?

When would we find you in your studio?

How long have you been creating?

What mediums do you work in?

Do you have a favourite subject, theme, cause or theme which you are drawn to or return to?

What drives you on when the sparks of creativity are not coming your way?

Is there something or someone who inspired you to become an artist?

Can you share with us one item from your creative wish list?

Please share a photo or two – an example of your work and if you like a photo of you and or your studio/work space.

Please send contributions for the next ASOC Newsletter to michaela.laurie1@gmail.com

Deadline for the August/September Newsletter is Friday 21st SEPTEMBER

FROM THE EDITOR

Your contributions are very much appreciated by all ASOC members. Please let us know about your exhibitions, events, open studios workshops and classes.

Do you have an inspiring blog site or website you can share?

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ASOC Management Committee Nomination Form

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - 26 August 2018.

Nominations of candidates for positions on the ASOC Management Committee must be made in writing, signed by a proposer and a seconder who are ASOC financial members, and accompanied by the written consent of the nominee. Please seriously consider nominating or being nominated to ASOC’s Management Committee. ASOC needs volunteers to bring fresh ideas to its management to ensure the sustainability and rele-vance of the organisation into its future. 2018 will be ASOC’s 91

st year.

Want to volunteer but don’t know anyone to nominate you? Just let the Committee know and they will help you to find a nominator and seconder. You must be a financial member of ASOC to nominate, propose or second on this form. Please clear-ly print all names that accompany signatures. Nomination forms must be delivered to the Manage-ment Committee Secretary at the address below by Monday 20 August 2018. Positions include: President; Vice President; Secretary; Treasurer; Assistant Treasurer; Public Officer. NOMINATION FORM POSITION – Please specify

NOMINEE PROPOSER SECONDER

Name: Name: Name

Signature Signature Signature

Date completed:…………………………………………………….. Please address completed forms to:

Ms Kathleen Mills

ASOC Secretary

PO Box 3629

Manuka Post Office

Manuka ACT 2603

Nominee’s consent

I , ………………………………………………………………………the undersigned consent to my nomination for a

position on the ASOC Management Committee.

…………………………………………………….Nominee ……………………………………………….Witness

Completed forms may be addressed to the Secretary and placed in the mail box in the studio.

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NOTES.