What a great response from our members for the animal challenge. A fantastic collection of works. Comments are very encouraging. Beverley Benson My friend's cat Pencil Beverley Benson A Friend's Dog Water based Oils Caroline Anderson-Jones The Patience of Dogs Beverley Benson Cooling Off Water based oils Caroline Anderson-Jones Sea turtles Tried to evoke depths in move in water created by nature Caroline Anderson-Jones Tiger Reflections in water movement   Phil Auden Crazy cockerel Phil Auden Highland Osprey catching a fish Angela Musil Orang-Utan Angela Musil A Desert Fox Acrylic Angela Musil Sheep Lynne Slatter A Seahorse in watercolour Angela Musil My Cat Acrylic on canvas Mike Haynes Lynne Slatter A cat in acrylics Lynne Slatter A cockerel in watercolour Michael Innocent Our daily visitor Watercolour Alison Chandler Pastel portrait of Rory, Wokas's only canine member! This was done at the session led by Josie Tipler, who gave us great tips on how to handle pastels. June Grindley Sparrows welcome a late arrival Tricia Muller Ruby Pastels Ron Rous Who stole my slipper? Acrylic Clare Davies Yoga frog Clay Clare Davies Yoga frog Clay Clare Davies Yoga frog Clay John Hamilton Picasso fish The coral reefs are wonderful but unfortunately disappearing. They support vast ecosystems including so many shoals of beautiful tropical fish.   John Hamilton Bannerfish, Wrasse and Anemonefish The coral reefs are wonderful but unfortunately disappearing. They support vast ecosystems including so many shoals of beautiful tropical fish.   John Hamilton Snorkelling on the edge of the reef The coral reefs are wonderful but unfortunately disappearing. They support vast ecosystems including so many shoals of beautiful tropical fish.

A wonderful selection of work from our members. Please comment. Lynne Slatter Morning Frost Tinted Charcoal Victoria Wilson June Grindley St Thomas Becket Church, Fairfield Acrylic Clive Dand Frosty Landscape Clive Dand Frosty Window Michael Innocent Frost on the fields near Great Tong Ron Rous A Frosty Morning Holly Wright Acrylic Ink Holly Wright Acrylic Ink Linda Stymest Frost on Alder Catkins Angela Musil Watercolour Holly Wright Acrylic Ink

There have been some interesting work created by our members for our Fungi challenge Beverley Benson "A painting I did of fungi growing by the 8th hole at Tenterden Golf Club!  " Lynne Slatter Phil Auden June Grindley Fungal Fayre: Bread, Beer, Cheese and of course, muschrooms Pen and Ink Phil Presland Linda Innocent Caroline Anderson-Jones Clive Dand Oil Clare Davies

As the weather turns and the nights draw in we have started our painting challenges. What an excellent response we have had from members. Bernard Winchester Clive Dand Autumn Leaves Watercolour Angela Musil June Grindley Acer after the storm Watercolour Peter Crossley View from our Shepherds Hut Pat Lock Autumn Colours Monoprint and acrylic ink Michael Innocent A walk in the woods Angela Musil Angela Musil Ron Rous Inspired by a walk down our local lane in Rolvenden Leelee Kock Gouache and pencil Chris Hall Caroline Anderson-Jones Chris Hall Rowena McWilliams Different Perspectives Oil

Another great collection of work from members. Bruno Del Tufo Pencil sketch Lynn Slatter Cornish Sunset Acrylic Lynne Slatter Sunset in the city “This painting, using acrylics, was done by speedily painting over a print of a photograph. Having only around 30 minutes to complete the task stopped me from getting too detailed and tight.” Beverley Benson Water based oil The view from my sons beach house at Stillbaii South Africa Ron Rous A view from my window looking to the East so it must be sunrise, purely imaginary though. Also I used watercolour rather than my usual acrylics! Glyn Evans Five Trees Inspired by the variety of trees in the neighbourhood in winter and the different effects the time of day can have on the apparent colour of the sun and its effect on the landscape. Watercolour. I was lucky to find a five sectioned frame for five pounds in a charity shop that just fitted the bill. Philip Presland Storm coming Acrylic image captured on an evening walk

This is an interesting selection of work from our members. Glyn Evans It is the old night ferry from Holyhead to Belfast Acrylics on board Ron Rous The view from upstairs across buildings to beyond Acrylic Caroline Anderson-Jones Christine Ilari After a painting by Georges de la Tour entitled 'Saint Joseph, the Carpenter', using pastels on black card Patricia Smith Night Sky Scape Acrylic Alison Chandler The Dark - painted for my 3 yr old granddaughter! Beverley Benson Bruno Del Tufo Bruno Del Tufo Angela Musil Dark Thoughts Michael Haynes Determined — Mayor of the city of Odessa Ukraine
Inspired by a photo in the Daily Telegraph of the mayor of Odessa in Ukraine Ron Rous The Dark I Simply inspired by the maritime pines that overlook my garden Clive Dand June Grindley 'STILL in the DARK AGES' !!!

What a wonderful collection of paintings our members have produced for this challenge. Beverley Benson Kate Rundell Michael's Ceps Watercolour We came home from a trip to Chantilly to find eggs and foraged ceps in our fridge. They made a delicious omelette which was perfect for a pair of weary travellers. Patricia Smith Patricia Smith Patricia Smith June Grindley 'We could be nil sans cholorophyll' Christine Ilari Watercolour Clive Dand I haved based my two food challenge paintings on Paul Cezanne's The basket of Apples, showing at the current exhibition at theTate Modern. It is a good example of his carefully arranged composition and move towards simplification and abstraction. Clive Dand I haved based my two food challenge paintings on Paul Cezanne's The basket of Apples, showing at the current exhibition at theTate Modern. It is a good example of his carefully arranged composition and move towards simplification and abstraction. Caroline Anderson-Jones Bruno Del Tufo Angela Musil Vegetables Barbara Murphy Last of the Crop Lynne Slatter Apples Lynne Slatter Grapes Leelee Kock Last Crop from the Garden Gouache and Pencil

What a talented group of artists our members are. The Landscape Challenge has proved popular with some wonderful work has been submitted. Kate Rundell Rising Sun Watercolour "We cleared some trees at the end of garden a few years ago. At this time of year the sun moves into the perfect position for it to beam its rays through the clearing." Lynne Slatter Misty Morning in the Lakes Acrylics Timothy Sparkes Walking Sheringham Norfolk Watercolour and charcoal Timothy Sparkes Beach. Near Wells next the sea Norfolk Watercolour Timothy Sparkes Stag in Scotland Watercolour Beverley Benson Bruno Del Tufo Pencil Sketch "I have a thing about doorways so I suppose a theme could be The Doors of Perception. Must be thinking of the 70,s pop group! " Bruno Del Tufo Watercolour Study at Great Maytham "I have a thing about doorways so I suppose a theme could be The Doors of Perception. Must be thinking of the 70,s pop group! " Christine Ilari Seascape Acrylic Caroline Anderson Jones Maulds Maeburn Cumbria Acrylic Ron Rous A view of the sea at Camber where the river channel comes down from Rye Harbour Acrylic Clive Dand Paxos, Greece Oil June Grindley High Weald, High Summer Acrylic David Aspinall Snowscene, Barns in Yorkshire Watercolour Angela Musil Camber Sands Watercolour David Aspinall The Lighthouses Dungeness Watercolour David Aspinall Lake in Sussex Watercolour David Aspinall Boulogne Shoreline Watercolour Phil Auden Capel House garden, Hamstreet Oil on Canvas "My friends have created this beautiful garden and were happy for me to spend some time there painting. This is a view of the stream that runs through the garden with a bridge and water lilies very reminiscent of Giverny. I loved the way the sun shines through the various trees and reflects on the water." Angela Musil View towards Appledore from Tenterden Watercolour Graham Lock Oil Pat Lock Stunted Trees Linocut "Although it was sketched in the summer there was no foliage - lack of water or lack of light, I don't know, but the effect was fascinating. A black & white lino print just seemed right." Glyn Evans Cambria 'Cambria' is a watercolour of a Thames sailing barge. The barge has been fully restored over the last few years and normally sails out of Faversham. It is the only sailing barge never to have been fitted with an engine. When we moved to Kent from the Cotswolds eight years ago, we found that our house was named Cambria so of course I was pleased to see a barge by the same name and went on board her at St Katherine's Dock, London. When I sent out change of address cards, some people thought I was living on a boat! Cambria was the Roman name for the country of Wales so with my name being Glyn Lloyd Evans it was a happy coincidence and of course we kept the name. I even designed our house sign with a Welsh twist to it as you can see. I have also painted a picture of the barge in water-mixable oils. Glyn Evans Sailing Acrylics "This was inspired by the poster art of Norman Wilkinson. He painted many posters for the railway companies who were wanting to entice city and town dwellers as passengers on their trains into the countryside. This is one of his Lake District posters that was also, and still is available as a postcard. In the Imperial War Museum there is a large collection of Wilkinson's paintings of maritime scenes depiction actions during WWII. He should perhaps be better known for his design of the Dazzle-Paint scheme for merchant ships during WWI. It was a means to deceive a German U-boat commander as to a ship's course and speed, thus making it a more difficult target for a successful torpedo attack. Some while ago I wrote a book on the subject, the 1,000 copies now having sold out with little chance of a re-print. I have given illustrated talks on the subject at home and abroad (if you count Jersey and Bangor, N Ireland as abroad!)"

The members were set an interesting task this month with producing work with negative shapes. There is some really wonderful varied pieces of work. Bruno Del Tufo Sheila Klein Leelee Kock Spring Time Shapes Gouache June Grindley Putin's horrendous negative shapes Gunda Cannon Homage to the masters of pen and brush Collage, watercolour, pen & ink Glyn Evans Negative Space Bottle II Alison Chandler Holiday View Glyn Evans Negative Space Bottle I Clive Dand Clive Dand Lynne Slatter Michael Haynes

Members have produced some wonderful paintings in response to this challenge. Tim Sparkes Fear The sadness of leaving war-torn Ukraine Acrylic Alison Chandler Hope and Despair David Bedford Duke of York 'oh! dear' Charcoal. By David Bedford Sheila Klein Grief A place of mourning Lynne Slatter Brotherly Love Acrylic My 5 year old grandson looking after his 2 year old sister on a camping holiday last year. Judy Williams Sorrow Walking away, losing, old age, sadness. My 94 husband has dementia. Leelee Kock Happy Days Gouache and Pencil Michael Haynes Despair From a photo that was recently in the Telegraph of an Ukrainian lady Clive Dand War I Clive Dand War II Susan Stewart Nadiya "A portrait of the well known cook Nadiya. Apparently, despite the happy outward appearances that she presents to the camera, she suffers from anxiety related problems." Gunda Cannon Fear - how to overcome it The German text says that the way out of fear leads straight through it… i.e. you have to go through fear to be liberated of it. I think that’s quite a strong thought. June Grindley Faith, Hope and Charity/Love "Here is a collage of faith, hope and charity/ love...apparently snowdrops signify hope, love and sympathy. " Kate Rundell Love, Devotion and Affection Indian Ink and Watercolour Ron Rous A Moving Moment "A very watery acrylic painting. It is a moving moment from 15 years ago when our first grandchild was born." June Grindley Joy! And I suspect Freedom! Caroline Anderson-Jones Mother Love Glyn Evans The Watch Ashore Oil on Board

Some wonderful pieces of work have been sent in for this challenge. David Bedford Acylic Kate Rundell Pen and Watercolour Leelee Kock Winter Wood Willow Scene Gouache and Pencil Phil Auden Tim Sparkes Watercolour Tim Sparkes Watercolour Ron Rous Snowy Lane Watercolour Pat Lock Misty Morning Watercolour Michael Haynes A Bit of a Blizzard Watercolour with a touch of acrylic Lynda Pearce June Grindley Fairfield Church in the Frost Acrylic June Grindley June Grindley The Camellia is a scented winter flowering one called Camellia sasanqua narumigata. Clive Dand Christmas in Tenterden Oil on Canvas Alison Chandler Watercolour Graham Lock Teasles Watercolour Glyn Evans Snow over Snowdonia Tony Langham Bleak Winter Oil on Canvas

This was the members brief:- Our next challenge is 'Machines and anything Mechanical'. This is a wide topic for your interpretation from cars to farm machinery or the Kenwood in your kitchen. Michael Haynes Watercolour Train to Bodmin David Aspinall Liaison Dangereuse Watercolour Lynda Pearce Rusty Car in Woodland Pen, ink and watercolour Angel Musil Old Machine David Dixon London Eye Ink and watercolour 42 x 30cm Angela Musil Mechanics Angela Musil Cranes at Hamburg Harbour Michael Haynes Pen, ink and Watercolour Kate Rundell The Bike Pen and watercolour