2nd September 2021

I did make it to Les's house on a grey morning that looked more like February than August (though not so cold), but I only stayed for the committee meeting and to take some photos, as I had tree surgeons at home trimming hedges into shape. 
The field behind Les's garden had just had its crop harvested, and had a wonderful pattern of cut stalks lying in huge swirls along the ground.  I went up the steps to his studio to get the full view, which included a little group of EAG members capturing the scene.  Pictures below include a little montage of those who came, but there were others not pictured, including Jane, who came after I left, Lesley, who was too busy to stay after the meeting, and Eileen and Harriet, both of whom I somehow failed to include. Thanks to Les and Barbara for the hospitality - sorry I missed the cakes!

So first Frances, who will be on her way home from Brittany tomorrow.  there is a somewhat competitive element here, as her son-in-law has also asked to be included this week following her grandson's drawing last week.  His is the architectural drawing.  Her own entries are an acrylic based on her sketch of shells on beach, and a quick sketch in her garden yesterday evening, after a lovely day on the beach!

As I said, Lesley was too busy to stay, but she said,
'Les and Barbara made us very welcome.  Here are some photos of the field behind Les’s garden, taken after a very long committee meeting. No time for painting this week as I’m preparing for one of my textile groups exhibition next week. One of my pieces has been chosen for the publicity poster. It’s a long way to Snape but it would be lovely to see EAG members - I’m stewarding on Sunday.' 
Here is one of the photos and the poster for Lesley's event.

Carolyn has been very busy this week - she has set up a still life that included reflection and directional light.  She said, 'The orange peel was not quite right. I could not get rid of it, so put the knife in to indicate consumption of the orange?! It is part WC and part Inktense.  The hydrangea and the tomatoes (now suddenly fruiting well) are also Inktense, the first without water added, and the second with.

Angela has produced some really interesting drawings of the field, that I think could be described as wide angle, midshot and close-up!

Jackie worked on the field too, ​  She said, 'It was a lovely, relaxing venue. So colourful with the heaped straw creating lines that drew the eye across the fields. Picture 1 was the view towards the church. Picture 2 was the composition looking in the opposite direction. Thank you Les and Barbara for hosting this session and providing more than adequate refreshments.
'​Ps. I used the actual straw to make marks on the field area and think these were successful.

Sally P. Said, '​No work from Rushall from me today. Too much coffee, tea and cake being handed around. We did have an important committee meeting that lasted quite some time that was productive.
The paintings below are for my sister they are copied from an artist's work called Michelle Collins. She is founder and artist for her company called Green Lili.
1st picture photo of print of her work
2nd picture my two. Acrylic on canvas board

​'Sploshed a bit of paint about but didn’t get any further, first time these  paints have been opened since last session at Bowls club. Too cold.'  Said Diana.

Here is Sally T's pencil sketch of the field.

Jane really enjoyed sketching the statues in Les's garden this afternoon.  they can just be seen under the fig tree in one of the photos above.

Lots of pages from Avril's sketchbook

Harriet managed to send me her work despite a power cut, using her phone directly.  

When Noreen saw where the group went last week, it jogged her memory of a previous visit with EAG to the same venue, and she delved into her archive to send me this painting, from a not-dissimilar viewpoint as one of last week's photos, and with painters at work depicted in it.
This painting is from 1999, and not surprisingly, she can't remember who the other painters were.  Does anybody know?

And finally,  I didn't do anything this morning, but this week I have been messing about and experimenting with different means of putting oil paint on canvas paper, and this is what happened.  Good fun, if nothing else!

​Have a productive week...