NEWTON St Cyres Art Club members received a demonstration in acrylics by artist James Tatum on November 25.

James is well-known locally and internationally, a SW Academician and a prolific painter.

He didn’t aim to produce a finished painting in the time allowed, but demonstrated a variety of techniques with a focus on structure (the 2D shape on the canvas) and composition (the 3D arrangement of shapes).

He stressed the importance of drawing daily, if possible outdoors, to capture the atmosphere of a place. He likes to do numerous thumbnail sketches then work on the composition later in the studio.

Working on 300lb Saunders Waterford paper, primed with a mid-tone of yellow ochre, he rapidly sketched a few lines, then vigorously slapped on dark paint with a wide decorator’s brush.

This was then rubbed with a wet J-Cloth.

He then added sky colour and reworked the dark areas.

He compared the structure of a painting to the steel in a building – essential but it should be invisible when work is completed.

He advised us not to let the background become too busy, and not to be distracted by detail.

Atmosphere is paramount, and one should paint with passion, otherwise why paint? His technique is energetic and adventurous, as he believes one shouldn’t have a specific plan but instead discover something during the painting process.

He used a variety of implements (spatula, squeegee, credit card) and a range of marks.

In a second demonstration, he showed us how to balance a composition, using light and dark areas, and including vertical, horizontal and diagonal lines.

Jenny Hallam