Lesley (Bu) says:  I found a huge horse mushroom in a shady corner of my garden so brought it to paint.  Three quick acrylic sketches in the style of Hashim Akib whose workshop I went to at the Bank last week, then the original, taken from a different angle.

Hello All

I’m sorry I am not able to be with you at the Bowls Club yet awhile, but I shall be doing the blog for the portrait/figure drawing sessions on alternate weeks.  It will depend on receiving photos of your work direct from you and any further general information from Sally. It feels like old times, except that I am a bit out of practice!  
Hannah will continue to look after the still life weeks, with the exception of next week:  she is having a day out for her birthday, so please send to me next week as well.  Noreen

Ian has sent us what he calls a very inaccurate portrait from today, but I'd say well done for having a go. He has done some more to the landscape of Dunwich, with his preferred version of the sky.
The two remaining pictures are from Hashim Akib's workshop at the Bank on Monday.  He describes him as a very good tutor and he will try to practise more in Hashim's style.

Here are Avril's three from the portrait session.

A report has just come in from Sallly P:-
"​Hello Noreen. I have several pieces of work from others. I will send them individually.
A good morning. Not as busy as last week. Twelve altogether. With two of us modelling for half the time each.
Model 1. Sally P, model 2 Sally T.
This first message has photos of said models plus one of my pictures of Sally T."

What a pleasure to be back at the Bowls Club!   I think we were 15, and we probably could have accommodated up to about 24, while still maintaining social distance.  Everyone brought either small items of still life, or something they were already working on.  I was sufficiently absorbed that I realised at the end that I had completely failed to take any photos of the room and its occupants for this blog.  Fortunately Diana, who was right at the back, did do so.  I realised too late; by the time I thought of it, we were clearing up.

So here are the products of this morning's work... from Avril, Ian, Jackie, Sally T, Sally P, Les Bragg, Diana, Lesley and me.  As you can see, there was a whole array of different small still life subjects composed on the tables, and yes, the figure Les drew on black paper was also there, a figurine of an early aviator.

Next some work from those who were not at the Bowls Club... in this case Frances (the second piece is from a little sketchbook based on a grandson's GCSE project about identity - this image uses Frances' thumbprint), and Harriet.

So next week will be a portrait/figure drawing session, and Noreen will be in charge of the Blog.  Send your pictures to her, whether you take part in the session or have work from home, all is welcome!

Before starting this I looked back through the archive to see exactly how long it has been since we were at the Bowls Club.  The last session was 12th March 2020, and Noreen kicked off the blog by saying, 'In spite of the Media’s efforts to send us into paroxysms of anxiety about the new virus, we had a full house at this morning’s session. 👍 Your committee has been discussing our forthcoming programmes whilst having to take into account possible interruptions as the epidemic spreads.  We will keep you informed'.
If only we had all had a crystal ball! 
19 members were present for the AGM this morning, actually not much down on the previous one in 2019 (23).  I think I speak for all in saying how enjoyable it was to be physically together again, despite having to bring our own drinks, and wearing masks when moving about.
After the official part of the morning we showed our responses to the Chairman's Project  from 2019 - The Pleasures of Life.  There were a few recurring themes; chocolate, wine, tea, cake, gardens, walking, family, pets and landscape.  Jackie reminded us that our freedom to roam was only fully legalised in 2005! June gave us the stages that cocoa goes through to become so delicious.  Les made us all laugh when he said that one of his pleasures was knowing that he had woken up in the morning!  Sally L had made repeated studies of a pebble.

So here we all are, and here is Lesley, illustrating her thought process.  As I said, wine was one of the themes....

Here are the contributions from Carolyn, Sally T and Sally L.  The joy of a hot shower, the garden, bicycle rides in glorious countryside and pebbly beaches.

 From Frances, Josey, Jane and Diana, colour, viewpoints and Haikus, doodles (can you really call them that?!), companionable chickens and the inside of Diana's head.

Richard, Harriet and Sally P gave us the sea and a gliding seagull, the pleasure of enjoying the view (and a nice bottle of something), and a composite of reading, family tea, the garden art and even the smell of clean laundry (although Sally P made the washing as a removable element!)

Here is my sleeping cat, enjoying the main pleasure of his life, Cynthia's landscape with picnic table for artistic friends, Maggie-Anne's adoring (and adorable) dogs, and from Elaine, her husbands pleasure - fish, and hers, jigsaw puzzles (from which her subject comes).

Lesley's country walk and an interpretation of the landscape by her house, that brings her so much pleasure, Noreen's picture contains its own title, Avril has also done a portmanteau painting with all her many skills and interests, June and the story of cocoa, and Elizabeth's rose that represents beauty and movement.

Finally, Jackie was late sending in work last week that represented the fruit of her visit to Dunwich (a view of the abbey, and a study of pebbles on the beach), so here they are, with her rose to represent the joy of a garden (if not the work that goes into it!) and a gate to remind us that we now have the freedom to open gates on footpaths and explore the glories of the countryside. 
And it looks like Les took his picture down without me photographing it, so sorry for it's absence.

So don't forget, it's still life next week, and those of you who want to come, bring something to draw or paint, or something you are working on and want to continue.  Don't forget your flasks, and to wear something warm because the end doors will be open.  See you then!

First an apology:  I didn't get home until nearly 7 pm yesterday, after a very long drive, and so the blog is a day late.  This week there were very few offerings, as I think we are all looking forward to a productive autumn 'term' back at the Bowls Club (don't forget the AGM, and long-awaited unveiling of 'The Pleasures of Life' next week!).

So let's pay a final visit this season to Carolyn's garden, which has given her inspiration for the blog most weeks this summer.  And at this point I would like to thank her, and the other regular contributors for helping to keep the blog alive during all this Covid time.

Diana sent me a picture last week that was too late to include, so I am adding it today.  She also sent pictures for this week, and some useful information for you all.
1. Dunwich, from a photo
2.  The landscape is Shropshire hills out of my head - sepia ink , black felt tip + oil pastels.
3. Shed by  Abbey Bridge in Eye
4. Eye rooftops from back of Fire Station , felt tip + pastel from a few years ago
Members might like to know that the Art shop in Woodbridge is closing ,all stock is half price until end of next week. Also take care parking in Eye,the parking spaces next to shops regularly get ticketed ,never on same days,I  have even seen them on bank holidays -one hour maximum.Car parks and permitted roadside are exempt.

Avril was not able to go to Eye yesterday, and sent instead some transfers she made for Creative Stitch.

And finally, Noreen sent a bumper offering of views of Eye.  She said, 'I tried to do some drawing/sketching this morning, but not very successfully so resorted to fishing out an old sketchbook used in and around Eye in 2016.'  Thank you so much for doing so, Noreen.