Previous Abstract Group Meetings
Have a look at what we have been doing at the different events and some of the work produced by members during the day!
Friday 18th October - Inktober!
This month’s theme was ‘Inktober’ and we had great fun exploring all types of inks: water colour, drawing, India, acrylic, different types of ‘Quink’ ink and calligraphy inks.
Jo, Louise and Kath set us off by showing some ways they had used inks and offering some suggestions for exploratory play, then we used various papers and tools to see what effects we could produce.
These included dragging ink, spattering, dripping, diluting, blowing it along, using it on various grounds and papers, pressing foliage and using bleach.
Some pieces will be used to develop further and others will serve as reference for future work.
We shared some of the insights as to what worked or didn’t and what members found interesting: it was an enjoyable play which might prove useful for our next month’s theme of ‘movement’!
Click on photo to view larger image
Jo, Louise and Kath set us off by showing some ways they had used inks and offering some suggestions for exploratory play, then we used various papers and tools to see what effects we could produce.
These included dragging ink, spattering, dripping, diluting, blowing it along, using it on various grounds and papers, pressing foliage and using bleach.
Some pieces will be used to develop further and others will serve as reference for future work.
We shared some of the insights as to what worked or didn’t and what members found interesting: it was an enjoyable play which might prove useful for our next month’s theme of ‘movement’!
Click on photo to view larger image
Works in Progress
Finished Pieces
Friday 13th September - Symbolism in Abstract
This month we took the theme of iconography. This was led by Stacey, (thank you!) whose wonderful portraits include a strong element of iconography and symbolism. Stacey prepared information ahead of the meeting so we could consider what personal symbols and icons we might include in our ‘story’ that best represented ourselves and also how we might think about these in terms of abstraction.
We had a longer time to share these at the end which was so interesting and helped us learn a little more about each other which felt very positive.
Stacey encouraged us to work from a positive view of ourselves and our histories which was a good reminder not to be too hard on ourselves! Such a personal theme is, of course, emotional and this was an element present in most people’s work through the use of different motifs and the symbolism of colour.
We welcomed Ros to her first meeting with us and we also celebrated the groups 2nd birthday today with chocolate cake - of course!!!
Click on a photo to view a larger image.
Final works will be added below once completed
We had a longer time to share these at the end which was so interesting and helped us learn a little more about each other which felt very positive.
Stacey encouraged us to work from a positive view of ourselves and our histories which was a good reminder not to be too hard on ourselves! Such a personal theme is, of course, emotional and this was an element present in most people’s work through the use of different motifs and the symbolism of colour.
We welcomed Ros to her first meeting with us and we also celebrated the groups 2nd birthday today with chocolate cake - of course!!!
Click on a photo to view a larger image.
Final works will be added below once completed
Friday 23rd August - Buildings: Inspiration from Mark Bradford
This month, we took inspiration from buildings as a theme. Some members focused on Tom Quigley‘s techniques or Mark Bradford’s textures. As always, the work was very varied with completely different starting points of interest such as a visit to Whitby regatta, the story of Gaudi, Hundeetwasser and lines and shapes of buildings but everyone enjoyed trying out their different ideas! Rob told us about his interest in architecture and brought some magazines for inspiration and collage which also sparked some conversations around the group.
Click on a photo to view a larger image.
Click on a photo to view a larger image.
Friday 26th July - 3D Painting!
We spent a fun session this month painting onto flattened boxes before reconstructing them. Some were recycled boxes and others were made using our own nets.
Everyone commented on how it changed the look of the surface once the work became 3D. Jo showed some of her work made into cylinders which gave another perspective.
It was interesting to see just how they reflected each person’s style and colour preferences. We also used the activity as an opportunity to try out our handmade brushes and pens for some mark-making.
We discussed the role of space within the surface designs and other ways of extending the idea such as using only black and white. Homework was to carry on with some of the ideas if wished. The finished boxes looked really attractive and everyone was personally pleased with their results.
Click on a photo to view larger image or scroll through.
Everyone commented on how it changed the look of the surface once the work became 3D. Jo showed some of her work made into cylinders which gave another perspective.
It was interesting to see just how they reflected each person’s style and colour preferences. We also used the activity as an opportunity to try out our handmade brushes and pens for some mark-making.
We discussed the role of space within the surface designs and other ways of extending the idea such as using only black and white. Homework was to carry on with some of the ideas if wished. The finished boxes looked really attractive and everyone was personally pleased with their results.
Click on a photo to view larger image or scroll through.
Jo Sykes
David Whiting
Nina Bensley
Shirley Waddington
Stacey Shaw
Rachael Singleton
Kath Atkinson.
Friday 14th June - Making and using our own 'brushes'
For June’s meeting, we made our own brushes and pens out of recycled and found materials. Unique brushes such as these give a quality of mark different from usual paint brushes and add another dimension to mark-making and line work. These marks are very personal.
Rachael showed the group a few books she had created on a previous course and some members will produce a small one of their own to record experiments and document which tools made which marks. It was a lot of fun using diverse materials to get such a range of marks that can be incorporated into future work or collage papers etc.
Rachael showed the group a few books she had created on a previous course and some members will produce a small one of their own to record experiments and document which tools made which marks. It was a lot of fun using diverse materials to get such a range of marks that can be incorporated into future work or collage papers etc.
Friday 17th May - The Energetic Colours of Spring!
At the beginning of the session we enjoyed looking at more finished work from the ‘My Town’ inspiration last month and two members fed back regarding a free creative workshop hosted by the university looking at interpreting colourful designs inspired by historic patterns held in the permanent collection. Part of the process used sublimation dyeing, disperse dyes and a hot press to create vibrant abstract designs which we all admired The group gets a lot out of sharing what has happened during the rest of the month between meetings and what different people have been working on and exploring!
We then had a relaxing time together celebrating this time of year drawing inspiration from the colors of spring! Click on a photo to view a larger image. This meeting was open for members to work on their own pieces based on the theme of Spring. Even just holding a fairly open theme like this in mind results in working with particular colour palettes members might not usually choose such as spring greens, yellows and pinks etc. As always, a really interesting set of work emerging.
We then had a relaxing time together celebrating this time of year drawing inspiration from the colors of spring! Click on a photo to view a larger image. This meeting was open for members to work on their own pieces based on the theme of Spring. Even just holding a fairly open theme like this in mind results in working with particular colour palettes members might not usually choose such as spring greens, yellows and pinks etc. As always, a really interesting set of work emerging.
Friday 19th April - Inspiration From My Town
This week Jo led an activity looking at inspiration from our town centre streets. We were each given a street to visit, perhaps photograph and generally consider before the meeting. The challenge was to spend some time really looking at 'your' street, remembering to look up, to really explore corners, nooks and crannies we normally overlook, and to look beyond the empty shops and feeling of 'decay' in some areas.
A very strong theme emerged which was being determined to celebrate Huddersfield’s heritage, architecture and future development ambition in light of the transition it is currently going through. Although we all experienced many empty shops and streets on our visits, we also found gems to be inspired by, much of which came from the imposing buildings. Having a street assigned to us resulted in close observation that otherwise we might have missed and looking up at some of the sculpture and architecture from years past led to really positive discussion and pieces of work.
Some members were inspired by small distinct elements found with a street and for others, the activity inspired more in the way of feelings and representation of a wider view, including through time. We all greed it was a really enjoyable thing to do.
Click on any of the photos to view a large image.
A very strong theme emerged which was being determined to celebrate Huddersfield’s heritage, architecture and future development ambition in light of the transition it is currently going through. Although we all experienced many empty shops and streets on our visits, we also found gems to be inspired by, much of which came from the imposing buildings. Having a street assigned to us resulted in close observation that otherwise we might have missed and looking up at some of the sculpture and architecture from years past led to really positive discussion and pieces of work.
Some members were inspired by small distinct elements found with a street and for others, the activity inspired more in the way of feelings and representation of a wider view, including through time. We all greed it was a really enjoyable thing to do.
Click on any of the photos to view a large image.
Here are some of the finished pieces of work from the homework or on the day.
We also celebrated David's 80th Birthday next week - well, it would be rude not to!
Friday 15th March - a Look at Pattern
This month, David led our meeting in the subject of pattern. He prepared some information and instructions for creating repeating shapes that were used to print or draw round as well as asking what do we need to see for something to qualify as a pattern? In turn, these created more shapes and negative spaces as they were combined in different ways. We looked at inspiration from Islamic tiling to natural patterns. Members were invited to bring stencils and patterns along and many had done quite a bit of homework before the meeting!
Click on a photo to view larger images.
Click on a photo to view larger images.
We found the topic very motivating and thought provoking, leading to insights about how patterns in spaces we inhabit affect us, just how mathematical some patterns are, how our daily routine can be seen as a pattern that is sometimes broken or changed, how subtle patterns can be viewed as texture and how the act of creating repeating patterns can provide a sense of wellbeing.
Friday 16th February - Windows
This month we took windows as our theme. We looked at various inspiration such as our own photos, metaphorical windows, patterns and shapes and artists who paint using the subject such as Alice Mumford and Matisse.
We started the meeting by reviewing homework to use the large mark-making sheets from the previous month. A few members combined them with this month’s subject by painting over sections. Others cropped and framed areas of interest, or made into a concertina book etc.
Click on a photo to view a larger image.
We started the meeting by reviewing homework to use the large mark-making sheets from the previous month. A few members combined them with this month’s subject by painting over sections. Others cropped and framed areas of interest, or made into a concertina book etc.
Click on a photo to view a larger image.
We then worked on our own responses to ‘windows’ during the session. Here is a variety of images from the meeting looking at a range of things such as how windows interrupt a view, patterns, light and tone, ‘windows of the soul’ and particular buildings that inspired.
Friday 19th January - Making Your Mark
We had a great first meeting of the year and kept things playful by making marks, shapes and lines on paper that was passed round the group until it returned to its original owner.
We conducted two rounds - round one was completely free choice.
We conducted two rounds - round one was completely free choice.
And round two was completed with a limited palette of blues and oranges with specific instructions as to what shapes and marks to make.
Most of the group preferred being given freedom and the results were noticeably more playful than the set with instructions. However, we all agreed that we liked the limited colours which produced coherence across the finished pieces.
The group will be working into some of these in different ways for homework, such as overpainting and scratching though, creating a concertina book or isolating crops.
We had a really good attendance and welcomed a new member this month.
The group will be working into some of these in different ways for homework, such as overpainting and scratching though, creating a concertina book or isolating crops.
We had a really good attendance and welcomed a new member this month.
Some highlights from 2023
Click on a photo to enlarge image