Another chilly session

 We met up in St Johns Church yard on  what had started out as a bright sunny morning.  The sun disappeared, the wind picked up and the day just got colder and colder.    

A chilly start to painting in 2025

 The first meet up today in Chalkwell Park.  It was bitterly cold.   I got to use my Christmas present that my brother in law made for me.  It worked a treat!

The last of 2024

 I have been lax about posting the last of our plein air outings. Hadleigh Castle in October,  I chose possibly the most exposed bit of Essex to sit and paint!  The wellness garden beside Southend Museum in November and a Jazz session at the Royal Hotel in Southend just before Christmas.

Southchurch Hall Gardens with the Plein Air Group

 

A charity fund raiser organised by Andy Downes

 To raise money for cancer research  Andy organised a life drawing session with model in full Ghost Busters regalia. 

More sketches done with the Plein Air group and some accordian sketch books made at a great work shop in Chalkwell Park

 

Trip out to the Mansell Forts

 The lovely Andy Downes organised a boat trip out to the Mansell Forts, (Red Sands)  we also stayed a while at the Mulberry Harbour and SS Montgomery.   I am really glad I went, it was a 4.30 am start and a long day but we were blessed with good weather and a fairly calm sea.The forts, built in the 1940's to protect the entrance of the Thames and route to London are slowly falling into disrepair so I am really pleased that I was able to go on this trip.   Quite hard to paint in cramped conditions,  bobbing up and down!