John, a member from the morning class, recently suggested that he would like to give a starter pack of 6 Artisan paints as a prize for a challenge that the class members could take part in. So we organised a competition open for all of our members to submit as many pieces as they wish, on the subject of Growth.
Growth Brief
Growth can be challenging, but it’s also hopeful. Spring brings new things, but in Summer they grow their roots. We’re asking you to come up with art inspired by hopeful growth, this could be nature’s growth, personal growth, spiritual growth, or anything else you can think of. Work can be simple or complicated, abstract or obvious; pieces will be judged on the quality of the work itself and how well it responds to the brief.
1st Prize: Starter set of 6 Artisan Paints, 4 canvas boards 10 x 8 inches, a set of brushes. 2 runners up will receive a pack of 4 canvas boards
Judged by: SAW staff
***WINNER***
The Shoe Tree
29 cm in diameter | Artisan on Acrylic base colour on Acrylic pad. Shoes painted separately and glued on with PVA
The words around this say Children grow out of their shoes and adult ones wear out but memories can remain within the strong branches of the shoe tree, a wonder of creation and continuity. There is now more than one shoe tree so the tradition is growing.
TWO RUNNERS UP
‘Unexpected’ Poppy at Newbiggin beach
10 x 12 inches | Artisan water mixable oil colour
Lockdown
The coldknow
Longing
For nature
For Summer meadows
Fields of shifting hued waves
Birds in song
Flight
In Kind air
Lockdown
Slowly winding down
Expanding lined concrete
Leaving
No
Ancient woodlands
No
Pure streams
But poppies root in any ground
A beacon
Symbol
Clinging on
Remembrance
Hope
Our future
Bread
12 x 16 inches | Artisan on canvas board
GROWTH; be it animal, vegetable or emotional, is essential to the well-being of The Earth. The staple food of life is bread. Corn especially grows to be cultivated and ground into flour, to mix, rise and bake into bread. Thus BREAD is the title of my work.
4lb 14oz
30cm x 40cm | Acrylic and charcoal on canvas board
In this painting I wanted to convey a resilience which has grown over the years, from a tiny beginning to the present day. Lockdown has been full of drawing for me, which has moved me in a direction I didn’t expect, trying to catch emotion and relationships on canvas.
A feeling of Optimism
10 x 8 inches | Artisan on Canvas Board
I was drawn to the vibrancy of these flowers. The one in the foreground in full bloom seems to be setting an example for the others to follow. Having enjoyed painting more often recently I am enthusiastic about creative projects going forward.
Bamburgh Castle
10 x 8 inches | Artisan on canvas board
Dusk at St Mary’s Island
10 x 8 inches | Artisan on canvas board
This was painted from a photo taken by myself on 25/06/2019 while I walked on the beach with my family and Caught the dusk view of St Mary’s Island Whitley Bay.
Earth growth
Acrylic on A4 paper
Earth growth – after destruction and devastation of natural disasters such as forest fires nature can always regenerate, shining glimmers of hope for new life.
Growing Boys
21 x 29.5 cm | Watercolour
We haven’t seen our grandchildren since February because of Lockdown although our daughter regularly sends us photos and video calls. It struck me how much they’ve grown and just what they can do now compared to when we last saw them.
Growth (dropped seed)
9 x 12 inches | Artisan on canvas
Growth. This represents growth of a seed dropped by the nearest tree.
Growth (Wall)
9 x 12 inches | Artisan on canvas
My inspiration for this Growth themed painting began on my mindful walks. I became aware of many beautiful plants that had seeded themselves and were growing out of stone walls. Imagine if my own thoughts were grown from a seed of such resilience, how beautiful they would be.
KINDERDIJK
9 x 12 inches | Artisan on canvas
My Neighbour’s flowers
8 x 11.5 inches | Derwent Artists’ pencils on Winsor & Newton Medium Surface Cartridge
I took a photograph of my neighbour’s garden, with their permission. I only noticed them when I joined others in clapping for the NHS. Flowers are still growing even when everything has stopped during lockdown.
New growth
Acrylic on A4 paper
New discoveries are being made, I painted this picture as space is continuing to expand, growth isn’t just on earth it’s in galaxies far far away.
Personal growth
10 x 8 inches | Oil on canvas board
Personal growth – the fierce female encouraging empowerment to others in society. Walking away from all her troubles and no matter what happiness in life you can start over.
Roots 1
Artisan on coloured A4 card
I have done a lot of painting from photos and so during lockdown I wanted to paint more from my imagination and with a rough, more unusual style. The subject of growth made me think of roots. I have enjoyed painting these roots in a way that I have not painted before.
Roots 2
Artisan on coloured A4 card
I started a second painting of roots which I liked even more, especially the way that I used blue in it. I am very glad that I have used a different style.
Roses
10 x 8 inches | Artisan on canvas board
Roses for myself signify the start of Spring, seeing more birds, butterflies, bees and insects in the garden or countryside. The weather is warmer, the days are longer. Roses can always be given in happy and sad times of our lives as we grow and mature.
Sunflowers
10 x 12 inches | Acrylic on canvas
Growth – this painting was originally painted just in yellow and brown, it looked very one-dimensional. I bought sunflowers to cheer myself up during lockdown and was taken with the variation in colour in the flowers, so dug the painting out again and added the colours and flourishes you see today.
The grass grows
10 x 8inches | Mixed media on canvas board
The grass grows. Will I cut the grass today? The blackbirds like to walk on the cut grass. The grass grows. Will I leave the grass to grow? The clover comes through quick. The grass grows. The bees settle on the clover. The grass grows. My body lies on a green blanket.
‘The Orange that gives me strength’
30 x 23cm | Aquamedia
Personal growth since March 2020
Inspired by the poem ‘The Stolen Orange’ by Brian Patten:
‘When I left I stole an orange
I kept it in my pocket
(….)
It was a safeguard against imagining
There was nothing bright or special in the world’
True light
20 x 25cm | Water mixable oil on canvas board
For this painting, I am particularly drawn to the gospel of John which spoke about the “True Light”, that “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind”. Even during this pandemic Jesus is still reaching out to all. A life giving source lighting up people’s lives.
Trying to grow vegetables
12 x 10 inches | Artisan on watercolour paper
I have been pleased that the last few months were the growing season in the plant world. Waiting and watching growth snowballing. One thing after the other sprouting forth and blossoming, creating food and shelter for wild life. Surviving and maturing.
Life goes on and on and on.