To Burston this week.  We met at the Crown, to which most of us returned later for coffee.  I had not been here before, and was interested to see the Strike School, with its display of pupils at the window (see Avril's drawing).  The museum is currently closed, unfortunately.  Once again the weather was dry, and the churchyard is quite picturesque.

Studies of cows from Jackie, some from Burston, and she gave me a peep (not yet for display) at something else she is working on... watch this space!

Carolyn has been knitting during lockdown, 'In lockdown, I started knitting again to keep the grey matter and fingers agile, using inhouse leftover wool. The red did not last, hence the 2-tone model! The waistcoat is still unfinished, but will I ever wear it?'
Like me, she had chosen a cable pattern and, like me, kept going wrong.  This picture was done in watercolour and watercolour pencils, and I don't think this has gone wrong at all.

Lesley is in Thorpeness, and has sent us a drawing of the back garden, and trees on Thorpeness Common, viewed from the front window of the house.

My sketch at Burston was unfinished, as I was amazed at how the time flew. I will do some more to it and add it next week.  Instead, I thought I would share the process of the picture below.  I first drew some of the plums I had harvested, and then thought I would add colour (the colour was the main attraction they had for me), using a method China DeBurnay used to recommend, first photocopy or scan the original, and then print it out to use as a base.  In this case when I did this, I found that I could more clearly see that the bowl was too narrow, so I made it wider in the computer, as well as making it paler, to draw over, then printed it on grey paper to colour.

So the next outing is to Felixstowe, on 10th September.  An all-day session, details on the Summer Programme page.

Keep sending me your output - it's really great to see what everyone is finding to to draw and paint.

Thank goodness, at last a break in the heat, and some much-needed rain.  This week I have painted one of my flower beds, full of the hot summer colours of redhot pokers and heleniums, the first time in an age that I have used the garden as a subject.  We have also had our first proper harvest of plums since we came here, having netted the trees against the pigeons who like to eat the leaves and buds.

So here is a nice crop of pictures for this week, starting with Harriet's sunflower, another of the sights of this time of year.

Next, Carolyn's homegrown tomato, pictured in a spotlight (hence the shadows) Picked, drawn and eaten!

And now, Sally P's black sand and blue sky - wonderfully vivid on her black pastelmat paper, which really strengthens the colour.

So here is my 'By the Garden Wall' and a basket of plums.  They may be jam by next week, I'm not sure what I will do with them, but they are so beautiful that they may have to be painted along the way!

All kinds of weather had been forecast (or should that be prophesied, because not much science seems to be involved) for this morning's visit to Abbey Farm in Hoxne, from downpours to thunderstorms.  In the event, we got more of the usual, as the day brightened, it got progressively hotter and more humid.  As it got sunnier, our concentration was accompanied by the joyous sounds of splashing from the swimming pool.  We were spread out with such good social distancing that I didn't realise Avril was there until halfway through the morning.
This is an immensely imposing house, with magnificent timbers and ornate brickwork.  The garden spreads around the house, with winding paths to take you through glades and woodland.  I thought I would start this week with some photos to show those who didn't come what it is like.

Here is Harriet's sketch of the house, together with one she did earlier in the week of the horses next door to her home.

Jackie says, 'Abbey Farm offered us intriguing subjects to sketch and draw. A Tudor building with ancient doorways, weathered wooden timber frame, old brick walls, it wasn't long before our group settled with their pencils and paintbrushes.  The intense sun kept drying my paints so I resorted to producing this sketch in the end.'

Avril (as she often is) was very busy this morning, and she has added an explanatory pair of photos.

Lesley spent some time in Devon last week and sent some photos to remind us that not everyone has had endless summer, together with a sketch of the River Dart. She painted the house in watercolour this morning, but felt she had not got the mullioned windows right, but I think it has a great graphic quality to it.

John Walters first sent me the painting on the left, and then came and sketched this morning, two drawings of the front of the house, lots of intricate timbers!

Next Frances, who doesn't fail to remember, from Brittany, to send something each week.
'Thursday again! Or rather Jeudi ici en Bretagne...
In the middle of painting some of the insect life I have seen in the garden here and a sketch of Nick’s feet while he was asleep  in the shade. I learnt a great deal about his sandals!!!'

And finally, Jane has sent a lovely bunch of flowers. in a jam jar, and Les Bragg (via Sally P , who said, 'You want to go through to find out what's on the other side'), a vibrant doorway at Walsingham Gardens.

Please keep on sending me examples of what you are doing, and anything interesting you might want to pass on to the group.  Photos are welcome too.

I have definitely let the side down this week, finishing so late (says Hannah).  My first excuse (not too bad) is that we have had an electrician in the house all day, turning things off and on, so I didn't want to start until he had finished, or I might have lost whatever I had added.  The second (not so good) is that once I had started an old friend, whose birthday this is, rang me, and rather a lot of chat ensued!  Anyway, here it is - Sorry Noreen!

Jane took up the challenge from last week (unlike me, who promptly forgot all about it as soon as I posted it).  She sent this drawing of her hand drawing her feet,

Sally T has also drawn her hand, four versions from a mirror, and the fourth looking directly.  She says it was two very different experiences.

Frances has sent a sketch and two drawings in preparation for a painting.

Sally went with Jackie to the thatcher's field, and using both the photo and the drawing, has made a pastel drawing on Pastelmat paper.  Lovely colours and I particularly like the depth of both the field and the sky.