Another week of not a lot happening. Weather has also been a bit naughty so when it's sunnywe take advantage and have a nice walk.  I've been carrying on with the oil sketching, but then it got a bit messy, so I'm giving it a rest for a few days.

Here are the oil sketches, but as you can see from the fourth one, it's all starting to look a bit messy.
  So, yesterday I started to move on to watercolour.  Working on flowers at the moment.

Quite fun, but still needs some work.
Perry has been working frantically on the boat and is now on the project of fitting the fridge.....
Bertie has been quite sprightly the last few days, so fingers crossed on that one. And I have been making soup and a couple of disastrous cakes!
On Friday I am on an oil painting workshop again, this time autumn colours - my favourite subject.

Not a lot been happening this week.  Went on a knife painting workshop which was brilliant.

Not the best photos, I know, but I was really pleased with them.
Went to Quarr Abbey, one of Berties favourite walks.
Have enjoyed carrying on with knife painting, and made some oil sketches.

Again photo pretty poor, but I am sure the gist is there.

Well some interesting things this week. Managed to paint lighthouse in watercolour

Could have been a bit better

Also thought I might have a go at the birds we've been trying to identify...

Little Egret

Saturday went to Yaverland... people having a lovely time

but if you turn to your right - what a sight. Isn't that fantastic?

Went sailing to Yarmouth on Sunday. Goggy start. Red Funnel ferry managed to turn left too early ending up on the mud off the esplanade. However, to do this it managed to crash into a number of boats and sink one of them....

Red Funnel ferry being towed off the mud

Yes, that is a mast.....

Fog slowly cleared as we went down to Yarmouth

Fog clearing as we left Cowes

Had a roast lunch in the Wheatsheaf followed by a walk

Bertie having a good time in the woods

Then back to East Cowes in the afternoon

Square rigger caught us up, but he was under engine!

Wednesday went to meet up for lunch with Daniel, Catherine and Alice.  Traffic is awful on the mainland.  Had a lovely time, they were all looking well, and Alice is growing so quickly and is such a happy little girl.  Managed to get an earlier ferry home, thank goodness.

leaving the mainland

arriving in East Cowes

Should have posted yesterday, but... oops, forgot.  Interesting week weather wise.  Last Saturday was a very windy day but bright, so we went to the south side of the island for a bit of picture taking.

quite a dramtic sea

Perry having a go at taking pictures

look at that for a dramatic sky

sky and sea spray

moved on to Freshwater, but so did everyone else! The noise of the sea crashing on the beach was deafening.

Sunday obviously it rained! Finished the oil painting course today, lighthouse picture posted last week, but I did a watercolour version of the same view.

Not quite so interesting as the oil version.

  I've been carrying on messing with my oil pastels, but I am beginning to get bored with them as progress is slow! However, last day of oil painting workshop Lee suggested I paint my new lighthouse in a completely different style.  Felt less comfortable with this, but at least I did it.

supposed to be the lighthouse in the narrows between Fort William and Oban

Should be meeting Daniel, Catherine and Alice sometime next week on the mainland, and Friday I will be attending an knife painting workshop.  Hopefully should be good. Must get on and prepare a couple of canvases......

OK. We're off again.  Weather has been good, but this evening it has finally broken and it is pouring!  Sailed to Yarmouth on Sunday and took advantage of the harbour's short stay deal.  Lovely and sunny.

Bertie as usual is enthusiastic about yet another sail!

At Yarmouth mill - look at that reflection!

Whimbrels.....

As the weather was still good on Monday we went to try and find Thorness Bay.  Unsuccessful, so ended up in Newtown.

Newtown - from the shore side

Wednesday, Berte and I went to Whippingham.  Long walk, thought he would be exhausted.  Gave him a drink, and then sat down to do sketching.  No such luck, he then proceeded to wrap his lead totally around the bench I was on, causing total chaos!  Thanks Bertie.

Whippingham - still it was a nice view.....

Today I finally managed to finish my oil painting of lighthouse.  Just about OK.  But at least it's a start to painting again.

Oil painting - Needles lighthouse.

I have been practicing with my oil pastels and have started to produce something not just a scribble.  I will keep working at that in the hope it all gets me inspired to paint again.

Back on! Bit of a problem uploading photos, so if this post just ends up dialogue - well so be it....went to Bucklers Hard, Beaulieu last weekend.  Absolutely great.  Weather was good, mooring was good, and company with Dick and Judith, very good.  Judith cooked on their boat, and we all ate it on our boat!  Lovely.  Weather was so good that on Sunday we had a long walk to Beaulieu - best Bertie has managed for ages.

This was the marker hit by Red Funnel in fog on Thursday!

Man up a mast - not for the feint hearted

Judith cuddling Nelson

Birds standing on the sand - and this was before we had got out of the Beaulieu river!

Sort of lighthouse at entrance or exit, to Beaulieu river

Think this is better

Have been attending an oil painting workshop.  Should have finished first painting on Thursday, so hopefully will post it.

Looks like Alice is climbing the stairs at quite a rapid rate!  That'll mean Catherine and Daniel will have to have eyes at the back of their heads.... oh to be a parent to a young infant.....

My goodness.  I can't believe I haven't posted anything since February.  I think I had better do a quick update.  Well I went to the States in March to see Belinda for a few weeks.  Lots of fun.  Felt like it was only yesterday that I last saw her not 20 years!

May/June  went sailing to the west country.  Although the weather was mixed during the time we were away, it was a good time.  We have agreed we will try and go a little further next year.  After that we went to France for 10 weeks. That was the period when it was incredibly hot, so we just took the van to the coast.   No painting this time.  I felt I just couldn't do watercolour in that heat, and also didn't feel over enthusiastic about painting inland with Colours of Brittany.

Actually I have done virtually no painting for absolutely ages not.  Just haven't felt motivated.  However, tomorrow I will be attending an oil painting workshop, so fingers crossed it will get me restarted. 

Looks as though I will have to make a note in my diary to make sure I update the blog on a regular basis!  Hopefully this weekend we will be sailing over to the mainland to meet Catherine, Daniel and Alice.