Salcombe Art / Latest News and Progress (Page 66)
28 June 2016

Stewarding today!

oday, Tuesday 28 June, I’ll be stewarding at the Loft Gallery from 11am until 2pm.

If you expect to be in Salcombe then, please drop by and say hello!

I’d be delighted to talk you through the 5 paintings of mine on display in the main exhibition. The two in the featured image above are South Pool Sunrise and Splosh of Frogmore.

 

WHERE IS THE LOFT GALLERY?

The Loft Gallery is situated behind the Fortescue Inn, and above a popular shoe shop, on a delightful footpath called Victoria Quay, which overlooks one of the best views in the UK including the mooring berth of the RNLI lifeboat Baltic Exchange III.

 

WHAT IS THE LOFT GALLERY?

The Loft Gallery is the home of Salcombe Art Club and, every year since 1960, the Summer Exhibition opens at Easter and continues until the end of September.

An incredible number of visitors climb the 15 steps to view the exhibition, and more than 200 paintings are expected to be sold during the summer months. A percentage of the proceeds of each sale goes to the Art Club funds and, after expenses have been met, the club donates amounts to local charities. So, buying a painting benefits the artist, the club and the town – and provides a beautiful reminder of a visit to Salcombe. Prices range from £1 for a postcard up to £1000 – and the club now has the facility to accept payments by card, rather than ‘cash only’ as had been the practice for many years.

In the winter months, the Loft Gallery reverts to being a working studio with a full programme of workshops and classes for its members.

 

WHO CAN JOIN SALCOMBE ART CLUB?

Salcombe Art Club comprises a mix of artists: some professional artists such as those who teach our classes but also many amateurs and some very new to drawing/painting. Everyone is welcome!

Membership of Salcombe Art Cub is not limited to those living in Salcombe. Anyone within striking distance is welcome to apply for membership, but it makes most sense for those who live near enough so as to benefit from the classes in the winter, and – if they intend to become exhibiting members – to fulfil their stewarding obligations during the summer.

Step 1 is to enrol as a Lay Member – that’s the first rung of the ladder! Then Salcombe Art club has three categories of membership.

  • Lay members (for a subscription of £12 per annum) may take part in workshops, courses and social activities and generally assist in supporting the club but may not exhibit, nor vote at the AGM.
  • Associate members (for a subscription of £17 per annum) may take part in most club activities including exhibiting in the Little Studio section (but not the main gallery) of the Annual Summer Exhibition.
  • Full members (for a subscription of £27 per annum) may take part in all club activities and exhibit their works in the Annual Summer Exhibition when they are required to carry out their share of stewarding duties.

 

WHO EXHIBITS AT THE LOFT GALLERY?

Essentially, exhibiting is limited to the associate and full members of Salcombe Art Club. Full members are invited to display up to five of their works in the Summer Exhibition. This is me with some of mine:

Full – and associate – members may also book a week or more in the Little Studio. In the Little Studio also, our teachers exhibit material of works produced by the various class groups; this inspires other club members to enrol for classes during the winter months.

 

HOW DO YOU PROGRESS FROM LAY MEMBER SO THAT YOU CAN EXHIBIT YOUR ART AT THE LOFT GALLERY?

The selection panel meet annually (usually in February) to select from Lay members who wish to become Associate of Full members. The usual progression is to become an Associate member for a year and then on to Full membership the following year. Sometimes, the panel may decide to admit a member straight to Full membership.

For more information about Salcombe Art Club, visit their website.

 

AFFORDABLE ART

Both images are available as a fine art greetings card, at Bonningtons (the newsagents) and Salcombe Information Centre (both a short walk from the Loft Studio).

27 June 2016

Thank you!

I painted this image more than five years ago. With all the changes along that side of the estuary, I really ought to start on another.

The original of Salcombe Yacht Club sold very quickly and it’s been popular as a fine art greetings card ever since.

Cards are usually supplied individually, with an envelope, sealed within a cellophane wrap. There is an option to buy in bulk though – unfolded cards with envelopes separately – and I was delighted to fulfill such an order recently.

Many weddings are staged at Cliff House. While the Salcombe Yacht Club occupies the left-hand half of the building, the right-hand side provides space for community activities, wedding fairs, art exhibitions, private parties and – hooray! – weddings.

One recently married couple chose the Salcombe Yacht Club card as a reminder of the majestic building where these newlyweds tied the knot and will be sending this image as a thank-you card to each of their guests.

If you plan to marry at Cliff House, maybe you’d like to bulk-buy this card? We offer favourable rates for all orders of 50 or more cards. For those who don’t normally live in Salcombe, it’s best to book in advance and arrange local collection/delivery to save on postage costs.

20 June 2016

Sketchbook Notes: East Portlemouth Ferry

As well as Harvest Reaper (the South Sands ferry), Salcombe has the East Portlemouth Ferry providing safe passage from the Ferry Steps across the water to East Portlemouth.

 

Why did I paint the East Portlemouth ferry?

When the Salcombe lifeboat (Baltic Exchange III) was first launched, it was put on display at one of the London Docks adjacent to the London Boat Show. Members of the public were invited to go aboard and explore this state-of-the-art rescue craft. The lifeboat crew were on hand to escort – and explain its features to – those who came aboard.

One visitor asked Tricky if he had another job in addition to crewing the RNLI craft. Tricky replied, with some pride, that he was a ferryman.

‘What sort of job is that!’ exclaimed the pompous visitor.

Tricky explained that the East Portlemouth ferry service operated every day of the year. It was an honour, he said, to fulfil the long-standing obligations of the ferry service, one which benefited inhabitants of Salcombe town and East Portlemouth, and visitors too. I witnessed this exchange and echoed Tricky’s defence of the importance of this ferry service, and its vital role for those who needed to cross the water. Mr Pompous was not convinced and, unfortunately, left before we could throw him in the dock.

Have you noticed that, during the quieter times, it always appears that the ferry is on the wrong side – the other side! – when you want it?

In my painting, I captured that classic moment, with the ferryman reading his book or newspaper.

 

Where can you see my painting of the East Portlemouth ferry?

The original painting of East Portlemouth Ferry was bought by a couple who live full time in Salcombe and it’s proudly on display in their lounge. 

This image is, however, available as a limited edition print, and one owner of the LEP version is Sarah Parr who lives in Stockport in Cheshire. Sarah says: I have been visiting The South Hams literally all my life …  My grandparents lived in East Portlemouth and I spent every summer and October half term holidays with them along with visiting other relatives who lived in South Pool, Slapton and Malborough.  I have very fond memories of the area and absolutely love the picture of the ferry at East Portlemouth. I remember when the trip to Salcombe was 15p each way!

East Portlemouth Ferry is also very popular as a fine art greetings card. It is on sale in Bonningtons the newsagents, at Salcombe Information Centre, in Malborough Post Office, or direct from Beacon House Gallery.

 

The Sketchbook Notes series

This is one of the Sketchbook Notes, a series of posts explaining what inspired me to produce a particular painting.

If you own one of my paintings, or are just curious about an image, let me know; I’ll then write a blog post especially for you!