July 2025 Newsletter

July is here, bringing sunshine and the first taste of summer and what a month it's shaping up to be! Despite the heat, it’s been a season full of creativity, exciting exhibitions, and vibrant artistic energy across our community.

WHAT HAPPENED IN JUNE

Despite the possible deterrent of very

hot weather, we were pleased to

welcome around thirty members to

the Annual General Meeting of our

Society, followed by a demonstration

by one of our most popular artists:

Chris Forsey.

With the business of the AGM

satisfactorily concluded, we settled

down to be entertained and educated

by Chris — and he did not disappoint!

Chris’s chosen subject was a charming harbour scene in Dittisham, located on the Dart Estuary in Devon. We were interested to learn that both the Dimbleby brothers and Agatha Christie were once residents of the area.

Chris began his work with a ground colour of yellow ochre, over which he sketched the scene lightly in pencil. He then used acrylic ink to lay down the darks on the canvas. Midtones and larger areas, such as the sky and water, followed. Chris used acrylic medium to help the paint flow and to create coloured glazes in certain areas. And then the magic began to happen — as Chris added highlights and fine adjustments, the weight of the waves and the warm glow of evening sunshine emerged. He used white acrylic ink, mixed with a touch of yellow ochre, to depict foam on the waves. For tiny highlights, he applied undiluted white ink, explaining that he finds acrylic ink easier to handle for such precise work.

With the main structure of the painting

complete, Chris added delightful detail to

bring the scene fully to life — glinting

windows, bobbing buoys, masts, and ropes all appeared. Chris then placed a frame around his painting, instantly enhancing and elevating the already stunning work.

But he wasn’t finished! Chris explained that he likes to review his paintings after a few days and make any final additions as needed. A week later, we received a picture of the completed piece — and I’m sure you’ll agree, it’s fantastic.

Thank you, Chris, for a wonderful afternoon — and thank you to all the GAS members who attended!

AGM

Our Annual General Meeting, held on 21st of June 2025 at St Catherine’s Hall, was a great success, with a quorum in place allowing us to carry out official business, including welcoming new and returning members to the Committee.

We’re pleased to announce the following appointments: Annmarie Shenton as Webmaster, Therese Ferrero as Pop-Up Organiser and Thursday Group Leader, Laura Ribatallada as Newsletter Editor, and David G. Jobson as Vice Chairman.

Each nomination was formally proposed and seconded, in line with our Society’s procedures.

As a reminder, the roles and responsibilities of Committee Members are outlined in a dedicated document that you can find on our website

(https://www.guildfordartsociety.co.uk/contacts) and may evolve over time.

If you’re interested in getting more involved—whether by joining a working group, supporting admin and events, or stepping into a future committee role—we warmly encourage you to reach out. Having engaged and informed members ensures smooth succession and helps keep our Society thriving.

WHAT’S COMING

PLEIN AIR SESSION

5 OF JULY This Saturday we have our plein air day 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM.

We will meet at the entrance to Guildford Castle, GU1 3SX at 10am.

Our painting session will be followed by a social get-together at the nearby restaurant/pub, The March Hare, where members can opt for a drink, a snack or even full meals.

It’s a great opportunity to enjoy the summer weather, get creative, and connect with fellow GAS members! And a little reminder — one of the prizes at the exhibition will be awarded for the 'Best of Guildford'!

�� Saturday, 5th July

�� 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Free event

We hope to see you there!

WE WILL MEET AT 10AM (ENTRANCE OF GUILDFORD CASTLE, GU1 3SX)

SUMMER EXHIBITION

Have you submitted your forms yet? We’re getting

excited for our Summer Exhibition this August, and we hope you are too!

Dates: 2nd – 10th August 2025

Private View: Friday 1 of August

Venue: Merrow St. John’s Centre, 222 Epsom Road,

Guildford GU4 7AA

This year, entry is simpler than ever, thanks to two carefully designed and tested online forms: one for

stewarding and one for artwork entry.

Follow this link on our website on the Exhibitions Tab

Please note: both forms and your entry payment are due by Saturday 19th July. We recommend submitting the Stewarding Form as early as possible, especially if you have limited availability, as preferred time slots are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. (Note: morning slots from Monday 4th to Friday 8th August are already full.)

Be sure to double-check your entries, as the details you type will appear on your artwork labels. Payment is due via BACS by the same deadline. Your participation will be confirmed once we’ve received your stewarding form, entry form, and payment. If you do not receive a confirmation email, please get in touch at exhibcoord.gas@outlook.com. We can’t wait to see your work and come together for another fantastic exhibition!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

LOOKING FOR A NEW TREASURER

Our Society is urgently looking for a new Treasurer to join our team!

We need someone who is comfortable with numbers, computer-literate, and ideally has experience managing funds or has an accounting/finance background.

A good working knowledge of Excel would be especially helpful.

Your main responsibilities will include tracking our finances and managing artist payments. If you or someone you know would be a great fit for this role, please reach out!

As a committee, we meet every 2-3 months—and our meetings always include coffee and biscuits!

A full handover will be provided by Caroline to ensure a smooth transition. Interested? Get in touch at: secretary.gas@outlook.com