Summer Newsletter 2021
by Miss Roberts
Drawing & painting Nature Classes
Now it is very much summer so time for another newsletter.
Courses this term
Natural History illustration
30th June to the 14th July. Three Wednesdays from 10 til 4 at CityLit Keeley street.
Learn how to capture wildlife on paper, from fossils to fleeting birds and butterflies. Gain skills using a variety of different media including digital. Includes a trip to the Natural History Museum. Suitable for beginners.
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/illustrating-natural-history
Summer School – Drawing and Painting Nature outside in a beautiful garden.
24th July to the 21st August. Five Saturdays from 10.30 to 12.30
This new Summer School is held in the beautiful garden of the South London Botanical Gardens. It is in association with Imperial College and The South London Botanical Institute. Suitable for beginners. Follow this link for more information:
Free online workshop on drawing trees.
In July there will be a one off online tree class. Email me for further information and look at my website for updates www.obscurewonders.com
Exhibitions
Here are some summer exhibitions that caught my eye:
Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser, Victoria & Albert Museum
‘Lewis Carroll’s magical, mind-boggling story of Wonderland has been enchanting audiences for generations. Now Alice’s adventures are the subject of a major new show at the V&A charting the story’s evolution from manuscript to a global cultural phenomenon, inspiring the likes of Salvador Dali, Walt Disney and Tim Walker.
Described as a ‘theatrical, immersive journey down the rabbit hole’, Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser brings together over 300 objects spanning the story’s 158-year history. Highlights include original drawings by John Tenniel, set designs and models from the various film adaptations, album-artwork for Little Simz and Bob Crowley’s costume for the Queen of Hearts from the Royal Ballet’s 2011 production. Take the whole family on this extraordinary adventure. Just don’t be late.’
WHEN Saturday 22 May – Friday 31 December, 10am-5:45pm
WHERE Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2RL
Eileen Agar: Angel of Anarchy, Whitechapel Gallery
‘Although best known as a Surrealist, Eileen Agar (1889-1991) experimented with Cubism and Abstraction, too, finding inspiration in a myriad sources, from the natural world and ancient mythologies to sexual pleasure and her own biography.
Eileen Agar: Angel of Anarchy, the largest exhibition of Agar’s work to date, celebrates a phenomenal career that spanned almost a century. It brings together over 100 paintings, collages, photographs, assemblages and archive material, much of which has rarely been exhibited, to chart the development of her uniquely spirited style.
Highlights include Angel of Anarchy (1936-40), a plaster-cast head covered with feathers, fabric and diamanté stones; and Dance of Peace from 1945. ‘I’ve enjoyed life,’ Agar once said. This exhibition looks set to prove that.’
WHEN Wednesday 19 May – Sunday 29 August, Tuesday – Sunday, 11am-6pm
WHERE Whitechapel Gallery, 72-78 Whitechapel High Street, London E1 7QX |
Michael Armitage: Paradise Edict exhibition, Royal Academy
‘An exhibition of riotous paintings has opened at Royal Academy. Brightly coloured and crowded with figures, the works of Kenyan-born artist Michael Armitage (who is a graduate of the Royal Academy) are large scale and dripping with political and social commentary – think Goya meets Gauguin. But while European painting is a powerful source of inspiration for the 37-year-old artist, Armitage, who divides his time between Nairobi and London, is most significantly influenced by the traditions of East Africa. of riotous paintings has opened at Royal Academy. Brightly coloured and crowded with figures, the works of Kenyan-born artist Michael Armitage (who is a graduate of the Royal Academy) are large scale and dripping with political and social commentary – think Goya meets Gauguin. But while European painting is a powerful source of inspiration for the 37-year-old artist, Armitage, who divides his time between Nairobi and London, is most significantly influenced by the traditions of East Africa.’
WHEN 22 May 2021 – 19 Sep 2021, 12:00 AM
WHERE Royal Academy
Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, W1J 0BD
Paula Rego, Tate Britain
Paula is one of my favourite artists, ever since she asked politely if she could leave her empty coke can in my studio space with a cheeky yet nervous smile. This exhibition of her work looks good, I may have mentioned it before, but I think it’s probably worth mentioning twice.
‘Paula Rego is a phenomenal storyteller. Whether in paint or pastel, collage or ink, she conjures up images that speak of personal as well as social struggle. Over the course of her prolific career, Rego has drawn on a broad range of references, from comic strips to history painting, and experimented with both abstraction and figuration.
This major solo exhibition, the largest and most comprehensive of Rego’s work to date, features over 100 works that chart the artist’s creative trajectory. Early works dating from the 50s will hang alongside large pastels and richly layered, staged scenes from Rego’s acclaimed Dog Women and Abortion series. Prepare to delve deep into her rich and fertile imagination.’
WHEN Wednesday 7 July – Sunday 24 October, 10am – 6pm
WHERE Tate Britain, Millbank, London SW1P 4RG
Painting tip – If uncertain, stop and have a tea break.
For further information email – illustratenature@gmail.com
The Library of Obscure Wonders 