Autumn Colors Pop Up

Spots of fall foliage pop up everywhere.

 

Autumn Colors Lead to the Water

I love painting along this street in Bellport and seeing the water at the end. 

By the Lake

 My plein air group met by the Yaphank Lake to sketch and then drop off our paintings for our annual show that was last weekend. I'm happy to say the show went well, and I sold a few pieces. Yay!

One of our members was sitting at the table sketching and this young man had been fishing. Of course he stopped before I caught the correct position for his fishing rod...so typical. 

Bright Fall Colors

 When we arrived home I was glad to see that the fall colors were still around here on Long Island. After the news about my brother I needed to see something beautiful. I know if Joe had been here he would have been taking photos of the autumn colors.

Venice - Part 9 - Nocturne, China Cup, Caffe' at Ferrovia, Train Riders, Flight Home

One of the things I really wanted to do on this trip was a nocturne. Most days I was too tired to head out to sketch after dark. But one morning I woke up really early and couldn't fall back asleep. It was still dark so I went into the living room and pulled out my art supplies. I knew I didn't have long before the sky would really start to lighten, so it was now or never. This is part of the view out the side window in the living room. It is a really small painting but I'm so glad I did it. Yay!!

The kitchen cabinets in the apartment were filled with assorted china plates and cups, and then some full sets of dishes. There were a few of these cups and I used Procreate to create the design. I think I was fairly successful.

The end of our stay in Venice came too soon. We navigated with Jerry's walker, two backpacks, and a rolling suitcase to the train station for our train back to Milan. Luckily a lovely woman helped us over the bridge near the apartment and then it was pretty clear sailing to the station. It was a lot of walking for Jerry and we were early, so we stopped at one of the only sit-down cafes inside the station for a cappuccino before it was boarding time. I swear there was maybe two mouthfuls of coffee in the cup and the rest was foam! I did have time to do a sketch of two people at a nearby table. They had a duffle bag with them that was as big as they were. lol Finally it was time to board.

This train was not as roomy as the one coming to Venice, and it seemed like all the seats were filled. I sketched a few of the passengers across the aisle.

We arrived at Milano Centrale and had to walk all the way to the other end of the station to find the Malpensa Express to go to the airport, which was were our overnight accommodations were (the Sheraton Malpensa Milan Malpensa Hotel).  By the time we arrived we had been traveling about 6 1/2 hrs. The great thing about the hotel is that it is right at the airport. When you walk out the doors of the hotel you are in Terminal 1 of the Milan Airport.

It seemed to take forever (and 4,664 steps according to my step counter on my phone) before we arrived at the door of the plane. Jerry had it easy because he was in an electric wheelchair with his agent. I was walking.

I did get to sketch of the flight, because this nice model was sitting across from us.

The trip was really great, and I was happy with the amount of sketching I was able to do. Jerry also got a lot of work accomplished with the musicians he was in Venice to work with.

Venice 2024 - Part 8 - Arched View, Squero di San Trovaso, Ferrovia

 There are a lot of views hidden at the end of meandering streets like this one.

While I was in Venice I tried my best to post to creativespark.art and do the scavenger hunts. 

This sketch was done for one of the hunts. It is the stove in our apartment and was done on my iPad with Procreate.

The next sketch is one of my favorite places in Venice. It is the Squero di San Trovaso, a landmark 17th century boatyard that builds and services wooden gondolas. There is usually some activity going on that is fun to watch. Of course the gondola I started to sketch first (the prominent one nearly in the center) was finished. The work had been done and they carefully put in into the canal and it was gone! Luckily I had enough of the details and a photo to help me finish that gondola.

A few days before we were leaving I went over to Ferrovia (the train station) to get our tickets for the trip back from Venice to Milan. After booking the tickets I came outside and was attracted to the view across the Grand Canal and the people sitting and standing on the steps of the train station. One lady must have been really tired from her commute. She was leaning against her suitcase resting her head.

Venice 2024 - Part 7 - Basilica delle Frari, Gondolas, More Gondolas, Orange Building

We had another rainy day in Venice. I headed over to the Basilica delle Frari which was about a 15 minute walk from us. The churches provide a lovely, dry place to visit. The Basilica delle Frari is a beautiful church with several lovely altars and off to the side a small room with a chapel and a wall sculpture by Toscano called the "Monumento a Frederico Corner." I used watercolor pencils, graphite, watercolors and ink in this sketch.

Later in the afternoon I went down to the Grand Canal near the Rialto Bridge. I sketched this mostly in a continuous line, and then added a bit of watercolor wash.

I like sketching gondolas. Most of the ones that are parked are covered so you really can't see the intricate detail on the inside of the boats where the passengers sit. The uncovered ones usually have passengers and they don't stay put in one spot. I was sitting on one of the aqua alta platforms near the vaporetto stop. It was a little more comfortable than my stool and I had a place to rest my painting supplies.

Another day I went to the Accademia stop on the vaporetto. I headed for the Arcobaleno Pigmenti shop that I have stopped at on several of my trips to Venice. They have beautiful natural pigments that they sell to make paints from. In addition they have journals and sketchbooks, sealing wax, paintbrushes, and assorted other beautiful things. I always feel good when I stop there. I bought a new watercolor brush in a larger size that is the same brand that I bought there last year.

After shopping I walked a bit and found a wide piazza along the canal. I started this painting but only got about halfway done before it started raining again. I put it in my backpack, headed home, and then went back the next day to finish it.