Watford Group Workshops: Herts, Beds & Bucks: Jackie Henderson
The Society of Equestrian Artists
Hastoe Farm Studio
Church Lane
Hastoe; Tring
Hertfordshire
HP23 6LU
Telephone: 01442
890119 Facsimile: 01442 826770
(Jackie Henderson DipAD, ATC Goldsmiths, UA, A.S.E.A)
5th
April 2005
To All Watford Group
Members
SOCIETY OF EQUESTRIAN
ARTISTS
WATFORD GROUP 2005
Hey, it's the year of the rooster! And that means,
according to the Chinese, a year of much chat (and, no doubt,
strutting.one's sniff!!). Also, it is 2005, and, in numerology, this year
is a very auspicious number, particularly for us as a group. 2 means
working with others, 5 means open friendliness, and 0 (double helping of
this one) means hidden talents! So, if superstition is your thing, go eat
it in. chunks.
Now
for
the
serious stuff. For those of you who missed any of last year's workshops,
here's a quick resume. We went to
Cowdray Park for polo, Liscombe Park for polocrosse, Blenheim Horse Trials
for dressage & cross-country (great to see our Olympic heroes &
heroines in the flesh!), a study day with farriers at work, a hot sunny
morning at a racing yard (where we watched plenty of horses on the
gallops, with jockeys sporting
bluebottle-like sunglasses), a couple of 2-day events, and the Silver Fox
Challenge team chase extravaganza, near Henley-on-Thames.
Let me entice you with the different and exciting venues on
offer this summer:
7/8
May Gadebrooke Arabian Stud,
near Oundle. Phone or
email Sian Wynn for details. –
sian@artlover.com
30
May Stockwood Park,
near Junction 10 on the
Ml.
Come & watch about 50
driving turnouts working their way through 14 classes. Also Hackneys,
part-breds, Shetland & native ponies, plus a young drivers'charnpionships.
Entrance to the museum housing the Mossman Collection (driving carriages)
is free, which will be a useful sketching opportunity, come rain or shine.
17th
June Study Day, Tring.
Peaceful day painting 1
or 2 horses. Very indulgent, this one. Our horse has found a beautiful new
pad to graze in, which is yet another idyllic spot created by the
Rothschilds. Old fashioned iron railings, alongside an avenue of ancient
chestnut trees, provide the backdrop for painting our big Irish grey, and
his glossy bay girlfriend, both dappled by the leafy canopy. The pub is
just across the sleepy road!
25'
June Polocrosse Tournament, Elsage Farm, Cheddington.
Take B488 from Ivinghoe-to
Cheddington. Elsage Farm is on the left before you reach Cheddington.
7
Aug Dressage at Bisham, Nr Marlow.
The Old Berkeley Hunt
(Chilterns Branch) Pony Club will be running the Area 12 Prix Caprilli.
This annual competition runs alongside the Area Dressage, and Area Novice
Dressage competitions. Last year, there were 25 teams of 4 children
competing. The Prix Caprilli tests the rider's ability, whereas dressage
tests that of both horse & rider together. Area 12 consists of 24
different Pony Club branches, covering Berkshire, Bedfordshire,
Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire, Middlesex &
London (Hyde Park & Wormwood Scrubs (!) areas).
5
Sep Barnet Horse Fair.
Gypsies and their horses, a real
sight to behold. Held at
Greengates Stables
Reeds Farm
Mays Lane
Barnet
Herts EN5 2AQ
Google map/directions
here
To accompany the google map showing the location of the Barnet Horse Fair,
here are some instructions as well. Although it is held over three days, I
suggest that anyone who wishes to go only bothers about the first day, 5th
September, a Monday. The best route in is probably on the M25 and then
take the Bignell's Corner turn-off, better known as the South Mymms
junction, onto the A1. Continue to the Stirling Corner roundabout, and
turn
into Barnet Lane (towards Barnet, not Elstree!). This is a particularly
nasty large, roundabout, so everyone be careful.
If anyone is coming in from the Stanmore area, follow the A41 to the A1
and
head towards Barnet. It will bring you to the roundabout described above.
Go right round into Barnet Lane towards Barnet.
Continue along Barnet Lane until you reach a set of traffic lights with
the
Barnet Gate pub on the corner of the junction. Continue over the lights
and
take the turning immediately on your right past the pub. It is very close
to the pub, so watch out for it. This is Barnet Gate Lane. Keep driving
for about a mile, maybe a little further. Watch out for two almost
identical sharp right hand corners. You are almost bound to meet a vehicle
coming from the opposite direction on these bends. By now you should start
seeing police cones along the road-side, and you can't miss the entrance
to
the Horse Fair field on the right, as it is usually busy with cars and
horse-boxes. The name of the farm is Greengates, but if you come in from
the direction I have given, you will see the fair before reaching the farm
gate.
The fair, as far as I am aware, is not sign-posted from any road. You will
only know where it is when you see the cones. Then you are getting warm.
There is an entry charge; last year I think it was £5.00, no concessions!
There are portaloos, but even the chap who runs the fair advises not to
use
them - the field opposite is quite accommodating, but has public footpaths
running through it! But there are plenty of food and drink stands.
Please will you put the map and instructions on the website for anyone who
wishes to go to the Fair. In case anyone needs to get in touch with me on
the day, my mobile no. is 07833551112.
Phone either me or
Georgina Oliver (020 8368 8203) for details.
As artists, it is
important to take time to assess the stage you have reached in your art
career. One fine method of self-scrutiny is by exhibiting, or by visiting
exhibitions, particularly those involving the work of your peers. The
SEA
exhibitions last year, held in the Mall Galleries,
London, and Palace
House, Newmarket, were enlightening to all. Attending with a completely
open mind will teach you tons. Being judgemental is all very well, but it
does hinder the learning curve.
Life is always the sweeter for something to aim at. So, when I throw these
workshops at you, it is from the bottom of my teaching heart that I offer
you these opportunities to explore your potential.
On the subject of
exploration, we have had 4 lovely life drawing days, with wonderfully
professional models. During the long hours in the warmth of my studio, and
between cups of tea and mouthfuls of cake, we practised a lot of fast
drawing, and followed themes such as distortion in perspective. We also
practised indicating lines of energy from within the form of the body.
While I watched some people go bravely straight in with a loaded brush, I
found it both exciting and rewarding. Next winter, I hope to organise even
more sessions like this, including a couple of ½ and 1-day long poses.
Please give me a call to book yourself in, because they are now very
popular. They are brilliant for your overall spontaneity.
Enjoy.......
PS Same as last year, summer sessions will be £20 per workshop, and
will run from
10am to 4pm. |
