Three weeks in a row, amazing.  Weather has been a bit up and down, hot, wet, windy.  Let's hope it starts to settle soon.   Swimming is progressing and so is oil painting - I think!

Wednesday's painting at the Priory cut a bit short, because we all wanted coffee and cake.  Tried a bit of guache, but made a bit of a mess.  Watercolour ok.

Messed about with oil.  Tried a beach scene both with brush and then knife.  AsI have done very little knife painting lately, I think the painting turned out more of a mess than anticipated.  However it was good to compare techniques.

Knife painting.

Brush painting.

Really not sure which I prefer.  Work in progress I think.

Got a really good book on colour theory for oil painters, except it's got homework in it! Still.

 Well I've even got things to publish this week.  The IWAC painting last Tuesday was at Fort Victoria.  Not too much light, but at least it was reasonably warm.  Quite a number of people turned up, so the finish up tea and cake was quite jolly.  Tried oils again.  Think there is a little progress.

Wednesday was the first of our regular visits to the Priory at Carrisbrooke.  The weather was lovely, so we painted outside.  Watercolour this time, because with oil there is a bit too much to carry.  Had a fight with my tripod - goodness know why, but the tripod won.  Checked it out when I got home, and can't for the life of me see what the problem was!

Thursday was swimming and then Friday we set sail to Lymington.  No wind, and it was incredibly hot.  Put the awning up which although it shaded us, it offered no protection from the heat.  Henry was very uncomfortable.  I did manage a couple of sketches

The sketch on the left is Mr Berthon's house, and the other is of the moorings.  We were certainly packed in.  Members of East Cowes sailing club turned up for their rally and it was nice seeing people we knew.  Dick and Judith came on Sunday (in the rain!) and we had fun with them.  Even Henry got to liaise with their cat Nelson.  We left on Monday and had a good sail back.

Tuesday IWAC painting was at Mottistone, and Mike and I painted the tea room gardens. Weather not as hot as it has been, but at least it was dry, just!

Watercolour and pen.

Yesterday back at the Priory.  Dull and overcast, so no painting outside.  Did a watercolour doodle.

Now back to trying oils again....

 Well website is up and running. Simonne Mason Studio.  A bit pretentious, but you've got to start somewhere.  Some bits are easy, but I do have to scratch the back of my brain sometimes!  I am trying to put things on, and off, a couple of times a week to make sure I can actually do things on it, without having to contact my Web Wizard (Susie).

Weather has been very up and down, but now we are in a settled period.  Went painting with the club at Brading Downs on Tuesday, would have been nice with a bit of sun for contrast in the landscape, but still, the company was good.

Painted in oils again, not an easy option I must admit. 

 Went swimming (or drowning) twice this week.  I am working on it, but find it really  hard.  Did actually manage one whole length of crawl.  Must work at it, because I really do want to swim with Alice in the not too distant future.

Finished my little group of "dunes" oil painting.  Was quite fun.

They really are small.

Friday took paintings to Ryde Library where we have an exhibition for the whole of September.  Put in 12 paintings, forgot to take picture of exhibition, but will try and remember in the next few days.

Pretty niffty poster.  Thank you Elise.

Well now it's back to practicing oil painting.....