We look forward to our Christmas party next week, which starts at our usual time of 10am but goes on later to include the buffet.   We are reminded to bring any of the patch paintings not already handed in - we definitely don't like to finish with a hole in the picture.  
By the way, Hannah has kindly agreed to do the Blog next time, on the party.

​After that, it's holiday time until 2nd January.

Well Jane (and Noreen) will have to forgive me, because it has only just occurred to me that I did not take any photos of her, or her still life in all its glory, as Noreen and I agreed only as we sat down this morning that I would do the blog today because her broadband is down (this is Hannah, by the way).  If anyone did take a picture or two (and DOES have working broadband) perhaps they could email it to me, and I will add it later.

Anyway, we do have a fine crop of drawings and paintings done this morning, as shown below.  The still life featured a wonderful vintage picnic set, complete with apples and a bottle and glasses, together with cameras for capturing the event!  Actually, if you look at the three paintings that show the whole still life you will get a pretty good idea.

Our exhibition will be going up at the Bank on Sunday afternoon.  Don't forget to bring your paintings, fee and submission form between 12.30 and 1.00 pm.  We will also be having a gathering on Wednesday afternoon at 4.30 pm at the Bank, with mulled wine and mince pies.  Come along and feel free to bring partners with you.

Well, thanks so much to Carolyn, who has sent me pictures of the still life in all its glory!

​What a show of autumn leaves in Angela’s still life!   The variety in the leaves themselves, of colour, tone, texture, translucency …. I could go on …. all presenting a great invitation for us to paint.  We tried, and of course cannot compare our efforts with nature but I think we did give some splendid interpretations and impressions.
Angela herself was our model, clearly a popular one judged by the many resulting sketches and drawings.  
Those working on their own projects were unfortunately short-changed for space, as it looked early on as though the still life spaces were too few and the own projects spaces not fully required - however, things changed shortly after a table was transferred.  This is being looked at for next time.
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The arrangements for the Bank exhibition in December have been published.  Earsham is still on hold and work hanging there will be brought back next week - in time to enter for the Bank if you wish.

Next week we have Jane presenting the still life and model.

After about an hour and a half, it was our turn to paint.  We all produced at least one, and in some cases two, paintings.  John walked round and spent time with each artist, giving advice and showing techniques.  This was repeated again later in the day, so we all benefited greatly from John’s knowledge and expertise.  
Some excellent work was completed and I am sure we all learnt a great deal - I certainly did.  For me it was a very interesting, enjoyable but somewhat exhausting day.

Diana provided a full table for the still life on the theme of Harvest, which led to ten pictures.  

Next week, for those who have signed up for it, we have John Shave's workshop on Landscapes in oils - see Sally P's message.  The following week it is Lesley's printing, but there will be space for those who don't want to print but do their own thing.

Next week Diana will be doing the honours.  There will be a still life as usual.  As for a model, Diana has difficulty with long sitting so it is hoped two or three volunteers will take turns to sit.

It was good to get back into our stride in the Bowls Club and welcome back a number of members who we don’t see so much of on our summer days out.  There was quite a crowd of us - with plenty of chat in the breaks, but huge concentration otherwise.  
This week the still life and model were provided by Hannah, who herself posed as the model.  The new arrangement with just one still life set up and separate space for those doing their own projects seemed to work well.  The still life table gave us a child’s eye view of a domestic situation with lots of teddy bears and other toys around.  Some interesting pictures emerged, which I think you will agree.
Next week we have Richard Kite doing the honours.
Please click on images to enlarge them.

Sally Procner, at the end of her first year as excellent Chair of EAG, got through the agenda very smartly, including delivery of her Annual Report (click here), thus concluding the AGM at 10.35.  
Our membership is full, our finances are healthy, programmes running smoothly and everyone seems very happy.  It was also a happy occasion to celebrate with chocolate cake the four active members who passed their ninetieth birthdays this year:  Carolyn, Freda, Cynthia and (in absentia) Dorothy.  With two other members over ninety now, I declare that art is good for longevity.  Happily we also have lots of much younger members.
After the celebration we proceeded to Show and Tell where members were invited to bring their best painting from the summer and tell us something about it.  This is so interesting as everyone has a different story - about where it took place, what they tried to express, the technique or media used,  and more.

​Lesley Buckwell's work was on a different scale, an exotic plant in her garden, with huge blooms and strong fragrance.  A stark contrast to Sally T's pen and watercolour study at the Mid Suffolk Light Railway Museum, and Jackie's gentle watercolour of the garden where she was staying in Turkey on a painting holiday.

Click on images to enlarge them.  
​Next week it's the Bowls Club with Hannah presenting still life and model.

The Mid Suffolk Light Railway.  A relic of years gone past.  A bit like myself in fact, but still more or less in working order and taken out for the occasional jaunt.  A fun day for the 11 or so of us who came along, armed with our pencils, pens, brushes, and paints.  The sunshine was lovely but almost too hot and very drying for paints. Many of us found it challenging regarding perspectives and the complex detail of engines. A view inside the carriage of a first class train was beautiful and atmospheric - and a great exercise in drawing, perspective and dimension.  
Next Thursday, at Jane's, is the last outdoor meeting of the summer programme.  Hope to see many of you there.  
​We then move on to the winter programme, starting on 3rd October with the AGM and Show and Tell, which is always interesting.

Eleven of us today and all but one chose to work at Maggie-Anne’s.  A lovely place - including a large and natural kind of garden, with trees and shrubs, and complete with sizeable bug hotel.  It slopes, which helps to see the panorama of distant views.  Great going across from one side to the other if you’ve got one leg shorter than the other, but then a pain coming back.  And mind your art utensils don’t roll away! 

Maggie-Anne as usual did us proud, with delicious home-made cakes to accompany our social get together at the end.  And what an interesting variety of work we looked at, from landscapes to special studies of all things growing - and some not - and a look inside Eye Church.  Then there was the abstract - which way up?  Does it matter?  

What a superb venue Southwold is, with so many great or quirky subjects to choose from!  But beware:  there are innumerable moveable objects:  tides come in and out so boats rise, fall or turn, tractors drive off, vehicles choose to park right in front of your chosen scene ….  But still, the ten of us who went agreed we had a really challenging and enjoyable day.  At first it was more a matter of finding a sheltered spot out of the chilly wind, but it warmed up in the course of the day. 
The Harbour Café provided our meeting place for morning coffee, and later tea with discussion of our day’s work.  Our more experienced members are always happy to make helpful suggestions to others in the group who may have a problem.
Next week we are staying local, in Eye, with tea at Maggie-Anne's and the option of painting there too.