25th APRIL 2024 - THE CHAIRMAN'S PROJECT

The last session of the winter programme attacted a good number of members, mostly bringing with them work that represented considerable thought of the Chairman's Project for this year: 'Looking Up'.

As is usual for the Chairman's project, each member gave an explanation of the process that had led to the finished work that they presented.Somehow we zipped along, without a coffee break (most of us had had coffee at the start of the session), and finished quite early.
So it also proved to be a very sociable morning - though when was an EAG meeting not sociable!  There was ample time for mingling and chatting once the business of the session was over, and it was very nice to see some faces that have been missing recently from our weekly meetings. 

Before we get to the work presented this morning, here is a piece recently completed by Sally L (who was not able to come), that she felt fitted the title, though it might also be 'the light at the end of the tunnel'.  Either way, lovely colour, light and interesting marks.

So here are the first few participants, with close-ups of their work: Lesley, who remembered a day out shortly after lockdown ended; Sally P., who brought us the story of the Mountain Chicken frog, from the Caribbean, with only 20 animals of the species in the wild, whose population is being protected, and whose numbers are now increasing, and Ian C, who gave us clouds with silver linings! Finally in this group, Carolyn brought Us a 'Selfie' - looking up, and wintry trees looking up to the sky.

Next, Sally T, who didn't quite risk life and limb to look up the railway line at Mellis level crossing, producinjg her lovely pen and ink, with its abstract feel, then Freda (who sat down while explaining, so I don't have a picture of her presentation) of a painting of sequoias towering up to the sky, with a kestrel.  Mick showed his re-imagining of St Sebastian as Alexi Navalny, looking to the heavens, and Josie gave us brightly coloured birds

Now we have Ian J, with a painting that includes collage, of trees (and birds) looking up to the sky; Bea paintings rejoices that the population of hedgehogs is finally 'looking up', as are red squirrel numbers.  Harriet had a similar idea to Freda, and used Google Street Scene to visit somewhere she goes on holiday, where she found herself in a woodland glade full of conifers. She also sent me some of her cloud studies, which are below.  Maggie-Anne gave us a delicate study of cherry blossom.  She has obviously been looking up into a cherry tree with great concentration.

Jackie spoke of the quiet tranquility of Suffolk countryside, and here is her beautiful rendering of a buzzard in flight - we've all looked up at that cry, haven't we?  Judith chose an image of someone looking up, almost otherwordly (sorry about the light across the glass, Judith). Next Avril, with a self-portrait looking up, or even reaching up, done in a very graphic style, and then Richard, with a little poem, and an extremely tranquil little painting.

Frances was in Brittany, so Lesley presented her work - a sketch that worked through various ideas, and then a finished painting, taking up one of those ideas.  Angela gave us 'Three Watchers' people looking to the heavens for answers, but perhaps with little idea of from which direction those ideas might come (to the right of the picture of her presentation).  My contribution was a little book of clouds, to use for looking up the different types of clouds there are...

I hope those of you who were not able to come have enjoyed seeing what the members produced today.  Next week is the beginning of the Summer Programme (details on the Events page), and members will be sketching and painting in Hoxne.  Sally L. will be doing the blog, so send any contributions to her.  It will be Avril's turn the week after, at Framlingham.
Let's hope we have a good summer, with rather better weather, and I hope to see you out and about...