Art Club News Aug 25  (as appearing in Hagley Village News)

So, for those who have been paying attention (and there may be a test later!), Hagley Art Club usually hold their annual appraisal in October, the month before the Annual Exhibition in November. 

The appraisal  serves the purpose of allowing artists to test the water with new work in front of their peers and a professional adviser before committing them to the Exhibition. The feedback helps them to decide if they are going in the right direction, and the work may only need the odd rweak or, of course, whether to screw it up  and throw it in the bin.

If you’re a last minuter (like me) a month or less is a bit tight to make any drastic changes, or if you get rave reviews, hastily paint another seven.

So this year, as an experiment, we have brought our appraisal night forward 3 months to August, and if members like that, it might become a permanent feature.

So, depending on how well you do, it can be nail-biting, but for the rest of us, it is great fun.

Our appraiser this year is John Maule Ffinch, that he is a returning guest, shows that he is clearly an accomplished but also empathetic judge.

Check out our latest exhibition at St Georges Hall, Bewdley, running from 28th July  to 25th August 2025