OK  this may be an experiment.  I will put some information about what we have been up to and then try and download pictures.  If we end up with no pictures, then it didn't work.  We went off to Clisson for the weekend - quite a paintout!  Italian style town - very impressive.  Anyway, I won the category of Les Vignerons - which is basically the winemakers committee.  Prize included 12 bottles of Muscadet (to Perry's delight!). 

An example of some of the Italian architecture in Clisson

Me in action!

Example of some of the other 100 painters

This is what it was all about

Collection of one of the boxes!

What I actually painted!

Been over here now nearly two weeks. Doesn't time ...

First weekend we decided to just go to Hirel so that  we could see if there were any problems with the van, so it was a bit of a "shake down".  Managed to get some cycling in as well.

Couple of little Egrets. Can you see Jersey?

For anybody besides Perry looking at this blog, is this an Oyster catcher?

Last weekend we went to Pluduno, not the most exciting place in the world, however, once I found somewhere to paint, I felt OK.  Guess what, I managed to get first prize for the watercolour class! Hooray...

The old potting shed!

Well we are about to set off to France again on Tuesday and yes, I know, I haven't really been keeping up to date with the blog - probably because things are pretty mundane.  Anyway, in  a nutshell, I've been painting, Perry's been cycling and all three of us have actually managed to sail somewhere.  Now I'll put some pictures in and see if they tell the story...

I've been on an oil painting workshop, again, and we did have a session en plein air.  This was done on my pochade at St Helens/Bembridge.  It was a pretty cold and windy day, but at least I managed something.

Second day out painting with the Isle of Wight Art Group.  (The first one at Mottistone Bluebell Wood was a bit cold and windy and I wasn't too satisfied with the result).  Started off a bit fresh although sunny.  Drawing was OK, but I rushed the painting.  Only did two and a half hours in total - much less than I would normally do in France, and unfortunately it shows!  Better start concentrating....

This is Quarr Abbey, showing what the watercolour was attempting to show.....

First proper voyage this year.  We left our mooring  relatively early, and set off towards Wootton, aiming to turn round when we met up.  Ended up going virtually all the way to Wootton before we crossed paths. Bertie found the whole thing exhausting, so fell aslee just after we went past East Cowes Esplanade, and remained that way for most of the journey.

What an exciting group.  Here we are moored up at the Folly. Had a jolly lunch in the Folly.  Weather was lovely.  Bertie was horrified that we were going back home in the boat, he thought we should walk back.

This is us on the way back to our mooring (we are just of East Cowes marina here).  If you look carefully you can just see Bertie on deck next to me.  The others had to go back down to Wootton, but we had already done that in the morning!

The oil painting I completed in the workshop.  I think maybe I bit off more than I could chew here.  Perhaps I should have tried something easier!  However, I have enjoyed my little dabble in oil, and when we get back will have another go.

And about time too...Yes I know I've been a bit slow getting round to updating the blog.  Too much or too little happening!  Survived Christmas.  Actually, it was pretty good.  Got to see Annie and her family, and had a good time too.  Over to Daniel for a couple of days, and that was good too.   As it's been a bit on the cold side I haven't really got down to doing much painting, certainly a lot of chatting, but not much painting.  However, I have rediscovered my sewing machine and have been doing a lot of sewing.  Perhaps that had better stop, it's more expensive than painting!

Enough chatter, I have done four paintings since the last blog, so here they are.....

This is actually in oil and is based on one of the really harsh winters we had in France.  The picture does look a bit bluer than the original.  I must admit, I did have some fun painting in oil, although I got a bit bored towards the end of it.

This is also in oil and is from a photo taken on the same day but looking in the opposite direction.  This is a much smaller picture and done on board, not on canvas.  Also completed much more rapidly!

View of Steep Hill Cove.  Managed to find a sunny day in January and off we went for a treck.  Pen and ink sketch on watercolour paper.

View of Ventnor from Steep Hill Cove.  This was from a picture that we took on the same day as the sketch above, but looking in the opposite direction!  Yes the sky and the sea were as blue as that even though it was January.  However, it was a very sunny day and looked almost South France in its colouring.  Roll on a few more sunny days, the grey, wet weather is becoming boring!

And again...late getting the news out! What a hopeless blogger I am. It's just because since we've been back we seem to be busy all the time.  Well, here's catch up.  I have finished the outdoor painting with the Isle of Wight Art Group and my last painting with them was at Wolverton Manor.  What a place!

Wolverton Manor.

Hope this depicts what a lovely place it was.  It was a bit cold painting, but at least it didn't rain.

I also finished a painting of steps in which I experimented with some ideas I have had for a while. I think it worked.

Study of Steps

Also I attended a course hopefully to improve my oil knife painting.  And the following is of hay bales (photo taken in France).  Tutor felt it was a bit controlled and I should have been much looser with the knife.  I did another painting, much smaller, but I felt it was too messy.  Must try harder.

Hay bales

We have also been sailing.  Not too far, taking advantage of the relatively light winds, but mainly to get Bertie used to the boat.  He certainly seems to be getting the hang of it now and he and Perry often "pop" down to see if it's OK.  He's really nifty at jumping on and off as well.

A posing skipper

After a couple of hours sailing, this boy is really really hungry.

Just cannot concentrate.  Must eat, now!

Weather forecast for the next week is absolutely grim, so it doesn't look as though we will be out again on the boat.

Yet again I have been remiss in updating the blog, but hopefully all will now be sorted.

It has been very hectic since we've been back and today is our 42nd Wedding Anniversary - amazing!

Latest news is as follows:

First Tuesday we were back, after yoga, I painted with the Isle of Wight Art Group at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club. Weather a bit fresh, and sun intermittent, but I did manage something....

Managed to paint a couple of "squibs" before they moved them.  A regatta was being held at the weekend.

Osborne House - Following Tuesday's painting.  Again sun made an appearance later in the morning.

Mottistone Manor Gardens - Yesterday we decided to go for a picnic.  Fabulous place.  Bertie had a really good run around.  Lovely colours, and very, very warm.  Think we'll come back here for another visit before we get into winter.

Today's picture. Lakeside country club at Wootton.  Again a little overcast first thing, sun only appeared about half an hour before I finished.  We are starting to get a touch of autumn colours.  Should be great in a couple of weeks.

And of course one of the very important event.  On Sunday Perry cycled round the Island.  (He said he was only going to do half, but I knew he would do the lot).  He managed to get a medal (I should think so too), which he let Bertie wear for the rest of the evening.

Should is still uncomfortable, but I will be going for physio soon.  As today is our wedding anniversary I suppose I had better rush off into the kitchen now and make a bit attempt at making something edible.

Saturday 23rd august - Combourg. Weather still unsettled. As usual I listened to someone else's suggestion and ended up painting something I had no enthusiasm for!

Sunday - Bazouges la Perouze - really don't like this place. Weather again unsettled,but at least I think this turned out to be the best picture I've done this summer - and of course it's the last one for me!
 Saw a programme on dog behaviour, so now Bertie is having training lessons. However he prefers foraging for blackberries.

We are now in our last week here and beginning to get things ready for the return. Have to get van ready for its winter rest home.
 Frozen shoulder is still frozen. Had dinner with Mike and Fay yesterday. Great, but over ate again. Guess what - forecast is for good weather!

 Bazouges la Perouze

 Combourg