A GROUP of artists opened its doors to the public at the weekend with an impressive display of paintings, drawings and crafts.
These included jewellery, ceramics, wool crafts, wood carving, glassware and cards.
Wokingham Art Society’s 65th exhibition was officially opened on Saturday by Chairman Peter Izod.
The morning began with the presentation of awards for the best pieces of work in the show.
Mr Izod introduced exhibition judge, Mrs Jenny Halstead, who is a well known local professional artist.
Ms Halstead praised the work on show and commented that the high standard had made the task of judging especially difficult.
For this reason, she asked to be able to offer highly commended as a category, as well as choosing overall winners.
This year’s awards went to the following artists:
Best In Show went to Sue Dance for her piece entitled Country Calm, which was executed in acrylics.
Ms Halstead commented:
“Compositionally, this painting drew me in and led me to the trees in the middle distance.
“I loved the layering, the thin washes, some of them opaque, some transparent.
“The painting kept me intrigued.”
Best Watercolour, The Sandra Fagan Award went to Lynda Tolworthy, for her painting, Pears.
Ms Halstead said she particularly enjoyed the artist’s use of the medium.
She loved the purity of the piece and the way that other colours had been dropped in with the green hue of the fruit.
Accompanied by other members of his family, Peter Fagan presented this award.
It is given in memory of his wife, Sandra Fagan, who died in 1999 and who was a member of the group.
Best Painting In Other Media, the Ray Mills Award went to Helen Leiber for her acrylic piece, Flag, Iris, River Oak, Abingdon.
Ms Halstead said:
“I found all of this artist’s work interesting.
“I enjoyed the flat patterns that actually were not flat, but had depth to them.
“They held my attention.”
The Paul Banning Award For Drawing went to Carolyn Holding for her striking and carefully executed black and white picture in graphite, of Ring Tailed Lemur.
Best Work In Area Of Three Dimensions went to Sarah Abell for her Series of Ceramic Items.
Ms Halstead commented that she had very much enjoyed these, and all the three dimensional works on show.
Highly Commended was awarded to the following:
Clare Buchta’s Coastal Dorset
Wendy Home’s Red Skins
Jenny Johnson’s Sax Appeal
Sylvia Lynam’s Engineering in Blue
Joan Sawden Smith’s Yvonne Charentes
Anne Goodyear’s What Can You See?
Helen Long’s Reflected Clouds
Finally, an Award for Services To The Society, The President’s Cup was presented to Susie Smith, who has recently stepped down as Chairman after 14 years in the role.
She was thanked by Peter Izod in recognition of the work and time she has put into the society over the years.
The exhibition continues until Saturday, August 6.
All visitors to the show are invited to choose their own three favourite artworks, and the artists will receive the public’s response at the end of the exhibition.
The art is not only on display, but also for sale, with visitors invited to buy and take home an original piece of work.
Each piece sold is immediately replaced with a new item so that the display is constantly changing.
Wokingham Art Society Summer Exhibition is located in St Paul’s Parish Rooms, Reading Road, Wokingham.
Entry is free, and the doors are open every day, Sunday included, between 10am and 5.30pm.
Late night Fridays until 8pm.
Refreshments are available.
There is free parking and disabled access to the building.
For more information search Facebook or Instagram for Wokingham Art Society.
