Orlowski Hardware & Anchor

 I took a ride out to Mattituck last week. I'm always looking for interesting buildings. This is Orlowski Hardware store along Love Lane. I like the wires and the fact that you can see into the store windows and the front door. 

No, the anchor below wasn't at the hardware store. It was one of the items on the Creative Spark Scavenger Hunt. It is actually located in West Sayville right before the entrance to the dock.

Mattituck Sketches

I stopped in Mattituck the other day while I was out east. The display in front of Mattituck Florist caught my eye. I sat in my mobile studio across from the florist to sketch. 

Fortunately (or unfortunately for my waistline) I was parked right near the North Fork Donut Company on Love Lane. I just had to go in and get something. This is a churro donut with hazelnut filling and hazelnuts sprinkled on top. It was big enough to share, but I was by myself.

Lombardi's Love Lane Market

The town of Mattituck on the north fork is a cute town, but I never find a parking spot on Love Lane where most of the shops are. The other day I lucked out because it was midweek and there were several spots available. I pulled into one that gave me a great view of these two planters in front of the entrance to Lombardi's Love Lane Market. When I finished painting I headed in to see what they had. It was an interesting assortment of foods...a little different from a supermarket. 

Assorted Sketches

Sometimes for the scavenger hunts on creativespark.art I do direct watercolors like this one of the seashell...

or this one of the jelly jar...

and this one of a bicycle.

Sometimes I just do a sketch of something fun. I was in Mattituck this week and came across NoFoDoCo, which is short for the North Fork Donut Company. With a name like that I just had to go in and of course got a treat. This Boston creme donut was delicious.

 I hope you've enjoyed some treats recently!

Inktober 2022 - Day 30 - Along the Tracks & Times Square

 Today one of my art groups was having a closing reception for our show that has been in a gallery in Cutchogue. So since I was out on the North Fork I looked for an Inktober subject. This building was along the Mattituck train tracks. It was unusual. None of the doors or windows lined up. Each ended on a slightly different level.

Here is the updated version of my Times Square sketch. I added more color, more details, and did some shading with a grey Tombow ink marker as Ian Fennelly suggested.

Here is the version before the additional work if you want to compare them.

The Broken Down Valise

I headed out on the North Fork the other day planning to go shopping at an artist's coop. On the way back I passed through Mattituck, a sort of sleepy little town with a few quaint shops. I was planning to sketch one particular building but couldn't find a place to park where I would have a decent view to sketch. Then I noticed The Broken Down Valise which was right across from a few empty spaces in the Mattituck train station....perfect!!

Today was my plein air group's annual Holiday Exhibit and Sale. It is a two day event and I had been quite busty framing and matting pieces for the show. I had 6 framed pieces and an endless number of matted pieces of various sizes and cards for sale. I am happy to say that I sold two paintings and a lot of cards. It was a fun show to do and great to see people after being in isolation for so long. I didn't take any photos but my friend took quite a few. I'll post some when I get them.

Concertina Sketchbook Part 3

I took a ride back to the North Fork yesterday to continue the sketches in the concertina sketchbook. I had two pages left, but I came across this scene near Mattituck that just wouldn't have worked on only one page so I did it across two pages. It probably would have worked across 3 pages too because to the left of the barn was a really open field with absolutely nothing except the foliage in the background. But I had only two pages left yesterday. I am now in the process of adding another strip that will give me 4 more sketches...but that may not be enough to go all the way to the end of Route 25. lol

Concertina Sketchbook Part 2 & Exhibit

Yesterday I went back out to the North Fork along Route 25 with my concertina sketchbook. I saw this yellow barn along the roadway and of course I pulled over to sketch it. I did think yellow was an odd color for a barn and was tempted to change the color...but didn't.

Riding through Mattituck I noticed this taco restaurant but had already passed it. I did a u-turn and went back and parked outside. I was originally attracted to the building but then I saw that airstream on the side and couldn't resist. It looks like the airstream is used in warmer weather as part of the restaurant. I also loved the name of the restaurant..."Mattitaco" for a taco place in Mattituck. lol The sign wasn't in front of the planter. It was higher up on the building, but I wanted to include it.

There are two more pages in the double strip in this sketchbook. I may add an additional strip to give me four more pages so I can keep driving and sketching.

I have an exhibit of 12 of my framed sketches that I did on my trip to Venice back in April. The sketches are in a shop in Patchogue called The Cheese Patch and they will be hanging there for the entire month. Yesterday there was a reception for the show. Here are a few photos.

The painting on the bottom right, of St Mark's Cathedral sold at the reception.

Shamrock Tree Farm

Last Sunday I went looking for a tree farm with some activity to sketch. The Shamrock Tree Farm in Mattituck fit my bill. There were people picking trees, staff wrapping and carrying trees, and later I even found Santa. lol These places are fun when there are people around. This was the scene right in front of my car. I didn't even have to get out. lol