Paint Out‘s first public en plein air art event of 2017 saw a dozen or so artists find fresh views and a new perspective of Norwich seen across the Market to the Castle, the Guildhall, and St Peter Mancroft, on a sunny bank holiday weekend Sunday.
The vision of James Colman to keep landscape artists challenged by looking at the urban environment in new ways has seen a hundred artists gather on Mousehold Heath in 2015 for panoramic views of Norwich, and in 2016 saw artists amass in Tombland and take to canoes on the River Wensum.
Last weekend was the turn of an open-top double-decker bus, supplied by Dolphin Travel with amiable driver, Andrew – who also supplied the Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack that kept the artists painting in the hot sun during the afternoon session.
Artists featured
Paint Out artists Mary Kallagher and Jan Halliwell
As well as members of the public including an artist’s teenage son joining in, there were Paint Out regulars including the artists: John Behm, Mary Brady, Karen Adams, Jack Godfrey, Mary Kallagher, and James Colman himself.
Some artists like Jan Halliwell travelled down from Lincolnshire to join the Norfolk paint out on the streets of the city, alongside the bus.
Paint Out welcomes experienced artists to its juried-entry art competitions but also runs public entry paint-outs for artist of all ages and abilities to encourage people into discovering and furthering their artistic creativity.
Art skills workshops were run the day before to tutor budding and honed talents alike.
The Paint Out Bus will return
Artists on the Paint Out bus
“The Paint Out bus this weekend provided us with a fantastic hub from which to tell the world about our forthcoming 2017-18 programme plans. Our artists found their elevated experience inspirational.
For contestants at Paint Out Norwich and Wells, it provides a great add-on for our Nocturne and main events and provides a forum with which to engage with the public. Chameleon-like, expect the bus to take on many guises in its quest to take plein air painting across the UK.” – James Colman
Public Paint Out “on the bus” for Artists of all ages & abilities
This Sunday 28 May we’re calling amateur and professional artists to draw and paint with us around the Chapelfield, Forum and Norwich City Hall area. For extra height and a fresh view of the city you can opt to paint from a static double decker open top bus.
The 28 May paint out is available all-day 9-5pm but do come along, morning or afternoon or both.
Bus stop times are 9-9:30am & 1-1:30pm for pick ups from Guildhall/City Hall parking bays from which we may drive to painting spots. If you miss the bus, or can’t find us, call 07808 970429 or 07432 608015 to find out where we are.
We’ve also art workshops to brush up your skills on Saturday 27 May, the day before.
The weekend of 27-28 May sees Paint Out provide an excellent opportunity for aspiring and seasoned artists to acquire and refresh core skills in Tonal Oil Painting, Perspective and View, and Social Media Promotion tips at Saturday workshops. These are followed up with a Sunday public paint out to practice what is learned and enjoy the sights of Norwich from the height of a static open-top double-decker bus or nearby on foot.
All Norwich workshops begin at Anteros Arts, 11 – 15 Fye Bridge Street, Norwich NR3 1LJ and may include indoor and outdoor work.
Tonal Painting With Oils – Nial Adams
Nial Adams in the studio
Nial Adams is a landscape artist painting oils in the classical style of tonal realism. His work features well-known locations, as well as abstracted artworks. He works from his studio in Hevingham under the title of Big Norfolk Skies.
In this session, Nial will share some of his knowledge on the aspects of creating tonal value in your artwork. You’ll be working in oils on canvas, with a restricted palette. This fundamental aspect of art will help you to create greater depth and contrast, whether you’re painting or drawing, from landscapes to portraits. Suitable for aspiring and seasoned artists.
Perspective drawing for the award winning view. Norfolk artist Eloise O’Hare, famous for her lively paintings of landscapes will lead this fun and hands-on workshop. After a brief discussion and looking at some example work, you will be taken outdoors to draw by the river. Eloise will help you to find the perfect view for your drawing, plan the composition and will teach you some simple tricks to get your perspective just right.
Social Media guru with 15,000 followers, and 100,000 views a month, Web promotion specialist (“how to get to no#1 on google”) Katy Went will help you learn how to maximise your social media reach for your artworks with Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, etc – and how to find the best platform for your style and expertise. How and when to write your posts, how and where to share them for 7,000+ reach and 20% interaction.
Paint Out Norwich 2016 Awards and private view at the Hostry, Norwich Cathedral – Photo by Simon Finlay
The 2016 plein air art competition saw 33 artists create over 150 works painted outside in changeable weather across 3 days including the public Tombland paint out.
16 prizes were awarded, the first of which went to Sue Mann, renowned for painting from a bicycle, who won this year’s Spirit of Plein Air Award for being the first to take the plunge and paint from a canoe.
This year we innovated again by running a ‘Freestyle’ larger form, 2-day, event alongside our classic Core event of 4 separate 3-hour painting sessions. Our groundbreaking Nocturne event returned for its second year with an increased number of submissions.
Paint Out Norwich 2016 Winning Artists and Paintings – Photo by Simon Finlay
The new Freestyle event was won by Robert Nelmes for his widescale painting, “Norwich Market”, and the runner up second prize went to Brian Korteling for his very urban Magdalen Street flyover, complete with graffiti, “Waiting for the bus”. This prize category was sponsored by La Ronde Wright.
Tom Cringle, Untitled, Paint Out Norwich Second Prize overall, Nocturne First Prize – Photo by Katy Jon Went
The returning Nocturne event was won by Tom Cringle for his “Untitled” spire at night, with Michael Richardson‘s “Night Time in the Lanes”, coming second. This prize category was sponsored by Sowerbys.
The Core event was won in Mixed Media by Alfie Carpenter, for “Guildhall Aglow”, with runner up Tom Cringle – who also won Second Prize overall, sponsored by La Ronde Wright, lifting his prize total to £500. In Watercolour, Richard Bond‘s painting of Norwich School playing fields, “Between the Showers”, won, with second place going to Andrew Horrod.
Chris Daynes, The Yellow Canoe, Paint Out Norwich 2016 Oils and Overall First Prize – Photo by Katy Jon Went
The Oils category saw second place go to Roger Dellar, and first place to Chris Daynes for “The Yellow Canoe” which also won the overall First Prize and a £1000 in total including his category win, sponsored by Strutt & Parker. We are also grateful to Archant for sponsoring several second placed prizes as well as the Watercolour and Mixed Media categories.
In addition, the three judges – David Curtis, Sue Grayson Ford, and Nick Holmes, also commended oil paintings by Jerome Hunt “Cathedral Facade Shadows”, Tanya Pawsey, “Swans from Bishop Bridge”, and the mixed media piece by Claire Stevens, “Oldest Iron Bridge”.
The Paint Out Norwich 2016 competition, with multiple categories, saw 16 awarded prizes in total, old and new locations, and continues to provide artistic challenges and opportunities for both seasoned plein air professionals and aspiring amateur artists. Over 180 artists registered an interest this year, with over 40 being accepted into the third-year of Paint Out Norwich. 33 took part, producing 140+ paintings in the exhibition.
The art exhibition runs from 19-29 October at the Norwich Cathedral Hostry, access is also open during other arts, literature, music, and theatre events of the Hostry Festival. Over 140 artworks are on display from the artists aged 26-75, some of whom – including a mother and daughter pair – took to Pub and Paddle‘s canoes to paint from the waterline of the River Wensum, discovering new and old views of the city alike.
Artist Richard Bond, Paint Out Norwich 2015 winner painting Norwich Cathedral from Tombland during Paint Out 2014
In 2015 Paint Out ran a 100-person mass public paint out on Mousehold Heath, Norwich and also a sunrise on Wells Beach, North Norfolk. This year we are running a Sunday afternoon paint out for all in and around the historic Tombland and Cathedral Close/Quarter district. These public paint outs are great opportunities to paint alongside experienced competition artists. If you want to brush up your drawing or painting skills, there are art workshops the day before at Anteros Arts on Fye Bridge St.
Sunday 16 October 2016, Norwich, Tombland afternoon paint out (1-4pm)
The cost is just £10 for individuals or £20 for families to come out and paint together with the opportunity to have the best and most varied paintings, drawings, collages, hung in Anteros Arts Centre.
There are plenty of places you could paint including Princes Street, Fye Bridge, Tombland, around the Cathedral Gates, Cloisters and Close. Dozens of artists will be there, come and join them and take art back out onto the streets of Norwich.
From midday, you can also get a prix fixe special lunch+drink deal at North Cafe Bar for just £7.
Norwich Tombland Sunday Paint Out
Artists painting on Mousehold Heath at Paint Out Norwich 2015
Paint Out Norwich 2016 programme of artist workshops takes place on Saturday 15 October including oils from dusk to dark, egg tempera making & painting, colour theory in practice (indoors and out), social media for artists. All workshops take place at Anteros Arts Centre on Fye Bridge St, please book below.
Social Media guru with 14,000 followers and Web promotion specialist (“how to get to no#1 on google”) Katy Went will help you learn how to maximise your social media reach for your artworks with Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, etc – and how to find the best platform for your style and expertise. As a photographer, writer and promoter, she knows words and images, and how to get them read and seen. For instance, how to get 35,000 views of a single blog post, 3,500 reach for your Facebook post, 350 clickthroughs to your website, 1200 likes on an album of images, posting tricks for 30 art and artist groups. Blogging, tagging and art photo-sharing tips. Bring a laptop, tablet or smartphone or hire one for £5.
Egg Tempera Painting for *Kids – Sue Mann
Sue Mann Egg Tempera Workshop via Instagram
Before modern oil paints, artists made their own paint using egg and other natural materials. Artist Sue Mann will lead this unusual workshop in how to mix your own egg tempera paints, and then use them to paint a still life. *Children includes everyone, age 6 and upwards, young at heart adults may apply and try a small amount of pre-prepared artist’s pigment. They can also bring along some white gouache and watercolour/gouache to learn how to combine with the hands-on activity and their current practice. Includes a break for kids and adults alike to stretch their legs and let off steam. Read more about Sue Mann’s art tutoring services.
Exploring Colour for Studio & Outdoors – David Lindsay
David Lindsay
Artist David Lindsay looks at colour theory in practice for painting from life. Beginners and experienced artists welcome. Creative exercises designed to develop an individual sense of colour followed by a chance to test out skills by working outside. Materials supplied for morning session, bring your own materials for the afternoon session.
Life Drawing – Brian Korteling
Brian Korteling at Paint Out Wells 2016 photo by Katy Jon Went
Friendly and informal life drawing session with artist Brian Korteling. Everyone is welcome from the complete novice to the most experienced of artists. Drawing materials are supplied, though bring other equipment if you like. Includes a 10 min break for tea/coffee, a biscuit and a chat in the middle of the session.
[This class has unfortunately been cancelled]
Nocturne Oils from Dusk To Dark – Michael Richardson
Michael Richardson painting the Forum, Norwich Oct 2014
An indoor briefing and, then working outdoors in disappearing light. This nocturne oil painting (watercolourists may apply but techniques are primarily aimed at oil painters) workshop is delivered by seasoned professional, Michael Richardson, a member of the Plein Air Painting Society, The Wapping Group of Artists, and who shows in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. He paints outside almost every day in the Impressionist style for collectors worldwide. His workshops are very well attended when delivered at Paint OutWells and Norwich. He was the winner of the inaugural Paint Out Norwich 2015 Nocturne Painting Competition.
Workshop Booking details
TITLE
DATE
TIME
COST
INFO
Social Media for Artists with Katy Went
October 15, 2016
9:30am – 10:30am
£10
Bring your own laptop, smartphone, ipad or hire one (£5). Meet at Colgate Room, Anteros Arts, Fye Bridge St
Egg Tempera Painting for *Kids (6-adult) with Sue Mann
October 15, 2016
11:00am – 2:00pm
£20
Fishgate Room, Anteros Arts, Fye Bridge St. Includes break time.
Exploring Colour for Studio and Outdoorswith David Lindsay
October 15, 2016
11:30am – 4:30pm
£40+£5 paint materials hire/usage if require
Materials supplied for morning session, bring your own materials for the afternoon session. Lunch not supplied, suggest North Cafe next door to Anteros. Held in Colgate Room, Anteros Arts, Fye Bridge St
Life Drawing with Brian Korteling
October 15, 2016
2:00pm – 4:00pm
N/A
Cancelled
From Dusk to Dark, Nocturne Painting with Michael Richardson
October 15, 2016
4:30pm – 8:30pm
£40 + £5 light hire/£10 purchase
Bring your own materials. Meet at Anteros Arts, Fye Bridge St. Initially held in Fishgate Room, then outside around Tombland.
The Paint Out Wells-next-the-Sea 2016 Artist Prize Winners chosen from over 80 paintings by 19 artists, were: Alfie Carpenter (1st), Tanya Pawsey (2nd), Brian Korteling (3rd) with judge’s commendations to last year’s third placed winner Jack Godfrey and also 2015’s second placed winner Alfie Carpenter -in addition to his first place prize this year.
Paint Out is grateful to local and Shetland artist Nicholas Barnham, and to Amanda Geitner, Director of the East Anglia Arts Fund, for judging the high standard and varied styles of work on display. We are of course indebted to our sponsors Hopkins Homes, Archant, and Sowerbys for providing the generous prizes.
First Prize at Paint Out Wells 2016 Alfie Carpenter ‘Hoping for Sun’ – photo by Katy Jon Went
First Prize – Alfie Carpenter
The Paint Out Wellsjudges awarded Alfie Carpenter the £750 first prize donated by sponsorHopkins Homes for his large 20″x30″ mixed media dawn collage “Hoping For Sun” created on Wells-next-the-Sea quayside.
“I’ve been overwhelmed and humbled by the response and the accolades for my work. I’m really thankful to Paint Outfor the opportunity to create new work in such an exciting way and it was an honour to be working alongside such wonderful artists.
I still can’t quite believe it!” – Alfie Carpenter
First Prize at Paint Out Wells 2016 Alfie Carpenter ‘Hoping for Sun’ – photo by Katy Jon Went
Alfie’s paintings sold out at the Buttlands Exhibition before the Sunday gallery show was half over. The prizes were not announced till 5.30pm but unwittingly the prize-winning painting had already been bought by local Wells Maltings trustee, Nick Skinner and Martin Whiteside. Nick had this to say about his fortunate purchase:
“We enjoyed the Paint Out Wells weekend and as local homeowners it was great to see the artists developing their paintings over time and capturing the town in such different ways. We watched Alfie at work and his painting captured a different view of Wells and one we really liked. We are delighted that others thought so too and would like to congratulate Alfie. Well done to all those involved for a great weekend and we look forward to next year!” – Nick Skinner
Second Prize – Tanya Pawsey
Second Prize at Paint Out Wells 2016 Tanya Pawsey ‘Dancing Boats’ – photo by Katy Jon Went
Tanya Pawsey was torn between painting two works side-by-side in the three-hour session and of the two ended up submitting a closely cropped study in oils of bobbing boats dancing in the water and early Sunday morning light on the harboured-sea. She wins the second prize of £500 donated by sponsorArchant for her 10×12″ work entitled “Dancing Boats, Wells”. Tanya described herself as being “over the moon” to have won a prize:
“I’m over the moon that I’ve won a prize as I was already buzzing with pride at having the courage to take part. I’ve won new friends, encouragement, inspiration and funds to invest into new equipment! [L]ooking forward to Paint Out Norwich next month.” – Tanya’s blog
“Winning an award was the last thing I expected so I’m absolutely thrilled! I’m extremely thankful to everyone involved in Paint Out for making it a most inspiring and encouraging event.” – Tanya Pawsey
Third Prize – Brian Korteling
Third Prize at Paint Out Wells 2016 Brian Korteling ‘The Albatros’ – photo by Katy Jon Went
Brian Korteling was awarded the third prize of £250 donated by sponsorSowerbysfor his work entitled “The Albatros” created during a high tide that was flooding across the quayside car park next to where The Albatros ship is moored.
“I was delighted and surprised to win 3rd prize. There was some really high quality and interesting work produced over the weekend and it was a pleasure to take part. Will definitely be back in Wells next year for Paint Out.” – Brian Korteling
Brian has also been selected to take part in Paint Out Norwich in October 2016.
Judge’s commendations
Judges Commendation at Paint Out Wells 2016 Jack Godfrey ‘Up (and Down) the Creek’ – photo by Katy Jon Went
Apart from having to agree on the top three prize awards the two judges: artist Nicholas Barnham and Amanda Geitner, Director of the East Anglia Arts Fund, were also given the freedom to award a personal commendation outside the top rankings with a £100 prize going to each of the following highly commended artists: Alfie Carpenter, and Jack Godfrey. The consistency of the judging is demonstrated in the fact that three different judges awarded these same two artists second and third prizes, respectively, at Paint OutWells 2015.
Spirit of Plein Air & Other Art Awards
Team Award – Spirit of Plein Air at Paint Out Wells 2016 John Behm ‘LN86 BN2 and 6:37am, Wells at the Flood Tide’ – photo by Katy Jon Went
Two further prizes recognising artist’s merits and mettle include an award of £100 to John Behm, as a Team recognition for someone who embodied the “Spirit of Plein Air”, for painting in the cold biting winds and rainy downpours in shorts, in the mud, and in flipflops at dawn on a high tide-flooded quayside. Out of the three Paint Out events in which this award has been given, John has won it twice, he goes the extra mile for his art.
Community Award – Essence of Wells at Paint Out Wells 2016 Will Topley ‘Dawn, Wells Gantry’ – photo by Katy Jon Went
In addition, a Community recognition award of £100, also for a second time, went to Will Topley for his capturing of the essence of Wells-next-the-Sea.
Long-time supporter of Paint Out, Michael Richardson, delivered an art workshop and during it also created a painting of one of its participants, who was a popular entrant in Paint Out Norwich 2014. Mary Kallagher was delighted to receive the painting itself as a gift and recognition of her spirit in keeping painting irrespective of hand and eye health issues.
A young 4-year-old art critic also awarded Sue Mann a bag of jelly babies for her favourite painting of a “pink boat”. Sue Mann received an artist’s commendation at Paint Out Wells 2015, so the young judge has good taste!
For more art prizes and awards check out Paint Out Norwich‘s gala awards night on 19 October.
Paint Out Wells runs 16-18 September on the North Norfolk Coast and invites artists of all ages and abilities to join the competition artists on the Wells quayside this Sunday morning to paint the dawn. Be among the silhouetted ship masts, cast shadows of the crab nets and rising morning sun at it looms over the prominent Granary gantry on Wells seafront.
Artist Jane Hodgson at Paint Out Wells 2015 sunrise
Last year’s sunrise event was on the beach, this year it’s on the docks among the boats and birds.
Pre-dawn emerges from the darkness of night just before 6am, creeping around the ship masts, turning the sky purple and orange, before the 6:36am sunrise proper illuminates the haze of a September summer Sunday.
So grab your sketchpads or easels, paints, pastels or pens, and come and join two dozen artists on the quay painting, sketching, drawing, and even collaging the changing morning light. The weather forecast is good and we will be on the seafront 6-10am.
Artist Mary MacCarthy at Paint Out Wells 2015 sunrise
After painting, there is an optional subsidised Brunch aboard The Albatros, for just £5/head. It is only £10 for adults, £5 for children, or £20 for a whole family to participate, and have your art shown in the big marquee art exhibition on The Buttlands, 2-7pm, later in the day. The afternoon event also features street food vendors and take-out drinks from The Globe and The Crown, as well as the showing of around 100 works of art and a live competition paint out 3-6pm by Paint Out artists, as the culmination of their weekend event.
Sunrise at Wells, Norfolk by Katy Jon Went
Artists will have painted a sunset on Wells-Next-The-Sea Beach on Friday, and spent Saturday morning in Burnham Market and Brancaster Staithe. On Saturday afternoon many artists will be found about Wells painting or joining the “Painting under pressure of changing light” art workshop (£45) with Michael Richardson, UA.
Paint Out Wells offers the following art workshop on Saturday 17 September in Wells-next-the-Sea, North Norfolk – Painting En Plein Air Under Changing Light Art Workshop with award-winning experienced artist and tutor, Michael Richardson.
Offered to local and visiting amateur, aspiring and experienced artists, as well as members of the Paint Out competition – all are welcome to take part.
The workshop will take place from 3pm and includes teaching and then tuition under the fading late-afternoon/early-evening light. The price is £45 with the option to participate in an early-morning paint out the following day and then brunch with the competition artists on the Albatros ship. You will need to bring your own art materials. Please book here.
Student at Michael Richardson Art Workshops at Paint Out Wells 2015
Michael is competing in Paint Out this year and is a veteran of Paint Out Norwich & Wells 2014-15 and plenty of other competitions and exhibitions. He won the inaugural Nocturne Prize in 2015.
About Artist Michael Richardson, UA
Michael lives in East Kent and paints almost every day, whatever the weather en plein air. As a modern Impressionist he believes that painting sur le motif is the most fulfilling challenge for a painter’s technique. His atmospheric work in both oils and watercolour has found collectors worldwide, especially in America.
Michael Richardson demonstrating at Art Workshop at Paint Out Wells 2015
Michael was brought up in post-war Suffolk, “Constable Country”, and educated at Ipswich School and Ipswich College of Art and later in Paris.
In the 1960s his interest in sailing led him into a career in the marine industry where he specialised in sail design and manufacture. Whilst maintaining an interest in art he returned to full-time painting in 1992, yet drew on his marine experience in his specialism around painting boats.
He is also a member of the Chelsea Art Society, Council Member of the United Society of Artists and is a founder member of the Brass Monkeys Art Society, a “hard core” group of winter outdoor painters.
He has exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts, The Royal Society of Marine Artists, The Royal Institute of Oil Painters and The Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour at the Mall Galleries in London.
Workshop Booking details
En Plein Air Oil Paintingin Changing Light with Michael Richardson
September 17, 2016
3-7.30pm
10-12 spaces available
£45
Bring your own materials. Meet at the Albatros Ship.
Michael Richardson tutoring Art Workshop at Paint Out Wells 2015
The North Norfolkplein air painting and art competition returns in September. This year, the theme is light and time and we plan to paint from sunrise to sunset across the weekend – well, in reverse actually! Some places remain for artistsstill wanting to enter the Paint Out Wells 2016 art event.
Painting workshop with Michael Richardson, UA on working in changing light and under time pressure, ideal for dawn, dusk, nocturne and weather-conscious artists 3-7pm (open to non-competition artists for a workshop participation fee)
Sunday 18 September
Wells Quayside sunrise paint out 6-10am (open to public for a small fee)
Art Exhibition and Sale on the Buttlands 2-7pm
Pop-up paint out on the Buttlands 3-6pm
Call to Artists
Artist Antonella Beschorner painting Jickling Yard in Wells, Norfolk during Paint Out Wells 2015
Additional artists are still welcome to join those already signed up, until the week of the competition, itself.
[The cover photo is of Paint Out Norwich 2015 winner- artist Richard Bond‘s watercolour painting of Wells Beach huts titled ‘Red, Blue and Yellow’, during Paint Out Wells 2015]
