Weather bitterly cold again!  Difficult to take a walk with Henry.  Poor boy.  Swam 100 lengths this week (over 3 days!).  

Plein air this Friday was at East Cowes and followed by coffee in my favourite Artisan cafe.  We only did an hour because it was very cold and in addition, it rained so that I got spots of water on my painting.

Tried another "challenge" this week, working right through from Notan sketch to final painting.  The procedure was fine, but the final watercolour painting was not too good.  However, I did repeat the painting in gouache and oil.

This shows part of the preparation work.

 

Here is the oil painting version.  This is the third challenge  I've done and it does make my think a bit harder when I am painting.

Additionally Perry has printed off loads of our landscape photos into very small format and I am working my way through them painting small gouache studies. Done 8 so far.

Perry's toes are still swollen and his foot hurts quite a bit.  Looks like it will take a while to heal properly.

Using paint shop pro hasn't been much of a success for me so far.  I'm too lazy and get distracted.  However, we have been watching Jack Reacher on prime video.  Much easier than PSP. Christmas in a couple of days, so merry Christmas to everyone.  If you are reading this Chris C, I have been late in sending out my cards this year, but will send you an email asap. xx

 Another bitterly cold week. Managed to go swimming twice this week.  Amazing. I did my annual assessment of my achievements in painting etc for this year.  Mmm.  Not too good.  I had hoped to spend considerably less than last year, but not the case.  Still it wasn't as much as last year, so that's at least positive.  I also didn't sell as many paintings.  Following this assessment, I felt I really should try harder and be a bit more positive about painting, and get on and do things.  So, I found a photo I quite liked, and did all the appropriate preparations

Here's the start.  I did follow it with a painting, but it was a bit naff, so I'm now doing another one (can see in the background) but I'm only half way through.

We also bought an updated Paintshop Pro.  As I've never used it before, I'm starting from scratch and working through the tutorials.  There is loads of stuff I will never use, but I hope |I will be able to get some things from it.

Went out with our little Plein Air group on Friday to Brading, well the graveyard behind the church.  It really was very cold so we abandoned to the Roman Villa after an hour and had coffee and cake and celebrated Mike's birthday.

The paint wouldn't dry so I limited the amount I put on, and just touched up with ink.

Roast beef today, so I'd better get on and do it.

 Bitterly cold weekend and incredibly windy.  So we've stayed inside, hunckered down.  Perry fell  on the stairs this morning and has dislocated his toe, which means he's a bit incapacitated at the moment.

Went out on Friday morning for the plein air painting and although it was cold, very, painted at St Helens.  I did have to work quite hard because, although it was occasionally sunny, it was also cold and windy and finding somewhere interesting to paint and sheltered, was not that easy.  Only Elise and I this time.

Looks a bit wishy washy.  Need to use a bit more colour, but difficult when everything is a bit dull.

Did an oil pastel painting on Wednesday, but forgot to photograph it.

Think I'll just mess with my watercolours this afternoon.  At least it's in the warm.

 Another pretty full on week.  Back to the vet with Muffin, and yes, back on medication for a week, plus he has to wear one of those awful cones.  Sent off for a softy one, which I think he appreciates.

This Wednesday I was totally on my own at the Priory, but I did produce an oil pastel sketch - also include the one I did last week,

This is the one I did on Wednesday.

This is the one from the week before.

Friday I went back out painting with the group.  It was at Ryde and the weather was pretty dull. I did a few very quick sketches.  I was on the edge of feeling uncomfortable with the person I had a difficulty with, but managed to ignore it.  Still a bit unsettling.

Just this week, everything seems to have broken - oven door, back door and now the dryer door!

Bits arrived for the Portable Painter - now need to update.

New boards so my "painting room" should be tidier!

Was doing some water colour yesterday, and found I had been doing too much gouache.  Must get back to practising  a bit more.

Henry is having a huge challenge with his eating lately, because I've included peas.  They are driving him mad because he can't just suck them from his puzzle bowl.  Meals now take 25 minutes.  Good for us but obviously not for him!