TONY JOHNSON

Art takes to the streets What’s an ArtFest! then? The show must go on

LAST Saturday marked a welcome return for two events in Wokingham Town’s annual calendar - ArtFest! during the day and the Street Concert in the evening.

ArtFest! is a chance for everyone in the borough to go to enjoy an open-air arts exhibition and perhaps to take part in the demo area - sketching live models.

2018’s the third time that the organisers, together with an excellent ‘crew’ and the support of main sponsors more arts. have put on a fabulous show, despite the ‘minor building works’ in Wokingham’s town centre.

Works ranged from the deceptively plain to the utterly sublime, as demonstrated by the simply exquisite “Dedicated to you”. This was just one of the paintings which Sabina Milani poured her Christian faith into, creating pieces which are a joy to look at, study or contemplate.

Despite the bright sunshine,

Tracy Eisa’s equine commission gave visitors a chance to see an artist at work and to chat with her about the materials and techniques used, along with hints and tips as

Checking with Alison Taylor toward the end of the show, she was really happy. Not only had her “Yangshuo landscape” vases sold quickly, but she could have sold them five times over.

And as Paul Eastaugh and a number of others were to find, staying to the end of the show delivered a real benefit as a number of works only got snapped up late in the day. This example of his “messing with Mondrian” series ‘went’ at almost exactly 5pm.

Artists also added a sense of fun and drama to the photography as former Royal Academy student Bethan Bertrand demonstrated when showcasing her work “Thinking”.

Meanwhile, first time exhibitor Louisa Brannan was bubbling with delight – having made her first real sale when her ‘Golden Butterfly’ simply flew off the stand. And while you might not recognise creator Aneel Bhogal, his typograph of Micheal Jackson stands out really clearly.

Tracy Eisa working on an equine portrait commission and pictured with her works ‘Sentinel’

Sabina Milani with “Devoted to You” in oil on canvas

Bethan Bertrand with “Thinking” in oils on canvas as part of the “Naked Egg” series.

Paul Eastaugh with “Bloke on a Ladder” in acrylic on canvas as part of the “messing with Mondrian” series

Alison Tay|or with “Yangshuo landscape” vases in slab built mixed clays

Aneel Bhogal with a Michael Jackson Typograph in ink on paper

Zoran Matic with “The Ridges” in acrylics on canvas

Ellie Chun with “Light carries on” in watercolour and ink on paper

Shannon Chandler with “Calpe Beach” in oils on board using brush and palette knife

Mary Law with “Peregrine on alert” in acrylics on canvas

Nanda Ganesh with “Networking” in Watercolour and ink on paper