Mark Fennell RBSA

News and events

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Portrait painting demonstration.

I had the pleasure of demonstrating portrait painting in oils over two hours for Maidenhead painting club.
https://www.maidenheadpaintingclub.co.uk/

Portrait painting course at Artlife studio.

Here i am again teaching at Artlife studio with an introduction to Portrait painting in oils.
https://www.artlifestudio.co.uk

Portrait drawing in Charcoal at Pegasus art in Stroud.

This one day workshop was split into two parts, in the morning students drew from photo references
and after lunch they worked from direct observation with Debbie our life model.
https://www.pegasusart.co.uk/classes-workshops.irs

Portrait painting workshop at Clacton on sea.

Here i am again at The Watershed Studio, running a portrait painting workshop in oils from life with a limited colour palette (the Zorn palette). It was nice to see some artists that came to to my previous course again!
https://www.watershedstudio.co.uk/

Landscape painting demonstration.

I recently demonstrated how i tackle painting plein air landscapes in oils for Winslow art society,
a little tricky as i had to do it indoors from an image on my ipad!
https://www.winslowart.org.uk

Portrait painting workshop in Chorleywood.

Here i am again with Rickmansworth art society, running a portrait painting in oils and acrylics workshop with a nice group of talented artists.
https://rickyart.co.uk/

The Artist magazine.

My article - Exploring the Zorn palette in the July 2023 issue of The Artist magazine. In this article i demonstrate how i paint an alla prima portrait in oils using the Zorn colour palette, just three colours plus white.
https://www.painters-online.co.uk

Portrait painting course at Pegasus art in Stroud.

Nice to be back teaching at Pegasus art, this time running a day course on portrait painting from life with the Zorn palette.
https://www.pegasusart.co.uk/classes-workshops.irs

Portrait painting demonstration.

Here are a few snapshots of a 2 hour portrait painting demonstration i did for Cookham arts club, I did this one in oils with the Zorn palette, just three colours - cadmium red, ivory black and yellow ochre plus titanium white.
https://cookhamartsclub.com/

Portrait painting demonstration.

I had the pleasure of painting Neil while demonstrating my portrait painting technique over two hours to members of Harpenden arts club.
www.harpendenartsclub.org.uk

Zoom Portrait painting demonstration.

Here's a few frames from a Zoom portrait painting demonstration i did for Arun art society in oils with a limited colour palette (Zorn palette).
I spent a little time after the demonstration tickling this one up as you can see in the final image.

http://www.arunartsociety.co.uk/

Portrait painting demonstration.

Here's a few snapshots of a 2 hour zoom portrait painting demonstration i did for Frimley and Camberley society of artists. I did this one in oils with the Zorn palette, just three colours - cadmium red, ivory black and yellow ochre plus titanium white.
https://fcsaonline.org.uk/

Portrait painting courses in Cornwall.

It was great to back teaching at The Coachouse in Cornwall again.
I ran two workshops, day one was portrait painting from life with the Zorn palette and day two
portrait painting with palette knives. As you can see someone even painted her dog!
And it was all topped off with some nice walks around the local beaches.
https://cornwallartschool.co.uk/

Portrait painting course in Stroud.

Here i am again at Pegasus art in Stroud, running a portrait painting in oils and acrylics workshop with a nice group of talented artists.
https://www.pegasusart.co.uk/classes-workshops.irs

Portrait painting workshop at Clacton on sea.

My first painting workshop for The Watershed studio in St Osyth, Clacton on sea.
Looking forward to my Zorn palette portrait painting from life workshop here next year.

Portrait painting demonstration
It was nice to be invited back to do another portrait painting demonstration for Wendover art club.
https://www.wendoverartclub.co.uk/

Holyport College arts week

What could be better than spending a summer's day outdoors running a portrait painting workshop for a group of talented students at Holyport college during their Arts Weeks.

https://www.holyportcollege.org.uk/

Judging Pinner Sketch Club exhibition.

It was really nice to be invited to judge the Pinner Sketch Club summer exhibition.
I had to choose a winner and five highly commended, no easy task as there was so much good work to choose from!

https://www.pinnersketchclub.co.uk/

Charcoal portrait drawing workshop.

An enjoyable day running a charcoal portrait drawing workshop for the Abingdon artists group.
This day was split into two halves, the morning group worked from photographic references and the afternoon group worked from a life model.

https://www.abingdonartists.org.uk/

Charcoal portrait drawing workshop.

An enjoyable morning running a charcoal portrait drawing workshop with a group of talented students at Akeley wood private school.
https://www.akeleywoodschool.co.uk

Portrait painting workshop.

Another enjoyable workshop with Henley art and crafts guild.
Thanks to Ellie for being such a good sitter, she barely moved
throughout the day!
https://henley-art-crafts-guild.org/

Painting workshops in the cotswolds.

I ended my year of workshops in the Cotswolds at Pure Artwork studio.
Looking forward to teaching there again next year!

Portrait drawing demonstration.

It was really nice to be invited back to Pinner Sketch Club for another demonstration, this time it was portrait drawing in charcoal.
https://www.pinnersketchclub.co.uk/

Portrait painting workshops in Cornwall.

Another two very enjoyable portrait painting workshops at Truro Arts Company.
This was my first one at their fantastic shop in Truro city centre, next year i should be teaching back at their coachouse studio in the heart of the Cornish countryside just outside Truro.
So nice to get down to St Agnes afterwards!

Zorn palette Portrait painting workshop.

Another very enjoyable portrait painting workshop with Pegasus Art in Stroud.
It was so nice to be painting with a lovely group of artists in Stroud again.
Thanks to Paul for being such a good sitter!

Zoom portrait painting in acrylics workshop

Another very enjoyable and successful portrait painting workshop with Henley Arts & Craft Guild. This one had to be done on Zoom due to another Covid lockdown but i must say i'm getting to like Zoom, it works very well and i find it very sociable during these strange times.
Here are some of the impressive portraits that were completed during and after the workshop.

"Just to say thanks for a great portrait demo yesterday.
The members really appreciated it and more are watching the recording too. We've had some nice comments thanking us and you for the demo."
Janet Myall

“I thought the workshop went really well he is very engaging, has a very easy friendly manner, I’d certainly do another of his workshops as I like his style”

“ I really enjoyed it. I found it a useful and straightforward way to approach a portrait”

“ I thought the workshop was brilliant - thank you. I have been doing classes for five years and avoided painting people, portraits, hands - all of it”

“Thank you for a fabulous workshop, I enjoyed every minute of it”

“ I thoroughly enjoyed Mark demonstrate his portraiture skills, which I found extremely helpful. The time went too quick as I found his technique really absorbing”

“Really good morning painting along with Mark, who gave us some interesting and original ideas on how to construct a portrait - will definitely try that technique again”

https://henley-art-crafts-guild.org/

Zorn palette portrait painting demonstration on Zoom

I recently did a Zoom portrait painting demonstration from my studio for 39 members of Henley Arts & Crafts Guild. It was another enjoyable Zoom experience and very well organised by the society.
I tickled this painting up a bit after the demonstration!

Here are a few quotes from the members

"Mark is a super duper painter and so skilled"
"A good demonstration and a good result.  I noted the age-old problem of knowing when to stop"

"Thanks for another fascinating demo!"

" It was a wonderful demonstration and I was very sorry to have to leave early - so pleased I'll be able to watch the rest of it later"  (As we offer a recording)

"Thank you to Mark - it was a very informative and interesting afternoon"

"Just to say thanks for a great portrait demo yesterday.
The members really appreciated it and more are watching the recording too. We've had some nice comments thanking us and you for the demo."
Janet Myall
https://henley-art-crafts-guild.org

Zoom portrait painting demonstration

Here's another one of my Zoom portrait painting demonstrations. This one was for Woking art society
in collaboration with Guildford art society.

"Thank you for a really enjoyable demo. Whilst I’ve only spoken to a couple of people, all of whom thoroughly enjoyed the session, the fact that all 55 viewers stayed for the duration (and some longer than the allotted two hours!) speaks for itself – that doesn’t always happen! It was fascinating to watch that beautiful face emerge and we learned quite a bit about technique along the way too."
Sue Hinton
Woking Art Society
Chairman and Exhibitions Secretary

https://www.wokingartsociety.org/

Oil painting workshop in Stroud
I spent an enjoyable day teaching a small socially distanced group alla prima oil painting techniques
at Pegasus Art in Stroud.
Unfortunately a few people that booked the course dropped out at the last minute due to the rise in covid-19 cases but we still had a fun day!
My next socially distanced workshop here is palette knife portrait painting on October 24th 2020.
https://www.pegasusart.co.uk/classes-workshops.irs

Zoom art demonstrations
This week i did my first painting demonstration for Maidenhead painting club via the Zoom video conferencing app. It was really easy to set up and went very well. Here are a couple of quotes from some of the participants.
Mavis Wing
' What a brilliant demo! I learnt so much this evening I can't wait to apply it. I think it was particularly good as we ALL had a close-up of what he was doing all the time, and he shared his thought processes with us. What a privilege. He did brilliantly especially as it was his first online demo.
Well done Maidenhead Painting Club. A superb evening with no hassle. I look forward to the next one. Something good has come out of the lockdown. Many thanks to the organisers.'

Tess Marsh
' I very much enjoyed Mark's demo and it was great to be able to have such a close-up view. Thank you for organising this.'

Sue Sepehri
' I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed Mark's Zoom demonstration yesterday evening. It was a nice way to spend a couple of hours and I think Mark did an excellent job.
I hope the Club might be able to arrange more.....'
http://www.maidenheadpaintingclub.co.uk/

Portrait painting course.
I had an enjoyable day running a workshop on portrait painting with painting knives at Micklems farm near Henley on Thames. It was fully booked but 5 people cancelled because of the coronavirus, I think this will be my last workshop for a few months while covid 19 is still at large.

Portrait painting demonstration.
I had an enjoyable evening demonstrating portrait painting from life at Virginia Water art society.
As ever it was a challenge with only 2 hours including a tea break.
"This evening Mark Fennell came to Virginia Water Art Society to demonstrate painting in oil the Portait of Anthony one of our members. The likeness was incredible and in less than 2 hours Mark talked us through his process. The evening was very enjoyable and everyone was impressed by the results, thank you Mark"
https://www.virginiawater.org.uk/artsociety/

Winner of The Winsor and Newton Painting Award at the 2020 RBA annual exhibition.

Chuffed to bits to be awarded The Winsor and Newton Painting Award at the Royal Society of British Artists annual exhibition.
https://royalsocietyofbritishartists.org.uk/rba-annual-exhibition-2020/

Portrait painting demonstration.
Another enjoyable portrait painting demo, I felt the pressure on this one painting Patrick from life for Eastcote art society.
I think a backdrop and more dramatic lighting would have helped!
www.eastcoteartsociety.org

Portrait painting course.
Had a fun day running a portrait painting workshop with a talented group of artists at Pegasus art in Stroud.
https://www.pegasusart.co.uk/classes-workshops.irs

Portrait painting workshop at Queen’s Park centre in Aylesbury.
Spent an enjoyable day running a portrait painting workshop for Bucks art society at my old junior school which is now Queen’s Park centre in Aylesbury.
Robin George our model for the day was as brilliant as ever!
http://bucksart.co.uk/

Rosemary and co artists brushes.
Just recieved a nice package from Rosemary Thompson @rosemaryandco. A couple of free T-shirts and some sample brushes – Classic and Ivory range for students to use at my workshops.
www.rosemaryandco.com

Painting courses.
Had a great time running a two day portrait painting workshop at Pure Artwork studio in Adderbury, what a great place to work!
https://www.pureartworkstudio.co.uk

Plein air painting workshop.
Spent a great day running a workshop for Henley arts and crafts guild in the lovely gardens of Micklems farm. It was so hot i just wanted to jump in the pool! Looking forward to running more workshops here in 2020.
https://www.micklemsfarm.com/ https://www.henley-art-crafts-guild.org/

Painting course.
Had fun teaching palette knife portrait painting to a great group of artists at Pegasus Art in Stroud.
“I bought Mark’s workshop that was held on Saturday, as a Christmas present for my husband and he learnt so much! He can’t wait to come back on another workshop run by Mark!” Sally Cain.
https://www.pegasusart.co.uk/classes-workshops.irs

Portrait painting course in Oxford.
Enjoyed the weekend teaching palette knife portrait painting to a great bunch of students at Oxford Summer School. Some people decided to stick to working with brushes but still got some impressive results.
http://www.oxfordsummerschool.com/

Art Courses.
My very first workshop with Pure Artwork Studio at Manor barn in Adderbury, what a great place to work!
Had a great bunch of students and the lovely Nadia sitting for us on day one, then worked from photographic references on day two.
https://www.pureartworkstudio.co.uk

Art demonstration.
Really enjoyed a recent acrylics portrait painting demonstration at Berkhamstead art society.
Also nice to have my hair growing back after the chemo!
I didn’t have time to finish it at the demo, so i carried on with it in my studio and here’s the result.

“Our many thanks to Mark, so say all who thoroughly enjoyed his recent demonstration at the
Berkhamsted Art Society when Mark produced, with gusto, a superb portrait painting in acrylic whilst
enlightening us to his way of working. Truly informative, inspiring and entertaining.

This is not the first time that he has demonstrated for our Society and we doubt that it will be the last- Here’s hoping that we can book Mark again for a future demonstration or workshop.
Much appreciated. “
Bob : Programme Secretary – Berkhamsted Art Society

http://berkhamstedartsociety.co.uk/
http://artprofile.co.uk/artist.asp?artist=Mark%20Fennell&alpha=Fennell,%20Mark

Art demonstration.
I had a fun evening painting Mick from life on my portrait painting demonstration with Rickmansworth Art Society. I was going through chemo at the time, fortunately i was at the end of a cycle so my cell count was up and i was feeling energised.
As usual i was up against the clock with only two hours including a tea break so i used the Zorn palette of ivory black, yellow ochre, cadmium red and titanium to keep things simple.

Bucks Art Weeks.
I am delighted to be exhibiting some of my work at Delphine art studio in Thame for the Bucks Art Weeks, from June 9th – June 24th 2018.
Pictured – Roland Muldoon and Joey sat next to my portrait of Roland and Sid.

Art courses.
I did this 40 minute demonstration at Master Art Workshops
Painting Characters in Oil or Acrylics class, the eyes were put in later in a 15 minute demo.

April 21st 2018
www.masterartworkshops.com

Art demonstrator.
Had a fun evening demonstrating portrait painting from life in oils at Watford and Bushey art society.