Richter's Orchard

 My friend, Susan wanted to go out and paint trees on Sunday so three of us headed over to Richter's Orchard in East Northport. The orchard has apple, cherry and pear trees. There were some trees still in bloom but they had passed their peak. It is a pretty place and with all the trees around in neat rows you feel like you are in another world. The orchard closes from May to I think September. I guess they don't want anyone coming in and messing with the produce while it is growing. Until then their barn is open to purchase some of the different varieties of fruit. The day we were there the barn was already closed. I'll have to stop by in the fall and check it out then.

I did a view of the orchard.

Then I did just one tree in ink with a bit of color.

Roots Parts 2 & 3

 Like I said, my mom's parents came from Goraj, Poland. My sister and a cousin were doing some research about the family history quite a few years back and she said she couldn't even find the town on a map. Well it is now on Google Maps and touring around in the town in today's times doesn't seem like what I envisioned when my grandmother spoke about it. She seemed to indicate that it was mostly farms, but maybe that's just what I though at the time. She's been gone a long time.

Anyway my grandmother's religion was very important to her. Since we were in a Polish neighborhood we attended the Polish church there (St. Joseph's). I used Google Maps to find Saint Bartholomew Church which was the oldest church in the town and dated back to the 18th century. I'm not sure if that was her parish but I'd like to think so. This is the bell tower from the church.

My family is the biggest part of my "roots." This was sketched from a photo that my dad took probably back in 1955 when my sister, Tina was a baby. Dad was the family photographer. I don't remember him taking landscape or flower photos, but after his sister gave him a camera he took all the photos of our extended family. If there was a wedding, a christening, a communion, a graduation, a party, a celebration, a vacation...he was there with his trusty Bolsey camera snapping away. Of course that meant lots of family photos of all of us, especially at holidays, and he would use the timer on the camera. Going left to right are my sister, Michelle (Mickey) who was the oldest. Then Dad holding Tina (aka Chris) who was the baby. Fran (who is no longer with us, was a year older than me. Mom is holding me on her lap and Joe (who we lovingly called "the king" is sitting on the floor.

I guess at some point there will have to be a Part 4 to honor the Szalay side of the family, but I know very little about them. My father's parents had both passed before he met my mother. Neither my dad or his two sisters really knew much about the family on that side.

Roots Part 1

For this weekend's sketch event the NYC Urban Sketchers have been sketching our "roots.' Sketches and stories will help tell where we came from.

  My maternal grandparents came to the USA from a small town in Poland. When my parents married they lived in the same house with my grandparents and my uncle...sort of a two family house but really just a two kitchen house. Everything else was shared. We resided in a Polish neighborhood, went to a Polish church and school, and even marched in the Pulaski Day Parade in NYC. Of course we dressed for the occasion. Someone my mother knew rented traditional outfits to those of us who needed them. I have a photo somewhere of myself in the outfit, but couldn't find it to post it so I used a reference from the internet. After the parade we were bussed back to the church and we all went to the Polish National Hall for hotdogs and cream soda. With so many things Polish going on (my Mom & grandmother spoke Polish to each other and my grandfather almost always spoke Polish) you would think I would have learned the language...but no. I can say a few select things like beer, old woman, give me a kiss, and go to bed. lol

Assorted Sketches

Luckily we still have some beautiful pink trees in bloom here. This time I just focused on a few branches on a tree in Sayville.

I did a few direct watercolors for assorted projects. The nose fit the Wet Canvas Scavenger Hunt as well as the NYC Urban Sketcher's theme of body parts.

This shell is also a direct watercolor done for the Scavenger Hunt on Wet Canvas.

 

Fun at the Playground

 While I was by the park in Sayville I watched the kids playing around in the playground. They were enjoying the weather and having so much fun.

Quick Walk

Yesterday we were supposed to have temperatures near 80, so I headed down by the water in Sayville. With the breeze off the water it was a bit chilly and I thought a jacket was needed like this couple going for a quick walk. Of course there were people in shorts and the little kids running around in the playground looked warm enough in short sleeves. I did have on my flip-flops!

Lefty Lucy Glamour

 Lefty Lucy posed last night for "Let's Art With Lefty Lucy" in a beautiful gown,,,very glam!

The final 20 minute pose.

5 minute pose

10 minute pose

10 minute pose done in direct watercolor.