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Art Critique - 9th April 2026

Ongar Art Society presents Michael Kennedy on Thursday 9th April 7.30-9pm at Stondon Massey Village Hall, Hook End, Brentwood.

He will be hosting our annual critique evening. Members are invited to bring along a painting (or two) for sensitive & constructive advice in respect to possible improvements or alterations to the artwork.

A little about Michael: Michael Kennedy studied at Ravensbourne College of Art and Design and at the Slade School, and before turning full time to his own work had a career teaching art in Higher Education. He is a painter and printmaker, exhibiting widely with the Printmakers Council, but his work has also been seen at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition; at Originals; at the Royal West of England Academy, and at various other open exhibitions. He is included in three Boxed Sets published by East London Printmakers, all of which are now in the collection of the V&A Museum. His work is also included in the archive of the Printmakers Council held at the Scarborough Museum and Art Gallery. His painting ‘Heart’s Desires’ was selected and reproduced in the series of notecards published by the Royal Academy in 2014.

Refreshments will be available in the interval. Members, guests & prospective members are welcome. First meeting is free😊

Members - Meetings Update

New meeting start time - 7 for 7.30pm 2nd Thursday of the month.

No meetings in January or August.

New venue for table top sale & Summer Exhibition next year will be:

Room in the Rodings, Beauchamp Roding, CM5 OPF

Table top sale is scheduled for 14 March 2026

Summer Exhibition is scheduled for 4/5th July 3026 10-4pm (3rd July Friday - set up)

There will be no charge for tea & coffee during the refreshments interval but please buy a raffle ticket instead

Raffle will now be one prize, generally alcohol…to help with the cost of the hall.

Looking forward to seeing you all

*Members* - If you wish your artwork to be featured upon our Instagram, Facebook and/or website home page, please email Lynne Matthews on s.matthews358@btinternet.com and attach a high resolution photograph of your painting, saved as JPEG image, with a short brief including title, size, medium and any relevant inspiration details.

A ceremony was held at Ongar Academy on 18th April attended by representatives of the Twinning Organisations of Cerizay, France and Ongar, Great Britain, and invited guests. The Chair of Ongar Art Society, Loueen Morrison and Publicity Officer, Susan Keeble were among those with a special invitation.

There was a lovely Afternoon Tea, a concert by the primary schools and a wonderful medley of songs from Chicago, the Musical by Ongar Singers.

The main event followed - the unveiling of a painting, created by Joe Charman, instigated by Loueen Morrison and Hugh Rayner of Ongar Art Society. The representatives from Cerizay were delighted with the presentation of the beautiful work of art.

The painting will be now in residence in Cerizay in France. Ongar Art Society has now attained International connections and we were very proud to have been part of this important ceremony.