Thoughts From an Oldie

Written by Hilary Finch

Spring is on it's way and as I write I have a few tiny crocuses popping up amongst the daffodils now showing their leaves. I am looking forward to the sky blue of my forget-me-nots that grow without any effort from me. The various storms fortunately have done little damage to my garden. Even when the weather is awful and I am hunkered down in my front room, flowers and nature are a backbone of my various art efforts. The sense of connectedness, growth, the colours, the stretching open of leaves, minute movements all play a part in my approach to handling a pen or a brush. I am not a professional artist, I would call myself a dabbler who occasionally comes up with a piece to feel proud of, that to me has a clear image or successful expression. Like so many of us I need change, a trip, an outing, just seeing something fresh to feel stimulated, to keep going rather than just ticking along. Now with free movement back on the map I am being a proper oldie and going on a 5 day coach trip to South West Wales in late March. This, I hope, will be a bit of an adventure and provide me with companionship too and possibly even new friends! Luxury coach, food provided and a bed to sleep in all sounds good to me plus the fabulous views in that part of our nation. I will take some sketching tools with me. Perhaps following this I will actually come up with a decent painting on canvas. I hope this will prove more exciting that the regular scribbles I have taken to doing while listening to the BBC!

Montpelier and St. Pauls Art Trail

Written by Hilary Finch

It has been quite a few years since Montpelier had it's own art trail so I am getting another one going to include St Paul's. The dates that have been decided by a small group of us who met last year at the Old England pub are the weekend of September 24th and 25th. The usual routine for these events is for people to exhibit in their homes along with a friend or group of people. Cafes and pubs might also be interested. The Cafe at St Paul's Learning Centre could also be available. I talked to Jem the manager at SPLC who feels it might be possible to use the big hall there too, but this would need negotiating by anyone wanting to. Costs are involved, but a good idea for the community might see a way to minimising these. We have a Facebook page but I think it is time I had email addresses for people who want to take part so I can easily keep in touch with progress. Ideas are of course welcome as we will need to print a map of participants in due course that I will need someone good with graphics and the internet to deal with. Printing will involve some cash and the amount will partly depend on the numbers of people taking part.

My email address is hilarypfinch@yahoo.co.uk or I can be reached through Facebook messaging. I am wary of getting a WhatsApp group as the constant pinging of it drives me nuts!

The area will involve streets between the M32 and St Andrews Road in Montpelier and Ashley Hill and Stokes Croft/Cheltenham Road.