ODIHAM ART GROUP
Charles Evans
Acrylic Workshop Review
Charles’ workshop didn’t disappoint. He did two demonstrations for us, one on watercolour paper, (he thinks it’s the best for Acrylic) and one on a canvas.
Charles guided us meticulously through creating our own acrylic landscape painting. Starting with … ‘slapping on the sky’ (Charles’ words), a quick tea break whilst that dried and then we drew our landscape in pencil. Daler Rowney would be mortified to learn that Charles’ pencil was from Ikea!
We painted the island and then the reflections of the lock. The water came next, followed by the waves and the foreground foliage. Lastly was the tree, which sent everyone in turmoil as we all thought at this point that we would ruin our masterpieces! But we went for it, under Charles’ encouragement that it would all work out for the best.
Charles signed the canvas he painted and once again very kindly donated it to our Christmas raffle.
OAG 2025 Annual Exhibition
Review
2025 was a superb year for our Annual Exhibition resulting in 41 sales over the three days.
Once again Chris Sharp lead her brilliant team and army of volunteers through a well rehearsed schedule to ensure that the both the Preview Evening and two days thereafter was a success on all fronts.
Stewart Beckett, a professional artist and regular demonstrator at OAG meetings, judged the Award of Merit Winners as follows:
Ann Grigg Preening Kingfisher
Patricia Harris Just Chilling
Amel Gembidge Asymmetric Vase
Also commended were Jillian Smith (Venice Scene), Alysoun Sanders (Seville Scene), Hannah Edwards (A splash of colour) and Hilary Dancer (Urban Echos).
The Peter Adams trophy for People's Choice Award
Winner: Ann Grigg Preening Kingfisher
Runner Up: Christine Sharp Towards Ingleborough
Preening Kingfisher
Just Chilling
Asymmetric Vase
Saturday 6 December
Christmas Meeting
Chris Fosey: Mixed Media
We have chosen this occasion to mark our 50th Anniversary as the Odiham Art Group. As befits the occasion we have pushed the boat out and will be opening Champagne to share with all members.
To enjoy all that Champagne, and more importantly to share time with friends, we will be open from the earlier time of 1:15pm.
Our Christmas Competition this year is to create an original Christmas card. It can be in any media but should not be larger than A5 and we would like it mounted on a folded sheet of A4 card. Members will vote for their favorite and a presentation will be made during the normal tea break. There will be three prizes with a bottle of champagne for the first place winner.
All members are invited to participate in the raffle for the chance to win one of two paintings provided by Charlie Evans and Nick Stewart.
The demonstration will be provided by Chris Forsey - read details.
Saturday 5 July AGM
OAG Committee Reorganise
2025 saw many of the current committee standing down after considerable years of support and commitment to the OAG. It cannot be underestimated how important the committee and the wider group of volunteers are to the success of the club and the AGM is the perfect time to show our thanks.
On behalf of the OAG I would like to thank the following members who are standing down:
Maureen Ashworth Chair
Mike Fox Programme Manager
Ann Grigg - Membership Secretary
Abigail Devenny - Treasurer
I would like to thank volunteers:
Jan Mabbot, Trish Kearney, Anne Morris - Refreshments
Peter Peacock - Video (live demonstration)
Nigel Honan, John Lewis, Nick Hithersay - room set up
I would like to thank:
Zoe Cox - Programme Manager new
Hannah Edwards - Treasurer new
Carol Mullis - Secretary new
Linda Wright - Chair and Web Manager
Christine Sharp - Exhibition Manager who continues in post
Before we close for the year we will be hosting our annual Exhibition managed by Chris Sharp and another fantastic team of volunteers who we couldn't be without. The Exhibition is open to all members but you must submit your entry form by Friday 25 July.
Ann Grigg, Mike Fox, Maureen Ashworth Linda Wright and Chris Sharp
Christine Francis, Hannah Edwards, Zoe Cox, Linda Wright, Carol Mullis, Chris Sharp
Saturday 5 July AGM
Demonstration: Pastels
Join us for a very sociable Annual General Meeting, followed by a pastel demonstration from Jayne Perkins.
Our doors will be open from 12:30 to ensure you can find a table to share with friends and drop off competition entries.
At 1:00 the AGM begins promptly where will review the clubs financial situation and say our thanks to parting members of the committee and welcome new members. All official business will end promptly at 1:30 in time to enjoy a free lunch with wine and soft drinks.
As normal, all members are invited to submit a favorite painting for our painting competition. Members can submit one painting and should provide a table top stand if available. Entries will be judged by members during lunch and prizes awarded following the demonstration.
The demonstration starts at its usual time of 2:30pm.
Joan Crawford in the 'Spotlight' ...
As many of you will know, Joan Crawford has been an active member of the OAG for more than 20 years. During this period, she has occupied almost every position on the Committee and regularly exhibited throughout the south of England. However, recent events have managed to take Joan a little by surprise.
Joan was delighted to receive the news that her career as an abstract artist had been warmly appreciated by the team at 'Artists & Illustrators' who shone the spotlight on her work, featuring her in July's edition of the magazine. During the interview, Joan discussed her path to abstract art and the joy it continues to give her.
Next month, Joan will achieve another milestone in her career when she becomes the first client of Gallery Thirteen to host a solo exhibition. She hopes to exhibit 25 pieces and is very excited with the opportunity to share her work. She describes her paintings as 'a form of communication that doesn't use words (that derives) from an inspiration from within.'
You can see Joan's exhibition from 13 June, Gallery Thirteen, Haslemere. For more information see Exhibitions
Later in the year, Joan will open her studio as part of the Hampshire Open Studio Programme.
Outdoor Sketching and Painting Days
May - September 2025
Jane Mackay, an OAG member, would be delighted if fellow members would join her on one or all of these 'Outdoor Sketching' days.
If you would like to take part Jane would love to hear from you, please email .
Tuesday May 20: Blackbush Airport
On A30 going east from Hartley Wintney. Meet at the Pathfinder Café which serves all day breakfast, coffee etc and has a garden which overlooks the airfield. Wander around car park to see lots of small aircraft and a path out onto Heathland.
Saturday 21 June: Sherfield on Loddon
Rural Village. Meet outside the village shop in the centre of the village. Plenty to see. Duckpond, pretty cottages around the large green, village pubs etc
Friday 19th September: Odiham Village
Meet by the church. Village houses, church, interesting doors and high street waiting to be sketched
Christmas Special
Despite the best efforts of storm Darragh, our Christmas Meeting was very well supported.
As befits the occasion we were able to share wine, mince pies and the usual teas and coffees with all our members who had braved the weather to join us.
A large number of paintings were entered into the 'favourite painting competition'. The entries were of their usual high standard and were very much appreciated by all members. First prize went to Jenny Kennish for a sensitive oil portrait and second prize was awarded to Annie Godwin for a warm interior study.
Maggie Jackson was our delighted raffle prize winner who was able to go home with an original water colour painting donated by Charles Evans.
OAG in the Spotlight ...
The Odiham Art Group appears in the Autumn edition of the Paint & Create Magazine - published by the SAA (Society of All Artists).
The article not only outlines the "long history" of our group but illustrates the way the group successfully runs its demonstration and workshop programme culminating in our major exhibition in August.
The article demonstrates why our group achieves the success it does - with 140 members regularly participating in their love of art through the activities organised by the OAG Committee.
With a magazine circulation of 30,000 the article certainly puts the Odiham Art Group in the "spotlight."
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OAG Welcomes New Members
Even before our first session of the season has officially opened we were delighted to receive new membership applications.
We would like to welcome the following new members and hope they enjoy a long and fruitful experience among their fellow artists:
Emma Booth
Elizabeth Burnes
Angela Cardiff
Zoe Cox
Patricia Dennis (returning member)
Hannah Edwards
Dione Johnson (returning member)
PS We're pretty good at cake as well!
OAG Annual Exhibition 2024 Review
Once again, we are delighted to announce that support for our annual show broke all records with more than 600 visitors!
Visitors made a point of acknowledging both the outstanding quality of works and the professional manner in which the Show had been hosted.
We are extremely proud of all those members who took part and offer our congratulations to the winners. This year's awards were judged by Julia Cassells, a professional artist and regular demonstrator at OAG meetings.
Award or Merit
Jillian Smith with ‘Quiet Waters’
Jenny Johnson with ‘Beyond the Stream’
Alysoun Sanders with ‘Bembridge Boats’
The winner of the Peter Adam’s Trophy in the Visitors Choice was:
Viv Cummins with ‘Tabby Kitten’
Runner up was Moira Stewart with ‘Indian Girl’
It cannot be underestimated how challenging it is to organise and deliver an event as large as this and we are indebted to Christine Sharp and her amazing team who make this happen year after year.
If you would like to exhibit your work at the 2025 OAG Summer Exhibition and be part of the Odiham Art Group please read our membership details and get in touch.
OAG In Print!
We are delighted to announce that the OAG will be featured as an article in the Society of All Artist's (SAA) Magazine in the Autumn edition. The SAA was founded as a commercial organisation in 1992 and now has over 30,000 members, both professional and amateur artists, owned by the Cass Art Group - who run a number of art shops in the UK.
One of the many articles in Print & Create is an Art Club Spotlight and we thought it would be a good idea to get OAG spotlighted and the magazine's editor agreed.
The article outlines the structure of our group, its longevity and success, plus our membership size, notably larger than most other art groups. We have submitted a number of photos which we hope will be featured throughout the article.
Members pay an annual fee around £45 for the art services, 900 + videos, support for art groups, access to tutorials/demonstrations/workshops, four magazines a year and a full range of art materials that can be ordered (at lower prices than normal art retailers).
