Thank you to all of our Members and Friends who have contributed entries for our monthly competitions over the past few months. It has been wonderful to see how you have continued to enthusiastically respond to a given theme. I am so sorry that somehow, and I’ve no idea how, I forgot to arrange the judging at the end of October. Thank you to Sean Perry for giving me a needed nudge! As a result, the October and November entries were combined and Rosemary Scott with her wonderful depiction of ‘Autumn colour’ won the competition, and her painting was the banner for our group page throughout December.

We have had several Members and Friends posting their own paintings outside of the competition as well. Wonderful. This all helps to give our group page a lively and interactive feel. Just as it should be.

Lively conversations have continued with an interesting exchange of paintings by Friend Jane Burch and Member Catherine Smith talking about their ways of depicting the view through a wet window using watercolour.

Since our last newsletter, the winners of our Facebook competition have been –

October / November – ‘Autumn colour’ – Rosemary Scott

 

December – ‘Winter warmth’ – Jane Burch

 

January – ‘Deux chevaux, Brittany’ by Lesley Munro

Please continue to add positive and supportive comments to everyone who posts to encourage us all in our artistic endeavours. It can take a lot of courage to post a painting onto our group page, so let’s all do our best to applaud them.

Do check the Facebook group to find out what the current theme for February is, then get your brushes out and post your submissions. Selection will be made after 6pm on 28th of February.

And now, what comes next?

My own time on the SEAW committee comes to an end at the February 2023 AGM.

I have been immensely proud to have led the support for the SEAW Friends over the past three years which has engaged me with many of our wonderful Members and Friends. Thank you to each and every one of you who I have got to know, correspond with, worked together with to suggest, write and edit articles for the newsletters. So many of you have contributed in many different ways. I have learnt such a lot and been so inspired by you all! I will still be a Member of the SEAW and hope to continue the friendships formed. Please do keep in touch. Whilst at the time of writing there is not a definite successor to my role, I am hopeful that this important aspect of our society will continue going forward. If there are any Friends who would like to support the Friends work alongside the new committee, please contact me or alternatively email contactseaw@gmail.com.

Lastly, just keep painting and enjoy the wonderful challenge that is watercolour!

Penny Newman

Friends Liaison Officer