Happy New Year!  And here is another message in the same vein:

'Merry Christmas everyone at the Guild. I've just enjoyed looking at your paintings. It all brings back wonderful memories. Please remember me to anyone who still knows me. And I wish you all a happy, healthy and compassionate 2022.
X Joan Henriques'
Joan has also been in touch with Noreen to send her some examples of her latest work. You can see them on her Gallery page  CLICK HERE.

CHAIRMAN'S PROJECT
Sally P has decided that the subject of this year's Chairman's Project will be 'Movement'.
This gives us all a very open topic to think about.  There will be more information, with some ideas about resources and artists to look at, coming shortly.

So another rather strange Christmas has been and gone.  We were a very small party on Christmas Day, and the turkey seemed to last a very long time beyond the day...

Avril has amassed a whole gallery of portraits from this morning.  She says her practice has been affected by a new resident of the house, Sam, pictured below.  She has some new water-soluble pastels to become accustomed to.

Next some work from Diana:
She says, 'Had latest Joan Eardley book for Xmas,inspired to do some oils.'
1. Copy  scribble of one from book.
2. Quick one out of my head using white,black and yellow ochre (on top of old painting).
3. Based on sketch at Wickham Skeith still using same colours plus Cerulean,lots of plastering it on and scraping back.
4. This morning, Harriet’s lovely setup.
5 .Watercolour.

Here are two sketches and a photo from Lesley, who says, 'I’m in a very windy and cold Galloway, staying right on the coast, here are two sketches and a photo.'

I have started on a sort of mini project to make some collages on small canvases (20 x 20).  I haven't got far...

Finally, work from Sally P this morning. She got some assistance from Diana on the perspective in her still life.  This is what the first two drawings are about.

Now some notices.
Firstly, next week it is now Sally Tyley running her still life and figure drawing. She has swapped with Sally P who will now be running her session ' using yupo paper' the following week. She will give and send out a list of materials needed for the morning next week.
John Blake's work is now being shown at The Bank in Eye. It can be viewed on Wednesdays and Fridays between 10 and 3 until the end of January.
The kitchen is now open, but we are still encouraging bringing in flasks if you can. 
Can I remind everyone that you need to have floor covering as well as table covers. 
Please remember to wrap up warm due to the need for fresh air to be circulating.
Finally be prepared for changes to plans last minute due to illness etc., and have something you can turn to/use instead.
Let me remind you that Noreen will be doing the Blog next week, so work should be sent to her for that.  Stay healthy and warm.

First of all, the programme for weekly meetings after New Year has been added to the Winter Programme page, so please have a look, and make sure you read the guidance notes as well.

First, from Frances, who was painting this morning and sent first a sketch for the larger autumnal painting which is just in it’s infancy. At the moment she prefers the small sketch!

Thanks to Sally P, as I was again unable to come owing to DIY commitments (it will be well worth it, as you will see below!).  She says, 'Only 10 today. Some I know are busy at home others not well.....   (Thank you for staying away!) Elizabeth and Jane sat for the portraitists,  and here are Sally's drawings of the models, and further down there will be more candid shots of 'the artists at work', courtesy of Diana.

Now for Sally T's drawings of the two models... where she felt that she had caught a likeness of Elizabeth, but not of Jane.

Here are Harriet's works from this week. First two versions of a still life with bottles, and then an autumn landscape.

A whole array now from Diana - 1 and 2,  fellow artists at work,  3. 'I have hundreds of unfinished paintings ,usually better than the finished ones.' 4. Helping to choose paint colours and 5. From the garden...

From Carolyn, a Christmas Greeting - and don't forget that if you want yours added to the blog next week - send it to Noreen.

The only painting I have done in the past couple of weeks has been of the house wall variety, getting my studio towards completion.  Here it is, though we are now doing the floor, so still not ready to be used.  I have, however hung a new exhibition at St Margaret's, the Church of Art in Norwich, so if you happen to be in St Benedict's Street in the next week or so, have a look.  There are lots of artists with very different styles exhibiting.

Finally a reminder that next week is the final meeting before Christmas, and we have a very special model, dressed in red, booked for the first part of the morning.  There will then be mince pies and tea or coffee and a bit of socialising - though not on a Downing Street scale!  See you then, and remember to send your work to Noreen next week.

I heard from Lesley that she sent me her artwork for the blog yesterday but afterwards got a message stating it was an invalid address - which is weird because I received something else she sent to me on the same day. So here is what should have appeared on yesterday's blog - thanks for sending again, Lesley.  (Noreen)

The first two are of Sennen Cove in Cornwall. The last one, work in progress, is of rock exposure in Staffordshire from the days when she went on Geology trips.  

December already and only 11 members again today.  Sally P reckons cold weather and threat of snow may have put some people off.  Well, we did have a little snow, some sleet, the wind got up at one point, then we had sunshine - typically English with a mix of everything. Luckily not the extremes experienced by some parts of the North where they have been battered by winds up to 98mph and without power for over a week in some areas!
​Let's start with photos from Sally, Diana and Les of people present today, including Sally L (one of the two sitters).

Of her 4 photos below, Diana says:  1. I love bottles of Quink.  2. Today's effort.  3. Concentration (background).  4.  Hasn’t taken Sweetie long to take over every room in the house

Frances had a go at a portrait of both sitters, and also sent us another of her small box canvasses, this one based on Lopham Fen last week.

Here are two portraits from Elizabeth Brito.

And finally some work from Ian. He says he should have send the first one last week, but things overtook him, so he decide on a further attempt at the same scene. I agree with him that it is an improvement.

Have a good week. Keep warm and send all your photos of artwork to Hannah next time.