Sayville Entry

 This is a gate entry to a property in Sayville that I've passed many times. One of the Creative Spark Scavenger Hunt items was a gate and another was ironwork. I think this sketch captured both.

I'm Back - Happy New Year

Somehow I got off track and haven't posted in a few days. That is definitely not like me.

Happy New Year!!! I hope 2026 is a good year for all of us. Wishing you the love of family and friends and the time to nourish your creativity and your soul.

We had a bit of snow here that lasted for a while due to the cold temperatures. I sat in my mobile studio outside the Swezy-Avey House in Yaphank to paint this. I was glad to see that the snow had remained on the trees and the shrubs.

 

Sledding

 

After sketching the view of the parking lot in the snow on Saturday I had lunch and then headed out to find a snow scene to sketch. The roads were clear, but it was cold. I headed over to Islip Grange Park in Sayville. The park has an area with a small hill that has a handball court at the top. It also has parking and from past experience I know people go there to go sledding. I was able to sit in my car facing the hill and capture some of the poses of the sledders and parents enjoying the snow.

Snowy Morning

 We had about 5 inches of snow that fell from about 6PM on Friday into early Saturday morning. I had no real desire to go out and actually be in the snow, but I wanted to sketch it from another location other than my living room or bedroom since they look out on the same view. Instead I got dressed for the weather and opened the door to my garage. I was facing the parking lot and the snowy view in that direction. I opened the trunk of my SUV and used the floor of the trunk to rest my materials as I leaned against it and sketched.

Under the Tree

 I have a Nativity set under my tree that was used in my family when I was growing up. I remember my mom coming home after she bought it, so I couldn't have been too young. I got custody of it at some point and remember shopping with Mom one day and coming across the stable. It was a perfect addition to the scene. 

I did this on a page with a few other Christmas related sketches I did recently.

Ink Bottles

 One of the items on the current Creative Spark Scavenger Hunt is an ink container, so I did a few with water-soluble ink.

Vietnam Memorial in Selden

 Driving home from Selden the other day I saw the sign for the Vietnam Memorial. It sits in a small park in the middle of a busy road. You can see it standing above the trees in the median. I hadn't been there in a few years and it felt good to stop and honor the veterans from Vietnam.

D