Frances welcomed us to her beautiful home, full of lovely artwork and fascinating objects.  We painted in her garden or on the common, with plenty of subjects to choose from.  It was a dry, mostly sunny day, just a bit windy at times.  Eleven members enjoyed the day - and teas and coffees and super cakes ....
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Remember:  it's "show and tell" at Sally's next week, so bring examples of your summer work.

Who thinks it's still high summer?

Inclement weather caused some members to paint  en plein air only in the morning, others in the afternoon, others painted at home and yet others presented work done away or earlier.  Or they just came to tea!  John showed real dedication, emailing his drawing from his far-off holiday location. 
We were 15 altogether, although the three morning people plus John missed out on Maggie-Anne's yummy cakes and tea. Many thanks to M.-A. who stepped in to play hostess.

Fifteen of us in a minibus to Oxborough - what could be more delightful?  And haven't we been lucky again with the weather!  Perhaps there was a touch of autumn on its way, with some of us having to rug up a bit more, but for others it seemed as though it's always high summer - eh, Sally?  A few members managed to fit in a little sketching, in spite of there being so much in the house and gardens to absorb us.  Here's what we did:-

Click on images to enlarge them.
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A good turnout of 16 today and all managed to track down the venue - eventually - in spite of the efforts of the Post Office and SatNav to divert us.  We were again blessed with beautiful weather to enjoy Harriet's superb garden and generous hospitality.   
Most of us found subjects of interest in the garden, while others sought landscapes just outside, or both.  I applaud the way members share their knowledge and skills, yet such a great variety of work is produced, as you will see below.  (Click to enlarge images.)
As you know, our summer exhibition at Shorelandds finished last Monday.  I took a friend to see it (we agreed it was more interesting than the one in Eye Church!!!) and whilst there noticed our friend the tortoise in the monkey enclosure.  However I had to look twice to realise that the small 'stones' lined up like soldiers along the side were in fact baby tortoises, so I took a photo - see right. 

I regret I don't always manage to do members' work justice in the photos, but it is hardly studio conditions.  Hence the shadow on Tom's lovely drawing, right, and the rather blue effect on Diana's rpaintings above.

Quite a party today!  Fourteen of us, plus 'helpers' and a big-O birthday to celebrate (Diana's), all in Sally P's fascinating garden.  Out front was a 1935 vintage restored Standard 10, round the back were flowers, vegetables, still life set-ups of garden paraphernalia, outhouses festooned with maturing onions, and much more, plus there was the unique house itself.   Sally's coffees, teas and scrumptious cakes were not to be missed.  We even did some sketching and painting, as you will see below.  One or two played away, hence the weird monster from Gaze's yard.  The number "1" was rationalised for us by its creator but unfortunately the explanation did not quite penetrate to all of us but it may have been inspired by the location.  We may never know.

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Will it stop raining?  When will it stop raining?  In the event it turned out to be a warm sunny day, though with winds developing.  A lonely two members started the day with coffees, then were joined by Les, and we mounted up to a grand seven by lunchtime.  Birds of all kinds wandered about everywhere and mixed happily - turkeys, chickens, ducks, cranes, emus - and indoors a large tortoise ambled around slowly, as tortoises do, and was a source of great interest for some young boys (as well as us).  Other animals - small deer, alpacas, and more, were in the enclosures.
We were happy to note two more of our exhibition pictures being sold while we were there.

Sarah welcomed us most kindly to her fantastic home, Old Hall Farm, with its mixture of ancient and modern.  After a tour of the garden, where we came across really old outhouses and artefacts, huge trees, lovely shrubs and flowers, and - unexpectedly - a modern swimming pool and changing room, we were then taken into the house through the oldest part to the kitchen for teas and coffees.  
For those of you who don't know, Sarah's dad, Tony, was a much loved member of the Eye Arts Guild for many years and an excellent artist.  Being an architect himself, he was particularly helpful to members on perspective and drawing buildings.
Eight members enjoyed a wonderful day at Sarah's, finishing with tea supplied by our host and the usual viewing of the results of our day's activities.  
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Nine members gathered in Thorndon today.  It was a will-it-won't-it day, but the showers did not amount to much and we were all able to sketch or paint en plein air.  Some enjoyed Hannah's beautiful garden, while others ventured outside to the church or the fields, as you can see below.  A further member did her own thing in Stradbroke, of course missing the delightful tea and cake provided by Hannah in her conservatory.  
Click to enlarge images.