Busy few days.  Sailed to Lymington last weekend, met up with Dick and Judith.  Good fun.  Weather sunny but cold.  It was supposed to be a shakedown sail and fortunately there were no issued to worry about.  Have spent most of this week gradually getting things ready for the holiday.  As there have been significant road works in Newport, it has meant that I couldn't get to the swimming pool or the Priory, so I've had to  stay at home and catch up on things.

My knees are gradually feeling a bit better, although they still hurt a little, especially if I do a particularly long walk.  On the other hand, I do need to do that regularly as I am not swimming.

Haven't been painting much, but I have been doing a sketch every day for "Pleinapril".  They have been a bit scrappy, but I have done them.

We are hoping to get away next Thursday or Friday, but the weather keeps changing so we are keeping an eye on things. 

I had

 Another week of good weather, let's hope it continues.  I've been continuing with PleinAirpril, even though we did have a couple of days of rain in the morning, and I had to paint from the conservatory.

I've done  a couple of oil paintings this week and made a few adjustments to one I had done a couple of years ago.

This is the one I made adjustments to.  It was very dull (although the mill is very dull!).  I brightened the sky and that had the biggest effect, then just brightened up some bits and pieces.  Overall, I am more satisfied now with the painting.

The two new oil sketches are below

 This one I completed today, and I just have to make some small adjustments, but overall I am quite pleased with it.

This is the other painting I did yesterday.  I have had to note in my computer filing system the size of the painting, as I have done this before and now need to try and do them larger.

Other than that, I have been swimming, even though my knees still hurt a bit.  We are going to have major traffic works on the road to the pool, so next week will be my last week of swimming for a while.   I had better use the time sensibly! 

 Another difficult week.  Apart from my knees hurting all the time, we had the exhibition at Quarr Abbey.  I think it was reasonably successful.  I sold quite a few small oil sketches, three larger paintings and quite a few cards.  However, overall, I think our presentation this year was rather poor.  It looks as though we haven't learnt any lessons from last year.  However, that is all about to change.  Because of new laws relating to my card reader, we can no longer operate as a group.  This has meant that I have set up as a Sole Trader.  Since my gross income from painting is considerably less than £1000, I do not have to register as a business.  Thank goodness.  I do have a booking with Quarr Abbey for next year and I am still going to go ahead with that, and perhaps will invite a couple of people to exhibit alongside me, although the exhibition will be in my name.

I did post the image of the oil sketches last week, but this is of the "wall" of framed jpaintings. I sold everything in the bottom row, with the exception of the Marshes picture.

There are a few things I will have to do to make sure my "business" is presented in a more professional way, including labels etc. and updating my website.

The watercolour live session was on Thursday evening, and  I think the paintings were ok, if a little rushed.

Certainly used a lot of paint!

Henry, and us, are still missing Muffin dreadfully.  Poor Henry, he is really so sad, just doesn't know what's happened.  We do keep taking him out, but he is still so unhappy at home. 

Because of the pain in my knees, I haven't been swimming, but hope to start again tomorrow.