Spring at the Met Cloisters - Part 1

The NYC Urban Sketchers met at The Met Cloisters in the Bronx. The good thing about this venue is that I can easily drive there if I am going alone. The trip took about 1 1/2 hrs by car and it was easy to park. I've been there with the Urban Sketchers before, but not when the gardens were open. This was so great! Flowers and trees were in bloom and although there were a lot of people, I was able to find a good view for each sketch. Like most museums The Met Cloisters only allows dry media for sketching, so I brought along my new set of colored pencils. They worked well but didn't give me the richness of my watercolors. Not being use to pencils as a medium, I forgot to pack a pencil sharpener. Luckily there were friendly sketchers who helped me out. 

This was the main courtyard garden surrounded by Medieval arches and porticos. It was beautiful. I tucked myself into a corner in the sunshine and it was warm enough to take off my jacket while I was sketching. By the time I finished this sketch there must have been at least 30 people in the garden and people (mostly sketchers) sitting on the walls.

Bicycles at the Beach

 At the end of the Field 6 parking lot at Robert Moses Beach there is an area that always has bicycles locked up. I'm not sure who they belong to and quite often they are a very rusted collection of bikes. I was surprised to see that the ones locked there on my recent trip were in much better condition. I used artistic license and only sketched two of them, but there were actually about 7 of them. While I was sketching them a man came along and unlocked one and rode away. I don't know if you are allowed to bike ride across the bridge that gets to the beach so I'm not quite sure where he was headed. I know that with a permit you can drive into the Fire Island communities as well as the Fire Island Lighthouse. I wonder where he was going...

Medieval Creature Study

 The Patchogue Sketch Club is getting ready to start our project for Arts on Terry. We will be doing lettering using the Medieval alphabet that often includes Medieval creatures along with the letter. This week we did a little practice from some reference sources.

Ranger Station at Smith Point Beach

 The dunes along Smith Point Beach are always a good subject, especially with the Ranger Station included. It has a great view and often they offer lessons to the public about things related to Fire Island and the seashore.

View from Islip Beach

 We are lucky to have so many nice water views over the Great South Bay. This was sketched from one of the town beaches in Islip that are on the mainland. This is one of the bridges that crosses the bay to Robert Moses Park which is on Fire Island.

Welcoming Porch

There are so many houses in nearby Bellport that call to be sketched. The spring greens are in full swing on the trees and grasses. I could be happy sitting on that chair on the porch. How about you? 

Star Magnolia in Bloom

 I need to check the progress of the trees at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum a little more often. When I stopped there this past week I found that the star magnolia tree was already starting to bloom. I'm sure that by my next visit it will be in full bloom or already past peak. This was done on a piece of Strathmore toned paper. I used white gouache on the blossoms.