Not a lot this week. Outdoor painting was at the Donkey Sanctuary, but my effort was a total disaster!

Had a short time painting at the Priory because I had to get back to see that the dogs were ok.  They were fine, but very pleased to see me.  

Still playing with gouache.  Having trouble with getting them dark enough for contrast, so have ordered some dark paints.

Weather has taken a turn and it's really cold at the moment.

We're off to Lincolnshire tomorrow for a few days.  Ann's funeral is Tuesday.  Not really an event to look forward to.

 Awful weather again this week, but did manage to get out and paint at Parkhurst Forest a couple of times.  Pretty wet underfoot but at least the sun was shining.

Ink sketch

watercolour sketch

watercolour sketch

watercolour sketch
Still messing about with gouache.  Quite a different medium.

Also have continued with oil pastel on a Wednesday.

Looks like the weather will be turning a bit colder soon, but until then more rain.

 We have acquired another dog! Perry's Aunt Ann died suddenly and we have taken in her little dog called Muffin.  Another Cavalier King Charles spaniel.

Muffin on the left, Henry on the right. He is 10 years old in a few days time.  Henry will be 3 just 5 days after that.

Weather has been absolutely frightful.  Very difficult to paint outside, although did manage to get to the Folly on Monday for our group painting.

There were little bursts of sun, but generally dry but dull.  Should be a challenge this Monday as rain is forcast and we are supposed to paint in Parkhurst Forest!

I've continued messing with gouache although with an incredibly limited pallet and seeing if I can do similar subjects with watercolour in my new sketch book which has rag paper.

This one is just watercolour on the rag paper. Will be impossible to use this paper outside as it just sucks up water and with the weather as it is, it would be a total disaster.

Comparison of gouache and watercolour.  With such an extreemly limited gouache pallet it is very difficult to get a range of colours - yes I know I can mix them, but the colours I've got are very intense.

Will carry on trying.

 Yet another awful weather week.  Did manage to get outside to paint on two occasions but our normal visit to the Priory had to be cancelled as Carisbrooke could not be accessed!  Have decided to put my oils away for the next few months because it's now really difficult to paint in the conservatory because we keep coming in with wet clothes.  I've checked things out carefully and it looks as though using gouache paint relatively thickly, the same techniques and methods for oils can be applied.  Hope so.

 

Visit to Mottistone, At least the weather held off.

Osborne last Tuesday, not all the trees were in their autumn clothes, but getting that way.

Such mixed colour in this tree.

W

This is probably the last oil painting I will be doing for a while.  Not totally displeased with it.  Finally a bit of progress.

Weather still looks very unsettled and due to family crisis, not sure if I'll be able to get much outdoor painting in.  Have kept up with Inktober, but some of the sketches are pretty awful!

 Weather wise, awful week.  Did manage some painting but only just.

bitterly cold but this is the plein air at Carisbrooke Castle.

Managed to finish oil pastel painting of osborne in autumn.  Will continue on a wednesday with oil pastels.  Bit of fun.

Oil on board - autumn scene. 

oil on board - autumn at osborne.

Friday as it wasn't raining we went to Osborne and had a walk about.  Did even see some sun.
Close thing - thought I'd managed to lose everthing!  Now to try and see if I can update the website.  Fingers crosses.

 Not a lot really this week.  Went to Yarmouth on the boat for the weekend.  Weather was excellent, but it was absolutely crowded.  Managed a couple of sketches.  

Plein air painting Monday was at Osborne.  Dull all morning, but managed a painting.  True to form the sun came out in the afternoon!  Still keeping up Inktober.

 Weather again not too special.  Went sailing for a few hours saturday and sunday, fun, but not sunny.  Swimming is progressing (work in progress as they say).

Painting - few bits and pieces done this week, all sketching of sorts, but that's ok.

Started Moday plein air painting. This is Godshill, unfortunately a bit dull and overcast.

Inktober has started and this is sketch number three.  So far so good.

Have been messing with oil pastels on a Wednesday.  Forgot how much fun they are.  Think I will continue with them on a Wednesday from now on.

Again, working with oil techniques.  Felt the first one was really heavy handed and very, very disappointed.  Think I must have misunderstood what effect I was after.  The one on the right is a bit better and think I will work on that sort of effect.

Also made a "value stick" - nearly completed, which should help with some of the effects both in watercolour and in oil.

Did a couple of outdoor watercolour sketches, but didn't include them here as they are places I seem to repeat again and again.

Have drawn up a loose timetable of painting activities I should do each day.  So far (day three!) I have kept to this timetable.  Only problem is that I now have dendency to rush each activity so that I can say I have done it.  Not the aim of the exercise.

Apparently weather should be ok for this weekend.  Fingers crossed.