Today 18 members attended the Bowls Club despite the grey day spirits were high. Josie made a interesting still life and Ian gave us three poses for us to grapple with​

Some poses of Ian

Josie's still life with people settling into a morning drawing session

People's work produced

People's take of Josie's still life

Hannah's was done on her iPad and so was sallys left-hand one

Sally wishing Les a happy birthday and his painting for today

I am afraid Angela's photo was rather blurred, my apologies

Eileen's painting nearing completion from a previous week

Lesley sent this -  'Here is my take on Josie’s tulips painted in watercolour. I thought I had better get in some practice before next month’s workshop!'
​

We had no control over the direction we were going in this morning, and that meant we let go and went with the process.  Thanks so much to Frances for leading us today, and introducing a most interesting way of taking the elements of an original image and turning them into an abstract painting.  The first part of the process was to draw, in simple line form, the small still life of jug, spoon, bowl, etc. that we had brought with us.  That was then set aside, and a collage was assembled, using coloured and other card.  This was largely random, but might include elements that were in the original drawing.  Here is a selection of this second stage:

The final stage was to take the original drawing and transpose some or all of it on to the collage, not necessarily in the composition of the first drawing, and to paint or add colour.  the first two below are Frances's version of the exercise, then, in order, Sally P, Harriet, Judith, Les, Lesley, Josie, Sally T, Maggie-Anne, Jane, Avril, Angela, Jackie, Freda, Ian J, Sandra, Hannah, and finally Irene, who left early, and therefore only completed the line drawing.

This has proved to be thoroughly enjoyable as well as instructive, and I shall certainly use it again at home.  I am glad that the snow reached my home too late to stop me leaving this morning (there was no snow in Eye today).  Thanks again to Frances for a most enjoyable workshop.

Don't forget that next week is the deadline to pay for Sue Williams' 'EARLY SPRING FLOWERS IN WATERCOLOUR' workshop.

Next week Josie is in charge!  Have a good week, everybody.

Despite my best intentions, I was not able to go to the Bowls Club this morning, as I had to spend the morning as the chauffeur to an injured party in A&E (writes Hannah), an experience I could have done without. 
It seems a lot of work was completed today, with some fine likenesses among the portraits.  I have to say, that although I counted all the photos carefully in, each time I did so I got a different number (and I tried several times!) - so I hope no masterpieces have been lost in action...
There was a total of three models this morning, Jill having persuaded her husband Dennis to sit, and then Angela providing some short poses, as well as sharing some of the new techniques for oil painting that she has been learning.  Jill herself sat after the coffee break.  There was also an interesting and multicoloured still life to draw and paint.  So here are some images of the still life...

And now the work that used the still life... two of Josie's, Maggie-Anne's and Bea's

And here are the three models - Dennis, Angela and Jill...

Angela's portraits... by John, Jackie, Sandra and Avril

And these are of Dennis... by John, Sally T, Jackie, Sandra and two of Avril's

The final model - Jill, by Sally T (x2), Sally P, Ian, jackie, Sandra and Avril (x3)

Here, from Frances, 'My two sketches today. Experimenting with my new Duke pen with a Fude nib! Information about it gained from Sally L.  Wished I’d had a little gold for the peacock feather!'

It's Frances's workshop next week, morning only, the subject being 'From Still Life to 2D Abstract', and she has provided a list of equipment you will need, which is on the Stop Press page.  I look forward to seeing you there!

There were 14 members today at the bowls Club today
Sally Tyley did a splendid still life including very bright cyclamens

Sally sitting very still for portraiters

The still life and people getting ready for arty tasks

Jo starts off with her colourful mixed media painting followed by Jane's, Liz's is very colourful and acurate and Lesleys cyclamen is positioned well.  Sally enjoyed working with the candlesticks and Angela's pencil drawing of the pot had wonderful shapes and shadows​

We start off with Ian's two drawings then Jackie's, Angela's Hiliary's and then Avril's

Eileen had to leave early but had started on this tree picture. She expects it to take several weeks to complete

From Diana, her work so far today, and then two photos looking towards possibilities for the Chairman's Project 'LOOKING UP' (to be ready for the last winter session in April) - Mahonia in bloom, and then 'millions of cobwebs'!

Finally, from Frances -
Small scraper board barn owl.
Three A5 sketches: From the Coastguard cottages on Boxing Day.Playing with images of pollarded trees in Brittany, Quick sketch of my birthday tulips.

Happy New Year to all, from Avril, who was actually there, and compiled most of this, and from Hannah, who finished up the end!  Hope to see you all next week, when Jill will be in charge...