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Thursday 30th March with Sally Tyley

30/3/2023

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I arrived at this morning's meeting during the coffee break to hear Hannah talking about her "tech" workshop next week. Details can be found on Stop Press (click here) but check it again before the workshop as she is looking for something to add about photo editing in the meantime. [ON STOP PRESS NOW - HANNAH]

The drawing app Hannah mentioned is called Sketchbook. This is its icon. It is available for both iOS and Android.

Note that if you don't want to take part, there will be no model or still life provided but you can come and work on any project of your own.

Carolyn was first off the mark with her drawing of daffodils waving in the wind. She photographed them in her garden first, then drew them from the photo. A pleasing composition I think.

Next was Frances with tulips, working from Sally T's still life table. She had to leave early but subsequently sent another tulip-inspired painting completed a few weeks ago ... an exercise in candle wax, watercolour, ink and charcoal. "I just love tulips" she says.

Diana seems to like them too, as she has carried on with last week's picture ... and invented the blue tulip! (Breeders have been unsuccessful at producing a true blue but artists have no such limitations.)
Jane says she was late arriving today so just used pencil to produce this fine drawing.

Ian has given his landscapes a rest and turned his hand to practising with a palette knife on some objects from the still life table. (Handling the palette knife does take a lot of practice Ian, so keep up the good work!)

Lesley too has favoured flowers over landscapes, with this rendering in acrylics.

Harriet has sent in her two attempts at the still life. She says she found the foreshortening of the leaves challenging.

Les Bragg has challenged himself with a mostly white flower in watercolour

Sally P has been having fun I think. She started off trying to paint tulips for a card, then went on to attempt a watercolour picture. She was not over-pleased with either.

She then decided to do a semi-blind (or modified) contour drawing on one of them. She was pleased with the result and decided to draw another one. She comments that there is much more life and movement in it. She positioned her pen for each flower and the vase and then looked only at the flower whilst drawing.

The next ones are from Hannah. The first is the drawing she was finishing this morning - although it might need some more work, she says. Also included are two paintings from earlier in the week.

The little landscape is only about 7" x 5", and is imagined. The other is 40cm x 40 cm, and is based on another painting she did earlier, an abstract night scene.

5.20 pm I'm still waiting for some portraits from today!!! I've only got one and that is Elizabeth's because I photographed it myself in the coffee break. Correction: I''ve checked the Junk box and found one there again from Jackie. Don't know why, but I'm glad to have found it.

Here is Elizabeth's portrait of Sally T, unfinished but looking good, and one of Diana from last week which she finished off at home.

This is Jackie's lovely portrait of Sally. She says she tried to paint without sketching first and was fairly pleased with the result, but that it's very faint so hopes it is clear enough for the website. ( I have enhanced it slightly and do think it is slightly clearer now. Hope t's all right for you Jackie.)

It is well past our deadline of 6pm so I conclude I've received all your contributions and that's cheerio from me for this week. Best wishes for a good week and happy sketching.
Remember to send your work to Hannah for the blog next week. Noreen

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23 MARCH 2023 - WITH DIANA

23/3/2023

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i am afraid I failed to make it this morning as the A47 was at a standstill and the traffic trying to bypass the blockage clogged up Norwich - I gave up after about 40 minutes and went home. Apologies to Diana for not being there to see her still life. I gather numbers were once again not that high, maybe this week it was the sunshine that lured members away from a morning indoors. Certainly my garden is starting to look properly spring-like!
Before I start on this weeks offerings, Jackie's work from last week ended up in Noreen's junk, and so was passed to me for adding to this week's blog. Very fine portraits they are too, even though, as Jackie said, 'Sketches were done on a rough piece of packing paper! I'd been tied up with visitors and grabbed the first piece of paper that came to hand in my rush to get out.'

Now to this week's work. It seems right to start with Diana, who was the provider of the still life and who sat as model (for some of the time). She asked me to convey her thanks to all those who helped with carrying, and to Sally L, who sat as a model, giving Diana some time out.

And then Jackie has sent some more scene setters, including photos of Diana posing... thanks Jackie!

Next to Avril, who has sent three acrylic portraits, which I think speak for themselves, with great likenesses.

Lesley is in Anglesey, and sent a sketch done there, 'Sunshine and showers on Anglesey: a pen and wash sketch of the view from my sitting room, across the Menai Straits to Snowdonia. Done entirely in Berol black pen and a brush. I love the way the colour separates.'

Carolyn has been sketching her neighbour's barn, only visible at this time of year, when the leaves are not yet out. she describes it as a rough sketch done in inktense, with a little blending.

Ian worked on a painting he had started previously, but not been happy with. I hope he is happier now, it is certainly a happy sky that he has produced.

Sally P came and went, almost immediately, with a bad back that would not allow her to stay. She has sent some work from earlier in the week, however, (a painting cut up to make two cards, and a mixed media collage from a couple of weeks ago) and a wonderful Mother's Day card from her son, Jan. To explain the card she says, 'When I first had my tooth done he and I both said that I looked like the chinless cat from Dr Seuss due to the swelling! (He did apologize re The Goof! He said he couldn't think of anything else that rhymed with tooth!)'

Next week Sally T is in charge of the morning's activity, and Noreen will be on Blog duties, so your pictures to her.
The week after (April 6th) there is a workshop in the morning, which will be focussing on Tech. So we will be looking at filling in forms electronically, using tablets and phones for sketching, some photo editing and resizing photos when you send them to the Blog. Details on Stop Press. I think it's Sandra the week after (April 13th), but there have been so many swaps this year that I'm not sure I've kept track!
Let's hope the nice weather keeps up for a bit - we had windows open today!

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Addition to yesterday's blog

17/3/2023

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My sincere apologies to Carolyn. She said she rushed to get her painting to me in time but unfortunately I didn't see it. My fault I believe. After some trouble getting the website to react, I then omitted to have another last look for emails before posting the blog. N.
It's a seasonal look at a snowy conifer bush in their garden (a second attempt after finding crayons did not work).

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Thursday 16th March with Liz

16/3/2023

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Where have all our members gone? For such a mild, calm, dry morning I would have expected to see more at our session today. Even those who generally work on their own projects were missing.

Liz provided an excellent still life table and was a very good sitter for the portraits.

We did, however, get submissions from two absent people, first Diana, who wrote, ‘At home this week, working from tiny ink scribbles done indoors from photos at various times. Simple, quick, torn collages.’
It is Diana’s turn to do the still life and model next week. As she is able to sit still for only short periods, she is asking for 2 or 3 volunteers to help sit as models.

Next Frances, who did ‘.... a little sketch in watercolour and ink on a walk the other day and then played with collage. Finished cinnabar moths, with charcoal and ink added.’
What a brilliant colour the moths are! N.

We have some portraits in. Not least from Avril, who has done seven!!

We have two portraits from John, then one from Sally T and the last one from Frieda

Sally P has produced two pictures from, as she says, the lovely still life that Liz set up. She did a modified contour quick sketch of a pomegranate, adding first watercolour and then some Conte pastels. Yellow tulips and blue vases formed the basis of her beautiful second picture.

Sally (just-in-time) L. has also done an interesting, beautiful picture from the still life.

Another absentee today was Lesley, who was at one of her textile groups, CQIceni, with another mark making workshop.
This time the theme was, she says, 'The Journey, depicting a walk. Again no brushes. This time we made ‘cola’ pens out of beer cans, then selected an area, made funky foam stamps and used both positive and negative prints using acrylic paint onto fabric. Good fun!'
Note: 2nd photo should be first.

Next week it’s Hannah’s turn for the blog so do send all your work to her.
Don’t forget Diana’s request for vounteers to share modelling duties. Please contact her direct.
Meanwhile, happy scribbling, sketching, painting, collaging, stitching or whatever grabs you.
Noreen

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mARK-MAKING AND TEXTILE WORKSHOP - WITH LESLEY AND AVRIL

9/3/2023

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What an adventurous lot EAG are! The day started with mark-making. Stamps were made with funky foam, then made as a background for stitching some marks, using a variety of ‘tools’ and the stamp, paint, collage etc on a piece of lining paper and then passed on to the next person and so on. Then you get your piece back, passed through about eight other people, to add stitching to the background thus created. I am sure most people don't expect such loose, experimental and wild work from a group like ours, but I think that is what makes EAG what it is. I am so sorry that I wasn't able to come and join in - it looks like great fun.

Here you can see some of the stamps made during the morning.

Frances wasn't able to come either, as she is in Brittany - so before I get into what was produced this morning in Eye, here is her contribution. 'Here are photos of what I am doing at the moment. A plan for and the start of a lino cut of a green shank and also the start of a collage using pieces of gelli prints and other paper…maybe cinnabar moths…'

Some people have sent me their work separately, but I hope no one will mind if I simply put them all together - I think they look wonderful as a group.

Here are a few more, courtesy of Harriet - Freda's and Elizabeth's, and Harriet's are the cut up ones.

Let's hope the weather starts to warm up at some point between now and June!

In the meantime, Liz is in charge of the still life and model next week, and you should send Noreen your work for the blog. Have a good week!

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Thursday 2nd March with Maggie-Anne

2/3/2023

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The daily news is still dire, whichever way you turn. Thank goodness for our ability to turn to art for a healthy distraction, whether we observe and enjoy it or immerse ourselves in the practice of it.
Maggie-Anne posed as our model today and supplied the still life objects.

Here first are some pictures from members who were not present today. On the left a watercolour from June, a still life done at the Bank yesterday. It's a glorious mix of oranges and yellows against the deep blues and greens of the background scarf. On the right, Carolyn has done a convincing self-portrait in pencil. Is it her swan song? She talks about not renewing her membership as she does not participate actively; but she certainly participates actively in the blog, which I’m sure we all very much appreciate. Perhaps we could keep her on as an honorary participant?

Eileen was present but working on her own projects, the first being one we have seen unfinished before and now finished. The second is work in progress.

Irene has also now finished an earlier work.

Here are some contributions from the still life. Jane has perfectly illustrated the small collection of jug and cups.

This is Lesley's interpretation
of the Hazel catkins and jug, in watercolour, a difficult subject.

Frances says, As I was leaving this morning saw my black sketchbook and so picked my oil pastels and gave them a quick go! (With some ink too.) Second is a longer attempt with a watercolour wash first then various inks to give structure.

Harriet says, Here is my image for today - showing two sketches - I found the catkins beautiful but challenging.

Diana says: National book day so Maggie -Anne gave us a really interesting set up. Still not finished.
She points out the amazing marbling on the books and includes a photo of "a bookshop in Portugal from surfing son".

Here now are a few portraits of Maggie-Anne.

Four from Avril, who says she tried pastels today and got into a bit of a mess. (I don't see a mess - Noreen)

Two from Sally T, who says she enjoyed doing them but feels the first is the better one.

Three from John.

And one each from Elizabeth and Frieda.

Jackie says, Arrived late today. Tried hasty sketch of Maggie without success so, after coffee, managed this arrangement of drooping catkins and pretty flowers. Just had fun today.

Last but not least from Sally L. She says, I’m afraid those books defeated me this week.
So I’ve included a sketch of the Swan Hotel in Harleston. Jackie and I joined East Suffolk Plein Air painters for a freezing cold session last Sunday morning. It certainly kept us on our toes, - once we could feel them again!

Thanks to you all for your contributions today. Next week is a workshop, led by Lesley and Avril so there will be no model or still life. For full details of the workshop, go to Stop Press.
It is Hannah's turn to do the blog, so please remember to send your pictures to her.
Best wishes for the forthcoming week, Noreen.

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Thursday 30th March with Sally Tyley

23 MARCH 2023 - WITH DIANA

Addition to yesterday's blog

Thursday 16th March with Liz

mARK-MAKING AND TEXTILE WORKSHOP - WITH LESLEY AND AVRIL

Thursday 2nd March with Maggie-Anne

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