Are you a solitary painter?

Mostly I paint alone in my summerhouse studio.
Not quite alone, I have Missy with me :)

I think raw sienna is called for, mummy!

Once a week I do go to an art club type of class, where we all can do our own thing, or follow a demo and the tutor is always on hand to help, should you need it. It takes me about 25 minutes to drive there. It recently re-started after the Christmas break - and that made me realise how much I miss painting in company!

I also belong to an online painting forum called Painting Friends.
Some live close enough to meet, some don't. Within the forum we have monthly challenges on different themes. Encouragement and help is given on personal projects. So even though you may paint alone, a community is at hand.

How about you? Do you prefer to paint in a group or alone?
Do you even have a class/club near you?

Thrilled!

My art club started up again this week after a two month holiday.

During that time, I had been painting and experimenting, using North light's Big Book of Painting Watercolour Flowers for inspiration, and some non flower photos too :)

Whilst the tutor did his tour of the class, he came to me and asked how much I had painted during the holiday?
I had printed out little postcard versions of the 16 paintings I had made.

He looked through each one and then told me it was a fine body of work - and he could really see where I'd improved over the summer.
here is a small selection:





I was thrilled that he commented on my improvement. Just as I am thrilled to read your comments when you make them.
So thanks to all of you who take the time to comment . I do appreciate it.

Summer Break.. or not?

The art group I go to every week is now on summer break.
Which means we won't meet again until September.

Some people in that break won't paint at all and some like me will.
I like to find one book and practice a few pieces from it.
This year my book is printed by North Light and is winging its way to me across the pond.

Whilst I am waiting for it to arrive, I decided to try painting without doing any drawing - and what's more to do it outside from life and only take 20 minutes per piece.I'm hoping this will teach me to be more selective in my brushstrokes and less intimidated of painting en plein aire.

The first piece I painted was in my garden - an ornamental blue pumpkin.

My question for you is - do you take a summer break from your art?
Do you feel better or worse by being away from your craft?
Or do you take time to try to improve one particular aspect of your work?

Whilst you're thinking, here's the pumpkin.

new painting stage III

Suddenly, there's an awful lot of this painting completed.
That is because, dear reader, I took it along to my art club, where I don't stop to photograph stages.

I go to an art club once a week, for two hours.
Art can be so solitary, its a welcome event to have like minded company whilst you paint. Every person paints their own picture, though if you are stumped for inspiration, the tutor provides a demonstration piece.

All that is left for me to paint now are the horse and rider.

Art Club 10 days ago

So, art club 10 days ago- when I was still feeling fine.. I got half way through a painting and thought I'd easily have it finished.
How wrong can you be?

Here it was as I left it...