I am afraid I couldn't face going out to sketch today in the heat and sunshine.  I have retreated indoors to make jam (almost as hot, but very short-lived heat) with plums kindly given by my next-door neighbour.  My studio is delightfully cool in this weather, so I have actually been quite productive this week, as you will see.
Before we get to those who went to Hoxne Water Mill today, I have been sent several examples of pictures completed there in the past. 

Then Diana sent a number of sketches, all from past years...

Frances is in Brittany and has sent a charcoal still life and two stages of a picture she is working on:
Small sketch done in situ looking from their favourite beach, across nature reserve to chateau de Suscinio, and larger acrylic in the making of same.

Here are the first of the work produced at Hoxne today.  Lesley's sketches are, first, pencil on white paper, and the next two are using zig graphic twin felt tips, again on white paper. [These photos looked very blue on screen, and I have done some adjustment to try to get rid of most of the blue - hope they now look OK, Lesley, don't know why this sometimes happens! And not just to you - Hannah]

Avril was obviously very much inspired - lots of sketches here!  Full of detail, and plenty to use if she wants to take them further...

Jackie has included her finished painting from last week with her work from today.  She said, 'Quite a pleasant breeze this morning if sitting in the shade. Wonderful place, so many scenes to choose from followed by tea and cake in Sally's shady garden.'

Next we have Josie and her husband, Ian, who has joined in a number of the sessions this summer.  first Josie's two, then Ian's.

Angela left early today, and has sent her oil sketch from this morning along with some other pieces, ‘sea marbles’ followed by ‘Finding my way out of the wild wild wood’ then ‘Summer pond’ .

Finally, from Sally P, a painting from this morning that she is still wrestling with, and photos of the scene and the tea time at her garden, which looks very shady and cool!
Let's hope the heat breaks soon!  Don't forget it's Noreen turn to be Blog Queen next week.  Send your pictures to her in good time.

​"It was a difficult subject and most of us have to finish off at home ..... if we do!
My picture (3rd photo) had more paint taken off than put on. I'm quite pleased with how it is taking shape finally."

Sorry not to have made it today, but I don't think you would have wanted me there.  I have a dreadful hacking cough (not THE one, though - I did a test), which I am sure no one would have wanted any contact with. Paintwise, I have been quite busy this week, as you will see later.
Six members made their way to Ian's house, where they were treated to a flow of tea and coffee and the three delicious homemade cakes!  Thanks to Ian, and especially, Linda.

Carolyn thoroughly enjoyed the EAG visit last week, and thanks those who came.  she couldn't get near her own lily pond when you were there, but this week she has tackled that subject, and also sent in a drawing done on the day of a rather fine rose on the trellis by the table, and a drawing of the articulated model she was given by a now late EAG member. 

Avril had a busy day at Ian's. The colours of these pictures all speak of the dryness of the weather at the moment.

Sally P gave me a verbal snapshot of the day today. She says, 'It was lovely weather wise although a big gust nearly took the sun umbrella flying and my acrylics needed spraying continually to stop them drying up. 
My painting this week is an acrylic of one of their floribunda roses and my 10 min sketch is of a few of their pots.'

Before I started coughing, I was quite busy painting this week. First is an oil painting taken from the drawing I did at Flixton, and second is a very tiny 5" x 7" canvas from a photo taken in Norfolk's newest country park, just north of Horsford. 
The blog has been posted a little late this week, as I  was hoping for more submissions. Do keep us in touch with what you have been up to, even if you can't make it on a Thursday.  If you do come on a Thursday, please share your work, we are all interested!
Next week Noreen will be in charge, and the venue for Thursday will be Saxtead Green.

The day finished with all present enjoying tea with Carolyn.

Next week's meeting is at Ian's, at Westhorpe and it is Hannah's turn to do the blog, so please remember to send photos of your work to her.  Keep painting and have a very good week.  
​Cheers, Noreen.

First a big thank you to all those, both members and member's spouses, who help to hang the exhibition this morning.  The display looks very handsome, as you can see below, and we had over 20 visitors today.  Light in the room is quite good, though it was so bright outside today that those of us who had stayed to steward found ourselves blinking in the sunlight.  Tomorrow the church holds a coffee morning, so visitor numbers will probably be considerably higher.  I recommend a visit, if you can go before we dismantle it again on Sunday after 4pm, when it closes.

Some of those who had participated then went out to sketch in Diss.  Here are Avril's, which are full of life.

And these are Jackie's, lots of bird life from the Mere and the park...

Carolyn's contribution this week consists of a fuschia drawing from her garden, one of her favourite flowers, which we can all see next week if you come to her garden next Thursday, very delicately done with crayon, and a more jokey subject - a cat's toy, to cheer us in troubling times.  this was a cat's Christmas gift, and looks well loved.

Noreen, although unable to come to Diss, has sent a view of the Mere from some years ago.  She has also been experimenting with coloured pencils on a self-portrait.  She says, 'Unfortunately, they seem to lend themselves best to detailed, realistic work - i.e. distinctly unflattering!'  It is very recognisable, but I think what Noreen means is that she looks rather more stern than we usually see her!

Diana has sent more of her previous work. She says, 'All done on Hahnemuhle  “Cornwall” watercolour glued blocks which come in all shapes  and sizes,it’s tough and you can throw water at it without it cockling.  1. and 2. were done in Anglesey,  3. at Stiperstones ,Shropshire,  4. at  Bowls club

So next week it's Carolyn's turn to host.  Hope to see many of you there.  Noreen will be blogging next week, so send her your photos.  Let's hope we do get some rain before then, as the gardens are desperate, but NOT on the day, and that you all manage to keep clear of Covid!

After a cloudy start, today brightened up to a lovely sunny afternoon.  I arrived at John's after driving down Fiddler's Lane, which proved rather unnerving.  My car's warning system was screaming at me all the way that I was too close to the side ... both sides in fact!!!  It is so narrow.  Such are the risks of Suffolk.
Some folk had already gone when I arrived but I had a wander round, was shown John's beloved oil-smelling studio, took a few photos and was promised more from Sally P. later.  I had a thankfully more comfortable return journey via Cock's Road.

That's all for today.  Keep painting and send your work to Hannah next time  (14th July, Diss).
Have a very good week.  
​Noreen

This week we went to Flixton Air Museum.  The weather was somewhat threatening, but stayed dry all morning.  I didn't stay during the afternoon, and we did have rather a heavy downpour in Norfolk, so I hope they stayed dry.  About ten of us came and went at various times.  Much thanks must go to Jackie for her delicious cake, and for serving teas and coffees in the morning.  Avril brought her new puppy, and therefore left early.  Diana came and went, and had a disaster with her iPad, which I hope she is able to sort out soon.
Flixton has a wonderful mixture of subjects for sketching and painting, from aircraft and museum displays to rescued parts of dead machinery, fished from the sea and gathered up from runways.  These last resemble an elephants graveyard or a group of beached whales, with their fins in the air.
Below are some scene-setters, and photos of those who came during the day.  The last photo is of three of the four who stayed to the end and went for tea at Pura Vida garden centre (photographed by Sally P).

First a bumper crop from Carolyn, who used some of the photos from Walberswick as her inspiration for the first two, and then  a photo of a sand dune.  finally a hydrangea from her garden.

Avril was quite prolific in her output, given that she had to cut her visit short. Some of these sketches show models on the inside of the museum, as well as full size subjects.

Lesley was one of those who found some of her inspiration in the machinery graveyard, and has included photos to show her subjects.

Here are Harriet's drawings from the machinery heaps.

These drawings are from Les Bragg.

As I said, Diana didn't stay, but she sent some of sketches from previous times: 
Thrandeston Green, Tour de France starts this week, and Bodmin moor

And here are Sally P's sketches, two rather longer, and two quick ones.

Last minute addition from Frances, who visited Flixton yesterday, but has also sent a sketch from Castle Acre done on Sunday, and a linocut she is working on from Angela's last week.

Angela, with being the host this week both to us as well as to two young/very young relatives, didn't have much chance to paint today, but some work she produced last week at Walberswick didn't reach Hannah in time to be included in that blog.  She says she sketched in the morning and then put some thought into how to develop some ideas she has.  So here is her last week's work and location photos.

​That's all I have received so far. Oops, no.  A few late ones from Harriet just as I was about to close up for the day.  Here they are:

Next week's session will be at Flixton Air Museum.   The café will not be open for service but we will be allowed to use the facilities to make our own teas/coffees.

It is Hannah's turn to do the blog next week, so please remember to send your contributions to her in good time.  Meanwhile, happy painting!

Before anything else, a salute to Noreen's 90th birthday yesterday.  The blog would not be the same without her wit and wisdom.  I gather she had a lovely, busy day, and I am sure we all wish her many more.

It seems a good number went to Walberswick today and here is some of the evidence -

Carolyn did some drawing from life in her garden, the foxglove with Inktense and the Salvia with coloured crayons, and has also asked whether there would be photos from today's visit for her to use from home.  I know I failed to pass this request on early enough, and we do have two, but perhaps someone has some large photos from today or from a previous visit that they could either send direct to Carolyn, or to Noreen to be added to next week's blog. 

Frances wasn't able to go today, but sent a sketch and then painting done of Dunwich, with added birdlife!

Several sketches here from Sally L, and thanks to her for the landscape photo above with the buildings.

Next Avril, who sent an iPad drawing/painting and an ink sketch.

Lesley is away sailing this week and has sent a quick watercolour sketch of the remaining town gate in Sandwich, Kent. It was built in 1346 and restored in the 16th century! It’s on the Town Quay, where their boat was moored (see second picture).

From Diana, who also didn't make it today, but worked at home from Cornish photos, 1.Watercolour pencil. “ St. Mizzle- on -the -Moor “, 2.Water soluble oil,  3.Haven’t a clue what I’m doing,  4.What a difference a few telegraph poles make...

I have spent quite a lot of this week in the studio, scraping old paint of palettes and covering over unsatisfactory paintings to re-use their canvases, not so much on painting and drawing, maybe next week will be more fruitful. The deadline for submission for the Diss exhibition has passed, but it has been extended to the weekend, so get your entries in!  I am happy to receive photos of your form, provided they are readable.
Don't forget Noreen will be blogging next week, so send your pictures to her, whether you make it to Angela's or not.  I understand there are thunderstorms forecast for the weekend, but hopefully they will be long gone by next Thursday.

Diana tells us her boys decided to put up with her for a week in Cornwall.  She has sent us photos of Bodmin Moor, an old engine house, Treyarnon Bay and last but not least her sketch sitting on Bodmin Moor looking towards rain clouds over Dartmoor.  I know Diana loves this part of the world so I hope she had a very good time.​

Well we were lucky with the weather, lots of sunshine but not too hot.
​Sorry I haven't any artwork to offer today.  It was just about all that June and I could do to get to Dorothy's, but we did enjoy seeing you all and your interesting contributions. Many thanks to Dorothy for her kind hospitality.
The outing next week is to Walberswick and all your submissions go to Hannah. Remember, we want to see what you are doing by way of artwork, at home or anywhere else.  So do keep in touch.
Noreen.

Thank you to everyone who came to Brundall today. We were 10 altogether.  Luckily the rain that threatened for most of the day, held off.  Although the light may have been a little dull, we all had a good day, I think.  There has to be an apology though, for the lack of a photo of us all at teatime, which I had planned, and then forgot.  My mother always used to say that it was a sign of  a good gathering or party if you forgot something, but I think that was just an excuse for disorganisation.  Noreen wouldn't have forgotten!
Most people went down to river Yare to draw and paint, so you will see different interpretations of the water, trees and light.

These are Harriet's sketches and oil painting on the river.

And these from Frances...

Carolyn sent an experimental sketch of her garden pond and a more conventional drawing of a slipper

I am not going to inflict my paltry effort on you, a very poor pastel drawing or two.  Don't forget to send me your submission forms for the exhibition in Diss in July.
Sally P wants you to know of an exhibition at Diss Corn Hall, which looks very interesting.
Abstraction Now brings together some of Britain's leading abstract painters. 
While abstract painting undoubtedly reached its height in the first half of the 20thcentury, this group exhibition celebrates its relevance and vitality today. The exhibition will showcase the various formal and conceptual experimentations employed by artists such as Victoria Morton, Tim Braden, Phoebe Unwin and Jim Threapleton. 
The exhibition will run in the Upper and Lower Galleries from 21 May to 25 June and will be open between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Saturday.  See the Corn Hall website.
There is no meeting next week because of the Jubilee events.  Have a good celebration!  Contributions for the Blog should be kept for the following week, to be sent to Noreen for the 9th June.

​Sally added that 12 members turned up in Mellis and went at various times throughout the day, with ten staying for delicious afternoon tea, homemade lemon cake and biscuits.

Hannah has had to bow out from the blog today as her quite new computer has crashed. She will forward to me (Noreen) anything she can.

We can start with contributions from Frances, who is in Brittany and hopes we all have a lovely day. She says she will be back in time for open house at Easter Barn next Thursday. The items are (1) Pencil sketch of the arum lilies in our garden here   (2) Pencil again, a plan for a circular painting.  (3) Smallish circular acrylic.  (4) Photo of the lilies this morning.  See message at end of blog from Frances re next week.

Avril reports that the weather was good today and quite a lot of people came to the first plein air outing of the summer season. She says it has taken her a while to get into the swing this week but it was nice to do some work outside.

Just in from Diana via Hannah: "Minimising my summer kit, lovely little sketch book fits in small bag. Didn’t get to venue but instead went to Southwold, confess I didn’t do any drawing so here are some from this sketch book from previous years."
​

Bringing up the rear is Harriet, who was evidently also at New Buckenham.

We have a message from Frances regarding next week's session in Mellis. Parking at the Village Hall in Mellis is best and loos and refreshments available at mine… Easter Barn. I will put out a sign! 
The Village Hall is  opposite The Mill at Mellis and my house is nearby as I think you know but some may not!  In case of inclement weather, I am happy for people to sketch inside or from inside looking out.

Next week please send your work to me (Noreen) again. We'll see what happens with Hannah's computer before the session after that.

Today was the EAG coach visit to Cambridge, where ten participating members could visit the Fitzwilliam Museum, the Botanical Gardens or anywhere else that took their fancy. As Sally P points out, the True to Nature exhibition is very appropriate for us at the start of our Summer Programme. It shows the work of 18th and 19th century artists going outdoors to explore first hand the fleeting moments in nature - the effects of light, drama and atmosphere. It follows nicely on our own recent project on Movement. Sitting in the Botanical Gardens in the sunshine, having lunch, Sally was able to send us these images, which include a masterful oil painting she completed earlier this week.

"​1.  Using double-ended felt tips, this shows how little scribble you need. The top half was brushed with a little water, some allowed to pool.
"2.  5 minute scribbles from photos, some with waterproof black drawing.
"3.  My helper!"
​Thanks Diana. 

Next week our meeting is at New Buckenham Village Green for plein air drawing and painting. Parking is on the street and coffee and tea available at the Angel cafe tea room, King Street.  I hope many of you will be able to make it there. Contributions to the blog to be sent to Hannah please. Meanwhile, keep painting!

So, finally we have got to the last session of the winter season - and the Chairman's Project, which this year you may remember, was 'Movement'.  And here is Sally 'The founder of the feast', beginning her presentation.  All of those present had something to show and the variety inspired by the one word was impressive.

Here are a few views of members showing their work and explaining their process.

As usual, there were some clever and amusing ideas - Jackie had created a watercolour that, as you can see in the photo, had a kite and string which could actually fly.  Richard used 'Under Milkwood' and audience participation to illustrate his presentation.  Freda brought in a video of the fish mobile she had created, and Sally somewhat dumbfounded us by first sitting, standing and walking - all movement! Diana is demonstrating her 'Movable Feast' of still life painted each Thursday, that can be endlessly arranged.

First selection, Left to right, both Maggie-Anne and Harriet's work capture the joyous movement of animals, Noreen (who had brought a selection of old images along with this painting of Southwold, complete with rolling seas), John (Box and Boxers - guess where the inspiration for this image comes from) and Frances, who was not able to attend, but had sent an explanation of the use of the triple hare image in ancient China, and its promulgation along the Silk Road.

Sally L had examined the movement of the gaze created by composition, and illustrated by this tree. Hilary and Ian studied movement in the landscape, Hilary's that of the sea, and Ian's clouds in the sky.  Avril's striking image was created from a video of her daughter's Pilates exercise, and Richard's abstract related to the movement of time, and day and night.

Here are Eileen's seascape, with crashing waves, Jackie's kite watercolour, Carolyn's waves in constant movement against the stillness of rocks, Diana's movable still life and

Sally P wanted to take the opportunity to thank everyone for all their hard work and ideas The work was all excellent and varied with so much thought gone into them, and a special thank you to Linda for the delicious home made cakes (which I heartily endorse !- Hannah).
Four members are participating in an exhibition at All Saints Church, Stradbroke this weekend, Sally P, Jackie, Ian and Harriet.  The exhibition is open from 10 am to 5 pm from today until Monday.

Next week it is the coach trip but work can still be sent in.  Noreen will be in charge of the blog, so you can send anything you want to include to her.