Thank you to everyone who came to Brundall today. We were 10 altogether.  Luckily the rain that threatened for most of the day, held off.  Although the light may have been a little dull, we all had a good day, I think.  There has to be an apology though, for the lack of a photo of us all at teatime, which I had planned, and then forgot.  My mother always used to say that it was a sign of  a good gathering or party if you forgot something, but I think that was just an excuse for disorganisation.  Noreen wouldn't have forgotten!
Most people went down to river Yare to draw and paint, so you will see different interpretations of the water, trees and light.

These are Harriet's sketches and oil painting on the river.

And these from Frances...

Carolyn sent an experimental sketch of her garden pond and a more conventional drawing of a slipper

I am not going to inflict my paltry effort on you, a very poor pastel drawing or two.  Don't forget to send me your submission forms for the exhibition in Diss in July.
Sally P wants you to know of an exhibition at Diss Corn Hall, which looks very interesting.
Abstraction Now brings together some of Britain's leading abstract painters. 
While abstract painting undoubtedly reached its height in the first half of the 20thcentury, this group exhibition celebrates its relevance and vitality today. The exhibition will showcase the various formal and conceptual experimentations employed by artists such as Victoria Morton, Tim Braden, Phoebe Unwin and Jim Threapleton. 
The exhibition will run in the Upper and Lower Galleries from 21 May to 25 June and will be open between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Saturday.  See the Corn Hall website.
There is no meeting next week because of the Jubilee events.  Have a good celebration!  Contributions for the Blog should be kept for the following week, to be sent to Noreen for the 9th June.

​Sally added that 12 members turned up in Mellis and went at various times throughout the day, with ten staying for delicious afternoon tea, homemade lemon cake and biscuits.

Hannah has had to bow out from the blog today as her quite new computer has crashed. She will forward to me (Noreen) anything she can.

We can start with contributions from Frances, who is in Brittany and hopes we all have a lovely day. She says she will be back in time for open house at Easter Barn next Thursday. The items are (1) Pencil sketch of the arum lilies in our garden here   (2) Pencil again, a plan for a circular painting.  (3) Smallish circular acrylic.  (4) Photo of the lilies this morning.  See message at end of blog from Frances re next week.

Avril reports that the weather was good today and quite a lot of people came to the first plein air outing of the summer season. She says it has taken her a while to get into the swing this week but it was nice to do some work outside.

Just in from Diana via Hannah: "Minimising my summer kit, lovely little sketch book fits in small bag. Didn’t get to venue but instead went to Southwold, confess I didn’t do any drawing so here are some from this sketch book from previous years."
​

Bringing up the rear is Harriet, who was evidently also at New Buckenham.

We have a message from Frances regarding next week's session in Mellis. Parking at the Village Hall in Mellis is best and loos and refreshments available at mine… Easter Barn. I will put out a sign! 
The Village Hall is  opposite The Mill at Mellis and my house is nearby as I think you know but some may not!  In case of inclement weather, I am happy for people to sketch inside or from inside looking out.

Next week please send your work to me (Noreen) again. We'll see what happens with Hannah's computer before the session after that.

Today was the EAG coach visit to Cambridge, where ten participating members could visit the Fitzwilliam Museum, the Botanical Gardens or anywhere else that took their fancy. As Sally P points out, the True to Nature exhibition is very appropriate for us at the start of our Summer Programme. It shows the work of 18th and 19th century artists going outdoors to explore first hand the fleeting moments in nature - the effects of light, drama and atmosphere. It follows nicely on our own recent project on Movement. Sitting in the Botanical Gardens in the sunshine, having lunch, Sally was able to send us these images, which include a masterful oil painting she completed earlier this week.

"​1.  Using double-ended felt tips, this shows how little scribble you need. The top half was brushed with a little water, some allowed to pool.
"2.  5 minute scribbles from photos, some with waterproof black drawing.
"3.  My helper!"
​Thanks Diana. 

Next week our meeting is at New Buckenham Village Green for plein air drawing and painting. Parking is on the street and coffee and tea available at the Angel cafe tea room, King Street.  I hope many of you will be able to make it there. Contributions to the blog to be sent to Hannah please. Meanwhile, keep painting!

So, finally we have got to the last session of the winter season - and the Chairman's Project, which this year you may remember, was 'Movement'.  And here is Sally 'The founder of the feast', beginning her presentation.  All of those present had something to show and the variety inspired by the one word was impressive.

Here are a few views of members showing their work and explaining their process.

As usual, there were some clever and amusing ideas - Jackie had created a watercolour that, as you can see in the photo, had a kite and string which could actually fly.  Richard used 'Under Milkwood' and audience participation to illustrate his presentation.  Freda brought in a video of the fish mobile she had created, and Sally somewhat dumbfounded us by first sitting, standing and walking - all movement! Diana is demonstrating her 'Movable Feast' of still life painted each Thursday, that can be endlessly arranged.

First selection, Left to right, both Maggie-Anne and Harriet's work capture the joyous movement of animals, Noreen (who had brought a selection of old images along with this painting of Southwold, complete with rolling seas), John (Box and Boxers - guess where the inspiration for this image comes from) and Frances, who was not able to attend, but had sent an explanation of the use of the triple hare image in ancient China, and its promulgation along the Silk Road.

Sally L had examined the movement of the gaze created by composition, and illustrated by this tree. Hilary and Ian studied movement in the landscape, Hilary's that of the sea, and Ian's clouds in the sky.  Avril's striking image was created from a video of her daughter's Pilates exercise, and Richard's abstract related to the movement of time, and day and night.

Here are Eileen's seascape, with crashing waves, Jackie's kite watercolour, Carolyn's waves in constant movement against the stillness of rocks, Diana's movable still life and

Sally P wanted to take the opportunity to thank everyone for all their hard work and ideas The work was all excellent and varied with so much thought gone into them, and a special thank you to Linda for the delicious home made cakes (which I heartily endorse !- Hannah).
Four members are participating in an exhibition at All Saints Church, Stradbroke this weekend, Sally P, Jackie, Ian and Harriet.  The exhibition is open from 10 am to 5 pm from today until Monday.

Next week it is the coach trip but work can still be sent in.  Noreen will be in charge of the blog, so you can send anything you want to include to her.

These are Avril's many portraits. (On SkyArts they complain at only having four hours to complete one portrait!)

Diana has shown us her beautiful watercolour in stages, together with her view of the still life set up and people beavering away.

A lovely sunny, and for a change, quite warm day to take us into Easter weekend.  Jane provided two interesting and contrasting still life set ups today and sat as a model this morning.  The first half of the session was noticeably more quiet and concentrated than the second - and I have to confess to being a culprit!  If you would like to use the still life as a larger image to work from, I have included a download below.

Avril was, as usual, very industrious in her portrait sketching, and has also been bury with her textiles.  You will find details of an exhibition she is participating in on the 'Messages from Members' page.

Diana had brought her own subject matter in the form of photos. She used double ended felt tips. Rough scribble then splashes of water, good practice at a portable technique for the summer.

Sally L has sent her work from this morning.  She says, 'This is as far as I got this week, lovely colour contrasts in this week’s set-up, it’s so nice to have blue flowers, but the Hydrangea’s flower heads are a bit of a challenge.  The second picture is the finished version of my last week’s still life, I think I will call it Dancing Rhubarb, sleeping Leek!'
The third picture is by Agnes Miller Parker, The Uncivilised Cat, 1930.  There is a new exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre that is on until 3rd July, of Scottish Women Artists.  Sally will organise a group booking if enough people want to go (let her know if you are interested).  More information at www.sainsburycentre.ac.uk/whats-on/scottish-women-artiststransforming-tradition/

Please see Stop Press regarding the scattering of Therese's ashes. 

Diana says she enjoyed this morning, even her modelling stint, and thanks everyone who helped out. She has sent us photos of her still life, members at work in the room and two stages of her painting today.

Industrious as ever, Avril has done six portraits, first three of Diana and then three of Elizabeth.

Here is Harriet's picture for
​the week.

Sorry I haven't any more work of my own to show. Having a rest after my painting last week, but thinking about another one, probably from the same area as last week's.
Have a good, C-free week. Remember to send your work to Hannah next time, the theme for which is printing, by Jane, and be thinking about the Chairman's project for 28th April. Subject: Movement (see message from Sally P of 11th January - click here).

​Cheers, Noreen

The mini-workshop that Josie put together involved construction in cardboard, worked up from drawings of objects, that are then, in turn made into drawings themselves.  Here are some examples of artists working in this way that she provided... and some that she prepared herself.

It looks as though they had a very interesting morning.  Here are the pieces created by Avril (top 4) and Sally P. (bottom 3)

Diana wasn't able to make it today for a number of reasons, so has sent some photos.  She will be providing the still life next week, and will be asking for volunteer models, as she cannot sit still for too long.

Ian has not been able to get to the Bowls Club for a second week running.  He has been busy setting up his exhibition at the Malcolm Charnley rooms in Haughley. This is to run for the whole of April.

I have spent most of the week assembling flatpack bathroom furniture - not very creative!  But I have got on somewhat with the Chairman's project - which you will remember is due to be presented at the last meeting at the Bowls Club on 28th April.  The summer programme is also published on the Events page, thanks to Lesley for sending it to me, and to her, Sally T, Jackie and Sally P. for the work that has gone into it.
Send your contributions to Noreen next week, and have a good week until then.

These are some updates on the TEXTILE COLLAGES from Lesley and Avril's workshop.

​Angela has been really busy lately as she tells me that during lockdown she was drawing a model in Bristol via Zoom, with different poses on different days. This February an exhibition was held at a gallery in Bath for the artists’  completed works.  Angela showed three (herewith) and found it fascinating to meet the model face to face at the exhibition.

What a glorious Spring day - with hopefully more to come as we go into the weekend!  And after yesterday's shower of Saharan sand... How lucky we are to be here in such a beautiful landscape, safe from strife.  How wonderful to hear that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is finally home with her family - a bright spot in the endlessly gloomy news. 
I am sure that most of you are enjoying the colour returning to gardens and the blossom in the trees, with all the opportunities for sketching and painting that brings.  some of us made it to the Bowls Club this morning (unfortunately, not me) for Les Bragg's stint as a model and for a varied still life, as you can see below.

Diana says of her contribution this week: 'Carried on with fabric during week loved doing it and have next idea in head.When sewing it’s not a good idea to do it on ironing board (cover)! At group this morning tried to finish a few old watercolours.'

These portraits are from Avril...

And these from Sally P...

Below you can see details of how to enter work for an upcoming exhibition in Stradbroke.  You can also download these forms below.

Next week Noreen will be in charge of the blog, and I will be swapping with Josie to take my turn at the still life and modelling for the week - so see you then!

I wasn't at the session today, but I would like to have been as it sounds a lot of fun. I certainly wouldn't have been able to bring my sewing machine, as it is very heavy, on four legs, and made in the early 30's. Moreover, the drive belt is broken.  
​Apologies if I have got any pics the wrong way up. Let me know and I'll correct it.
Have a good week and remember to send your entries to Hannah next week.
​Cheers, Noreen

What a terrible week for news this has been!  It is strange to think that only two or three weeks ago people in Ukraine were going about their business much as we still are, and now their whole world has been turned upside down, while we are able to continue our lives in the normal way, despite Covid.  Good to hear this morning that the government will match donations to the Disasters Emergency Committee.   There but for the grace of God...

14 of us convened at the Bowls Club this morning for John's still life and poses augmented by a hat, scarf and very fine walking stick, and a book.  And I have just realised that I have failed to photograph the whole still life - this is simply the fish that I was drawing - you can see some of the rest of the still life in the background.

Here are a couple of Avril's portraits from this morning, together with a poster for an upcoming exhibition she is participating in.

Diana added the Aeonium plant in John's still life (another view of which is above) to the ingredients she brought with her, to produce this watercolour.

Jackie said,  'John was our excellent model today presenting us with three differently attired poses. Capturing his studious character was challenging but most enjoyable.'

These are Rachel's portraits from this morning.

I peeked over both Elizabeth and Ian's shoulders as they worked...

A number of points to draw to your attention this week:
Next week is Lesley and Avril's textile workshop.  You will find details of what to bring on the Stop Press page, and Lesley wanted to add that if you don't want to add machine stitchwork, you are welcome to add paint or hand stitching.  There will also hopefully be a still life for those who would like to do that instead.  Sally P. has started the organising of the trip to Cambridge in May, more detail shortly.
Don't forget to send your work to Noreen next week.
And finally,  a sad note to end on.  We have been told of the death of Therese Powell.  Her ashes are planned to be scattered behind her home, in Castle Meadow, and we will be notified of the date for that, and will let you know.
Look after yourselves.  Have a good week.

Let’s dive straight in with the art work today.  Frances sent three pieces.  The first is a plan for another of her small seasonal block canvasses.  The second a sketch she did at Orford on 31st December.  The third an oil painting of the same view which her father did.  She says, “I found it when looking through his stuff after I had done my sketch.  It was lovely to think that he had been in the same spot where I sketched.” ​

Just to remind you, we appreciate receiving contributions to the blog by 3pm to give us time to organise and post the blog the same day.