10th September 2020

Well that was very quickly overruled, wasn't it?  It looks like everything is on hold again... We'll let you know if and when there are new decisions about the winter season.

In the meantime, four intrepid artists went to Felixstowe today and sent back sketches, photos and descriptions of the day.

First, some scene setting...

Our four heroines, Frances, Sally L., Lesley and Jackie.  and then Frances at work.

Here you can see the outcome of Frances's busy day. 'One photo, three small watercolour sketches and one experiment with my oil pastels which were becoming very soft in the sun. Enjoyed a paddle too!'

Lesley was prolific too.  1. Five minute watercolour of a heap of nets 2. The Harbourmaster’s Shed, which really is that wonky! Pencil  3. View at low tide between houseboats, looking upriver. Pencil. And then sent me a further photo to prove the wonkiness of the shed.

Jackie said, 'The weather being perfect,silver sunshine highlighting the boats and all the interesting flotsam and jetsam on the foreshore, the valiant four set to work. As a slow sketcher I decided to make as many sketches as possible backed up with photographs. The ferry made a fascinating subject but patience required as it only moored up for a moment to offload passengers and take new ones on board then off it sailed for the opposite shore. Lesley, Sally and Francis produced some lively paintings and sketches which we showed at the end of our session. My other sketch is faint as it will be painted at home away from so many distractions. ..or at least, I hope to!'
Some of Jackie's photos are featured above. The photo below shows the tyres which Jackie has focussed on in another sketch.

Now for some work from others who have been painting and drawing at home this week.

These from Diana, who titled her email 'Summer Exhibition', not without good reason, given the quantity.
'Another lazy week,so I’ve cheated but I have done a lot since March,some of these were painted over more than once'.

Sally P. has finished her oil painting of Hoxne Village Green that she shared the progress of last week.
I particularly like the composition, and it certainly reflects the summer we have had here this year, with the wonderful sky and the depth of the shadows.

Carolyn says, ' Can anyone relax with all the gloomy news about Covid?'

And then offers us the perfect scene for doing so.

Noreen has sent me two she did earlier, and it looks as though at least one of the boats in the photos taken today hasn't moved an inch since she was last in Felixstowe!

And now, something I don't think we've had before, but I expect Noreen will let me know if I am wrong.  Avril has continued with some of her creative stitch lessons done on pic collage.
'This was one of my photos that had been digitally altered. The result was very flat so I made a painting done with gouache, ink, wax crayon and felt tip.'
So here is the resulting video; and the painting. Hopefully you can see the video move!

This is me for this week.  I finished the drawing of apples, for which I have used a mixture of sketching and colouring pencils.

Late addition:
Harriet has been out in her garden, selecting a colourful view of red hot pokers for us.