There were fewer of us on Zoom this morning - I hope that doesn't reflect how you felt after last week's meeting, but rather that you were either busy or hadn't realised, as most of us seemed not to have done, that Avril's invitation was a recurring one, that you can simply re-use each week. It will be sent out again next week anyway as a reminder.
We seem to have gone from endless sunshine to everlasting rain almost overnight. I am sure the countryside needs it, but it is rather depressing nonetheless, especially with all the gloomy Covid news.
We seem to have gone from endless sunshine to everlasting rain almost overnight. I am sure the countryside needs it, but it is rather depressing nonetheless, especially with all the gloomy Covid news.
Let's start this week with someone whose paintings we haven't seen for a while. These are from Cynthia. These were sent by Noreen who tells me that Cynthia hasn't been very well lately, so 'Get Well Soon' Cynthia, and thank you for brightening a gloomy day with these colourful paintings.
Frances is back in Brittany, and has sent these photos of shutters she has painted there.
| Carolyn went with the mice from my apple photo, and added another of her own, as well as other elements. Her mouse definitely has a better choice of food. Mine look rather apprehensive of the chillies (which have made delicious dipping sauce). |  |
Sally L. has worked from photos this week in two completely different subject areas. The second has had areas of watercolour washes on Canson mixed media paper covered with masking tape so that she can work over the top with oil pastels. This is a lady picking dandelions by the road. It will be very interesting to see the finished image. The jazz performance picture is very atmospheric.
Avril has been tackling walnuts this week, the first drawing with pencil, the second using ink. It does occur to me that if you don't like the still life at the bottom of the blog, this might make a good subject for next week. Avril's drawings are very successful, I think.
Lesley went to a workshop in Aldeburgh on Saturday, and has sent the results of what was obviously a very productive time.
Top 'We spent the morning sketching out on the sea wall near Slaughden, then the afternoon using them to create mixed media. Mine weren’t very mixed...'
Bottom 'This a mixed media piece I did at the workshop in Aldeburgh, on Saturday: this is from a plein air charcoal sketch, reinterpreted in gouache and oil pastel.
Another sketch looking across the Alde
Reinterpreted in Gouache
A test piece: gouache, collage and oil pastel.
Top 'We spent the morning sketching out on the sea wall near Slaughden, then the afternoon using them to create mixed media. Mine weren’t very mixed...'
Bottom 'This a mixed media piece I did at the workshop in Aldeburgh, on Saturday: this is from a plein air charcoal sketch, reinterpreted in gouache and oil pastel.
Another sketch looking across the Alde
Reinterpreted in Gouache
A test piece: gouache, collage and oil pastel.
Sally P's offerings. She says her heart isn't in the oil painting anymore, but I think it is interesting to see the progress it has made. And she also sent a pastel drawing of squash and hydrangea that is lovely and fresh.
| Also from Sally, another, but very different, picture from Les Bragg. |  |
 | From Jane a striking, and stunningly composed acrylic on paper of a still life set up by a friend for her and Sally T. to work on. |
Jackie has been very productive this week.
1. Gourds from the garden.
2. Having been locked in yesterday by the weather I did stroll and sketch today. Such a lovely walk to Denham in the sunshine I paused by the turkey farm but the birds got so excited to see me and noisy that I walked on to the church and did this sketch just as the showers swept in. No matter, it was wonderful being outdoors, saw a kestrel dip and dive for his prey and lots of mushrooms on the way home.
3. This is just me confined indoors by weather and experimenting by overlaying washes.
4. More produce from the veg patch. Chris brought in these beautiful purple peppers pleading to be painted and making such a lovely colour complement.
1. Gourds from the garden.
2. Having been locked in yesterday by the weather I did stroll and sketch today. Such a lovely walk to Denham in the sunshine I paused by the turkey farm but the birds got so excited to see me and noisy that I walked on to the church and did this sketch just as the showers swept in. No matter, it was wonderful being outdoors, saw a kestrel dip and dive for his prey and lots of mushrooms on the way home.
3. This is just me confined indoors by weather and experimenting by overlaying washes.
4. More produce from the veg patch. Chris brought in these beautiful purple peppers pleading to be painted and making such a lovely colour complement.
Someone else with lots to show is Harriet. A sketch of her dog in the sea, and a photo from which she is planning a painting, and the studies for it, together with an unfinished landscape that still has masking fluid on it.
| Maggie-Anne says, 'Here is this week's effort which is meant to portray a very very spiky chestnut that I collected on a dog walk last week and spiked my finger when extracting it from my pocket. In my best endeavours to portray spickles I seem to have ended up with what looks like a praying mantis rather than a horse chestnut. Hey ho... I will probably try it again 'cos it is so nice and maybe even delve into acrylic rather than pastels |  |
| I have continued to work on the apple drawing from last week, colouring it with pencil. Not sure whether I will continue or have a break. And below are two old still lives from two years ago, and a very familiar-looking lady taking tea, for those of you who are hankering after some figure drawing or portraiture. If you have any ideas or news you would like to share, or pictures to send in, please do! |  |
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| Here you can download larger versions of the images above, to use at home. | ||
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