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Hester Berry
Demonstration
2021

3rd September 2021: Demonstration of Saunton Beach in Oils with Hester Berry

Thanks, Simon Gray, for this photo and write-up
CP


With the constraints of the pandemic gradually being lifted the Otter Vale Art Society had its first live get together in the Institute for over 18 months. 

Hester Berry came down from North Devon to demonstrate her exceptional talents. Using nothing more than a primed A4 smooth board and a ¾ inch soft  chisel brush, her challenge was to produce a painting using a recently taken photography of the beach at Saunton.​

​Go HERE for Hester's 2022 follow-on workshop


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https://www.hesterberry.co.uk/
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With a very limited palette of oils, she started by mixing her own black, and then with a number of abstract marks laid down the basic structure. Then with subtle additions to gradually lighten the colour built up the illusion. As oils were being used,  a cloth covered finger scraped across the board enabled colour to be removed  to reveal the underlying paint.

Hester explained use minimal brush strokes and think about the angle and strength of your brushwork. For flat block work the palette knife is best, but if the marks require texture use the brush.

She was over an hour into the painting before she cleaned her brush!!
The sky was last, and as she put it “the sun is fun, but scary!” Using nothing more than a palette knife and titanium white a few deft touches and the picture was finished.
A very informative and enjoyable evening.

​Simon Gray

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Our Mascot 'Arty the Otter' © 2025 was kindly created & painted for us by
​OVAS Member Valerie Faulkner
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  • Latest News
  • OVAS 2026 Programme
  • About/Join Us!
    • The Tuesday Group
  • Exhibition: 2025
  • Members' Galleries
    • Andrew Pitts
    • Carol Shaw
    • Celia Risso
    • Chris Poole
    • Cynthea Gregory
    • Fiona Gale
    • Francis Callender
    • Jacqueline Ward
    • Jenny Savage
    • John Atkinson
    • Linda Hampson
    • Margaret Bargmann
    • Margaret Kingdon
    • Maureen Stone
    • Nickie Bitschi
    • Norma Walton
    • Penny Lamb
    • Phil Reed
    • Roland Ebdon
    • Simon Gray
    • Sue Williams
    • Terry Davies
    • Valerie Faulkner
    • Mike Bird
  • Write-ups of past events
    • Alex Boon 2025
    • Alison Whateley 2025
    • Amelia Webster 2024
    • Anna Brewster Workshop 2023
    • Anne Blankson-Hemans 2023
    • David Webb 2025
    • James Tatum Workshop 2019
    • Julie Dunster Critique 2023
    • Julie Dunster 2025
    • Kaili Fu 2025
    • Karen Wones 2023
    • Liese Webley 2024
    • Linda Hampson Workshop 2023
    • Lisa Parkyn Workshop 2025
    • Lisa Takahashi 2023
    • Maria Rose 2023
    • Maria Rose 2024
    • Owen Williams 2023
    • Phil Creek 2020
    • Phil Creek 2024
    • Ray Balkwill Critique 2017
    • Rebecca de Mendonca 2023
    • Simon Gray 2024
    • Tom Stevenson 2024
    • Tony Homer 2023
  • The Full Archive
  • Search Site
  • Contact