It's been a very busy and catch-up week, so unfortunately I haven't got round to sorting the photos out yet.

I've been continuing my plein air and am now on day 90.  Not sure what I will do when I get to the target of 100, might just carry on until I get to 6 months daily paint.

We've just about finished tidying up the boat so it's now ready for our next sortie, which hopefully will be soon.

I'm sorting pictures ready for our exhition in September.  Got out the pictures which will be used for making cards (a job to visit printer, perhaps next week) and I need to buy some frames. At least I've started on that project.

Also been working on some refresher watercolour techniques, which has been good fun.

 Latest update.  Following the very wet week in May we had a couple of  really nice days during which we started to get the boat ready for our holiday.  Dogs had to get their hair cut, me too, get in enough dog supplies.  etc. etc. Well off we went.  First night in Yarmouth. Very nice then off the next day at quite a civilised time, crossing Weyouth Bay to Portland.  Weather still ok, just, but starting to get a bit cold in the evenings as the wind was coming from the North.  Five days in Portland then off crossing Lyme Bay to Dartmouth.  Again a sensible departure time.  The boys started to get a bit fed up after about 8 hours, and we still have two to go.

Arrived in Dartmouth and took advantage of their visitors long stay deal.  Then it really started to get cold - and so it continued for the next fortnight, with the odd warm afternoon.  Quite windy as well.  Decided not to press on further as we were not sure how Muffin would get on once we weren't attached to a pontoon.

After two weeks, found a decent weather window and went back across Lyme Bay.  Had just over a week in Portland.  Again very cold in the evenings, and warm afternoons.  Met up with Dick and Judith for a couple of days.  Then another good weather window and we headed off to Lymington.  Had a really good trip.  Ended up staying a week in Lymington, and the weather just about started to perk up a bit, even though the evenings were still a bit cool.

Next step, Bucklers Hard where we spend three nights.  Finally the weather was good.  Had a lovely time and the return journey was great.  Since then the weather has been warm.  We are going to stay at home for a couple of weeks a we've got things to do, and then after the election, hopefully go off out again.  Maybe days out, maybe a bit longer.  Who knows.

I've managed to sketch every day.  As I am trying a 100 day plein air sketching challenge, I have had motivation to get out and do something.  Although some, in fact, quite a lot, of the sketches are pretty rubbishy.  However, I am now on number 82.  Will update the blog, hopefully, next week with some photos and paintings.

 Last week we met at Mottistone for our plein  air session.  Cold and damp as usual.  This week, which in fact is our final winter plein air meeting, we met at Newtown Creek.  Surprise, surprise, it was cold and damp.
I sat with Mike, and after an hour we went to the old town hall where we had agreed to have coffee and cake,  Unfortunately the others carried on painting, and we had to get back.  However, we did eat a lot of cake.  Next week will be outdoor painting with the IWAC.  Not sure how much I will do because we are hoping to get away on the boat.  Unfortunately, Muffin has had a couple of episodes where he collapsed (over excitement), so we will have to be quite careful of what we do.

I did managed to complete the whole of PleinAirPril.  I did do all the pictures in guoache.  Not my favourite medium, but I have learnt a lot.  I am now continuing the challenge into the "100" daily paintings.  They don't all have to be completed outside - thank goodness! Anyway, so far so good.  I will continue with gouache for the time being as I feel I have made some progress, but once we are away I will work with watercolour.

I did manage to finish an oil sketch, in the style I have been trying to develop.  Still a lot of work is needed in this form, but I did feel as though I had finally got something.

As a small group we have managed to secure an exhibition at the end of October for two weeks, at the Priory. I am happy to steward all the six days, because I can use the time to pretend I am on a painting retreat, and just paint.

Weather has been much warmer and sunnier, but still getting overcast days and rain.  We are hoping to get away this coming weekend, but we willl just have to see weatherwise.  However, we are gradually getting the boat ready.

Blog will only continue if I can get a good WiFi signal.

 Finally sunshine, but still very cold.  I've been carrying on with the April Plein Air month, painting daily with gouache.  However, progress has been pretty bad.  I don't like this stuff as an outdoor medium.  Think it is something that will stay indoors! Still messing about with oil paints and oil pastels on a Wednesday.  Winter Plein Air was at Carisbrooke this Friday.  Again very cold and limited sunshine.

Did two sketches at the same time.  I moved between the two as they were drying.  These are of Beatrice's garden.

 Managed to finally move the boat off the mooring on Sunday.  Step by step but we did get up the river and  Muffin was ok. Next step is down the river towards the Solent.

Missed a couple of swimming sessions and felt really guilty, but I did go on Thursday.  Apparently feeling guilty is the norm!

 So much for thinking April was going to be a turning point! Wet and incredibly windy.   I have been doing Pleinairpril every day with gouache, but every day the painting has turned out a disaster.  Even painting outside at Arreton Barns on Friday I produced absolute rubbish.  Been a bad week for all my painting.  I think I need to concentrate a bit more instead of rushing.

I have been trying a bit of book binding.  Which started off ok, but yesterday's session the presenter made a mistake, which I obviously followed, and then had to redo bits.  However, it is only the first and prototype for me.

The dogs keep getting each other into trouble.  How on earth do they manage to do that?  The awning has not been finished for the boat, even though I told the guys cutoff was end of March.  On top of all that, swimming has been a bit indifferent.

Perhaps next week will be ok.

 We've had a couple of nice days this week.  Finally.  Outdoor painting was Friday and was at Osborne house.  My painting wasn't too special, but when the sun came out the view was lovely.

More and more people were arriving as the sun really made it's presence felt.

Tomorrow is the start of Pleinairpril and I've been practicing painting gouache outside - bit tricky, but will carry on with it.  Perhaps start with the garden first.

Missed swimming on Thursday due to a long traffic jam. - Poor excuse!

Taken the dogs down to the boat a couple of times now, but Muffin is still very nervous.  Have to work on that.

The sun has just come out, so I'd better get on and practice that gouache.

 Just got back from walk with Henry - absolutely bitterly cold out there even though the sun is shining.  Managed to get in a quick sketch.

Last Monday we were at St Helens.  My sketch was pretty mundane, think I need to concentrate more.

Have continued doing oil pastel sketches on a Wednesday and gouache and oil sketches as often as possible, but to be honest, I haven't really been very motivated.

Here is one of the oil sketches

Not too displeased, perhaps it will make a reasonable subject for a proper painting.

Swimming is going ok,  Have managed to do 40 lengths a couple of times.

Our Monday plein air group have decided to become Friday plein air group.  This will give us the chance of more cafes being open.  We have also drawn up a more comprehensive list.  So that should be good.  We start this coming Friday and as it's easter have decided to go to Osborne, because at least we will get parked there.