Rhodies at the Arboretum

Last Tuesday, PALS, my plein air group met at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum. The rhododendrons are in bloom right now, so we headed over to the rhodie garden. This first one is 5 x 7.

I was finished before my friends, so I did a very loose 3 x 7 of the path through the garden where we were sitting.

Here are my final EDM sketches.

May 30 - a birdhouse

May  31 - an egg

This is a pysanky egg I decorated in a class I took.

Portrait

I'm sorry I don't have this young lady's name. She is the sister-in-law of one of my friend, Bill in our art group. I had a hard time getting her hair dark enough and resorted to watercolors and water-soluble graphite. 

EDM  - May 29 - a faucet

Lifeguards

Being an avid beach person I know how important these people are. They will sit up there even on cold, windy days when nobody is in the water. I had to sketch these two ladies at Sayville Beach.

EDM - May 28 - garden statue

Wisteria II

I am being drawn to paint wisteria this spring. I had a group show this weekend at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum, so before the reception on Sunday I went back to the manor house and did another painting of part of the porch and the wisteria. This is 5 x 7.

Here is the link to the other painting I did of the wisteria on the other side of the porch. The purples in this one are a bit stronger. Which way do you like better? I may try doing a larger one at home since the wisteria is on the way out.

http://watercolorsbyjoan2.blogspot.com/2015/05/wisteria.html

EDM - May 27 - something fuzzy

Saturday morning found me sketching with yet another group here on Long Island. My friend, Jen, invited me to sketch with the Tri Hamlet Sketch Club which meets east of me every Saturday. The NYC Urban Sketchers didn't have an outing scheduled in the city so I stayed here on Long Island.

This was done at Netties Farm and Bakery in Center Moriches. There is a small farm stand on the property called the Mustard Seed Farm. I don't know why it isn't called Netties, but it was cute.

EDM - May 26 - a sign
This was sketched from a photo I took in Kinsale, Ireland.

Memorial Day Ceremony and Parade

For the last few years I have tried to attend one of the Memorial Day Ceremonies here on Long Island. I missed the one in Sayville which I usually attend since I slept late, so instead I went to Patchogue. I sat in the park by the VFW Hall which I knew was the end of the parade, and caught some of the participants as the beginning of the parade arrived. I was there sketching long enough for most of the ceremony. It was a touching tribute to those who gave their lives, those who served, and the families and friends of those who are still serving.

EDM - May 25 - an apron

Remembering

This weekend we are celebrating Memorial Day, a time we honor the men and woman who have died in service to our country. One of my art associations, the Wet Paints Studio Group had our members show this weekend. Included in the show was a section devoted to paintings that honor those who served or paintings that show patriotism. I knew exactly what I wanted to paint.

My father-in-law served in Europe during World War II in the Air Force. He has a shadowbox containing a photo of himself being awarded a medal and two different medals as well as his battalion insignia. I borrowed them, took them out of the box and rearranged them to create a painting. The title of this is "Honored" and it is 8 x 10.

I am behind in posting my EDM sketches. Here they are.

May 21 - where I sit to read

May 22 - something attached to my wall

May 23 - interesting detail to a building

May 24 - some keys

Poppy Dance

My friend, Susan has a wonderful garden. She let me know that her poppies were blooming, so I spent a while there painting them. She was kind enough to snap a photo of me there.

This is 5 x 7.

Tulip Field

Somehow I missed posting this after I did it last week...maybe because I wanted to make some adjustments. I'm not sure but I'd better post it before it gets lost among my photos. This was done at the "Garden of Eve" out in Riverhead. They had a field of tulips that was a "u-pick" field and they were planning a tulip festival. Unfortunately due to our spring arriving so late and all the people who came out for Mother's Day the field was pretty well picked over. There was one section that they had roped off and people were not allowed to pick from. That is where we were painting...and I used a little artistic license to fill in the rest of the field. This is 8 x 10 and one of my friends from the group is in the middle of the field painting. 

EDM  - May 21 - where I sit to read

This is actually where I sit to do almost anything...read, sketch, watch TV, talk on the phone, etc. There is a coffee table in front of it for me to put my feet up and relax.

Tonight was the reception for the South Bay Art Association's Members Show.
Here are photos of me with my two paintings on exhibit.

Presby Iris Garden

Yesterday my sister and I went to the Presby Iris Garden in Montclair, NY.

There were so many varieties of irises!!!

I did small sketches that are about 3 1/2 x 7.

I painted my sister, Mickey who was also painting.

I tried getting a few of the different varieties.

Here are a few photos from our day.

EDM  - May 20 - my wallet

Tulips

My plein air group painted at a u-pick tulip field last week. I bought a few tulips to bring home. Of course by the time I sat down to paint them some of them were long past their prime...which gave them a bit of character.

EDM - May 19 - a cupcake

I don't buy cupcakes and didn't have time to stop and sketch one somewhere that has them. This is a composite of several cupcakes I saw on the internet...with chocolate frosting of course!

Lighthouse Paint Out - Part II

My second sketch for the paintout at the Fire Island Lighthouse was on a smaller scale...only 5 x7. This one was done on the opposite side of the lighthouse.

My last painting was from the bay side with a close look at the lighthouse. I was attracted to the white flowers to the right of the path. I very rarely see flowers there. This is 5 x 7.

EDM - May 18 - lipstick

I don't wear lipstick very often, and when I do it isn't very bright or dark. This is what I wear.

Paintout at the Lighthouse - Part 1

The Wet Paints Studio Group did their annual paintout at the Fire Island Lighthouse at Robert Moses State Park on Friday and Saturday. I didn't think I would be able to paint there on Saturday so I made sure I was free the whole day on Friday. This is one of my favorite views of the FIL and it is from the bird viewing platform. I like that you can see the Atlantic Ocean on the right and the Great South Bay on the left. Aside from being at the top of the lighthouse, I don't think you get that view from anywhere else.

We started out with an overcast day and it was windy and cold. I bundled up and just hoped my painting wouldn't blow away. I did tape it to my support on my easel just in case.

Here is the painting that I did. This is about 6 x 15.

Here is the view that I saw.

And here I am all bundled up...ready for anything.

In the above photo you can see my friend, Gina, standing and painting on the ground off over my left shoulder.

EDM - May 17 - something used to measure

Wisteria

I'm not quite sure what happened yesterday that I didn't post. I know I was busy painting but that is no excuse...I was home most of the day.

A friend reminded me that the wisteria is in bloom so I ran off to the Bayard Cutting Arboretum because I know the wisteria hangs from the porch of the manor house there. 

This is 5 x 7.

EDM - May 16 - ingredients to a favorite recipe

Bayport Waterfront

My Wednesday evening sketch group went to the waterfront in Bayport to sketch.

I would love to sit on that little dock and watch the sunset with a glass of wine in my hand.

EDM - May 15 - something I could throw out or give away

Does everyone else have piles of catalogues...especially from Lands End?

I think they send one a week. lol

Jim/Seamus

This is the second time Jim/Seamus has posed for our portrait group. He reminds me of a "salty" seaman. Here is the other portrait I did of him.

http://watercolorsbyjoan2.blogspot.com/2015/04/jim.html

EDM - May 14 - something I use every day

Being a plein air painter I use my car every day except in the winter when the snow is too deep to go out and drive. lol

Port Jeff Harbor

After I sketched and shopped at the Port Jeff farmer's market, I had lunch and then strolled back toward my car which was parked in a lot down by the water. I just had to sit for a while and sketch the harbor by the park. Several people were down by the beach and had their feet in the water. It was warm...but not that warm. lol 

EDM  - May 13 - the last thing I bought

I've been trying to cut back on chocolate, so there hasn't been any at home for a while. This won't last for long.