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26th August 2021

26/8/2021

This has not been a good week for art for me. Too much DIY and Grandparently duties got in the way.
This week's visitors to Hoxne had to contend with cool and windy conditions. 7 brave souls did so, and I also have work from others who were elsewhere, but still working in sketchbooks etc.

First Frances' contribution from Brittany:
'Shells and stones on the beach,
Chateau Beausoleil Air B&B near Nantes where we have stayed for a few days with our family,
Horses in the grounds of chateau,
And fourthly one of my grandsons was eager to be included on the blog!!!! Luckily not a portrait of me!' The inherited skills are definitely there!

And here, from June, a beautiful watercolour of hibiscus.

Sally P reports from Hoxne today, 'Only 7 of us turned up today. Les Bragg, Harriet, Diana, John, Jackie, Hilary and myself. No photo of us all as some were morning only and some of us afternoon only. It was a bit breezy but okay as long as you were wrapped up warmly.' She has sent photos of the venue as well as her own work.

Jackie has sent both work from her holiday last week, and the results of today's outing in Hoxne. First, a feature in the garden at Ta Mill where she stayed, second a study of flowing water, and third, today, she says, 'After making a sketch of Park Farm house, it was just too windy and cold to progress with so after finding a less windy corner, this stone trough drew my attention.'

From Carolyn, apples ripening on a tree in her garden, and a sketch of eupetorium, one of Roy's flowers. 'It has grown to unusual heights this year (funny weather?)' She says... I am quite pleased to know what this is, as it grows profusely where our boat is moored (including on one of our mooring posts).

Diana says, 'It is the middle week of La Vuelta. ( next week northern Spain Eurosport channel free). So I have tried to treat Spanish rooftops like the landscape scribble from last week first with felt tip and water , then with oil pastel. The landscape was done today at Hoxne very quickly because it was cold and windy, so again I missed the cake!'

Next Harriet, who sent last week's picture after I had 'gone to press', so here it is... along with her work from this week.

Finally from Lesley, 'I’m on holiday with the family, near Hay on Wye this week. These are pages from my sketchbook of the beautiful Welsh countryside around our rented farmhouse. The first two are views from my bedroom window. Brilliant when one can paint ‘en plein air’ leaning on a window cill!'

Have a good and productive week. If you have pictures in the exhibition at the Bank, don't forget to collect them on Monday at 3pm.

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19th AUGUST 2021

19/8/2021

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I was unable to go to Hemingstone this morning (really rather too far from where I am now), but I have been doing some more experimenting this week, this time with cold wax medium - a lockdown purchase that I hadn't yet tried. I didn't know where it was going to lead, but I had a painting taped to the easel which was in my eyeline, and when I stood back from what I had done, the influence was clearly there. Next week, I will be trying out a paint colour called asphaltum...

Five intrepid souls did go, though I am led to believe some got lost along the way, and were rewarded with a pleasant day with a great host - Sarah (second from right in the group photo) and the weather even allowed a dip in the pool!

So here first is Avril, who has captured several elements in the garden.

And next, Sally P, who said, 'I think all 5 of us managed to get lost on the way this morning but eventually got to Sarah's house!
Sarah was a lovely host as usual. Making us tea and coffee in the morning and tea and cakes for the afternoon, saying that there would be no way she couldn't do it as it was a legacy that Tony had left.
I produced two pictures today, one of them not worthy of showing!
This one is a drawing of one of the barns. I'm trying to be more loose!'

Those are the only works I have received so far from the group who went, so now on to the other work sent in this week.
June sent me two pictures, with the comment, 'One is a pastel pencil picture of Hyderangeas rather pale, l should have chosen a darker background, and the other watercolour done in a free manner because sunflowers make you feel happy.' And they certainly do!

Next Carolyn, who has been studying lilies. She said, 'I have depicted (mainly in WC) a lily which Roy bought as a bulb from The Boundary Garden centre. Lovely delicate colours, which have now faded on fully opening. '

These are from Diana, who was also unable to go today. 'Optician today so didn’t get to Sarah’s. Earlier in week found this acrylic scribble/ geli print as inspiration.
More scribble with felt tip and water
Then added oil pastel including metallic which give more subtle finish.'
[Hope I got these in the right order, Diana - Hannah]

Another taste of Brittany from Frances. 'Sketch in situ by River Vilaine on a cycle ride and another little square canvas using a dead 🙁 Speckled Wood I found on the path outside the house. Unlike Damien Hirst I painted it rather than stuck dead ones on a canvas!!!!'

I have noticed as I finish this how the evenings are now getting dark earlier - hopefully we can look forward to being able to meet again at the Bowls Club in the not-too-distant future.

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12th AUGUST 2021

12/8/2021

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I wasn't the only one who was led astray by sat nav today. Mine took me just outside Stradbroke and said, 'You have reached your destination.' But I did get there, and what a tranquil spot! We had a great threatening sky just for Ian, chickens that wouldn't sit still for a portrait, a colourful garden, no rain (and not too much sun) and welcoming hosts - Avril and Richard. Avril showed us her new studio - very impressive, and some of the work she had done for her course, which was very interesting - and in the garage, the BFG looked down, ready to wow the Redlingfield children in the scarecrow festival. I wasn't able to stay for tea, but I gather there was cake as well.

So here is Ian's treatment of that cloudy sky, and the huge walnut tree that predates the house, its name is Percy (after the person who planted it, I think). Ian was more pleased with the tree on the right.

Rachel has given us another view of Percy and then my back view as I sketched some lychnis, very badly.

Frances has been busy sketching in Brittany, and sent me this selection:
Acrylic based on last week’s sketch, Part of our house, Oak tree in garden which I saw had a face!
View from our favourite beach (behind me) as I sketched chateau and nature reserve.

Carolyn has been watching internet videos this week to see if she could improve on the Inktense work. She said, 'There is lots that one can try but it takes time! trying new techniques. The best find, for me, was to show that the burnisher acts like wax resist.' The moose drawing, together with doodles, illustrates the different experiments.
The second is of fuchsia, which only works in part. Greens are difficult.

Diana did come to Redlingfield but did not want to inflict her 'harvest cough' on the rest of us, but was sorry to have missed tea. She did the collage earlier in week and the sketch today, and took the photos at Redlingfield this morning.

Jackie has listened to a most enjoyable programme on World Service earlier this week about paint, that she wanted to share with you all, so I am giving you a link to it. It is still available on the BBC iPlayer (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct1tdb). She said, 'Two sketches today. As I needed to get in the right mood, the chickens were my first choice as a subject. They were not very cooperative and took a while to come out from a dark corner. As we had spent some time looking at Avril's fabulous textile creations and books on arrival, lunch came next after which some of us worked on 'Percy', Avril and Richard's Walnut tree. Great texture and looks like some mythical creature. Thanks to Avril and Richard

Avril managed between being the perfect host, to produce a quantity of sketches that give quite a snapshot of the garden.

Harriet has given us a quick sketch, part of the garden and the house next door, and another view of Percy.

Sally L was not able to stay for long, but made three sketches in the time she was there.

I am not going to inflict my sketch from today on you, and instead give you two paintings. The first is the finished version of the abstract from my cherry tree painting, and the second is a bit of fun using filling knives for decorating that looked like they would be interesting for painting with over an old, unsuccessful painting.

Finally, some views around the garden, to give you inspiration, concluding with a full view of the magnificent Percy, and the assemble EAG visitors, minus Sally L, with our hosts at lunchtime - and a bit of sleight-of-hand thanks to Jackie taking a picture that included me after I had taken one of the rest. Thanks again to Avril and Richard.

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5TH AUGUST 2021

5/8/2021

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John and Caroline were excellent hosts today for the small group who visited their house and garden just outside Eye today. A beautiful garden and views across undulating countryside provided plenty of subject matter for sketching and painting, and the weather was much kinder than it had been forecast to be. In addition I have work from Noreen, Eileen, Carolyn and Frances that gives a glimpse of what they have been up to this week.

The first submission is a wonderful drawing from Noreen, who took last week's panorama as her subject, and has completed it 'in fits and starts'. A real tour de force, and hopefully indicates she is beginning to recover.

Carolyn has been making marmalade, and used that as her subject this week. Her gardener was impressed enough to offer to to buy a jar. It looks delicious.

Frances has sent further pages from her sketchbook this week.

A great report from Sally P on the day's activities.
'A lovely day was had by all at John's house today. Only 5 of us turned up as holidays and other commitments got in the way for many.
We started off with a lovely cup of coffee with a fascinating tour of the house. Which meant a late start for most of us!!!
And it finished off with tea and cake at 3. The sun shone, the dog looked for a playmate and the combine harvester obliged Lesley by clotting the oil seed rape!'
So here is Sally's output for the day (.The old pump, Silver birch, The start of a watercolour), and some photos to show the rest of us the glorious garden, artists at work, and the friendly dog (Sophie?).

Diana found 'Memories of lots of cats ,chickens and loud music (boys) which June said she could hear about half a mile away across the fields.' when visiting her old house today, now John and Caroline's. In addition to her tranquil sketch, she has sent a photo of nearby harvesting, of which more later.

Busy Avril thoroughly enjoyed her time in this lovely garden, as her sketches show. She will be the host next week in Redlingfield.

From Lesley, first, her work from today: Pen and ink, a quick study of acanthus, for a thermofax screen, and playing with inktense paints.

And, second, photos of the garden and view - she said, 'As I was drawing this I observed to Diana it was a pity the rape field in front hadn’t been harvested; an hour later I thought one should be careful what one wishes for, as I retreated to the far side of John’s lovely garden away from the noise and dust of the combine.'

Sally T has sent a pencil drawing of water pump, and pen and ink inktense of garden looking through arch (a bit abstract ).

I heard from Eileen this week after a long absence, who said, 'I haven’t managed to join the group to paint but was away painting last weekend. Here are my efforts. It was good to be outside painting again even if I struggled with back pain!'

I am currently working on an oil painting using a snippet from my cherry tree painting. The canvas is covered, but the layering continues...

Thanks to all contributors, and if you have any news as well as artwork, don't forget to let us all know. Have a good week.

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26th August 2021

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