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.

 Cold, rain, sunshine - whatever you wanted, we had it this week.  Monday's painting was at the Green Yarmouth. A bit cold, but I managed something in an hour. 

I did change some bits and pieces, but again I really must move away from a book which is spiral bound.  Unfortunately I discovered in my stash, that I actually have two more of these books! As April is plein air month, hopefully I can use up one of the books.

Swimming is progressing ok.  But the dogs are starting to be a bit naughty!

Boat comes out next week, so that will involve a lot of  to-ing and fro-ing for Perry.

Got a super little cushion laptray on which I can do painting and drawing.  Hopefully.   I know it breaks my no art materials year, but I thought it would be really useful.  Can have it in the car as well.  However, I must use it!

 Again what a mixed bag of weather.  Didn't put anything out last week because my plein air work was pretty awful.  It was at Godshill and of course it rained.  For the rest of the week and this week I've been messing about with my oil paints, a bit of gouache and drawing and oil pastel.  On Monday we went to Noethwood House in Cowes, although it was very cold we did manage to get a bit of painting in.

Mike and I found a very sheltered spot, even though it had a hedge in the way.  The others, although a better view, were really exposed to that cold wind.

I've been carrying on with oil pastels, which I do find really relaxing, but only do them once a week.

Perry and I seem to have spent an inordinate amount of time trying to sort out out BT contract.  Think we've got it sorted now.  I hope.

The very cold or very wet weather has made it difficult to take the boys out and I think they are getting a bit stir crazy......

Although the sun is shining today it is bitterly cold.  Let's hope it gets a bit warmer and we can hopefully have a fun day out!

 What a mixed bag of weather.  Monday was absolutely fabulous our little Plein Air Painting group met at Brook.  The views were spectacular, and after painting we went to the Isle of Wight Pearl for coffee and then mooched about looking at expensive pearls!

I was quite happy with this picture, but I have decided that once this sketchbook is completed, I will try and avoid a sketchbook with spiral binding.  Although I think I may have another one in my stash!

Perry and I actually went to a garden centre when the boys were getting groomed.  Have cleared one area of the garden which was a mess and put a few plants in.  This motivated us to start on another part of the garden which is a mess, and we have made quite a bit of progress.

Painted the shower room, but had to touch up places this morning!

Started to get things ready for oil painting and a watercolour session, but all of a sudden motivation dropped out.  Not good.

Tomorrow's painting is likely to be damp, but will try anyway.  Swimming is ok.

 Shouldn't moan about the weather, but it really hasn't been too special.  For our Monday plein air session which was at Newchurch to paint the snowdrops, it started to drizzle and then rain.  Which really scuppered watercolour painting.  Abandoned to the pub where Mike very kindly produced some cakes.

I finished another oil  pastel - not too special, but at least I am continuing with OPs. Did a gouache with an online course

Interesting approach.

Swimming is progressing and I have decided to finish the lessons and just keep pushing on myself.

Just thought I would include a picture of Henry and Muffin when we were in Lincolnshire.

Both had to be on the same pillow!