Hi Everyone
Welcome to 2026 – we kicked it off in fine style last night with a masterclass in painting shadows in portraits from Nick Logan and we had a record attendance of 45 people in January, so thank you to everyone who attended and thank you for renewing your membership with us.
Our next meetings are DYOT on 26 Jan 7pm to 9pm and our AGM/Art Materials Auction/Buffet on 9 Feb 7pm to 9pm. Please bring some cash if you are bidding on the auction as it is easier to settle up in cash. You wont need much as our prices are very low if anyone has any items to donate please let me and we can arrange pick up or drop off.
The AGM Agenda will be issued after our committee meeting tomorrow night and will include the election of the committee – Alan Briggs has stood down from the committee this year as he is moving away from Hinckley to his next big adventure near the Dorset coast. We would like to thank Alan for his contribution to HDSA and all the help he has given especially in relation to the advertising artwork which we will still continue to use. If anyone would like to join the Committee then you would be most welcome – there are 4 meetings a year and then support for our events and you can contribute however, you feel comfortable. Just let me know if you are interested in becoming a committee member ASAP in advance of the AGM.
We have our Watercolour Workshop with Ian McManus on Friday 20 February 10am to 4pm – the price is £30 and there is one place left so get in quick if you would like to come. To those already booked please can you send payment through if you have not done already and I will issue the joining instructions in the next couple of weeks.
If anyone would like a stall at our Art & Craft Fair on Sat 9 May 10am to 4pm please let me know ASAP – we will have 8 stalls available as the middle room will be used for our Art Competition Display, which this year will be the subject of ‘Life On Earth’ in honour of David Attenborough’s 100th year. BCAF are holding a big event at the library and we will be co-ordinating so all the visitors come both ways. Stalls are £10 each – you can share with another member if you want to or have one just for you – items for sale should be handmade but can be any type of art or craft. If you don’t have your own credit card machine, the HDSA one will be available to take card payments for you.
We will also be making another HDSA Fragmented Picture, this time along the theme of animals, Carol West will be issuing more details in due course so we can get it ready for the August Exhibition.
If you have decided not to renew your membership for 2026 then we wish you all the best!! I will remove you from the distribution list so you don’t get all the HDSA emails going forwards from a data protection perspective. If you would like to still hear about what is going on, however, please just drop me a note and then I can included you on a separate ‘info’ distribution list for the programme and details of the exhibition.
If you would still like to renew just let me know and payment can be made by bank transfer or cash at one of our next meetings.
Finally just a reminder point on parking so I don’t get in trouble with the church – we generally save the space next to the hall extension entrance for our demo artist as often they have a lot of equipment to bring in on Demo Night – so please keep this space free. The space immediately next to the church side entrance is rented by a neighbour of the church, so even if it is empty when we have one of our meetings we need to keep it open in case the neighbour returns, they will come and get you to move your car if this happens!!
All The Best
Sara Wykes
HDSA Secretary