MEMBERSHIP of Keighley Art Club is increasing.

Some meetings are quiet as people concentrate on their work and others are jolly and noisy.

One of our newer 2015 recruits is Rodney (Rod) Tickner, who has provided the following information about himself.

He was born in Sussex and half of his life has now been spent in Yorkshire, but he hasn’t acquired a Yorkshire accent.

His first serious brush with art was when he took a O-level in art of the 1960s and then the interest lay somewhat dormant until the early 1980s when he took tuition in watercolour techniques while living in Leeds.

Today, his main interest is still in watercolours and he likes to combine this with the medium of gouache.

He prefers more depth and exploring richer colours in a flamboyant style, rather than the traditional more faded look. Rod will also try other media at times.

With career changes and family responsibilities, there was less time for leisure pursuits until Rod retired from work eight years ago.

Since then he has invested in new equipment, has joined Riddlesden Art Group and latterly Keighley Art Club.

Rod is still exploring his own style and has decided “to be himself” in his art. Rod is particularly influenced by the 1930s travel posters with their broad expanse of solid colour and minimalist designs which he feels are good at catching the essential essence of a scene without being overcrowded or fussy.

Another of his linked interests is railways.

Rod recalls from the 1980s, a film of renowned artist Jackson Pollock painting. This would date to the 1940s when Jackson would dribble, splash and throw paint onto canvas in apparent random fashion, and it was known as action painting.

It was the act of painting that was more important than the finished product.

Rod feels that is very much the case for himself, as the drawing and painting provide a time of rest and composure away from the various voluntary roles he undertakes in his retirement years.

As a lay minister of the Anglican Church, Rod is also keen to explore how art can illustrate the journey of faith. This is currently leading to a lot of experimentation with an equal process of learning and gaining better understanding.

He appreciates that some paintings will have more worth than others, but is happy to continue his search.

Keighley Art Club reconvenes on February 24 with Saltaire artist David Starley, who is returning to demonstrate oil paints with the use of palette knives.

Jeanette Bray follows on March 9, with Table For Two, a still-life. Pat Jones visits on March 16 after a gap of the year with a watercolour landscape demonstration.

Keighley Art Club member Diana Bromyard will supply photographs of sporting action on March 23, then we break for Easter.

We hope to change the mini exhibition in Keighley Picture House, once the new manager and our new exhibition secretary have agreed a date.

New sofas have been placed in the cinema coffee lounge, making the cinematic experience more comfortable and sociable whilst enjoying a coffee or soft drink.