25th March 2021

late edition 26th march 2021

A quick extra from Noreen, with a watercolour of Walberswick from several years ago that fits with the umbrella theme of this week.  A very British scene of intrepid trippers out in blustery weather.  See below for her take on the picture Frances gave us as inspiration last week.

First of all, I want to remind everyone that Noreen is back on Blog duties from next week, for the whole of April, so anything you want included should be sent to her.
Then let me thank the members who have already sent me their self-portraits:-  Avril, Carolyn,Diana, Frances, Harriet, Hilary, Ian, Rachel, Richard, Sally L. and Sally T.  There will be a round up of names each week, so you will know your pictures have reached me safely.

So let's start this week with the pictures that Lesley has chosen to give you some ideas and inspiration for the week. First, reflections, boats, mud and water from the River Dart - and second, for those who enjoy painting and drawing animals, the last two photos are  of a Suffolk Punch at Gressenhall Museum in Norfolk.

Carolyn had fun throwing everything but the kitchen sink (by the sound of it) at Jane's picture of 4th March, on which she loosely based this abstract.  She said, 'I have tried to include as many gimmicks as possible; salt, cling film, spatter, sponge, masking and scratching. I wanted to include wax crayons but they were all green so didn't fit colour wise.  I am hoping to do something sensible from the garden next week.'  I think it works very well, with lots of texture and interest.

Next Angela, who wasn't able to Zoom this week because of a power cut, but told us last week about the course she is doing online with Newlyn School of Art - Abstracting the Landscape, which had certainly kept her busy - as you can see here.  She has been working in a lovely zig zag book sketching over painted areas which has been great fun, and these may get worked up into paintings, but not, she says, the self portrait.  I love the reflections in the glasses and the detail of the bag hanging behind - good likeness too.

Also busy this week has been Harriet, who had trouble with her internet connection this morning, and wasn't able (during the time I was there) to be seen.  So here is the work she couldn't show, and her description of it.
'In the Pond 2 is my next project, based on a photo I took a while ago, In the Pond 1 is the sketch where I'm trying to work out what I wanted to include in my picture.
'Also I have included Rose 3rd dog portrait which I have finished and also In the Conservatory which I have been working on for a long time and have nearly finished.'
It is always interesting to see someone's process as they work through making a picture.  The texture of the brush strokes used to describe the fur (and therefore the face) in the dog portrait is very successful and expressive.

Diana looks back from this March to the two previous.  March 2021, Moth and umbrellas, March 2020,  looking forward to Spring, and a reminder of Life Before Covid - March 2019 at the Bowls Club - how life used to be!

From Sally P. first an acrylic abstract taken from Jane's photos. 'It still needs work doing to it and I'm struggling to get some depth. The second was painted several years ago at a life class. The figure wasn't going too well and I became more interested in the parasol. It's not accurate but I liked some of the effects with the paint'

This painting by Noreen, inspired by Frances' umbrellas, started as watercolour, but then drifted into mixed media.  I like the sense of the wet below being wetter than the wet above.

And a different handling of the same inspiration is at work here; Sally T's umbrellas, with a much more abstract treatment.

From Frances, 'First, oil pastel and ink of the moth. Second, sketch done on Wednesday at Redgrave Fen, third the oil of winter sunset from my studio window.Fourth Just finished this one. Acrylic and charcoal.

As for me, what is it with my chin?!  Every time I try at a self portrait, I get the proportion wrong!  So her I have shortened it, using computer imaging software, but, because it is coloured pencil, it does not seem to be amenable to erasing and redoing - though I may try tomorrow.
By the way, for those on Zoom, Oscar is OK.  Probably an infection from a bite - so expensive antibiotics, etc...

So, just a gentle reminder - send your contributions to the blog to Noreen during April.  The self portraits should still come to me, by post.  Have a productive week!