Five years ago now I wrote about my workshops at Lympstone Manor on a beautiful late summer day in Devon, I thought you might like to see what we got up to...it's a hard job but somebody has to do it!
On Tuesday this week I returned, on a very different day weather wise it was pouring down ....
Five years ago we were in a tent
They had set up a gazebo in the grounds overlooking the estuary ( bake off eat your heart out! )
This time we were in the Pool House Restaurant a lovely light filled space , with plenty of room.
Lympstone really is a beautiful setting, the views are to die for..... on a sunny day
or a rainy one
This workshop was for 12 painters, we were going to paint Autumn seascapes The painters arrived, some had never picked up a paintbrush in their lives, others had more experienced, but they all had enthusiasm, and a willingness to give it a go.
So with the amazing staff at Lympstone serving us coffee, we set to work ( if you can call it that!)
We began
I like to work with people by going through things step by step, and so we began Starting with the sky , problem solving along the way. I am a great believer that anyone can paint, just give it a go, and enjoy the process, the doing of it, the looking...
In groups like this everyone is so encouraging of everyone else's efforts ( and not of their own ) , but I think most were pleasantly surprised by what they could do
A busy morning full of laughter and watercolours, me talking about the process , but the joy is in watching others enjoy doing what I love
Look at that view behind me....
Then a highlight of the day lunch in the Pool House Restaurant . I forgot to take pictures on Tuesday but this was our amazing lemon dessert we had 5 years ago, this time the food was just as good and served in next to where we were painting
Then in the afternoon we did some more painting, in the afternoon we attempted a moody seascape, I think we all painted more freely especially those of us that had a glass of wine
The Manor wasn't bathed in sunshine as it was five years ago, but everyone was fun and eager to learn, it was a great afternoon
The rain certainly didn't dampen anybody's spirits, And everyone went home with a couple of pieces they could be proud of.