Direct Watercolor #26

 For Day 26 of the 30 x 30 Direct Watercolor Challenge I painted a house in Sayville.

Direct Watercolors #25

 Last week I went painting with my plein air group to Lavender by the Bay in Calverton. The lavender was really blooming. I did 2 paintings, but the second one isn't quite finished. This is #25 for the 30 x 30 Direct Watercolor Challenge.

Direct Watercolors #24

 At one time Long Island was famous for duck farming. Of course as more people moved out from the city the number of duck farms decreased. 

In 1931, Riverhead duck farmer Martin Maurer commissioned some local builders to create this 10-ton eye-catcher using concrete (technically, "ferrocement") applied over a wooden frame. Taillights from a Model T Ford became its eyes, glowing red at night. Maurer sold ducks and eggs from the shop in its belly. The building is now used for tourism. I can remember the duck being moved to several locations in the last 40 years, finally coming to a permanent location in Flanders. People love "The Big Duck."

"The Big Duck" is my 24th direct watercolor painting for the 30 x 30 Direct Watercolor Challenge.

Direct Watercolor #23

 One of the moderators for the 30 x 30 Direct Watercolor Challenge started a thread for members of the group to submit photos of themself for the group to use for direct watercolor. My friend, Mythili submitted a photo of herself and I thought I would give it a try. It is difficult to get facial proportions correct without guide lines. I made her face too wide and kept narrowing it. It is still a bit too wide, but I'm fairly happy with the result...and so was Mythili. I may attempt one of the other members before the challenge is finished.

Direct Watercolor #22

#22 for the 30 x 30 Direct Watercolor Challenge was painted at the Sandspit Marina in Patchogue.

One of the items for the current Scavenger Hunt on creativespark.art is a sailboat...fairely easy to find around here.

 

Direct Watercolor #21

 Painting #21 for the 30 x 30 Direct Watercolor Challenge was done at the Peconic Herb Farm in Peconic. I liked that I could see a reflection of the hanging baskets in the window panes.

Direct Watercolor #20

 My plein air group painted at Lavender by the Bay in Calverton the other day. This is the painting I did there for the 30 x 30 Direct Watercolor Challenge. It is a beautiful place and smells great.

 

 

 

Direct Watercolor #18 & #19

 I had an appointment to have my car serviced and planned on waiting for it to be done at Nissan. Knowing I would be there for quite a while I brought along my sketchbook. First I did a pencil sketch of this gentleman, but since I knew I would probably have time for a watercolor too I pulled out my tiny watercolor palette and went to work. Considering it was done on sketch paper, not watercolor paper I think it came out good. So here is my painting #18 for the 30 x 30 Direct Watercolor Challenge.

This is my painting #19 which was done on location at the East Islip Marina. There is a restaurant called the Bayside Clam Bar. It was Father's Day so there were quite a few people there...and a bonus was that off to the left a band set up so I had entertainment while I worked.

Direct Watercolor #17

 While I was at Captree painting the bridge I did a second painting for the day, this time of the Fire Island Lighthouse across the Great South Bay. This is my 30 x 30 Direct Watercolor #17 for the challenge. Sometimes it helps to stay one painting ahead just in case you don't get to paint something one day. That happens, even to me.

Direct Watercolor #16

 Being the beach person that I am I spend a lot of time driving across this bridge at the end of the Robert Moses Causeway going to Robert Moses State Park. I picked this for my painting #16 for the 30 x 30 Direct Watercolor Challenge.

Direct Watercolor #14 & 15

 My plein air group headed to Cedar Beach in Mt Sinai last Tuesday. This was done for the 30 x 30 Direct Watercolor Challenge, painting #14.  I've painted there before but always on the side with the boats, marina, and fishing pier.

I headed over to Weeks Yacht Yard to find a subject for painting #15. The boats are finally mostly uncovered. Yay!!

Direct Watercolor #13

I haven't posted a figure yet for the 30 x 30 Direct Watercolor Challenge. This was done in Sayville and she stayed the perfect amount of time to finish painting her. I didn't get to do her companion.

These figures were not for the challenge but were fun to do while I was getting a pedi.

Direct Watercolor #12

 I like painting and sketching fire engines but they are usually behind closed doors. I aways check as I pass the fire houses in the area and this time I was rewarded. My #12 30 x 30 Direct Watercolor for the challenge had a subject. When I passed the Sayville fire house there were two bays open and a truck in each. I had just finished painting the first one when several firemen came and closed both bays. Luckily I had enough done to complete the first one and just added the bay door to the second one. I guess my timing worked out!

Direct Watercolor #11

 Here is my 30 x 30 Direct Watercolor for #11. Last weekend my friend, Suzala and I went to Glen Cove to paint the Saddle Rock Grist Mill. I had been there once before a long time ago and they improved the park around the mill quite a bit. It now has a playground, basketball hoops, and a large community pool. Now there is a path that goes a little way on the left and you can see that side of the mill clearly. The last time there were a lot of Canadian geese messing up the park, but there weren't any around this time. I like the improvements. Hopefully they will do some work to restore the building a bit more. It looks a bit more worn than it did back in 2012 when I was there. I sketched it then too. It was open at one time but seems to be closed to the public now.

I finished my painting before Suzala was done so I did another quick sketch of the grist mill. I like the energy of this one.

Direct Watercolor #10

For my 30 x 30 Direct Watercolor Challenge 10th painting I went to the garden of my friend, Pat Sweeney. She had some peonies that were still in bloom. I was hoping to do a loose version of a peony but that didn't work. I'm happy with this even though there isn't a lot of definition between the petals. My thanks to Pat for sharing her garden with me.

 

Direct Watercolor #9

 I went over to the Bayport Flower House and they had some stone statues outside among the plants and pottery. This is #9 for the 30 x 30 Direct Watercolor Challenge.

I was in Patchogue today near where the Mini MoCA is located so I stopped and took a few photos of the display. Unfortunately my two mushroom paintings are behind the figure inside the display and are a bit hard to see. BUT you do get to see a reflection of me!

While I was taking the photos a man came over to ask me about the Mini MoCA. I explained what I knew about it and told him how we did mini mushrooms for it. He told me he had been in the park last weekend and that there were mushroom art pieces all around the park and that people were taking them. I explained that the purpose of the other pieces was for people to take them and enjoy them. 

Direct Watercolor #8

For my next painting for the 30 x 30 Direct Watercolor Challenge I did the newly reopened Sayville Theater. It had been closed for over a year and there were numerous stories going around about what was happening. Eventually the original owner was given permission to reopen and they renovated the place. I've never been inside but it has apparently been there for years and people who grew up in Sayville have a special attachment to it.

Direct Watercolor #7

My 30 x 30 Direct Watercolor for the challenge was done of a now closed drive-thru Dairy Barn in Ronkonkoma. Places like this make you appreciate not having to get out of the car to do some shopping. There aren't too many places like this around any more. It was a bit of a perspective challenge.

Last Wednesday the Patchogue Sketch Club met inside due to the poor air quality and smokey conditions caused by the fires in Canada. Mark had a project for us to work on. The Patchogue Arts Council was celebrating the Game of Shroom, a world wide Art & Seek holiday on June 10. They were looking for miniature works of mushroom art to be displayed in the next show in the MiniMoCA in the garden on Terry Street. Real mushrooms were provided as models and we worked on mini-canvases. Watercolors and canvas don't work particularly well together but I gave it a shot. The texture of the canvas shows quite a bit. This was about 2 inches by 3 inches. 

My second mini-mushroom painting was even smaller...maybe 1 inch x 2 inches. I did this one from a photo. Both mini paintings will be on display in something called a MiniMoCA, which is a miniature enclosure designed to look like the gallery space in the Museum of Contemporary Art in Patchogue. Our artwork will be hanging on the "walls" of the enclosure. Maybe I'll remember to go over and take some photos of it so you can get a better idea of what it is.

 

Garden Shop at the Peconic Herb Farm & Direct Watercolor #6

This is a view at the Peconic Herb Farm that I've been wanting to paint for a while, but always convinced myself it was too detailed. I had already finished my painting for the 30 x 30 Challenge and decided to do this. Just doing it in watercolor wasn't an option due to all the text. I drew this directly in ink...no pencil lines. I'm happy with the way it came out. 

For my 30 x 30 Direct Watercolor #6 I painted at Helen's Greenhouses in Aquebogue. I liked the arrangements of flowers in front of the greenhouses as well as the tubs of what looked like kale and leafy green veggies in front.

Direct Watercolor #4 & 5

The 30 x 30 Direct Watercolor Challenge is keeping me busy. 

#4 was painted at the Peconic Herb Farm one of my favorite places to go and paint. They have quite a few sheds on the property and they always have plants, and trellises, and signs attractively displayed in front of them...and they are very welcoming to artists.

#5 is a house in Sayville with a stone wall and flowers in front of it. I like painting spots like this and can do them from my car so I am not sitting in the street and so obvious to all the neighbors.

 

Direct Watercolor #2 & #3

 The 30 x 30 Watercolor Challenge is keeping me busy. I like painting directly with watercolor but some subjects are quite a challenge, especially if I have to be careful with the perspective. Here is my 2nd painting for the challenge. It helps if a bit of the architecture is hidden behind a tree like in this painting. I love this spot with the house up high from the street along Bellport Lane. I've painted it a few times.

For painting #3 I headed over to Meadowcroft Estate in Sayville. Small purple irises were growing in the garden there.

Direct Watercolor #1

 Once again I am participating in the 30 x 30 Direct Watercolor Challenge hosted by Marc Holmes and Uma Kelkar. The idea for the challenge is that for the month of June the participating artists complete 30 direct watercolor paintings...no pencil lines (or very little underdrawing). I have participated since 2018...six years and have happily completed the challenge each time. Yes, once in a while something comes up and you can't complete a painting that day, but you can catch up and do more than one another day...or extend your challenge for another day or two. There is no pressure and no "direct watercolor police."

This sketch was done on Grundy Avenue in Holbrook, right across from the church I attend. I painted this on location and since it was a weekday afternoon, I had no problem sitting across the street to work.

Carman's River Canoe & Kayak

I love seeing all the activity at Carman's River Canoe & Kayak, especially on the weekend. Most of the time that I've stopped there I felt like I would be in the way with people taking kayaks off their roofs and carrying things around. This time I parked on the other side of the office facing the building. I sketched this from the car and kept out of everyone's way. I've only been kayaking once (on a visit to Maine quite a while ago). I'm not sure I could get in and out of the kayak easily any more. I remember how tired my arms were after kayaking back then. lol I'm happy watching and sketching now.

The Grange

Our sketch group met at The Grange in Sayville the other night. There are some assorted small buildings and some pretty paths. 

Bodhi's Beach Shack

 My plein air painting group (PALS) met down in Blue Point near Corey Beach last Tuesday. It was a windy day but we sat near Bohdi's Beach Shack to paint. By the end of the morning I has as much sand in my palette as their was on the beach. lol Bohdi's is an interesting spot and I've sketched there before. It would be more fun if there were people there, but at 10 am on a Tuesday they were closed.

Reading my friend, Jo Castillo's blog today I was reminded that yesterday was D-Day. I didn't see anything about it on the news or any stories. My thanks to Jo for sharing a post she wrote about her brother, Powder, who served in WWII and fought in the Invasion of Normandy. My thanks go out to those who served and gave so much for our freedom.

Kittery Point

 When I head home from my sister's house in Maine I usually stop for a final lunch at Bob's Clam Hut in Kittery, Maine which is the southernmost town along the coast. I timed my departure so that I could have lunch and have a little time to sketch somewhere before heading south to catch my ferry from New London, CT to Long Island. Watching the time on my GPS it seemed like I had about an hour to do that. I've never checked out Kittery Point so I gave myself 10 minutes to find a location that looked good. I ended up at Fort McClary which is at the mouth of the Piscataqua River which separates Maine and New Hampshire at the coast. The fort itself looked interesting but would involve some climbing up the hill to find a good spot. I'd rather sketch the view of the water which is exactly what I did. There was even a bench for me to sit on. I finished in about 40 minutes and headed for Connecticut. Even with traffic backed up due to an accident I was on time for the ferry.

View from Pemaquid Seafood

 While visiting my family in Maine we drove down to the Pemaquid area for lunch. We sat on the outside deck at Pemaquid Seafood and I did this sketch of the view. I started it while waiting for the food to be cooked and finished it after we were done eating and the kids were running around. It was strange to be down in that area and not visit the Pemaquid Lighthouse. I guess I will just have to go back.

Family Sketches

I recently took a trip up to Maine to visit with family. My niece, husband, and two little ones were visiting from Australia. I wanted to see them as well as my sister and her family that live up there. I was meeting the kids for the first time and had a lot of fun playing with the 1 year old and the 3 year old.

Kiah was sleeping and I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to sketch. Unfortunately my backpack with most of my art supplies was in my trunk because with all the extra people in the house, space for anything was at a premium. I had a Micron pen in my purse so I sketched with that but I wanted color. So I looked around and grabbed some of the markers and crayons that were around. The colors weren't the best choices but they worked.

Quinn meanwhile was relaxing on the couch with his dad playing a video game. I sketched the two of them in pencil and didn't bother trying to add color this time.

Beach Talk

 Recently when I was at the beach two ladies came along and sat on a bench nearby. How could I resist them?

Brookhaven Free Library

 The Brookhaven Free Library is tiny but packs a punch. They often let the South Bay Art Association hold their sketching sessions there. The art group has partnered with the library on a special sketchbook project. Our interested members have purchased 6 x 6 Arteza sketchbooks and are filling them with sketches and artwork.  Your sketchbook can have a theme or not have one...the choice is yours. The sketchbooks will be completed and returned at our annual potluck and election in November, so there is plenty of time to work on them. Then the library is going to catalogue the sketchbooks and keep them as a permanent display at the library. I have completed quite a few pages in mine and this sketch of the library is included. All of my sketches have been done on location and are of the local area.

Hallockville Farm's Felt and Fiber Festival

 Recently Hallockville Farm in Riverhead advertised that they were having a Felt & Fiber Festival with sheep shearing and other assorted events. I thought it might be fun to sketch. Finding a spot to stand by the pen with a good view of what was happening wasn't easy. The woman doing the shearing was from the Long Island Yarn and Farm in Yaphank. I showed her the sketch when it was finished and she took a photo of it. She also invited me to come to her farm any time to sketch or paint, but to just call ahead to make sure there was someone there to let me in.

Later in the day she was going to shear one of her llamas. It would have been fun to watch but it was too long of a wait until she was doing it again.