Fingers crossed that we can meet again at the hall on the fourth Saturday of May, won’t that be good? Here are a few ideas of what to paint at home until then.

PAOTM

HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh 1921-2021.

Originally pencilled in to paint in June when he was due to celebrate his 100th birthday, let’s draw and paint him this month whilst all the photos of his long life in the newspapers and on tv are fresh in our minds. Born in Corfu, rescued by the Royal to Italy then educated in France, England and Scotland, Prince Philip was part of our lives for so long. With millions of photos to chose from pick any time of his life from schoolboy to sailor in the Royal Navy, young husband, father to four children and consort to the Queen, attending thousands of events together and on his own.

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

Opened 140 years ago the museum must have been visited by everyone at least once in their life, on a school trip or with their parents. The Hintze Hall is where Dippy the Dinosaur was exhibited for years and is now being shown in regional museums. Dippy’s replacement is Hope the blue whale.

Draw or paint any exhibit, animal, vegetable or mineral or anything to do with the natural world. This gives you a vast choice of subjects.

Look at the Natural History Museum’s website for more information and inspiration… www.nhm.ac.uk

MAY

May is named for the Greek goddess Maia and the Roman goddess Bona Dea whose festival was celebrated in May. Both goddesses were associated with fertility and growth. Images of them are easily available online or paint growing life, which ties in with painting from the natural world.