These 'Part 2' photos [coming up in the next few posts] relate to the session Lynda ran at the beginning of June. Lynda led the group through some thinking about the labels that we use to describe ourselves, and those used by others to label us. The group were keen to explore this theme for themselves - using labels, collage and paint. ~Jacqui L, Lynda

This month we are thinking about how in portraiture there are often clues to the subjects personality and identity in terms of the setting and what/who else is present.

Historically it has been fashionable at certain times for these to be items with symbolic meanings on many levels. The viewer is then invited to puzzle through clues to something beyond what can be seen with the naked eye - eg an open door, a skull on a table, a mirror, a half-seen manuscript, food, wine. 

So we spent some time beginning to ponder ... 'What would we add in to images of ourselves that would help the viewer to understand more about us as people, our interests and concerns and our personalities?' 

We used 4 different still life set-ups to practice our observational skills in pastels, pencil and paint. 

Studies of flowers, bottles, food hand tools and of a statue of Venus are emerging. Everyone worked very hard - still life demands a high level of attentiveness and energy. The work will continue over the coming weeks as individuals gather items of particular relevance to themselves to explore and to draw.

The group are also looking forward to portrait artist Judith Handford from Winchester returning to inspire us all in early July. ~ Jacqui L

Our progress report, summarising mainly the background to the project, has just been published in this month's inFocus magazine. This publication is sent out to all members of the Royal Microscopical Society, and is reproduced here with their permission. The next report, in Dec/Jan 2014, will focus more 'the results.' ~James