What an array of autumn Harriet brought us! Clusters of homegrown apples, some still on their branches, were arranged so everyone had a good view, along with baskets, greenery and flowers. Thanks too to Dave who came to model, along with a very dapper hat!  There were quite a lot of good likenesses achieved by the portraitists, some colourful still lifes, and a couple of members did their own thing.

Starting with two who did a bit of both the subjects on offer, here is the work Frances produced today; Pencil sketch, Aquarelle pencil sketch, Wax crayon and graphite, and Charcoal and wax crayon

And here are Avril's sketches.  There was general agreement on how well the wash worked under the portrait here.

Portraits artists next: Sally T, Barry and Laurens, with two each...

These are Jackie's sketches of Dave... along with Penny's and Judith's

On to the still life works...
These are Ian J and Josie's (her first are from her 'bubble' (or maybe, given the season 'bauble' works)

A few notices before I go:
If you are interested in taking part in the Craft Fair at Debenham Leisure Centre on 29th November, you need to sign up with Ian J by next week (6th November). 
There will be a tick sheet about the Christmas Party available at the Bowls Club from next week until 27th November; please indicate on the sheet whether or not you are coming.
Finally, the Programme Committee (Sally P and Lesley) would be very grateful for suggestions for new venues for next summer.  Parking and loos are essentials, and private gardens would be very nice.  If you have any ideas, please let them know.
Next week's blogger will be Sally L, so let her have your contributions.

Fifteen of us battled the elements for our session at the bowls club today. A workshop emphasising  strong simple compositions focusing on the use of tone.

(youtube examples from Tony Allain and Alain Picard, two pastel artists who use this ‘blocking in’ technique.)

We used two L-shaped card sections to crop and frame a small area of a larger photograph revealing a smaller simpler composition within it.
Then using just black , white and grey we blocked in simple sketches of these mini compositions moving the frame each time.

After coffee we used this same technique referencing work from John Blockley and Kurt Jackson but with a limited colour palette, and again a very simple composition, using the pastel on it’s side, working from dark to light, and lighter to heavier strokes. Using photographs.

Finally we used the same technique in colour to work from actual objects, looking for the darkest darks and the lightest lights and then the mid tones.

Your animated demonstrator!
​Unfortunately I couldn’t crop out the bowls club roll of honour which looks as if it’s attached to the top of my easel.


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Phase 1 working on simple compositions from a cropped image

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Images from the morning session from L-R Barry, Penny, Sally .T 
​and Jane.

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And more from Judith, Josie, Sandra and Ian.


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Final images from Sally. T, work in progress. From Avril all three phases of the workshop, and from Jackie her picture of the rocks in the photograph ( right)

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From Frances, two quinces, colour, pen and ink. Tonal drawings of the Tyne Bridge, a full colour version, a Spanish landscape, and still life (life’s?)

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From Sally P. Tonal sketches, a full-fat colour version of a cropped picture section,
and finally a tomato, nearly finished!. Maybe not, she’s eaten it…

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​and from Lesley, tonal studies, and colour study from her own photographs taken in Anglesey looking towards Snowdonia, and finally her pastel interpretation of a photograph provided.

​and finally , my day’s work! I must have spent the day talking…

Diana has got some juicy new oil sticks, and has sent this image, of work in progress, they do seem to be lovely vibrant colours…which makes me think that perhaps I need some too…

Next week’s blogger is Hannah, please send contributions to her

​A reminder of the next hot topic, the Chairman’s Project - Joyful ​​

Please sign up for Andrew Harrington’s pastel (boats) workshop, even if the list is full, as there is a possibility of running another workshop later in the term if enough interest is shown.

• ​Sally
   

Avril provide the still life this week, which had lots of hairdressing items as well as some lovely flowers. She was also an excellent model. Thanks Avril.

First we have 2 drawings of Avril by Frances, she is not happy with them but she wants Avril to know that it is nothing to do with her modelling. Also Frances's picture of roses. Following this are two drawings expertly done by Hannah on her IPad 

Then we have Ian C and Ian J, very different styles. Ian C is working on studies for a final painting.

Here we have Jackie's lovely images and followed by John's strong portraits

Next we have Josie's interesting Christmas card ideas and Maggie-Anne's gorgous drawing of her dog

And two drawings by Penny, followed by Sally Ps collection of images, the centre drawing done without looking at the paper. Following this is Sally T's nice drawing.

 Then we have Sandra's drawings of Avril, my drawing of flowers, and Diana's collage, plus her water colour painting in stages.

I've done the blog today (Harriet) and I've had a bit of a week this week, including losing my bag and I would like to thank Maggie-Anne for finding it.

Next week Sally is going to do a workshop, please see details in Stop Press. She is also going to do the blog.


Very sad news, Dorothy Swanton has passed away, for details see Messages from Members.

It was great to be back in the Bowls club today, only 15 members arrived today due to holidays etc. but a wonderful day was had by all.

Jackie provided an autumnal themed still life with the clever use of boxes 

Members working on still life and other projects

Maggi-Anne made hers on brown  paper and thought it did not stand out so much, the second one, Barry's, was a watercolour that details the dahlias beautifully. End two are Josie's mixed media which shows her vibrant use of colour. 

Sally P the first one was a beautiful pastel which had a realistic pear. Harriet the middle one was very detailed and showed much attention to detail. Sally L made good use of black and white by using pen and ink and then pencil as separate ones on the same paper. Angela's pencil and ink drawing is nicely balanced. The last one was Diana's that shows a clear brightness.

Jackie awaited her throne and sat very still for us.

There were some fantastic pencil drawings, first two by Penny and last one by Angela, it was commented on that we all tended to make the hands too small. 

First three Avril's who took some time getting into the swing of things and the ones in the last row Ian's who improves constantly.

Frances with her usual flair contributed with these staggering renditions

Jill was doing her own thing today using acrylics 

Lesley sent this : The first a quick watercolour of the roses and stocks from my thank you bouquet given to me at the AGM last week. They lasted well given they travelled with us and still OK a week later. 
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We are glad you enjoyed them Lesley and it was a small token from EAG of what you had done for the group. 

 I’m on Anglesey. Here are two pages from my sketch book of the view  across Menai Straits from our apartment’s living room window. 

Please note there are details on the Stop Press page of the materials needed for Sally L's workshop on 23rd October.

voted in) as the new Chairman.  Jackie was elected Secretary, and Avril has become the new Membership Secretary. 
Lesley gave us her final Chairman's Report, which will be available to read on the Chairman's Messages page shortly. 
There was a review of the Summer Programme just past and the new Winter Programme was discussed.  Members are invited to make suggestions for the 2026 Summer Programme; a form will be available on the noticeboard at meetings. 
Finances are healthy, but it has been identified that using SumUp (the credit card machine) for paying for workshops or weekly fees is not economic, so members will be asked for those to be paid for in cash.  Sumup can be used for annual subscriptions and for payments for pictures and cards at exhibitions.
There was some discussion of exhibitions, both those we held this year and future possibilities, which are under discussion by the Committee and the Exhibitions sub-committee.
Finally, our new Chairman, Maggie-Anne, gave us a Chairman's Project to be delivered at the Christmas Party, 'JOYFUL' to counter the dark and gloomy news from around the world.  For the benefit of new members who have not participated in a Chairman's Project before now, the project does not have to be completed, but is presented with an explanation of the thinking behind the work, and maybe workings leading to it, on the designated date.

Next came Ian C. Following Andrew Harrington's pastels workshop in the last Winter Programme, Ian has started using pastels again following a 20 year break.  He brought in some examples of what he has done this summer, most with his signature angry skies - quite difficult to find those this summer!

Josie had a full sketchbook to go through...

Diana has not been able to participate in person in the summer programme, but very inventively, has used Street Scene and photographs from Country Life to create collages of some of the summer's venues.  Below are Pulham Market, Felixtstowe Ferry and The Handyman in Eye. 

Here is the work shown by Laurens, our newest member.  The first two are copies, some time ago,  of portraits by other artists, and the third is a portrait of Laurens's son.  They are all in oils.

Ian J showed us the sketches he has produced during the summer at lots of different venues; Flixton, The Laburnhams, Thrandeston, Orford, Felixstowe, Bungay, to name a few.  Finally, his granson, with a huge carp that must have been quite something to land!

Next week the winter programme starts.  Jackie will be in charge of the Still life and model.  Don't forget to check the 'Stop Press' before setting out, just in case...
Blogger to be confirmed - check Stop Press for that as well.