James Davies was the artist last week. 'Travel and tricks' was the title - and that is exactly what we got. This was much more than a demo, in actual fact the 'demo part' was crammed into the last 30 minutes of the evening.
What we enjoyed last Thursday was a little bit of everything. James started with drawing a simple line, then asked us to describe what exactly a 'line' is. "History of a movement" was his take on it. A simple statement that got the capacity audience thinking. He then moved on to an in depth look at the other basics of drawing and painting - Texture, Pattern and Composition. James encouraged discussion and shared his inventive thought processes and techniques.
He also shared with us some of his adventures, which were both fascinating and at times very amusing.
A slide show of his work followed. All of his earlier points about structure and inventiveness were there to see in the semi abstract landscapes that were on view.
James then did his 'Rolf Harris bit' as he put it. Another abstract landscape was created before our eyes. James dispensed with the need of a palette by squeezing the paints straight on to the canvas from the tubes.
Another nice fact that he shared with us was that he always has an empty frame at hand, ready to slip the canvas into at he end of a session. It didn't really matter to him whether it was finished or not, he would mull it over and perhaps even change the subject completely on another day.
James Davies is a Glasgow born artist who studied drawing and painting at Glasgow school of Art. He has work hanging in the Glasgow City Chambers and has been commissioned in the past to work in the Vatican.
What has been happening elsewhere?
Our art neighbours over in Dalry have been enjoying their own lecture on the science of colour.
Duncan Watt delivered a lecture on the truth about how we see colour and the way sight and brain interpretation can alter perception.
Here are some photographs of Duncan in action.
