Spring has sprung - it is magic the way spring flowers suddenly appear as if from nowhere to grace our gardens. Now we are starting to talk about summer, with the new Summer Programme already on the website (go to EVENTS and bring down the menu), thanks to the hard working committee members who pulled this together.
Diana has produced (and sent in early - thank you, always helpful) a great choice of holiday snaps from previous years to inspire you for next week, if you are at a loss what to do. 1. Favourite Shropshire Hills. 2. River Severn. 3. Anemones and tubes of paint. 4. Ludlow Market.
Diana has produced (and sent in early - thank you, always helpful) a great choice of holiday snaps from previous years to inspire you for next week, if you are at a loss what to do. 1. Favourite Shropshire Hills. 2. River Severn. 3. Anemones and tubes of paint. 4. Ludlow Market.
| Diana says she found a really good spot this week near Horham, where she could 'Park and Draw' from the car, adding that if there are other spots around that members know of, she'd be very interested. The other places she goes to are Mellis Common and Thrandeston by the pond. |   Above is her excellent pen and ink drawing. The second piece is an interesting interpretation of Sally's ploughed field. |
| Carolyn struggled with her photo - the still life from Jackie, which she liked very much. Starting with watercolour, she added crayon later, which improved it ‘a bit’ she says. (Presumably quite a bit, as it’s a good outcome, but she feels she has lost her watercolour technique doing so many drawings recently. I know what she means.) Her next challenge is to draw a dog that accompanies the gardener, who has requested a picture. |  |
 | I struggled with my picture too - from Jackie's photo with the boat. For help with the water I revisited a DVD of Joseph Zbukvic “Watercolour Impressions” - he makes it look so simple. It isn’t, not in my hands anyway. Complete washout and fresh start, now looking at R. Jesty’s technique. 2nd washout! By now the paper surface has been seriously degraded, but I carried on anyway, trying to navigate the problem of the boat plonked in the middle. This is all I could manage for now. Noreen |
| From Frances: Here are some sketches I have done this week. The first down Cow Pasture Lane in Mellis which I am planning to turn into an oil panting. The second is an extremely quick sketch I did at Minsmere yesterday. |    On returning home, in the third one, I experimented with Art Graph, oil pastels, ink and acrylic. |
| | Sally P. has sent us just a few quick sketches today. They are: pitcher plant, pineapple and epiphyllum. (Back pain has prevented her from doing painting.) |
 | Jackie's beautifully sensitive watercolour version of the Turkish woman making Borek in an outside oven. She says, 'We were breakfasting in the families' cafe - wonderful memory.'
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| We haven't heard from Rachel for a while, but Carolyn was in touch with her and suggested she contribute something to the blog. They are a little faint, but I hope you can see them clearly enough when you click on the images. You can see another self-portrait if you look under MORE above. |    |
Sally P reports that on Zoom today, Josie talked about and showed examples of making portraits from paper curling.
Hannah showed us the colour pencils she uses for her amazing drawings. They are Derwent Procolour, richly pigmented, sharp point, smooth lay down with minimal dusting.
There was also talk about using the blog when the summer programme starts. Sally L had the great idea of putting a couple of pictures on from each week's location so that those who can’t make it can have a go for the following week. There was positive feedback about this idea.
Elaine tried unsuccessfully to join us on Zoom and Sally P will contact her to see if we can resolve the problem.
There were few members on screen today but our new found freedoms, the sunny weather and gardens are a strong pull. And sadly Harriet just can't get a strong enough signal.
Please keep in touch and join us again next week. Noreen
| PS Friday 23 April Harriet has sent in the picture she has been working on this week, which is nearly finished now. It's called Cherry in the Pond. She tells us she has also been busy in the garden - now the weather is so much better. She has asked if I will be doing the blog next week. Yes, I will and, in fact, we have agreed that I will continue now to the end of May, while Hannah is still so busy settling into her new home. |  |
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