8th July 2021

Flixton Aviation Museum was only open to us today, and the weather was just right this morning, dry, reasonably warm but not too sunny.  They had kindly allowed us the use of the café to make ourselves tea or coffee, so we started there.  Seven of us came, though Harriet and I went home just after 1 pm.  You will find that a number of us found the heaps of dead engines dredged from their crash sites most absorbing - they are amazingly organic in their decay.
First, I will let you know that Noreen has now had to have her broken hip operated on, so she is back in hospital.  Let's hope she makes a swift recovery.

I am starting this week with those who didn't come to Flixton.  First, Carolyn, who has sent a beautiful clematis from her garden, and a view of the tennis from her armchair.

Following that example, Diana has been watching the Tour de France, and has sent both finished paintings and some of the TV images, which you might find inspiring yourselves.

Frances couldn't make it either, but said, 'But here are two sketches done in situ. One of orchids at Thelnetham Fen last Friday and the other on the beach at Dunwich yesterday. I collect hagstones and decided to use one as a frame, à la Barbara Hepworth or Henry Moore!!'

This from Sally T., who says, 'Here is my picture for today finished at last. I have been working on this for some time and must stop fiddling.'

Jane is in London for the week, so here are some pages from her sketchbook.

Now the first of the Flixton visitors - Jackie. She said,
'Challenging day!  Complicated shapes that really made us concentrate but most of us enjoyed being out of our comfort zone. At 2.30 a torrential downpour confined us to the hangar and by the time we left, still under black skies and heavy rain, the Flixton roads were flooded.
What a relief to get home.'  She has sent the Hawker Hunter aloft into the cloudy skies.

Sally L. enjoyed her study of this tail fin, with its ghostly lettering.

Avril was as productive as usual, and you can see here how these mechanical things imposed their character.

Sally P. said, 'In the morning I drew part of a Spitfire and in the afternoon I chose a very complicated part of a German plane, but can't remember what...!
Several of us saw faces in lots of the machinery. So I call this one Fish Face.'

I found a creature, too, peering out from a dark cavity, and then something rather like a dragonfly. 

Harriet was very productive too, all this achieved just in the morning.  And she has also contributed a photo for inspiration that you will find at the end.

Finally, some images that might inspire you.  Harriet's photo first, and then mine.

Next week our hostess will be Angela, at her garden in Occold.  Hope to see you there.
There, got through all this without a mention of the football!