The British Library and Royal Manuscripts: super. It was a pity that people spent so much time with the first few exhibits and thus clogged up the works. I was too impatient and jumped on to the exhibits that had few if any 'students' and enjoyed freedom of movement and view. The free electronic commentary was a joy. A huge exhibition, too big for me, so I bought the lovely catalogue (softback) to enjoy at home and then went to the Mall Galleries and the Pastel Show. Another good 'un. Home by 4 pm to find that The Easel had arrived to be mailed next week, I hope.

Bromley Art Society

Minutes of Annual General Meeting, 3rd February 2012

1. Apologies for absence

• Peter Dinsmore
• Penny Elliot

2. Chairman’s Report, Pat Tucker

Pat spoke of the sudden death of Ann Holdway who had been our secretary for many years and noted how much Ann had done for the Society. Many members attended Ann’s funeral.

For those members who missed the AGM and the dvd of Ken Howard, part of which was shown at the AGM, you can find examples of Neale's work at http://www.nealeworley.com/. Enjoy!

If you would like to read my review of the David Hockney exhibition at the RA please go to http://berniespaintings.blogspot.com. Otherwise you will have to wait for the next issue of The Easel.

What a super evening! An AGM need not be a bore and this evening's meeting was most certainly not boring. The business was briskly completed and we were treated to a super dvd of Neale's five days in Pakistan producing a completed work every day. Time constrained our seeing more of Ken Howard at work on the dvd that Neale had produced with a friend last year. Neale selected a piece where Ken described painting a series, and that must have tickled the fancy of quite a number of us, as we bought the dvd. Yes, I now have my own and can return my neighbour's...

The Cup is awarded to the member who has done most for Bromley Art Society in the previous year. Previous winners are

I have been tidying my studio and getting ready for all the BAS exhibitions arranged for this year (there is a lot of them). So far, I have prepared four new canvases. They look wonderful with the white gesso still pristine clean. More stretchers arrived today. They were ordered on Monday this week and today is Thursday - a super service. Tomorrow, I will stretch another four or five canvases, all larger than those I worked on last week. Then, I will be ready for some weeks devoted to creating works to make me smile in the doing and to bring joy in the viewing.

Reading my previous blog on Creative Bromley I have had a re-think. I am not convinced that Creative Bromley is really worth keeping. After all, the Bromley Arts Council is already doing the business. Why set up another organisation in competition?

Stretching canvas is easy. Buy the right size stretchers for the canvas you have. They come in pairs and wedges are provided. I get mine from GreatArt. Tap the stretchers together and make sure that the corners are square. Don't use a hammer. Use a mallet; mine is rubber to avoid damaging the stretchers with dents. Place the assembled stretchers face down on the canvas making sure that there is plenty to stretch around to the back. I always staple the back and not the edge.

I have replenished my stock of staples for the trusty staple gun and have prepared myself for a day of canvas stretching. The canvas is ready for cutting to size and the stretchers have been bought, delivered and stored for almost a year... The time has come... (That reminds me of something to do with a fantasy world; is that where I am?) It's a new year and time for fresh canvases for fresh work. I recently read that artists are happy people. Keep smiling.