We had our Christmas party today and about 24 members were welcomed with mulled wine and a mince pie - although coffee was on offer too. After a lot of chatting and food arranging, the committee had planned some games. There were 4 tables and it became quite competitive. The first game was Guess The Words with vowels missing and some were harder than others, they were all art related. Here are some examples: CRYLC; JNVNYCK; CRVGG;DVDHCKNY; HNRMTSS
You can find the answers at the bottom of the page.

Then Hannah set up a quiz using her laptop and the screen, showing small sections of paintings and we had to guess either the name of the artist and/or the name of the picture. See above, answers again at the bottom of the page.

Our final game was Pictionary where one team member had to draw something and the others had to guess what it was, all food related, the winner of each round was the first table to get it correct. 

Then after a quick break and before we all enjoyed the buffet, it was time to show Chairman's project, subject: Joyful. We saw Maggie-Anne's first - a picture of her lovely dogs; followed by Sally P's interesting collage, showing all the things in her life that she feels joyful about:

Next we have Lesley's picture of her most recent trip away, she went to Sandringham and enjoyed both the weather and the scenery. This is followed, in great contrast, with Richard's Picasso styled painting, plus he sang a song to go with it. And then there is Sue's lovely drawing showing plants from different seasons. Penny  has done a fine image of Koala Bears, plus a sweet portrain of a child. Angela acknowleged that she didn't really do Joyful as her paintings are quite dark, but she does find her grandchild falling asleep very joyful.

Ian C plans to do a large painting of his daughters, but he finds it is hard to get them all together at once, so he is doing a series of studies first.  Owls are Sandra's selection of Joyful and here is her image showing a barn owl in flight. Sally T decided to study Willam Blake's Songs of Innocent and use his drawing as inspiraction. Judith chose her lovely dog as an example of joyful - her dog running on the beach, she is also doing a study, in this case a drawing, which she will work into a painting.

Hannah also selected her granddaughters as being joyful, she was inspired by her trip to Winterton-on-Sea where there is a sandy beach and seals at one end, but she found another picture to inspire her, of the grandchild on the swing. Her painting is in progress, and is rather wet, being done with oils so she took a picture of it. 
Following Hannah is Dianne's pictures, one of calligrahy which she enjoyed teaching and the other is a chairman's project from many years ago. She also says she enjoys sitting in the sunshine and, but this is contentment, rather than joyful.

More examples of grandchildren being joyful, first Ian J's grandchild fishing and then Josie's grandchild on a trampoline. Bee has done a lovely choir of cats singing.  Avril's joyfulness is her memories of a course she did: Access to Art, at Malvern College, which she said was fantastic. She showed her sketch book / ideas book that she did there, and here is the finally image plus an object she made. Following on from that is Sally L's lovely picture, she says: my eldest son and his partner Sarah got married secretly a few days before flying out to live in Dubai last year. They didn’t tell me until the day before, so naturally I wasn’t there, but I bought myself a small bottle of champagne and in order not to consume it too quickly I sketched it after each mouthful. I was quite overcome with joy! 
And then there is mine, Snowdrops;  The promise of Spring.

ANSWERS 1) IF YOU HAVENT ALREADY GUESSED ACRYLC; JAN VAN EYCK; CARAVAGGIO; DAVID HOCKNEY; HENRI MATISSE
2) Van Gogh, Starry Night; David Hockney, A Bigger Splash; Picaso, Weeping Woman.

Happy Christmas to everyone
See you next year on the 8th January 2026

Eighteen of us at the Bowls Club this morning, a good turnout, and although it was dull and drizzly outside, indoors it was all things festive, all manner of Christmas decorations baubles Santas, festive greenery and more gold pine cones that you could shake a stick at.
Hannah was our model clad in a glorious cardigan from her own personal winter collection, colourful and cosy.

​First the portraits
​we all agreed that  Ian J has taken years off Hannah at a stroke with this portrait on Marker pen paper using alcohol inks. Penny produced two good likenesses in pencil.
​ 

Jackie was using a new sketch book, and was a bit cross to discover that her pencil underdrawing had bled into the watercolour used on top.Two portraits from Sally T, the second she explained became rather dominated by Hannah’s cheek.

​on the still life table, Harriet has included an eclectic selection of the Yuletide objects on display, plenty to challenge us here with the baubles and the tinsel.
​ Maggie Ann, concentrated on the billiard balls in pastel, a difficult technical challenge.

Two strong colourful pastel compositions first from Lesley really effective on a red background, and then from Sally P, again some difficult subjects, the tinsel and baubles.

​and Josie’s baubles look good enough to eat! in contrast Penny’s delicate vignettes would make perfect Christmas cards.

Sue completed two beautifully delicate drawings of the winter foliage on the table.

and three from Avril,a pencil sketch of part of the table, baubles in colour, and one of Avril’s favourite subjects I think, the  quirkier elements.

And finally a sketch from Angela, I think it should be entitled ‘the work of a model’

Working independently this week
Diana finishing a painting featuring some luscious beetroot that she began last week, and Ian C working in pastel, Southwold beach huts, and a bird (thrush?) caught momentarily distracted by…

Richard joined us again, working on his ‘two hour Picasso’ a lovely balanced composition of a cup, a jug and a spoon, I think quite well set off by the geometry of the brick wall.

Carolyn sent in this coloured pencil drawing of two tomatoes, almost echoing the baubles on our table this week 

and Frances has been working on her Lino prints, she has cut all the plates, and now has to ink them up for the reveal!

finally this touching sketch from Angela in preparation for her Chairman’s project ​JOYFUL to be presented at the Christmas party next week.

and finally​

• our Christmas party next week, bring a plate and your ‘Joyful ‘ picture.
• information including equipment needed for the Acrylics workshop is available on the ‘Stop Press section of this website.
• if you would like to send a Christmas message to fellow members  Hannah has created a Christmas Greetings page as part of the Messages from Members menu. Please send your messages to Hannah.
• Next week’s queen of the blog is Harriet, please send contributions to her.

​Sally