Hello Sailor?

Tuesday 4 August 2015 from 10am.

Our next get-together will be at Roath Park Lake where we can hire a rowing boat and draw a ducks-eye view over the waves (or wander lakeside and sketch the vegetation, waterfowl and people).
If the weather isn't good then we can pop into the Botanical Conservatory.
Meet by the white lighthouse, draw, then afterwards to the lakeside cafe!

Roath Park location:
Roath Park images: 
Roath Park info:

Cardiff's new Central Square

Read Richard's letter to the Editor of the Western Mail regarding a 4th Plinth proposal for Cardiff's new Central Square development. This will also be forwarded to Phil Bale, Leader of Cardiff City Council.

A Letter from members of the Vale of Glamorgan Artists and the Cardiff Drawing Group suggesting a further input into the planning and development of Cardiff’s Central Square.

4th Plinth at Cardiff’s Central Square?
   The development plans for Cardiff’s Central Square show bright, colourful buildings full of space and light using various textural surfaces. All well and good but there appears only one fairly formal art work and that is a sculpture and no more. Wall reliefs and murals are nowhere seen.
   Is this wonderful opportunity for public art in our capital city to be met with so little enthusiasm, even ignored? 
   Compare London's Trafalgar Square where the success of the 4th Plinth has invigorated the area - google it and see for yourself. The plinth idea could be easily incorporated into the scheme of things at Central Square. The Welsh capital's 4th Plinth – sounds good and why not? Also, around the plinth could be a designated performance space for actors, musicians and street artists.
   Architecture is supposed to be the ‘Mother of the Arts’ in which case Mum could be showing a bit more support for her little arts off spring. We request the city planners and architects to instil some sense of urgency and importance into installing a Public Art plinth into the Central Square showcase development. 
   It will mean a changing art work, a challenging opportunity for the arts and crafts community and the general public. In other words Art for All. 
   The development of an Arts Centre in Pendyris Street (old Tram station site) off Clare Road and Taff Mead Embankment means a focus site is already being established which can facilitate a plinth development plan.
   So Cardiff do it…. one plinth please.

Signed by the following artists:-
   Richard O’Connell -  Painter
   Karen Hughes - Ceramicist  / Painter
   Allan Brown - Painter / Ceramicist

Saturday 11 July

10:45am - Drawing at St. Augustine’s Churchyard, Upper Penarth.
Amazing views over Cardiff Bay, a variety of monumental tombstones, etc.
Bring hat/scarf it can be very windy - this is the highest point for many miles.
12 noon we're off to the nearby Pilot pub and restaurant, to recover, review and replenish.....

Recent drawings

Sunday 7 June

Sunday 7 June 2015 from 11am. till 4pm.

Join us for a few hours (or stay all day) for a session of drawing in the countryside at Goldsland Farm in this secret, hidden valley.

You are welcome to come as a visiting artist, to sketch the animals, farm machinery, old barns, woodlands and wildlife. And you could also bring your family for a fascinating day out in the countryside!
This is a FREE event - no entrance charge.

Click HERE for a map.
Click HERE for information from the farmer.

Sunday 17 May from 10am

Sunday 17 May 2015 from 10am till 12 noon
Meet in the main hall of the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff.
Free entry.
Coffees and a chat in one of the cafes afterwards (upstairs or downstairs).
There'll be a free lunchtime concert that day at 1pm.
There's an interesting display of Cedric Morris portraits.
An exhibition of glass art pieces.
And there are always the dinosaurs :-)

Saturday 25 April from 10am till 12 noon

'Bryn' was a bit of a poser.

Drawing at Cardiff Riding School

Get to know the many horses and ponies at this hidden gem in Pontcanna Fields, Cardiff, CF5 2AX 

Stables, livery yards, indoor and outdoor riding arenas.

Check out the location map on their Facebook page.

Coffee and cakes afterwards at the nearby PedalPower cafe.

https://www.facebook.com/CardiffRidingSchool
http://www.cardiffpedalpower.org/

We meet at 10am outside the Cardiff Riding School entrance.

Bring your own drawing materials and favourite sketchbook.

(Undercover areas available if the weather is unsettled!)

There's a big free carpark near the top end of Cathedral Road.
Turn right (after the Halfway Pub) into Fields Park Road, then the third turning right leads into a very big dead-end free car parking area.

Pontcanna Fields are alongside.

The riding school is a short walk away, northwards, up the footpath.

See you there.

Sunday 7 June 2015

Here's a date for your diary -

All day drawing at Goldsland Farm, near Wenvoe.
Beautiful countryside setting with huge old barns, farm machinery, tractors, cattle, knobbly trees, wild flowers, insects, etc.

More information available soon.

Tai Chi

... click HERE to view larger images ...

Penarth Pier

Tai Chi drawing session in March

On Friday 27 March 2015 from 10:30am till 12:30 we have been invited to draw at Tai Chi classes to be held in Llanishen, Cardiff

.... more information ....

Fancy a day at the seaside?

We're drawing at Penarth pier - Saturday 28 Feb from 2pm.

.... click for information....

 

Penarth Pier Pavillion
Cafe - Cinema - Art Gallery

Friday 30 Jan 2015 at 5pm.

DRAWING DANCERS
National Dance Company Wales have an open rehearsal at 5pm in the Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. Anyone can come along, either to watch or to draw the dancers as they rehearse. It is free but you need a ticket (available from WMC box office or reserve online/by phone).

Meet in the Millennium Centre foyer before 4:50pm

See National Dance Company Wales for more details.
See Millennium Centre website to book free tickets.

"In the run up to our tour première we hold Open Rehearsals at the Dance House, Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. These give an opportunity to come and see the choreographer and dancers in action during the creative process, taking some of the mystery out of how work is created and giving a real behind-the-scenes taste of your National Dance Company."

Entrance is free but ticketed via Wales Millennium Centre on 029 2063 6464 

You’re welcome to sketch or simply watch the rehearsal.

Saturday 31 Jan 2015 from 10am.

Looking for somewhere warm to spend a Saturday morning?
Then join us at the National Museum, Cardiff.
Pursue your own interesting projects or take up the drawing challenge
of the day - TEXTURES.
Animal fur, crystals & rocks, paint on canvas, polished metal, scaly skin, 
tree bark, draped satin fabrics, cold smooth marble, soft mossy mounds?
Meet at 10am, draw, coffee and a chat at 11:30am.
Free entrance, bring your own sketch book, etc.

Hello 2015

Saturday 10 Jan 2015 from 10am

Wishing a Happy New Year to all sketchers everywhere.

Join us for our first drawing session of 2015 at the National Museum Cardiff.

You can find inspiration among the thousands of fascinating exhibits at this wonderful museum or, if you like a little discipline, then the subject of the day will be EYES!

Human eyes, insect eyes, strange octopus eyes.
Sculpted eyes, painted eyes, drawn eyes.
Egyptian eyes or eye of the tiger.

What will you draw?

You'll miss all the best things if you keep your eyes shut.
See yourself through the eyes of others.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
The eyes are the mirror of the soul.
Eyes wide open, eyes wide shut.
The night has a thousand eyes.
You are the apple of my eye.
Can't believe my own eyes.
I'll keep an eye on you.
Turn a blind eye.
The I's have it.

Season's Greetings

Wishing a Happy Christmas and New Year to all sketchers.
Put a date in your diaries now for our next drawing session at the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff on Saturday 10 January 2015 from 10 till 12.

Saturday 6 December from 10 till 12

Remember to join us for another lovely drawing session at the museum.

National Museum of Wales, Cardiff
Meet in the foyer at 10am.
Free entry - everyone welcome

Saturday 1 November from 10am

Lots of things to sketch at the National Museum, Cardiff ...

We meet in the Main Hall reception area at 10:00
We draw
We drink coffee and chat at 11:30
Free entry, see you there ... bring your sketchbook and a friend

Cardiff Open Studios Weekend

Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th October 2014
Artists are everywhere but not often visible!
( Don't miss The Broadway Drawing School with work by Jac Saorsa and Anna Polya )
Visit the Cardiff Open Studios website for information .....

The more you go, the more you find..

We've had excellent drawing sessions at the National Museum of Wales - nice to see new people at the last 2 visits.

The museum is a godsend in the winter months (dry, warm, free) as well as being a huge resource area for inspiration.

Everyone’s drawings showed the benefits of working as part of the group and also in isolation - knowing others will see your work puts an extra spur into one’s efforts!?!

The coffee and chat afterwards provided a further chance to look at our different working approaches.

So another two sessions have been arranged at the museum -
Saturday 1st November and Saturday 6th December 2014
Meet in the main reception area at 10am.

Museum sketching

.... click HERE to view larger images ....

 

Saturday 4 Oct from 10am at Cardiff Museum

Lots of things to see and draw at the National Museum of Wales Cardiff

Handle specimens and use microscopes in the Discovery Room ...
Look at the I Spy.. Nature exhibits and sketch the insects ...
Visit the Richard Wilson landscape show and see his sketchbooks ...
Get inspired by the Prints of the First World War exhibition ...

Meet in the Main Hall reception area from 10am to 10:15am.
Free entry, see you there ..... bring your sketchbook and a friend.

Cardiff Life magazine

Issue 121 September 2014 of the Cardiff Life magazine has mentioned us as part of an article on being creative in Cardiff. Take a look at page 33.

Saturday 27 Sept 10am - 12 noon drawing at the National Museum of Wales Cardiff

Things to do – visit the Richard Wilson landscape show and see his sketchbooks / visit the I Spy.. Nature show and sketch the insects ...

Meet at the Main Hall reception area from 10am to 10:15am and then upstairs to the Wilson show ...
Coffee at 11:30am
Free entry, see you there ..... bring a friend.

Two mornings at the Museum

We love drawing at the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff
Join us on two mornings, Saturday 27 September and Saturday 4 October, for an exhibition of work by the Welsh artist, Richard Wilson, who exerted a powerful influence upon the art of Constable and Turner. See his sketchbooks and draw from his landscape paintings.

Afterwards, sketch the gulls and birds of prey in the Nature Gallery on the ground floor! They hang suspended and don’t fly around annoyingly, as when outdoors .......

Meet in the foyer at 10am.
Free entry - everyone welcome
.... more information ....

Drawing at Cardiff Bay

.... click HERE to view larger images ....

Drawing at Cardiff Bay Beach 2

Monday 18 August from 6pm

Here we go again ………..

Meet after 6pm inside the Wales Millennium Centre. Same as last time, by the ground floor performance stage (there will be a free music session from 6:15pm - Youth Orchestra performance) so we could sketch again from inside the cafe, looking outwards to the Cardiff Bay Beach or looking inwards to the performance.    .... more information ....

Drawing at Cardiff Bay Beach

Tuesday 12 August from 5:30pm

A variety of things will be happening at Cardiff Bay that we can sketch - people at the funfair, seaside rides, food and craft stalls, giant deckchairs in the sand and volleyball tournaments on the beach, starting at 5:30pm and continuing until late. Free to watch (and draw!!!!).
 
Zumba taster sessions.
A free jazz performance at the Millennium Centre.

Lots of cafes and outdoor/indoor venues in case of changeable weather.
Meet 5:30 to 6pm inside the Millennium Centre by the ground-floor stage.
Or join us later in the evening, outside at the Cardiff Bay Beach.
Will you be there?  .... more information .... 

Drawing the landscape

Five A4 panels make up this joint landscape drawing by Anna and Linda
click to enlarge

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details

Wednesday 30 July from 10am

All day drawing session at Coed Craig Ruperra, Lower Machen.

more information ......

Sketching in the museum

10am Friday 23 May - draw at the Museum

Anna has arranged a drawing session at the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff on Friday 23 May.

Free entry - everyone welcome

Meet in the foyer at 10am then go to the upper gallery for the exhibition by Andrea Büttner looking at parallels between the drawings of Gwen John and mosses.

The exhibition features over 80 drawings and watercolours by Gwen John selected by Andrea Büttner – many on public display for the very first time. These feature in the installation alongside new work by Büttner across a range of media including photography, drawing, sound, and sculpture.

Artist in Australia

Richard has been visiting his daughter in Sydney and couldn't resist the challenge of sketching the Harbour Bridge.

"Sydney Harbour Bridge is ideal for drawing: painted dark grey and made up of box-like sections with huge cross spans.

From the ends it appears as a gigantic piece of meccano. 
Seen from the side it is a graceful arc.

My first attempt, a painting, failed and was destroyed. My second attempt, now shown, has a poetical element.

The moon is really in that position down under. And the little boy was really there at the water’s edge, fishing.

I would like to make a third attempt just to capture the sheer massiveness of the structure".

...oops...

... our meeting at the Lansdowne on Thursday has been postponed ... a new date will be arranged in March.

Before the end of the month ...

Thursday 20 Feb - 11am to 1pm - at Turner House Gallery, Penarth.
Everyone welcome to meet at the gallery and get inspiration from the current exhibitions We Make the Path by Walking and Clear of People
Free admission
Tables, chairs, tea and coffee provided.

Thursday 27 Feb - meet and draw at the Lansdowne Pub
The Lansdowne Pub, Canton, Cardiff, CF5 1PU Tel: 02920221312
A regular CDG get-together spot.
Arrive about 7pm
Bring sketching materials.

Museum sketches

At the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff.

IMPORTANT CHANGE OF DATE

The second drawing session at the National Museum, Cardiff was previously planned for a Saturday but this has now been changed to the morning of Sunday 2 Feb.
See new information below -

A double dose of drawing ....

Friday 31 January 2014 from 10am to 12pm
Sunday 2 February 2014 from 10am to 12pm

Come to both mornings if you can, or choose just one session of drawing at the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff
Meet in the foyer before going to the upper gallery of the Natural History department with the whale, slippery things in bottles and the Alfred Wallace ‘Evolutionist show’!!!!

-     maximum size boards / paper is A3

-     drawing materials only - no paints

-     chairs provided

FREE admission

Read all about us

Visit the OSSJAY website for a write-up about our current exhibition.