Seamus

Since my plein air group has stopped going out for the winter, I was able to go back and join the SBAA sketch group last Tuesday. Our model was Seamus. I did one painting that I worked on for about 1 1/2 hrs.

Then I did a quick sketch of him that took about 15 minutes.

Fire Island Lighthouse

One of my favorite place is the beach and if it has a lighthouse, that makes it even better. I've gone to the Fire Island Lighthouse at Robert Moses State Park so many times to sketch or paint...and I'm sure I will continue going there.

Bayport House

When I drive around I often find interesting houses. Sometimes there is a place to pull over to sketch.

Swept Away

I'm presently doing another Craftsy class, this time with Stephanie Bower called "Perspective for Sketchers." She gives a lot of good information on lining up things, measuring for size, vanishing points, etc and usually starts in pencil. This is a change from my latest style of sketching directly in ink. I'm learning a lot and things I heard before are really being reinforced.

This sketch was done in an elevated view nearly straight on. I found this restaurant in Bay Shore down by the water.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Today is a day to share with loved ones and to think about the things that we have been blessed with. I am lucky to have a loving, supportive husband and family, great friends especially here on the wonderful blogs I visit, and a great life. My thanks to all those who visit my blog and share a bit of their lives with me. I am also thankful for the service men and women in our armed forces, the police officers and firefighters who put themselves in danger constantly. 

This morning I sat and watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade...and sketched.

While the parade was on I put my pecan pie into the oven.

Doesn't it look delicious?

I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Briermere Farm Before Thanksgiving

I usually try to do my posts in order and am usually a few days ahead, but I wanted to post this now since it has a Thanksgiving theme. Briermere Farm in Riverhead is famous here on Long Island. People swear they have the best pies around (especially their blueberry cream). I've only tasted the strawberry-rhubarb and it was good, but that combination is not one of my favorites. I'll have to try another one some day. Anyhow, for Thanksgiving they do an awesome business. People drive out there from as far as NYC, which is about 80 miles. Most customers order pies ahead of time and expect to stand on line when they get there to pick them up.

I was thinking about where to go sketching today and decided to head out there and sketch the crowd. What a circus! It wasn't easy to find parking and I wanted to sketch from the car since it was cold out. I finally got a spot in the side lot that very few people seem to realize is there. I didn't have much of a view but patiently waited for the woman parked next to me to leave and took her spot. It had a great side view of the  building between the trees. Most people came out with several pies and many with full cartons. LOL  I watched the clock a few times to see how long people stood on line before they returned to their cars with the pies. It seemed to be about 15 minutes. I happily just sketched and will make my own pecan pie later today. Hope you have something delicious to have tomorrow!

Lights in Bay Shore

I was riding around Bay Shore the other day and noticed this guy on a ladder. He was stringing lights on the town Christmas tree. The guy with the long stick had the lights attached to it and he kept walking them around the tree. It looks like a handy gadget. I had to find a spot to park and sketch this. I think some of the towns have been taking advantage of the mild temperatures for this time of year and getting the holiday decorations done early. I like Christmas, but we seem to start getting ready for it earlier each year.

At the Dock

It was overcast the other day and rain was threatening. I didn't want to travel any distance but I wanted to sketch. I found this at the dock in Patchogue. Maybe it is for the harbor master or something like that. I sat in the car to sketch because as soon as I got there it started to rain.

Panera Sketch

A few friends and I met to sketch the other night at a local Panera Bread. There is always something good to sketch there, but for some reason we are always facing that delicious looking bread and pastries. lol 

Maritime Museum

Considering the number of times I've sketched on the grounds of the Maritime Museum in Sayville it is surprising I've never sketched the museum istelf. The other day I finally did. It was windy and on the cold side so I bundled up well.

Farm Stand

I think I have auto-pilot when it comes to farm stands. I found this one out near Riverhead after I did some shopping at the Tanger Outlets. I would assume that once Thanksgiving is over most of the stands will close for the season. Most stay open selling the cold weather veggies and Thanksgiving pies. (Not that i'm ever tempted by those. lol)

Shelby

On Tuesday night my portrait sketch group met. I haven't been there for a while so it was nice to give it a go again. This is Shelby. She was so cute...and only 11 years old. I think I made her look a little older, but at least she doesn't look like an adult. 

Give a Little, Sketch a Little

The other day I donated blood at my local blood center. I couldn't figure out a way to sketch while I was donating and the views that way were better. I needed both arms to hold the sketchbook and the pen...so I waited until I was finished and sitting at the "recovery/snack" table. I could see parts of a few chairs and some equipment so I was happy sketching.

Arboretum View

It was cold and windy the other day so I headed to the Bayard Cutting Arboretum in Oakdale to see if there was a view from anywhere in the parking lot so I could sit in my car. I maneuvered in and out of a few parking spot until I settled on this view.

Autumn Field

On Saturday I rode out east looking for someplace to paint and I ended up in the same spot that I painted a few weeks ago. I had done a small panoramic view the last time but this time did a vertical view. I don't know if that is cabbage, kale, or broccoli growing in the foreground. The colors seemed a little more red and I just love the yellow flowers in the field. 

Here is the link to the painting I did there previously.

http://watercolorsbyjoan2.blogspot.com/2015/11/panoramic-view.html

Another Autumn Path

I knew there was a reason I was doing so many autumn paintings...because the leaves would soon be gone. I did this one (which looks a lot like the one I posted yesterday minus the people) on a wet, drizzly day here in NY this week. I had to keep putting on my wipers as I sat in the car.

Walk to the Water

I love paths that head down the street. This was done locally of a path that headed toward the bay with Fire Island in the background.

Pray for Paris

Once again violence has reared its ugly head, this time in Paris. My heart breaks for the victims and their families affected tonight. May the people of the City of Lights stand strong together and we all stand with them. In honor of the victims here is a sketch I did of the Eiffel Tower when I was in Paris in 2009. May her lights burn brightly again.

Before this recent tragedy, a group of friends and I met on Wednesday night to sketch at Starbucks. There are always some great models...I mean, customers.

Local Chicken Farm

One day I was driving in my town and out of the corner of my eye I spied what looked like a giant chicken on one of the streets. So I made a u-turn and checked it out. I found a poultry farm that has been in existence since 1936. In addition to the poultry there are goats and assorted other creatures that are sold. It sounds a bit gruesome to me, but they apparently have a good enough business to keep going. I do know someone who always selects her live, fresh chickens but she doesn't live anywhere near here. I kept the chicken statue in mind and the other day went back to sketch it. There is a buggy behind it and an old red house too.

Cutchougue View

Last week my friend, Lin from North Carolina was up in my area visiting family. We made plans to get together and paint out on the east end. Our start was a little slow due to a traffic snarl, but we headed out. We made a stop or two along the way looking for autumnal inspiration and stopped in Cutchogue when we saw the color of the trees and the steeples on two churches. This particular steeple is now part of the Cutchogue Library. We lucked out that it was a sunny, fairly warm day so we were able to sit out in chairs on the grass and paint. Once we finished we went into the library to see how it looked on the inside and found that there was an art show in the gallery. We also had lunch at the Cutchogue Diner and then walked around the stores in the tiny town. It was great to see Lin again and catch up on what has been going on. Hopefully we can get together again soon!!

Today is Veteran's Day. In honor of that I am posting two paintings I did in the past.

The first is a sketch of last year's Veterans Day ceremony in Sayville.

The second is the painting I did from a photo of my father-in-law and his medals from World War II.

My thanks to all the men and woman who have served in the armed forces. They and their families have given so much to our country. Thank you so much!

Mastic Farm

On Sunday I found this farm in Mastic. The barns, house, and land looked abandoned. It had a nice view and those autumnal colors I love. I set up my easel in the driveway and went at it. This is about 6 x 8.

Sketching Near Ground Zero

On Saturday the NYC Urban Sketchers were meeting at the September 11 Memorial at Ground Zero. The easiest way to get there was driving to Kew Gardens and taking the subway into Manhattan. That gave me the opportunity to sketch some commuters on the E train.

This was my first visit to the September 11 Memorial area. It was a bit overwhelming, especially seeing all the names inscribed on the walls around the pool. One tore at my heart. It listed a woman's name and next to it were the words "and her unborn child."

This sketch includes a bit of the name-filled wall around the north pool. In the distance is an unusual building designed by Santiago Calatrava which is the new terminal for the PATH trains. Someone said it is supposed to be a dove, but it looks like the skeletal bones of an animal to me. As you can see it is autumn in NY.

There were a lot of people around so I sketched a few of them. I believe the glass building on the right is the memorial museum. 

We went to a pizza place on Vesey Street and when we came out there was a beautiful view of the spire on St. Paul's Chapel.

Before we left for "show and tell" I had time to do a quick wet-into-wet watercolor of a few people seated in front of me.

Autumn on Long Island

Here are two more small autumn paintings I did. I love looking down some of the narrow side streets and seeing just an abundance of color going all the way back.

This one was painted on South Powells Road in Bellport.

Arthur Avenue in Brookhaven was the location for this one.

Autumn 1

I know these autumn leaves can't last for much longer, so I'm trying to capture them as much as possible. I painted this one from the parking lot by a local school.

Chimineas and Flowers

Last week my friend and I went to paint at Olish Farms Country Market in Eastport, NY. Outside was a wonderful assortment of flowers and some chimineas (Mexican outdoor ovens). While we were sitting there painting someone came along and bought one of the three chimineas that I have in my painting...just my luck. lol I had already sketched and painted it so it wasn't a problem. Sitting there for nearly two hours we were assaulted by aromas of baking coming from inside, so I did buy a delicious lemon blueberry pie before I left.

Bush Farm

Our plein air group was invited to Bush Farm this week to paint. The owners of this farm have collected all kinds of antique farm equipment and the barn and the grounds are full of it. The autumn colors were perfect and the barn was calling out to be painted. This is 8 x 10.

Longwood Schoolhouse

Last week my plain air group went back to Longwood Estate. There was such a great tree in front of the schoolhouse that I just had to paint them together. This is 8 x 10.

More Fall Colors

I'm capturing as much of the fall colors as I can around here. This was done at a farm stand out on the north fork this past weekend. This is 8 x 10.

Autumn Explosion

The colors here on Long Island are beautiful, or would be beautiful if the sun came out to shine on them. We had mild temps today but the sun barely made an appearance. I did paint this on location (not in my car) and the fishermen all stopped to say something to me. One wanted to make sure he didn't get in my way...it was nice that he asked. This is a pond that is formed by the Connectquot River in Oakdale. This is 5 x 7.

Panoramic View

In one day life changed a lot...no more Inktober...and the sun set and it got dark by 4:47pm!!!! I hate when we change the clocks!

Inktober was a fun challenge. Although I do some ink sketching it is usually done in conjunction with watercolor. I rarely do a sketch and leave it just in ink. I also challenged myself to do all the Inktober sketches directly in pen. I did the online workshop with Marc Taro Holmes and I credit that for making me take that leap and continue with it. He doesn't require that you sketch directly in ink, but suggests it. It is a scary thing to not have my pencil and eraser, but for sketches I've really gotten used to it. The lines may be a little wonky at times but I thinks the sketches that way have a certain freshness to them. Of course for the drawing for one of my watercolor paintings I will still use pencil. That needs a little more precision. This month has given me a lot of ink sketching practice, and I hope to get back to it from time to time.

Today I went out east near Wading River and did a painting from my car sitting at the end of the parking lot at Lewin Farms. I'm assuming the field I was overlooking belonged to them. As much as the temps were in the low 60s it was too windy to sit out and paint, especially along a busy road where traffic kicks up a lot of dirt. This is small...just 3 x 10. I should go back and do a larger version of this. I liked the idea of doing a panorama but I didn't have any larger paper. lol