Arboretum Pink

I did make another trip to paint the pink trees at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum in Oakdale. I just couldn't resist the pink trees there.

It has been a long month. Here is a link to my final sketched page in my "fake" aquarium journal.

http://aliciasaquariumjournal.blogspot.com/2016/04/alicias-aquarium-journal-april-30.html

Pink Blossoms

My thanks to everyone for the condolences and support. It helps a lot.

Last week I just had to go out and do an actual 8 x 10 painting of the trees in bloom when I found a little free time. I had the morning off from caring for my FIL so I headed over to the Bayard Cutting Arboretum, and asked the workmen where there were dark pink trees in bloom. This was the perfect spot.

I am down to the last 2 days of sketches for my "fake" journal. Here is the link to today's entry.

http://aliciasaquariumjournal.blogspot.com/2016/04/alicias-aquarium-journal-april-29.html

A Sad Note & the Boathouse

On a sad note, this morning my family had a big loss. My father-in-law lost his battle with cancer. He was 95 and lived a very active, full life. He touched so many people as he journeyed here on earth. I hope he is at peace now with all the family and friends that went before him. RIP, Pop!

Last Wednesday, my sketch group did our first outdoor sketching session in a very long time by the water in Blue Point. It was almost warm enough to sit outside comfortably.lol I was frozen by the time I finished this as the sun was going down. Then I needed to hop in my car and warm up.

International Fake Journal Month is nearly over. Here is the link to my next entry. Please stop by and visit. http://aliciasaquariumjournal.blogspot.com/2016/04/alicias-aquarium-journal-april-28.html

Tulips in Ink and Watercolor

The other day I was at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum to paint a flowering tree. I also found some lovely tulips that I sketched.

My "fake" blog about the aquarium only has a few more days. Please come and visit.

http://aliciasaquariumjournal.blogspot.com/2016/04/alicias-aquarium-journal-april-27.html

Sideshow Sketch Night

A week ago last Friday my sketching friends and I went to another Sideshow Sketch Night held at the Brickhouse Brewery in Patchogue. This time we sketched Cheeky Lane in her costumes...and later not so much in her costumes. lol

Separately each of these were done in about 5 minutes. Cheeky designed her costumes and she is a burlesque performer.

Again these were 5 minute poses.

This time it was a 10 minute pose.

This was done of one of the longer, 20 minute poses.

This one was done for a contest where you had to make it look like a poster advertising her show. Prizes are given to the winners.

Today's entry for my "fake" aquarium journal is here.

http://aliciasaquariumjournal.blogspot.com/2016/04/alicias-aquarium-journal-april-26.html

Hecksher Park

This was sketched in Hecksher Park in Huntington. I had to capture all the trees that were starting to show their colors.

Here is the link to my "fake" aquarium journal. Please stop by.

http://aliciasaquariumjournal.blogspot.com/2016/04/alicias-aquarium-journal-april-25.html

Cherry Tree

I have really been enjoying the blossoming trees this spring! This was done on my iPad with the ArtRage program. It was a good way to get nearly white blossoms with a blue sky behind them.

I am continuing my "fake" journal...less than a week to go. Here is the link to today's page.

http://aliciasaquariumjournal.blogspot.com/2016/04/alicias-aquarium-journal-april-24.html

Hyacinths

This is a digital sketch I did of hyacinths in Bellport.

Check out my "fake" aquarium journal...here's the link.
http://aliciasaquariumjournal.blogspot.com/2016/04/alicias-aquarium-journal-april-23.html

Cherry Tree

While the trees have their blossoms I've been trying to get out to paint them. This was done at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum this week.

My "fake" journal adventures continue here:

http://aliciasaquariumjournal.blogspot.com/2016/04/alicias-aquarium-journal-april-22.html

Carnival Sketches

We had a carnival in town over the weekend. Before it opened I stopped by, sat in my car, and sketched a few of the rides that I could see from my location. Of course the one with the umbrella seats had to be tested while I was sketching it. lol

Here is the link to my "fake aquarium" journal.
http://aliciasaquariumjournal.blogspot.com/2016/04/alicias-aquarium-journal-april-21.html

Tree Line

My last sketch at the Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay was done of a line of trees going off into the distance. I liked the shadows they were making. This was done with a brush pen that if I touched the ink quickly it would shade a little.

Please hop over to "Alicia's Aquarium Journal" my journal for International Fake Journal Month.

http://aliciasaquariumjournal.blogspot.com/2016/04/alicias-aquarium-journal-april-20.html

The Greenhouse

Part of our sketching day at the Planting Fields Arboretum was spent inside the greenhouse. It is a great place to sketch!

Meanwhile over at my "fake" journal about the aquarium you can see what I've been up to.

http://aliciasaquariumjournal.blogspot.com/2016/04/alicias-aquarium-journal-april-19.html

Cherry Tree

I visited the Planting Fields Arboretum with a few artist friends last weekend and we were able to sit outside for a while to do the trees like this one that was in bloom. Between the blossoms and the texture of the trunk I was a happy sketcher.

Here is the link to my next page in the "fake" journal about the aquarium.

http://aliciasaquariumjournal.blogspot.com/2016/04/alicias-aquarium-journal-april-18.html

Setauket Bridge

Spring finally arrived on Long Island and I wanted to make sure to capture the forsythia while it was in bloom. This was sketched from my car by the Setauket Bridge.

Here is a link to my "fake" aquarium blog. There are two new pages.

http://aliciasaquariumjournal.blogspot.com

Games

Yesterday was a very busy day for me so I didn't have a chance to post yesterday.

This was done at Little Nook in West Sayville recently. They have all kinds of stuff around like  musical instruments, parts of cars, old records, and a cabinet filled with games that people can play while they sit and eat/chat. My friend, Cindy challenged me to do the games, so I did.

Here is a link to my "fake" aquarium journal.

http://aliciasaquariumjournal.blogspot.com/2016/04/alicias-aquarium-journal-april-15.html

Yellow Bouquet

My husband bought me a bouquet of mostly yellow flowers...of course it had to be painted. I did a digital sketch of it.

Here is the link to my "fake" aquarium journal. Come take a peek.

http://aliciasaquariumjournal.blogspot.com/2016/04/alicias-aquarium-journal-april-14.html

Lady Waiting

Last week I ended up at the local Urgent Care for pain in my shoulder that turned out to be severe bursitis. I was in such pain that I couldn't move my arm even a fraction of an inch. Since I couldn't make an appointment with a doctor I went to Urgent Care. Of course I was there with half the world which was what I expected. I brought along my iPad and as long as my hand and arm was resting against my body and my lap I was able to sketch. This lady was also waiting across the room from me. Luckily the prednisone they gave me worked in a few days and hopefully I'm back to normal and will stay that way.

Meanwhile over on my "fake" journal you can catch up on what is going on at the aquarium.

http://aliciasaquariumjournal.blogspot.com/2016/04/alicias-aquarium-journal-april-13.html

Chinese Takeout

The other day I stopped for Chinese takeout in Patchogue and brought along my iPad. It was a smart move because there was quite a wait. The food is good so they do a very good business. Just thinking about it now makes me hungry. lol

Here is my next page in my "fake" journal about the aquarium.

http://aliciasaquariumjournal.blogspot.com/2016/04/alicias-aquarium-journal-april-12.html

Babylon Crossing

I did a second sketch while I was in Babylon. There was so much going on here, and I love scenes with details that keep going back into the background.

Alicia is keeping busy over on my "fake" blog...come and look.

http://aliciasaquariumjournal.blogspot.com/2016/04/alicias-aquarium-journal-april-11.html

Babylon Dockside

I like heading down to the water here on Long Island. This was the first time I visited this spot in Babylon. There was a bait shop and a deli, so you could get whatever you need.

Please visit my "fake" journal, "Alicia's Aquarium Journal." It can be found here.

http://aliciasaquariumjournal.blogspot.com/2016/04/alicias-aquarium-journal-april-10.html

Starbucks

My sketch group met at Starbucks recently. It is fun to capture some of the people who settle down with their coffee and a chat.

This lady was from one of our local military groups.

Please hop over and see what is happening on my aquarium journal today.

http://aliciasaquariumjournal.blogspot.com/2016/04/alicias-aquarium-journal-april-9.html

In the Attic Too

I've passed this antique store on the north fork many times and wanted to sketch it. But there was no place to sit in my car to sketch it. The other day I discovered that if I sat up top int he parking lot of the animal clinic across the street I had a good view. Unfortunately the antique store was closed. Usually they have all kinds of treasures out front. I guess I will have to go back.

Here is the link to "Alicia's Aquarium Journal" if you want to visit.

http://aliciasaquariumjournal.blogspot.com/2016/04/alicias-aquarium-journal-april-8.html

Pansies and Daffs

I don't do still life paintings very often, do I? Last week our portrait group didn't have a model so we set up a still life with items that some of the artists brought along.

Here is a link to my 7th entry in my fake journal, "Alicia's Aquarium Journal." By the time I'm finished I think I will have included every sea creature possible. lol

http://aliciasaquariumjournal.blogspot.com/2016/04/alicias-aquarium-journal-april-7.html

Upstate Barn 2

Each of the upstate barns and farms have their own character. We found a cluster of farm buildings and silos that we hadn't seen before, so I looked for a spot where we could park and have a view from the car while we sketched.

Please stop by and view the next entry in "Alicia's Aquarium Journal."

http://aliciasaquariumjournal.blogspot.com/2016/04/alicias-aquarium-journal-april-6.html

Upstate Barn 1

Last week my sister, Mickey and I had paintings to pick up from an exhibition in Middletown. We always go out and sketch some barns afterwards. This barn is a favorite of ours and we sat in the car to sketch it. Usually there are cows either in the field or with their butts to us as they feed from the trough. This time there were no cows!!! I hope they were grazing somewhere else and haven't been sold. So many of these farms and barns have been disappearing up there.

Here is the link to the day 5 page in "Alicia's Aquarium Journal" that I have been doing.

http://aliciasaquariumjournal.blogspot.com/2016/04/alicias-aquarium-journal-april-5.html

Bay Shore House

I sketched this down by the water in Bay Shore. It was too cold to sit out so I used my "mobile studio."

Alicia's Aquarium Journal continues today with the 4th page.

http://aliciasaquariumjournal.blogspot.com

Susan

My friend, Susan posed for our group the other night. This was the first time ever that I saw her sit still. lol She is one of the most energetic, vivactious women I know. 

Day 3 of "Alicia's Aquarium Journal" can be found here.

http://aliciasaquariumjournal.blogspot.com

I'm lucky that I usually am ahead with my sketches. My arm has been bothering me for a few days and I was in such pain all night that I went to an urgent care facility this morning. I have bursitis in my shoulder. It hurts like hell, but I'm trying to keep going anyway...at least from home. I can type and post with my other hand and have been able to do some sketching if I keep me arm in a set position on the table. The pain is horrible! Hope the cortisone kicks in soon.

Seamus X 2

Seamus was our model last week. I did one painting and one sketch of him.

My "fake" journal page 2 is ready. Check it out if you have time.

http://aliciasaquariumjournal.blogspot.com

Sayville Scene

I head into Sayville quite often to sketch. It has a great downtown with some interesting storefronts...and if it is cold sometimes I can nab a parking spot with a good view.

Today begins April and "International Fake Journal Month." I've participated in this several times (there are links to my previous blogs on the right) and am doing a separate blog again this year. My "fake" persona is an oceanographer who works at an aquarium. Please visit. Here is the link to the blog:

aliciasaquariumjournal.blogspot.com