Lockdown Diaries

Artworks and comments by Members of Hertford Art Society

2020 has been a memorable year. With the UK in lockdown from March due to Coronavirus Pandemic and the balance of the Winter and Summer Programmes 2020 of activities cancelled, leisure activities became restricted. Members of Hertford Art Society were invited to contribute photographs of artworks and comments to the Society’s magazine in order to share their experiences. As things stand, it has been possible to launch the Winter Programme 2020-2021, with appropriate restrictions.

This is a selection of the work produced over the Spring and Summer by a number of our Members together with their comments on the impact of the lockdown.

Lockdown Diaries

Has Anyone Told Ambridge by Geoff Bennett
Lockdown by Geoff Bennett
New Normal by Geoff Bennett
PPE Selfie by Geoff Bennett
Social Distancing by Geoff Bennett
Nicola Dobrowolski
July 2020 Touch by Marianne Dorn
Photo by George Garbutt 2020 oil on canvas
By Gillian Harman
By Gillian Harman
Italian Bliss by Chris Hewitt
Somewhere in Wales by Chris Hewitt
by John Jarratt
by John Jarratt
by John Jarratt
by Lynne Lawrence
by Lynne Lawrence
by Lynne Lawrence
by Lynne Lawrence
by Lynne Lawrence
Youngsbury Ford in April by Pat Mann
Fleet Street by Carol Mountford
Harlow Countryside by Mitiko Murata
Hunsdon Riverwalk by Mitiko Murata
Roydon Bridge by Mitiko Murata
Sorrow by Mitiko Murata
by Jill Mumford
by June Pickard
by Jill Rolf
by Jill Rolf
by Jill Rolf
by Jill Rolf
by Jill Rolf
by Jill Rolf
by Celia Sanders
by Celia Sanders
by Celia Sanders
by Celia Sanders
All Saints Church by Diane Warburton
Captain Sir Tom Moore by Diane Warburton
River Dwelling in Malaysia by Diane Warburton
Rooftops of Dordogne by Diane Warburton
Wish You Were Here by Diane Warburton
by Ray Ward
by Ray Ward
by Ray Ward
by Ray Ward

George Garbutt
“During the early part of the lock down I decided to paint a likeness of the painting by Vermeer – The Girl with a Pearl Earring. This was inspired by a very fleeting visit some years ago to The Hague.

The original picture is quite small only 17.5in x 15in but has a beautiful wide gold frame; I decided to paint on a 20in x 16in canvas. I feel I have learnt some interesting facts while studying the picture and also learnt some useful painting techniques. Vermeer’s painting was created in about 1665 and was known by various titles over the centuries, it was only given its present title towards the end of the 20th century. In fact some experts believe “the pearl” is not a pearl as it is too large, too reflective, the wrong shape and could be polished tin. The picture is known as a “Tronie”, a picture of a head, it depicts a European Girl with an exotic dress and oriental turban. The background appears to be black but experts believe it was originally a very dark green. I believe I have created a good likeness and I have learnt something of the technique of portrait painting. In fact we can only imagine how the painting looked when it was freshly painted 355 years ago.”

Gillian Harman
“During the lockdown I have kept going the two local art groups that I belong to by emailing round a suggested painting topic each week for people to work on. The Pipers End Art Group, mostly Hertford Art Society members, ran out of ideas fairly soon and one member suggested using the alphabet, taking a successive letter each week and painting something beginning with that letter. Some of the ideas have been very imaginative. Members then emailed me their pictures and I have put together and circulated a gallery of these pictures most weeks. The attached picture, Easter Teatime, I did in April. Since July we have managed a group of six painting outside, when rain did not stop play! We hope to return to inside by the end of September.

My other group, All Saints Art group, has also kept going by suggesting ideas each week. Each of us puts forward an idea on alternate week with a gallery of the group’s pictures being produced every few weeks.“

Marianne Dorn
“Lockdown has provided time for introspection and an opportunity to look back at previous ideas. I pulled out my folders of old life drawings: There turned out to be a few pleasant surprises amongst them though, of course, my most inept attempts had to be thrown out. Drawings that were not quite good enough to keep but too intriguing for the recycling bin found themselves in limbo. I transferred these into a folder labelled “Work over these imaginatively! Recently, this folder has turned out to be my greatest source of inspiration. Some drawings have been worked over in pastel, paint or ink, while others have been used as starting-points for new pictures. To varying extents, the resulting images reflect the emotional and bodily experience of living in a socially-distanced world.”

Spring/Summer 2020

Celia Sanders “For me, I found it a very peaceful and thought provoking period.”

Diane Warburton “It's been such a joy during lockdown to have the time to paint.”

Geoff Bennett “Like many of our Members I found Lockdown a strangely peaceful experience – but then as retired folk with pensions and a roof over our heads we are in a very privileged position.

I saw Coronavirus as an opportunity to record our lives in the style of the War Diaries commissioned by the government in successive wars since WW1.”

Jill Mumford "For me the spring held an extra special magic this year because of the pandemic lock down. I felt huge gratitude that I have a lovely garden which is always a great source of inspiration for me as a painter. This Japanese tree peony is one of my favourites. Painting it brought me solace in a time of great anxiety and sorrow.”

Jill Rolf “I have to say I quite enjoyed waking up in the mornings and thinking ' I don't have to do anything or go anywhere I dont want to!'

Now life is getting busy again and I am determined to still have the odd 'lockdown' day somehow!”

Lynne Lawrence “Flowers are my thing and these paintings are dedicated to a dear friend who always said my flowers were lovely, and that I should continue my style of painting them.”

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Lockdown Diaries Artworks and comments by Members of Hertford Art Society 2020 has been a memorable year. With the UK in lockdown from March due to Coronavirus Pandemic and the balance of the Winter and Summer Programmes 2020 of activities cancelled, leisure activities became restricted. Members of Hertford Art Society were invited to contribute photographs of artworks and comments to the Society’s magazine in order to share their experiences. As things stand, it has been possible to launch the Winter Programme 2020-2021, with appropriate restrictions. This is a selection of the work produced over the Spring and Summer by a number of our Members together with their comments on the impact of the lockdown. Lockdown Diaries Lockdown Diaries Has Anyone Told Ambridge by Geoff Bennett Lockdown by Geoff Bennett New Normal by Geoff Bennett PPE Selfie by Geoff Bennett Social Distancing by Geoff Bennett Nicola Dobrowolski July 2020 Touch by Marianne Dorn Photo by George Garbutt 2020 oil on canvas By Gillian Harman By Gillian Harman Italian Bliss by Chris Hewitt Somewhere in Wales by Chris Hewitt by John Jarratt by John Jarratt by John Jarratt by Lynne Lawrence by Lynne Lawrence by Lynne Lawrence by Lynne Lawrence by Lynne Lawrence Youngsbury Ford in April by Pat Mann Fleet Street by Carol Mountford Harlow Countryside by Mitiko Murata Hunsdon Riverwalk by Mitiko Murata Roydon Bridge by Mitiko Murata Sorrow by Mitiko Murata by Jill Mumford by June Pickard by Jill Rolf by Jill Rolf by Jill Rolf by Jill Rolf by Jill Rolf by Jill Rolf by Celia Sanders by Celia Sanders by Celia Sanders by Celia Sanders All Saints Church by Diane Warburton Captain Sir Tom Moore by Diane Warburton River Dwelling in Malaysia by Diane Warburton Rooftops of Dordogne by Diane Warburton Wish You Were Here by Diane Warburton by Ray Ward by Ray Ward by Ray Ward by Ray Ward George Garbutt “During the early part of the lock down I decided to paint a likeness of the painting by Vermeer – The Girl with a Pearl Earring. This was inspired by a very fleeting visit some years ago to The Hague. The original picture is quite small only 17.5in x 15in but has a beautiful wide gold frame; I decided to paint on a 20in x 16in canvas. I feel I have learnt some interesting facts while studying the picture and also learnt some useful painting techniques. Vermeer’s painting was created in about 1665 and was known by various titles over the centuries, it was only given its present title towards the end of the 20th century. In fact some experts believe “the pearl” is not a pearl as it is too large, too reflective, the wrong shape and could be polished tin. The picture is known as a “Tronie”, a picture of a head, it depicts a European Girl with an exotic dress and oriental turban. The background appears to be black but experts believe it was originally a very dark green. I believe I have created a good likeness and I have learnt something of the technique of portrait painting. In fact we can only imagine how the painting looked when it was freshly painted 355 years ago.” Gillian Harman “During the lockdown I have kept going the two local art groups that I belong to by emailing round a suggested painting topic each week for people to work on. The Pipers End Art Group, mostly Hertford Art Society members, ran out of ideas fairly soon and one member suggested using the alphabet, taking a successive letter each week and painting something beginning with that letter. Some of the ideas have been very imaginative. Members then emailed me their pictures and I have put together and circulated a gallery of these pictures most weeks. The attached picture, Easter Teatime, I did in April. Since July we have managed a group of six painting outside, when rain did not stop play! We hope to return to inside by the end of September. My other group, All Saints Art group, has also kept going by suggesting ideas each week. Each of us puts forward an idea on alternate week with a gallery of the group’s pictures being produced every few weeks.“ Marianne Dorn “Lockdown has provided time for introspection and an opportunity to look back at previous ideas. I pulled out my folders of old life drawings: There turned out to be a few pleasant surprises amongst them though, of course, my most inept attempts had to be thrown out. Drawings that were not quite good enough to keep but too intriguing for the recycling bin found themselves in limbo. I transferred these into a folder labelled “Work over these imaginatively! Recently, this folder has turned out to be my greatest source of inspiration. Some drawings have been worked over in pastel, paint or ink, while others have been used as starting-points for new pictures. To varying extents, the resulting images reflect the emotional and bodily experience of living in a socially-distanced world.”		Spring/Summer 2020 Celia Sanders “For me, I found it a very peaceful and thought provoking period.” Diane Warburton “It's been such a joy during lockdown to have the time to paint.” Geoff Bennett “Like many of our Members I found Lockdown a strangely peaceful experience – but then as retired folk with pensions and a roof over our heads we are in a very privileged position. I saw Coronavirus as an opportunity to record our lives in the style of the War Diaries commissioned by the government in successive wars since WW1.” Jill Mumford "For me the spring held an extra special magic this year because of the pandemic lock down. I felt huge gratitude that I have a lovely garden which is always a great source of inspiration for me as a painter. This Japanese tree peony is one of my favourites. Painting it brought me solace in a time of great anxiety and sorrow.” Jill Rolf “I have to say I quite enjoyed waking up in the mornings and thinking ' I don't have to do anything or go anywhere I dont want to!' Now life is getting busy again and I am determined to still have the odd 'lockdown' day somehow!” Lynne Lawrence “Flowers are my thing and these paintings are dedicated to a dear friend who always said my flowers were lovely, and that I should continue my style of painting them.”