Blog Archives

25th November 2021

25/11/2021

I have to start with the sad news that Tom Oakley died earlier this week. Although we had obviously seen little of him for the last year, I am sure we will all miss him. We will give funeral details when we know them on the Stop Press page, for those who might want to attend (if allowed under Covid restrictions).

We were eventually 11 this morning, and easily fitted two tables, as you can see, with plenty of room left if there had been members who wished to draw portraits (and someone to sit). A gentle reminder that we had said that Thursday mornings are now open to all, whether you want to pursue work of your own, bring a still life, or join in portraiture (or sit for the portraitists), so we look forward to seeing you next week... More details on Stop Press

First a drawing from Carolyn, inspired by Bridget Riley, and a recent programme about her, she has used the stripes to describe the folds of fabric in a duvet cover.

Three pieces from Avril this morning. Two different versions of a Christmas decoration (either would make a lovely card), and the third is an item from the Bowls Club that was a large glass tubular vase full of coloured glass pebbles, that looked as though it should light up, but didn't.

Frances was not able to join us, but sent sent some images based on identity since she had spoken to a grandson tackling the theme for GCSE. As you can see she made a kind of hanging with treasury tags...an interesting game to play!

Sally L worked on two very different images this morning and then worked further on the second when she went home.

Harriet brought in these two lanterns to draw and also sent in a picture of fading hydrangeas that she did yesterday.

This is from Les Bragg, an imaginary image that he was working on in watercolour and pencil.

Maggie-Anne went out and cut these rosehips during the morning, and has produced a wonderful watercolour that may or may not be used for a Christmas card.

Diana has included pictures of her arrangement this morning, and the hard work going on across the table, with a mix of photos and work from home. 1. Crassula plant, 2. Gelli print of Shropshire,
3. Shropshire morning mist, 4. Thornham woods, 5. Grabbed a few things from house and garden,
6. Start of today’s effort

Eileen is next. Colourful, as her paintings always are, and with a warm blue sky that was missing this morning...

Almost finally, June painted this wonderful cockerel in acrylics, partly inspired by Hashim Akib’s classes.

This is my contribution - and will form the basis of my Christmas cards this year.

The committee would like to know whether any members have a technique or a theme they are interested in having presented as a session one morning after the New Year, or would be able to offer a session to others. If so, please let Lesley know.
Don't forget to send your submissions for next week's blog to Noreen.

Finally... a reminder that 16th December will be our last session before Christmas. Because of Covid, it has been decided that we cannot have the usual festivities, but we will be offering mince pies and tea or coffee, along with socialising, at a morning session with a difference. I am pleased to say that we have had a reply from the North Pole, and a Very Important and special visitor has agreed to sit for his portrait - you will need plenty of red!

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PS FRIDAY 19TH - omitted yesterday

19/11/2021

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I am so sorry that in setting out the blog yesterday I omitted to include Sally T's photos, which I did receive in plenty of time. Here they are now. It was good to see her use of charcoal and full-length portraits of our two models for the day, Ian and Jackie. (Noreen)

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18th November

18/11/2021

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Mild weather continues and we have had some really beautiful sunsets and sunrises. Autumn leaves are falling, but the main change in my little garden is a dearth of birds. Even the dreaded pigeons are in short supply.

Portrait Artists were at work at the Bowls Club this morning, portraying Jackie and then Ian, who kindly stepped up. See photo from Diana, along with her photo of sunset at the allotments.

Sally P sent us a plethora of photos of this morning's session, which you can see was quite busy.

Carolyn worked at home as usual (although she is hinting at returning to the Bowls Club after Christmas).

She produced pencil portraits of her Dad and Step Mother from a photo. She feels the one of her Dad is the more successful.

This is Elaine's version of a picture from the cover of Paint magazine

Avril was very busy with her sketchbook, producing six sketches all together!

Here are Jane's competent Portraits

And here are June's. Sally says she has really captured Jackie in the portrait.

In this gallery, the first four are from Les Bragg .... and the last two are from Freda.

First, two from Elizabeth, then two by Sally P, followed by some quick sketches of Ian by Jackie.

Finally just in time, from Harriet, three portraits.

Next week, don't forget to send your work to Hannah. Perhaps there will be some fine images of the last of the autumn colours, which have been beautiful.

PS I saw June after her visit to the Bank yesterday and she showed me her lovely painting of autumn leaves, a continuation of her painting last week.

We also heard from Sally P that she and Jackie visited Cynthia last week, who says hello to everyone and sends her love. She was on top form and is very happy in Hartismere Place. They met at her house and were given lots of art materials to be offered to all at the EAG. Lots of it went and so far £34.25 has been raised, with more to go in next week. It was decided that the money raised will go to Cancer Research UK. Sally will give the total next week.

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11th November 2021

11/11/2021

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A date with much resonance, and we took our own minutes of silence this morning. The level of concentration was deep, and we were largely silent already, but the quality of the silence was different for that brief time.
The good news is that it has been decided that numbers are such that if you want to come weekly to draw or paint still life, it will be possible to do so, starting next week. You will still have to bring your own subject matter with you.

Diana left early, but has already sent an updated photo of the still life she was working on, having decided that 'This morning’s effort lacked just about everything but placing objects on it has reinspired me so I will have another go...' She is already pleased with the dark patch added at top left. The other two are, respectively, 'detail of Autumn landscape by son Charlie ,wish I could paint like this,' and, 'photo taken Nov 10th 2018 Thornham woods.'

Carolyn has still not been able to join us at the Bowls Club, but has still sent in a sample of what she has been doing during the week, as could you! As we go along, you will see this is the beginning of a bit of a theme.

This rather arresting image comes from Noreen - two Scottish Black Grouse.

June attended the Bank on Wednesday as well as the Bowls Club, so here are her two contributions.

Avril was busy as usual, and has two drawings from this morning - 'Landscape of Manchester, out of my comfort zone' and 'Work in progress, believe it or not I ran out of time.'

Frances is in Brittany and has been very busy - 'Four sketches, the first of a view in our garden here. The other three sketches done on walks and the last another small box canvas.'

Sally L worked on a Nerine flower that she had brought from home.

From Jackie.
'Following the Hashim Akib workshop, this is my second attempt using his technique with acrylics but I am finding this really difficult. Some of The acrylic paints are so powerful that mixing colours was frustrating. For the last half an hour Sally kindly set up a pineapple for us to paint so I used the acrylics like watercolour and felt much happier!

Another Nerine accompanied by a cyclamen from Lesley. In acrylic, painted with the idea to copy and digitally print them onto fabric for a textile project she's involved in.

Freda painted these leaves and berries this morning. The landscape is a 'green scene' from her imagination.

Sally P was working on pictures 2,3,4 and 5 of her ongoing practice from the (Hashim Akib) workshop. One of which she completed today at the bowls club. Each had a time limit of 45mins maximum.

Ian worked on this landscape this morning, but didn't get it finished. It is from a photo taken while on holiday. His good news is that he sold two paintings at an exhibition on Saturday, both Norfolk scenes!

Harriet has sent in a picture that she painted before going away, which is not quite finished, but which she intends to work on further.

So finally, apologies for failing to photo the morning assembly hard at work, but below you can see how the tables were set up, as we all prepared to leave. My drawing this morning follows some I made during lockdown, of favourite shoes. These are my baby shoes (not sure how they got quite so worn!) - It's not finished, so although it should be 'Two Blue Shoes', at the moment it's only one.
The second apology is for taking so long to post this. Most of the pictures got to me in plenty of time, but I had to go to the supermarket in the middle!
Don't forget, it will be Noreen in the chair next week for the Blog, so send your pictures to her in good time.

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Thursday 4th

4/11/2021

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Let's begin straight away with Carolyn's, who is nearly always first in with her offering. She worked at home on a portrait in pencil from a photo from the internet, but I gather she wished she had chosen a subject with more character.

Hannah too worked from home and successfully finished the oil painting begun a couple of weeks ago (set-aside at Thornham). She has also sent one of a number of small (8"x12") paintings she is preparing for the next exhibition she is participating in. This is a view in Norwich.

Ian has been on holiday and sent us a painting of St Bride's Bay, Pembrokeshire, as seen from the window of their accommodation - sheep included. The sky, he says, is pretty much as it was on the day.

Avril is the first one today to send in her work from the Bowls Club session, three portraits. She says she is out of practice. I don't know about that but she seems to have had a pretty good try.

These are Diana's photos. They show her colourful watercolour for today in amongst many other beautiful examples of her work and including a view of the portrait artists working away today. Thanks Diana.

Harriet tells us she is currently in Wales, where she did this sketch trying to capture the lovely autumn colours.

From Sally P we learn that there were 11 members at this morning's session, where she did a pastel portrait of Lesley. She has also submitted an abstract landscape from the workshop at The Bank, run by Hashim Akib, using acrylics and a 1.5" brush. This is something she wishes to develop further.

More portraits below, this time from Sally T. Both are in charcoal and white pastel and Sally is happier with the second of the two.

Jackie says they had a good model this morning (Lesley) and plenty of space. Good to see full length portraits, Jackie. She has also included a sketch started at Titchwell, N.Norfolk and finished at home because they were startled by a Red Kite and flew away.

A couple of final entries from June. First a leaf from a special maple tree in her garden, one she planted in memory of her mother. Second, a portrait from this morning's session

That's all for today, folks. Next week is Hannah's turn to write the blog so please send all your images to her.
Noreen

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25th November 2021

PS FRIDAY 19TH - omitted yesterday

18th November

11th November 2021

Thursday 4th

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