Elaine took us back to summer with a still life laid out for tea in the garden, with fairy cakes, and even bubbly!  Come to think of it, the weather today was considerably warmer than of late, but I think we would still have had to shelter in a conservatory...
It was a busy morning today, with 21 members in attendance, and we had to stop early because of a function in the Bowls Club.  The air of concentration could almost be heard it was so dense.  Elaine also modelled for the portraitists.  And there were a number of members working on their own projects today.

So here are the first batch of works - the first from Sally P, and the second shows two of her drawings using not-looking at the paper, not lifting the pen, techniques. Next Harriet gives us the other side of the still life, and finally Laurens tackled both portrait and still life.

Next Lesley's hydrangeas the first she described as 'experimental', the second with a wonderfully three dimensional feel, new member Sue's studies of the still life, Sally T's watercolour, and my iPad drawing - very unfinished! Using layers to rough out, and then add shading and definition.

Here are three vivid studies of the same component of the still life, respectively,Bea, Barry and Jennie

More members doing their own thing - Maggie-Anne, characterful cat and Josie's colourful hare.  The third is from Richard, great to see him after a long time, it will be interesting to see how this turns out!

Diana says, 'I started with a photo of beetroot and then combined old paintings in my head .'

Here are the portraits from this morning. First, Penny, then Ian J, and two from John...

And now, two from Jill and three from Avril.

Coming up - the Christmas party on 11th December.  If you haven't already added your name to the list of those who are coming, make sure you do so next week, and let us know what food you will be bringing, and whether you are bringing a guest.  The party is always good fun, and thanks to the members, the food is good.  There will be mince pies and mulled wine provided.
We will also be presenting our Chairman's Project work (reminder: the subject is 'Joyful'). 
For the benefit of new members, here are a few things you should know:
Have a look at some of the blog entries for the last week of April in previous years to see some of the work that has been shown in the past.
You don't have to have a finished work.  You can show us your sketches or an unfinished piece, and give us an idea of your intentions.
You can do something 3D if you like.
You can interpret the subject as broadly as you like.
You can bring something you have already made that fits the subject, that fills you with joy. And that thought might fill you with joy!
Stop Press has some details of changes to the Programme relating to the Acrylic Workshop planned for 15th January 2026.  Please have a look.
Sally L will be blogging next week. Send contributions to her.

Here at the Eye Bowls Club on a cold frosty morning, members of the Eye Art Guild met up and had a session of drawing and painting. John supplied the lovely still life including hydrangeas in two vases, some fatsia leaves, and some seed heads  plus two very attractive cushions that he had embroided.

John also posed and quite a few choose to draw him and he made them work hard with four different poses, they are all successful drawings although some said he was quite hard to draw especially the last one where there was quite a lot of foreshortening.

First we have Avril's colourful  drawings, I sneaked in an extra one, as she just started:

Then we have Angela's portrait, Jackie's four drawings and Jo's drawing of John:

Followed by four portraits from Penny and four from Sally P:

Then we have some images of the still life. First we have Angela's hydrangeas, charcoal and pastels; a lovely watercolour by Bee; Frances's two pictures of vases and hydrangeas; Jenny's flowers and part of the cushion; Jo's leaf, watercolour;  and Sandra's  loose drawing using pastels and Sue's drawing of leaves. Finally mine:

Ian and Gill did their own thing. First Ian, a country side scene done in pastels and inspired by National Trust images. Second is Gill's painting (unfinished) of a scene in Sicily where she has just been on holiday and the image showing her inspiration.

Next week's blogger is Hannah

A happy buzz today as members settled down to a great still life that Josie produced

The first two are from  Ian J who thought the Lilies were very colourful, followed by Jenny's lovely watercolour. First in second row is Sandra's fun piece, she used pastel and then rubbed it out and then intense blocks and rubbed that out for the background and continued on this way which produced a nice texture. Lesley also created texture copying a piece of wood from Hunstanton and the lilies stand out on the plain background. 

Harriet used ink, pastel and charcoal which made expressive still lifes. Joanna painted the lillies 
and the lovely pencil sketch of the hare as did Maggie-Anne.

Sally L made a fun cartoonish, her words not mine, dish that was challenging, and Sally P  tackled a tricky scene.

Josie gave us a run for our money with interesting poses

Sally P made three pencil sketches of Josie

Elizabeth had her own distinctive method of drawing Josie

The first two sketches are Sandra's which shows great shading and Jackie worked hard to get the correct proportions. 

Penny  concentrated hard to achieve these super charcoal drawings

Jolles was also busy sketching in his own individual style

I, Avril also had a job to keep up with Josies many poses.

Dianna sent these via email 

​Hannah sent this : Drawn with Procreate on my iPad.

Thanks to Sally Procner for a varied still life table ranging from Autumn foliage and berries to roses(grrr) , a tea service and iced cakes. Not forgetting her modelling a variety of challenging poses, and putting us to shame by looking incredibly fit in her active-wear exercise outfit.

​A thoroughly well thought through session enjoyed by all. 

​First the portraits, two from Frances, and two more from Penny

Three from Sally T quick sketches, and the two longer poses, and similarly from Laurens.

Two from Avril, and three from Ian, the last using a new piece of kit,  ‘Creatacolour’ a thickish waxy lead in a propelling pencil type holder, almost luminous against that coloured ground.( from the Art Trading Company in Bungay)

And finally two from Elizabeth with her distinctive light touch and favourite sepia style.

and from the still life table, the ‘coffee time’ , and colourful oak leaves from Frances, and Jackie’s ‘anyone for Rosehip tea?’ 

Harriet drew the ‘coffee time’ composition, complete with fancy cakes, and the rose (grrr) which was extremely tricky.

​Avril drew the tea-time scenario at the other end of the table, and from Maggie Ann a pastel of some jewel like rose hips.

from Lesley some vibrant pastels of the ‘firework dahlias’ and a composition of autumn colours, really effective against the coloured ground.
​and Jenny painted the vase of roses, in their pottery jug, part of the ‘coffee time’ composition.

Angela’s cleverly composed corner of the autumn table, in pastels, and, a drawing in pencil of nuts and berries.

​and Diana’s own composition from the still life table.

you may have noticed a certain antipathy in my comments about the red rose. I tried my best, but it still looks like a plate of jelly!! Grrr

​independent work today; Barry continued working on an idea from a recent workshop that he attended, (left) and rendered the titles of each of the art forms in the appropriate style.
​josie ahead of the curve is developing her ‘bauble’ series, alongside two autumn still life pictures.

and finally from Carolyn, the last whisp of summer, a gentle picture of a swan which she has taken from a summer programme picture, I think from Beccles Quay.

​AND FINALLY …

• Avril has circulated a permissions slip for you to fill in regarding sharing essential membership details. Please let her know your preferences. 
• Dec 11th, The Christmas Party - the committee are discussing this year’s format having felt a little disappointed with attendance over the past couple of years. A list is circulating to ascertain potential numbers before the committee makes further plans, please let us know your plans for attendance as soon as possible.

Sally