Dear Members, 

I sincerely hope you all had a very good and an enjoyable summer this year.  Obviously, the weather never turned out to our expectations but one can find ways of getting round this as far as painting is concerned.  The results of these were on display at our Annual Exhibition at the Perth Museum & Art Gallery in November.  I trust that you all had an opportunity to visit the Gallery and enjoy the enormous talent of our members. 

I send a huge ‘thank you’ to the vast number of PAA members who submitted their work to the Annual Exhibition this year despite many changes to the procedure of past years.  22^nd October, receiving and selection day, went off smoothly.  I thank the Committee for putting their faith in me with all these changes, and also the members who volunteered to work that day.  Without you all it would have been a difficult day.     A very sincere thank you from us all to Mrs Ruth Lumsden for stepping in at very short notice to open the exhibition officially with a speech from the soul of her heart.    Thank you. 

Payment for your sold paintings. This year the Gallery is able to take credit/debit cards as payment for the sale of paintings.  We hope that the availability of this method of payment will boost our sales.  However, for this reason and because of the change of procedures in the administration of the accounting methods, payments to our artists could take a bit longer than in previous years.   We will do our utmost to speed up the channels but I assure you that your cheques will be despatched to you within 48hrs of us receiving payment from the Gallery.  

Mirror Plates The Perth Museum & Art Gallery has given me a list of names of our members who have not fitted mirror plates to their paintings for the Annual Exhibition.  This point was very clearly listed on the ‘Conditions of Entry’.  This puts extra work and pressure on the gallery staff and I do have to take the issue seriously.  I urge you to comply with this request in future.   

We had a very good trip to Majorca for our Painting Holiday in September.   There were sixteen of us in total, with ten artists and six spouses.  While you were complaining that the Scottish weather was cold, we were looking for shaded areas to get away from the intense heat!   The temperature there has remained the same even in October.  Some of the members took a day off from their gruelling schedule of painting set by the tutor (me) and explored the island to their hearts content.  But I was waiting for them the next day with bigger challenges to face.  I think a few of them have crossed me off their Christmas card list. 

Well it’s that time again and we hope our winter will be gentle with us this year.  The Committee and I take this opportunity to wish you and your families a very happy Festive season and a Prosperous New Year. 

Allan Perera-Liyanage

President PAA

Congratulations to Lorna Pirrie, who was invited to exhibit two of her paintings in Edinburgh at the RSA Open 2011, now and until 18th December.
She is also exhibiting a drawing at Paisley Museum until November 26th, having been successful in this year’s Paisley Institute of Art Drawing Competition.
AND, she also took on, at very short notice, the photography for the website, of all your exhibits in this year’s Annual Exhibition at Perth Museum & Art Gallery.   As we ‘go to press’, we still have some photographs to do, and we hope to have the complete set on the website by the end of the exhibition, or shortly after that.

is establishing links with KADAC, Kinross And District Art Club.    We are exchanging ideas and information about our exhibitions, workshops and syllabus programmes.      Over the last two years, KADAC has held an exhibition during the Perth Open Studios week in September.     See the Club website: www.kadac.co.uk.

You may recall that Julian demonstrated his sculpting techniques to us on a syllabus night during the 2009/2010 season.     The finished Rhino is now on display – a splendid animal! – in his Gallery, and is for sale.

This is just to remind all full, lay and student members, that you are invited with partner to these evenings for the opening of the Annual Exhibitions.    No formal invitations are issued to the membership.

was held at The Mustard Seed, Riggs Road, Perth, 22nd September.    7 or 8 people attended.     If any member would like this arrangement to continue, please contact Sandra Henderson on 01738 624 450 or email: david.henderson19@btopenworld.com

Now available for framing, at 10% from West End Gallery, 38 George Street, Perth

12th January and 9th February now in the Meeting Room, AK Bell Library, 7.30 as before.  There is parking either side of the Library. And don’t forget Katie Lowery at the Fergusson Gallery, Thursday 23rd February 2-4pm. The winner of the 2011 JD Fergusson Arts Award will show us round her artworks. Her exhibition is on now, and worth going to see.

from November 15th, 2-4pm at Oakbank.These are tutor led.
Again, Please let Pauline know if you would like to come, by Friday 9th December, on 01738 583 434 or email: duff.i@sky.com.

Vacancies exist for 23^rd January, Julie Valentine and 8^th February, Albie Sinclair.   Please let Pauline know if you would like to come, by Friday 9th December, on 01738 583 434 or email: duff.i@sky.com.  There are still vacancies for the remaining workshops for this season, so do get your bookings in early.

Monday 12^th December 2 – 4pm at Oakbank Community Centre, Viewlands Road, Perth.     Please let Pauline know if you would like to come, by Friday 9^th December, on 01738 583 434 or email: duff.i@sky.com