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27th August 2020

27/8/2020

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.

STOP PRESS:
Added 28th August.

And here is Sally T's rather wonderful pen and ink rendering of the building.

The stone blocks on the school facade name the organisations and individuals that backed the strike, which started in 1914, and helped to build the school.

Here are pages from Avril's sketchbook showing first, the cutout pupils at the windows of the Strike School, and second, an atmospheric sketch of two gravestones in the churchyard.

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.

Jane is in Dorset, and sent a sketch of the view from her hotel window...

Sally L. has begun a study of a boat in a sea of grass using oil pastel, she says she has been suffering a bit of catering fatigue, due to several long ‘garden lunches ‘, and hopes to get it finished by next week though.

Diana stayed with her idea from last week, of using predominantly one colour, but found that 'Last weeks green is merging into yellow inspired by all the goodies coming in from the garden' I must say I am wondering about the goodness of the soil in Eye, that can grow sardines among everything else!

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.

Harriet sent a picture of a rose from home, as she could not make it to Burston.

From Frances, 'Here is a quick sketch I did from the stern of the ferry yesterday. It became an exercise in geometry and in fact the lines look straighter in my sketch book than in the photo!

'Am now in quarantine but happily this will be over when you are meeting at Felixstowe Ferry.'

First a very evocative sky from Les Bragg, and then another atmospheric view of Burston churchyard, from Sally P.

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.

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20th August 2020

19/8/2020

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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.

Next, from Frances, A seascape, and the finished insect painting from last week. It's very interesting to see a painting develop over time. we have had a few this summer, and there are more to come this week and next.

And trees from Les Bragg, drawn on Crete.

Diana suggests that her idea of a painting, whether still life like this, or something different, that predominantly uses one colour, might be an idea to try for next week - so over to you!

And further to her query last week, she says the loos at Lidl in Beccles and M&S in Bury can be recommended.

Here is Jackie's further evolution of the thatcher's field studies. 'I love rural scenes and developed this painting from several sketches of a local field. I later decided to add the Crows and felt they completed the composition.'

Jane has returned to her flowers in a jam jar and given us a completely different version that she says is not yet finished. This one was made with acrylic inks, and I love the way the shades of colour change along the petals.

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!

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13th August 2020

13/8/2020

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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.'

Sally P. first looked up, rather daunted, at the main building and then turned and saw this door opening in an outbuilding, which I think has made a wonderful subject.

Diana also looked up at the building, and has taken a photo to show her sketch with its subject.
She also sent a painting from earlier in the week. 'Oil on top of old acrylic collagen thing .I think it’s too big. I might have another go on a smaller canvas.'
By the way, Diana asked me to ask all of you for guidance as to where there are places to visit locally where the public loos are open. Very important, this, as earlier on, when they said we could now travel further afield, none of them were.

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!

Finally in this section, my rather unsuccessful drawing of the garden. I should not have started to add colour, that's where it went wrong.

So now a big thank you to those who were not able to come this morning, but nonetheless sent me work to show you. First Carolyn's lovely painting full of cool shadows.

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.

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6th August 2020

6/8/2020

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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!

Let's start with Carolyn again, with what she described as a 'Garden Doodle'. I love the delicacy of the plums, and the colour is just perfect.

Avril used watercolour and gouache on a study of pebbles from the beach. Before the photo could be taken the arrangement was disturbed, not that it matters. The contrast of the vivid blue with the subtle colours of the pebbles works very well.

A lovely finished painting from Sally L. The dark, fine lines set off the colour and composition so well, have a look at last week's blog to see how it has progressed.

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.

Another tree drawing from Les Bragg, but very different from the one he drew at Thornham Walks...

Pages from Harriet's sketchbook, containing different views of her garden.

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.

Here is my painting for the week. Diana's favourite bit of my garden, the view across the field. They have cut the wheat today. Above the potatoes we DIDN'T plant did so much better than those we did. The one bottom left is over 600 gm on its own!

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