Antony Gormley, Subject II, 2019. 10 mm square section mild steel bar, 189 x 51.5 x 37.5 cm. © the Artist. Photo: David Parry / © Royal Academy of Arts

This exhibition had a profound effect on me – I found it inspirational and am so impressed with this man.

Antony Gormley is described as an internationally renowned sculptor. In my mind he is much more than that. Having visited this exhibition I would describe him also as a visionary, philosopher, architect, and engineer.

My own version of ‘A Hopeless Dawn’

The reason will often be apparent in the work you produce. For instance, artists will create portraits of pets that are no longer with us. Portrait painters work to a commission. Many paint for the sheer pleasure of creating something visual. Painting is also ideal therapy.
 It can take you completely away from ‘ life’s many problems ‘ for a while. Every time you pick up a brush or pencil, do you stop to consider why you are doing this? A professional artist will paint for money, and that has a marked effect on what and why they paint a particular subject.

We are very lucky to have so many talented artists amongst our membership and even luckier when one of them gives their time freely to inspire and teach other members.
Many of you will have seen Helen Walker’s beautiful mosaics on display at our exhibitions.  Helen, very kindly, agreed to give Gill Repper, my friend and fellow member and myself a day of inspiration and guidance.  It was such FUN!   We both like getting our hands dirty and always seem to be working in a mess and this day was no exception!  Helen was an amazing teacher and even gave us a printed list of where to buy supplies etc. as well as supplying us throughout the day with tea, coffee and chocolate biscuits!  She also gave us templates to take home and continue experimenting with this exciting medium.
We started at around 11 a.m. and finished at 5 p.m. and we’re both very proud of what we achieved.  

(photos by Chris Ward)
It was a beautiful September morning as we made the short drive from our holiday cottage to Chatsworth House in the picturesque Derbyshire Dales. The road wound through the steep wooded hills and sloping fields that divide the valleys of the river Wye and the river Derwent. Arriving early, as we did, without huge numbers of people about, Chatsworth did not disappoint, sitting majestically on the eastern banks of the river Derwent and set in a landscape designed by none other than Capability Brown.  Historic houses like Chatsworth have beautiful interiors, but for me it is the landscaped gardens that I feel drawn to.