Spring has Sprung

Spring has certainly sprung on our website!  Due to the pandemic starting in 2020 all club activities were suspended and subsequently throughout that year everyone started to feel disconnected with any club they belonged to, uncertain when activities would start again. Some artists became less creative and feeling uninspired. In 2021 Linda and Margaret decided to bring the club evening challenge to the website and encourage as many members and non members to feel inspired and still part of a club. Margaret suggested 'Spring Flowers', hoping that a breath of new life in nature would bring a little inspiration and hope.

Linda chose Jess Marlow to be our impartial judge. Jess is one of our followers on social media.

An Introduction to Jess - in her own words

"I’m one of those people who can never pass an open art gallery or bookshop without venturing inside to explore. Over the years, my love of reading gradually morphed from an interest to something to writing pieces for various publications and, in more recent years, to reviewing.

Art though has always remained simply something I get great pleasure from. Not that I haven’t tried my hand, I have, and own several shirts that still bear evidence of my forays into the mysteries of watercolour, pottery, and linocut. Fortunately, a woeful inability to produce anything of artistic merit has never dulled my enthusiasm, it’s just served to increase my appreciation. Needless to say, I’ve been an avid follower of Penrith Art Club’s online exhibitions this year, and was more than a tad excited (It may even have involved dancing!) to be asked to judge this year’s still life competition. My thanks go to Penrith Art Club and all the contributing artists".

This years Challenge winner picked by Jess is....

It certainly wasn’t an easy decision, but I’ve chosen as my winner ‘Jane Holt 1’. I love paintings that really make you look at them, and this one held my attention for the longest time. Not only does it capture the naturalness of spring flowers, the background is so intriguing with its hints of what might be on the shelves.

Jane won a £10 voucher for Rheged to spend on anything.

Peoples choice winner

We wanted to involve the public this year in voting for their favourite painting. In a twist to this category the artist wasn't going to win a prize but a voter. Julie Inkersole won the public choice painting and our very own Chair-lady, Christine won a small sketch pad and three fine liner pens. Thank you to Judith who drew the name out of the hat. If you go to our Twitter or Facebook page you will see that draw.

Julie says "Thank you for voting for Spring Sprung. The competition definitely encouraged me to try new things. Big thanks to the organisers". 😊

Well done to all the winners and thank you to everyone who entered paintings, voted and viewed the challenge. I hope the club members inspired you to join a club near you or even pick up a paintbrush for the first time.
If you would like to see all the paintings in all there glory please click here.
All the paintings will be on view for a little while longer. Some may appear in our annual exhibition!
To view previous winners of this challenge please click here.