Thursday 12th May

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.

Carolyn has submitted work using her Inktense pencils again, after playing around this week with garden photos. She feels the colours she's used for the bluebells and ferns are not right but those for the Christmas cactus are nearer.

(I'm told that Spanish bluebells are paler than the English, which tend towards violet. N.)

​Next comes a painting from Sally L called The Last of my Tulips. (I love this painting, Sally. N.)

Sally P's report: "Ten of us turned up at New Buckenham today. We started with a cuppa at the café before trekking down to take a look at the ruins of the castle. Several stayed there and others, including myself, went to the common to paint and draw. By 2pm I think we had all run out of steam so we had an early afternoon tea break in the pub, showed our work and then headed off home. Sunny, cloudy, breezy, hot and cool ..... but no rain!"
​Photos show the common, the castle, distant view of church from castle.
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First on the left, Sally P's work today - not a great success she says. Watercolour kept drying out but Sandra came to her rescue with Inktense pencils.  On the right, afternoon tea.

This is Lesley's work from Great Buckenham today. The first is a view of the castle from the ramparts of the bailey, in pen and watercolour. The second is of the market cross on the green in watercolour and pencil, unfinished.

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.

This is Ian's interpretation of New Buckenham Common. 

Sally T says she's just been experimenting with pen and ink and watercolour.

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."
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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.