Little Bits

 Sometimes the sketches I do aren't full scenes. Often they are items from the Scavenger Hunts on WetCanvas like these sketches.

I forgot what the item was for this sketch, but it is a decorative bottle that I use for my olive oil.

For the current hunt the item was "left" so this was the view to my left when I was seated in my "mobile studio."

This was "Santa something" for the current hunt. it was done directly in watercolor.

Mickey Mouse Ornament

Things have been busy so last night I had just enough time to sketch an ornament off my Christmas tree as my artwork for the day.

This weekend was my plein air group, PALS had our 10th Annual Art Show in Sayville. We had a really good turnout both days. Here are a few photos of the gallery, paintings, and gift items. I think all the artists involved sold merchandise and this was probably the best show we've had for sales. It is a great group and most of the artists have been part of the group since we started 10 years ago.

I sold three paintings, some alcohol ink tiles, ornaments, and cards. Here are the paintings that have new loving homes.

"Side Garden" purchased by the actual owner of the house. He remembered the day I painted it and grabbed it as soon as he saw it.

"Smooth Ride" painted on location in Venice in April.

"Rocky Coast" painted on location in Maine.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!!!

Last night I did a sketch of one of my special Christmas ornaments. Many years ago I was in San Diego with my parents visiting my sister and her family for Christmas. One night we went to the Wild Animal Park with her boys. At the time she just had the two older boys. We went into one of the shops that had Christmas ornaments and I bought two angel ornaments that reminded me of them. The oldest, Mike, had blonde hair so I always think of him when I hang this ornament on the tree. My other nephew, Jeff, had dark hair so I bought a dark haired angel that always makes me think of him. Poor Ryan doesn't have an angel to remind me of him, but I have lots of memories of Christmases with all of them! My sister is gone now and each of the boys is married with beautiful families of their own. I love having ornaments that are so special.

Christmas Ornaments

This was sketched last week when my sketch group met on Wednesday night. Everyone brought in ornaments to sketch, and we sketched some of our own and some that other people brought in. I brought the tiny tree and the two ornaments under it, but my friends shared the lights and the Santa ornament.

Ornaments

Here are two more ornaments from my tree. The first is from our trip to Lake Como where we stayed in the town of Varenna.

Silver bells.....

Merry Christmas & 12 Ornaments of Christmas - Ornament #12

Merry Christmas

Wishing you and your family

a Merry Christmas

filled with love, joy and health.

This is my Christmas card for this year.

My 12 Ornaments of Christmas – Ornament #12 – The last ornament I will tell you about is a home-made ornament which is one of my newest. My friend, Marge, gave me two ornaments this week that she embroidered on her sewing machine. This one is this beautiful gold fabric angel that she made. Angels are such an important part of the Christmas story, don't you think? This one will be treasured along with all the other ornaments that are so special to me.

12 Ornaments of Christmas - Ornament #11

My 12 Ornaments of Christmas – Ornament #11 – I have collected ornaments from many of the trips I have taken. I have an Eifflel Tower, a White House, one from New Mexico, Ireland, Italy, Germany, and a pair of ornaments from Hawaii. I took a trip there with my friend, Rosetta and her mom.  These remind me of tropical sunsets, our visit to the Hawaiian Cultural Center as well as Hilo Hatties for all kinds of Hawaiian items.

12 Ornaments of Christmas - Ornament #10 & Train Sketches

My 12 Ornaments of Christmas – Ornament #10 – I have an assortment of different kinds of snowflakes on my tree. My favorites are the crocheted ones that were made my my sister, Chris. I’m sure many of you also have crocheted ornament of one kind or another. I really like home-made ornaments!
This was done on my iPad with Artrage.

These were also done with my iPad in Artrage. The first sketch was done going into Manhattan on the Long Island Railroad. There were a lot of commuters going to football games or to watch football games.

I met up with a friend in the city (before we went off to sketch). She has been using the same iPad drawing program and gave me some lessons on how to use it, especially the layers. I hope I retain a  little of what she showed me. Thanks Pat!

12 Ornaments of Christmas - Ornament #9 & Starbucks Sketch

My 12 Ornaments of Christmas – Ornament #9 – For years I spent weeks every year  baking Christmas cookies. Everyone in my family and at work before I retired had their favorites and waited each year for my Christmas cookies to be delivered. In honor of that my sister, Mickey gave me this cute ornament. My spoon is ready to mix the batter on the next batch.

Last Wednesday a few friends and I went to one of the local Starbucks to do some sketching. When I saw this lady with the Christmas hat I knew she had to be in the sketch. lol Those red Starbucks cups are festive too. I posted this on Facebook and a friend contacted me and told me she wanted this sketch. So it has been sold! Yay!!! I think she wants to use it for her Christmas card.

12 Ornaments of Christmas - Ornament #8 & The Big Duck

My 12 Ornaments of Christmas – Ornament #8 – Many of you have seen all the lobster sketches I do and can probably guess that lobster is one of my top two favorite foods. I do have a lobster ornament, courtesy of family in Maine. I’ll have to work on getting a pizza ornament since that is the other favorite food of mine.

When I was out east last week I drove over to see the Big Duck in Flanders that is always decorated for Christmas. Some day I'll get there when the little shop inside is open.

12 Ornaments of Christmas - Ornament #7 & Nursery

My 12 Ornaments of Christmas – Ornament #7 – How many of you have a chair ornament? I don’t see any hands raised besides mine. Of course my chair is a beach chair. I think this was given to me by my brother, Joe and sister-in-law, Joan. They even gave me a bathing suit one year as a Christmas gift. I like special people who know my tastes.

This was sketched at the Vander Zalm Nursery in Bellport.

12 Ornaments of Christmas - Ornament #6

My 12 Ornaments of Christmas – Ornament #6 -  This is a double ornament post. I spent so many Christmas holidays visiting my sister Fran and her family in San Diego, CA. On one trip we all went to the San Diego Animal Farm in the evening to see all the festive lights. Fran and Bob only had two of their three boys at the time. I went into the gift  shop where I found these two angel ornaments. The one with the blonde hair I call my Michael ornament and the one with the dark hair is my Jeff ornament. Of course the boys (who I love with all my heart) were not “angels” by an stretch of the imagination. LOL All of Fran & Bob’s boys are married now but that is what I think of every time I see these ornaments. 

12 Ornaments of Christmas - Ornament #5 & Joanne

My 12 Ornaments of Christmas – Ornament #5 – This red wooden sled was given to me by my niece, Kathleen Hoffmann of Taffyworks​. She even put her initials and the year on it…1997.  She now lives in Australia where she is a dancer, teacher, and choreographer. I wish she and other members of the family weren’t so far away, especially at Christmas. Celebrating was always such fun when we were all together.

Joanne was our model this week.

12 Days of Ornaments - Day 4 & Stables Nursery

My 12 Ornaments of Christmas – Ornament #4 – Many of the treasures hanging on my tree remind me of special people. This trio of Santas was bought when I was shopping with my good friend, Rosetta at the outlets in Secaucus, NJ. I think we were the outlet queens at that time. For many years Rosetta, my sister Fran, and I always did things and traveled together..sort of like the 3 Musketeers. I think of so many of our great times and crazy escapades every time I hang it on my tree. Rosetta, thanks for being such a great friend. Fran, I miss you!

I was out east last week near Stables Nursery. There were lots of people buying Christmas plants. I love that the bright umbrellas were still out.

12 Days of Ornaments - Day 3 & Bryant Park

My 12 Ornaments of Christmas – Ornament #3 – My niece, Karen Robertiello, made two ornaments that I have on my tree. I think she made them in Girl Scouts eons ago. One is a reindeer made from a clothespin and has those googly eyes. The other is a needlepoint ornament made from 3 squares and also has googly eyes. If you squeeze the two opposite corners it opens to reveal a Hershey’s kiss inside. It has a tag on it that says “Squeeze my cheeks and I’ll give you a kiss.” For those of you who know me know that I’m a chocoholic, but the kiss inside is the same kiss that was in it when she gave it to me. LOL I never ate it.

Last week I met two good friends for the day in the city. They aren't sketchers so I made sure I went in early enough to do a sketch before I met them. This was done at the skating rink at Bryant Park.