Repeat Visit to the Horniman Museum, Forest Hill, South London

Tuesday 12 June was a greyish day, in total contrast to the weather on our previous visit to the Horniman Museum and Gardens, when the light was dazzling. This did not put off seven of our intrepid travelling artists who had a most productive day both inside and outside the Museum. Most of the art done in the morning was outside, where the grey light was co-operatively steady, and we sketched the gardens, the bandstand, the conservatory, the live animal collection, and naturally, the velociraptor cantering energetically in his prehistoric garden. In the afternoon it got damper, and we went and examined the indoor exhibits, and found fascination in the birds in the glass cabinets - and gave life to them, and particularly to the dodo, who walks again in the picture below. The sloth, too, was made alluring, and finally, one person tackled some of the musical instruments.

There are many subjects still not sketched - no one has yet drawn the walrus on his iceberg, a fine sight calling out for some tonal attention, and some of the Horniman's galleries are still shut for renovation,to be reopened very shortly. As we were leaving, we realised also that no-one has painted the interesting front facade and gardens of the Museum, which cried out for the eye of the artist. We will have to go back, maybe in winter-time. We had a great day, and a jolly gathering over lunch