18th March 2021

Thank you to the six members who have so far sent their self-portraits to me,  What good likenesses! I thought I would play a game of opening without looking at the packaging details or any note, to see if I knew who it was, and so far - 6 for 6!  From Sally L. two, back to back,
This week's jobs on the house have included demolishing a long run of fitted wardrobes that must have been put in in the 1970s (judging by the anaglypta behind it) dark brown and then painted cream later.  Under the cupboards were ethernet cables snaking everywhere, some old, but not that old coins, and a cache of singles, mostly The Smiths, but including Waterloo Sunset by the Kinks.  We too used to meet at Waterloo Station every Friday night, so this seems like a good omen! The pinkish shape in the third pic is old wallpaper, maybe 1940s?

Anyway, some of you have been busy this week with self-portraits and other pictures.  I am going to find it hard going getting back into practice!
Here for a start is Frances - 'Two self portraits. Image one, I decided to put acrylic colours on paper then charcoal drawing from mirror on top. Enjoyed doing this. Second, acrylic from photo. Third picture messing with inks, Art Graf on Yupo paper inspired by Harriet’s photo. Finally another owl resting on a photo from newspaper for possible background.'
Frances also supplied this week's inspiration, see below.

Sally T. has also sent a self portrait, and work inspired by  last week's aeroplane image from Harriet.

Three colourful mixed media images from Ian's sketchbook.

Sally P. worked from Harriet's Allium and Iris photo in acrylic on a 50 x 50 cm canvas.  She underpainted the canvas in Payne’s grey. Then she added the dark greens and blues before starting on the flowers. There was no drawing done first, to keep the work loose.  There is a little more work needed, but she is pleased with the result so far.

Diana says,
'I spent most of the week working on self portrait until I felt sick looking at it. It went through several incarnations-Harry Potter,John Lennon, even the Queen.Everyone thinks it’s creepy, I shall be glad to send it off. [Now I am very intrigued to see it! Hannah]
So two old ones,the Iris was started sitting in a field of Howard’s nurseries at Wortham about 15 years ago and the aircraft at Flixton with everyone more recently.

Avril was also inspired by the old aircraft, and produced two linocuts, of which she was more satisfied by the black and white one, which was printed onto fabric.  She may go on to embellish it with stitching, etc.

Carolyn says,
'I have found it difficult to get back to normal after a month of pencil portraits! I have attached 2 doodles for consideration today. The Coach House at Brockdish has been a popular summer venue in the past and the larch cones are attractive and come from the lawn here. It has rather attractive lichen on it.' 

Sally L. joined us late on Zoom and told us of all the work she was intending to tear up, which led to discussion about keeping torn up pieces to use for collage and mixed media.  It was obviously an idea that spurred her on.
'I’ve just spent a happy hour ripping up my cog wheel picture and ‘up cycling’ it into Happy Harry the Camouflaged Flat Fish! Completely obvious to me, but probably a bit of a mystery to anyone else!'

Noreen has sent a charming corner of her garden for us to enjoy - hellebores painted in acrylic.  I particularly like the busyness of the shade under the flowers.

Harriet has used her photo from last week of the Alliums and Iris for this painting.

And this is Lesley's take on Samuel Palmer’s Apple Tree, in watercolour and oil pastel.
And a textile piece, utilising silk, velvet and needle cord, representing bark.

Finally, here are the images Frances has chosen to inspire us all. 
'Umbrellas from a festival in Brittany. Icicles on my neighbour’s thatch (red branches in foreground  work well.)  An Angle Shades moth I found on a timber in the kitchen about a fortnight ago, a subtle challenge.' 

Seeing some of the abstracts made in recent weeks I am looking forward to seeing what these will create.