Hyde Hall

The day started out quite chilly but we found a sheltered spot to paint the enormous sun flowers.

Southchurch Hall Gardens

 

A lovely evening with Sue at Thames Estuary Yacht Club

 It was windy enough that there was some debate over whether the sailing would take place.   The cadets race was cancelled so a couple of the kids just enjoyed jumping the waves, ice creams in hand!

latest sketches

 Visits to the Royal Hotel in Southend, a yoga retreat near Oxford and last night in a pub in Leigh.

The Hamlet

We went back to the Hamlet last night.  It is warm and popular, providing us with plenty to draw, but you really have to be quick as people come and go. Just so nice to get out together again.  

it has been a long time

 Finally went out sketching yesterday evening.  Last year was either too hot, too wet, too windy and even though this year it is too cold at the moment,  we decided to try a new pub.   Sadly the others couldn't make it but Paul Alcock and I really enjoyed sketching there.  I think quite by accident we chose an evening that was pretty busy, not sure that is the norm.  It was so nice to get out again, really need to settle down and get painting and sketching again!!!

Finally painting again!

 I stopped painting in December to do some other projects and it has taken until now to get going again.    I had been given a plant and some tulips so that started me off,  I have a couple of pewter trays and really like painting the reflections.