Jennie De Groot: So, I got distracted....

So, I got distracted by the family holiday to South Island, Otago, to be precise. And trust me, it was well worth being distracted . If you don't know the place, think Hobbit, Lord of the Rings and THAT"S where we went! It is beyond beautiful: rugged, mountainous, valleys, rivers, snow, lakes, wide open vistas, colours ...I loved it all. I took a thousand photos.( you know that's not a joke). I decided that painting on holiday was going to be a bit selfish of me and I was right to give myself that break. So, sorry 30 Paintings in 30 Days, I got halfway and it fell apart a bit.

It was a great holiday but I had to transform into Sporty Spice to keep my boys happy. We biked and hiked and swam and played games and, honestly, I enjoyed it immensely( except for the sore arse from riding a bike!). They refused to do museums or shops! Heathens!

In Queenstown I went to all the galleries I could whilst the boys were doing their downhill bike ride ( my sore butt was my get-out-of-jail=free card for that one!). I even got to hang out an an archaeological site (my major at university) being excavated on the waterfront. The focus of excitements were the latrines they discovered from the first days of settlements! Glad that was not me doing the digging! I much preferred my digs in Africa! Less historic and more pre-historic.

Anyway, now we are home and I have spent the last week settling my oldest son into high-school. My shattered nerves. I was nervous for him, he was nervous for him and yet I can say after 3 days of high school , he is going to be just fine. In fact, he is going to thrive. Second son starts school this week, so we should all be back to normal routine soon. Frankly, they need to go to school and leave me alone for a while! I have missed my solitude of the studio.(bad mother)

I have, by the way, started a MEET_UP group for plein air painters. This is a group for those who want to paint outdoors in Hamilton and want a little company, a little community. I am hoping to encourage painters of all levels and abilities to join me at various locations around the area, painting together and enjoying the occupation. I have advertised it on the meet up site and around locally, but I hope to encourage a meeting at least once a month , on a weekend. First one is 15 february and is at the Hamilton Lake. Click here for more information. If you are in the Waikato, please join me!
Hamilton Plein air Painters meetup.

Here are some photos of my holiday. You may well see these in a few paintings soon...