23rd july 2020

Seven of us made it to Thornham Walks this morning, and Diana arrived later, for a walk.  The Forge Cafe was doing a roaring trade in outdoor coffee, and the paths positively thronged with all the visitors.  It was the first day of the summer holidays, although in current circumstances who would have thought it would have made any difference?  Lots of friendly and curious passers-by. And the weather was perfect, not too hot, but sunny.

We had coffee first (socially distanced), and, among other things, there was discussion of the coming winter programme.  Sally Tyley brought the good news that the Bowls Club will be available, with some changes necessary for its use.  We hope to be able to let you know how this is going to work as soon as it is finalised.

26th July: One extra drawing from Thursday added below...

A delicate watercolour from Lesley. Some of these oak trees at Thornham are dying back, but what lovely shapes.

John Walters sends in an oil fantasy of two contrasting figurines against a view of his garden

Jackie started with a sketch, above, and then produced the watercolour below.

Just in case it wasn't clear, the message from Sally P. was 'This is a tree.'  So here it is. And a very fine tree, too.  I do like the way she has defined the different parts of the tree and expressed the bulk of the leaves.

'Here is an extremely quick sketch done in our garden in Bécihan, Brittany In between trying to find plants hidden in the growth since we were last here in February and entertaining two grandchildren.' Says Frances.

Carolyn has sent this wonderful study of mushrooms, musing about the inadvisbility of eating them!

And here, to the left, is Avril's subject at Thornham, and right, her painting.  She started with watercolour, then added pastels and wax crayon, which gives it great depth and interest.

Diana said she had always intended to paint these cottages, near the thatched church at Thornham Parva.  She did this oil painting at home this week from her photo.

Sally T. cycled with what she had intended to be a minimal load, but once you add in the hand sanitiser and the mask, etc., etc....is there room for drawing equipment?
Her pen and ink produced these drawings full of great energy.

Harriet sent this colourful summer 'Garden with Dogs' - painted in oils and not yet finished but at a certain stage...

And finally, my own offering.

So, hopefully next time (Hoxne in three weeks time) there will be a few more of us...But in the meantime, Noreen is still suffering with her back, and I am sure we all wish her well.  I will try to hold the fort, though it's difficult to live up to the standard set.

If anyone has something else for me in the next day or so, send it to me, Hannah...

26th July

And finally, finally, a late addition from Les Bragg.  Another of the dying trees that make such wonderful statements at Thornham.

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