Sat Aug 9th-Winter Wonderland

We had a really fun class yesterday.

Jack is on his 12th/13th painting (will have to check!).

Chris and Pauline are on no 6 each and received their artists badges-Chris had his speech ready and was disappointed that the press didn't turn up for photos etc!!!

Oliver aged 12 was here for the third time-joined by his grandad Don who was painting for the first time.

So real mixed lot !

Everyone was surprised by how little paint was on their palettes to start with.

I explained that there is no point in putting out lots of white paint in the beginning as it will just get contaminated by the blue, so we add that as we need it!

Right from the start everyone's painting was completely different-as is the norm.

I had explained to Don who was attending for the first time that the idea of the classes is not to produce a carbon copy of the painting we are using as an example but to show everyone how to use the tools of the trade!

Its lovely to see how everyone interprets everything I show them differently.Don couldn't believe all the different skies we had in at the start.

The same went for all the different stages.Trees, snow and water!

The class was a little different to the normal one after 11am--my friend Ros arrived with hubby Lincoln and son at the venue.

We were expecting them after a lovely holiday spent with them near Glastonbury earlier in the week.

Ros is a very talented artist, and runs the website www.affordablebritishart.co.uk

of which I am a member.

Its a brilliant site, easy to use for both buyers and artists alike.

The students really enjoyed having Ros there, she handed out some valuable tips to the students. It was interesting for me to to see how Ros does things.

Ros and family found it all very interesting to see the end results, which the students were all chuffed to bits with!

The students had two for the price of one according to Jack in the comments book!!

After we cleared away, we all went home to introduce the menagerie to them. Jake of course did his usual and didn't say a word until we all went out of the room-then he proceeded to say something very rude !!!

Bill had put a couple of chickens in the slow cooker to do while we were out,and had prepared a mountain of vegetables to roast, as well as the normal boiled veg.

I made some bread sauce, got the cranberry sauce out and we all had a lovely Christmas Dinner complete with Christmas crackers-which Ros's son managed to win most of the prizes!

Ros thought it was great as she is working Christmas Day!

They say never work with children or animals and I can see why!

Jake proceeded to make farting noises all evening-making everyone crack up with laughter!

All in all a great day, it was great to meet up again, and we are already making arrangements to go up to Scotland to see them again-cant wait!