Crescent Moon

For two nights when I was driving home from the rehab facility there was a beautiful crescent moon and what I believe is a planet in the western sky. I didn't stop and sketch it then, but it stayed in my mind and I did an ATC of what I remembered. I like the dark clouds against the dark sky.

Jerry seems to be doing better. He is working on walking on his prosthetic leg. It will take a lot of strength, balance and persistence. I went to a support group the other day (Jerry didn't go) and was given some advice by the other amputees there to let him do things on his own. He will let me know when he needs help, but he needs to work out how he will approach daily life. I guess it is good advice but not the easiest thing to follow.

Mossy Tree

This tree is located in the parking lot of the rehab facility in East Islip and every time I look at it I would think about sketching it...and finally did it. 

A Change of Pace

The South Bay Art Association, of which I am the secretary, met last night. We try to have some activity or demo for our members several times a year. Last night there was an interactive demo on creating a design in poured acrylic resin. 

Basically the glass was glued to the picture frame itself so that the resin wouldn't leak out when it was poured on the front of the glass. The frame glass was coated with a layer of the resin. We were provided with assorted silk flowers and objects that could be arranged into a design in the resin. One of the ladies at my table brought along some fresh herbs (tarragon, rosemary and thyme) to also use in our designs. Once the design was complete we poured the remaining resin over the objects, some of which were sticking up out of the resin making the design 3-D. It was really amazing at the end of the activity to see 24 completely unique designs from basically the same materials. Here is mine.

Here are photos of a few other pieces.

Inlet View

This is based on a photo I took in Northport along an inlet by the bay. It is the last of my art postcards for the troops before I mail the second batch off to my friend Mary Jo Ernst. This final group contains 12 sketches for a total of what I believe is 37 or 38 of mine. I hope the recipients enjoy them.

Over the Dunes

I love the beach and even if I have not been able to get there lately it is in my mind. This was done mostly from imagination and will be part of the art postcard project.

Lobby Piano

Today while Jerry was doing physical therapy I went down to the lobby of the rehab facility. There is a great piano there sitting in the corner of the lobby. The other day there had been a pianist playing for the residents. I listened for a while and decided I would come back and sketch it at a later time. This was done with ArtRage on my iPad.

Seatuck

Today my sister-in-law volunteered to spend time with Jerry early in the day so that I could have some time to go out and sketch with my friend, Suzala. We met at Seatuck Environmental Center in Islip which is near Jerry's rehab facility. Today was a beautiful, mild day, perfect to spend a few hours outdoors (semi-bundled up) sketching en plein air. We sketched for a few hours and it was nice to work on something bigger than a postcard.lol This is 8 x 10. It was great to get out and then be able to be back with Jerry by about 2:30.

Speaking of Jerry, he had something new added to his physical therapy at the end of the week.

 He was able to actually take a few steps on his prosthetic leg with the help of two therapists and the parallel bars.

Downtown Islip

I took a break for a little while from the rehab facility. It was a nice day so I sat in my mobile studio with the windows open and sketched the view of downtown Islip. This is now part of my collection to be sent out next week for the art postcard project.

Waiting for the Baker

Yesterday I went down to the Cafe' to get coffee while Jerry was having physical therapy. I timed it just right and got my coffee and a cookie before the baker took his break. This lady was there when I got there patiently sitting in front of the counter, which several of the residents seem to do. I guess it gives them a bit of a meeting place. I didn't have my sketchbook but I had brought along my iPad to read. Instead of reading I used the ArtRage program and did a digital sketch of the woman. I was about 75% finished when someone came along and wheeled her off for lunch. Luckily she and the chair were already sketched in and I just needed to add color to most of the sketch.

Trees on the Cliff

The other night I stopped to see a watercolor demo done by Bill Graf sponsored by one of my art groups. He did a painting of a lighthouse on the Oregon coast which was a bit of inspiration to do this art postcard of the trees on the cliff.

Beach Dunes

This was done a bit from imagination after looking at one of my beach dune sketches. It will be added to the collection for the troops.

Winter Tree

Right now the colors on those trees that have needles or leaves is so different from the summer colors. I was down at a preserve near the water in Islip. This is some sort of fir tree and the needles look almost a mustard color mixed with a bit of green. With our mild winter I'm expecting to see early spring colors. Now that I've said that we will probably get snow. lol This is also an art postcard for the troops.

Octopus

This was done using a sketch I had done for a "fake journal" a few years ago when I did a journal about working at an aquarium. This is another card for the art postcard project. It seems that my friend has extended the deadline so I should be able to do a few more before I send out this batch.

Seagull

Yesterday my sister-in-law stayed at the rehab facility while I went out for a while. I bought lunch and then took it down to the bay in East Islip. There were a few seagulls parked on top of the posts and this one stayed long enough for me to sketch him. This will be part of the art postcard project.

Rehab Views

I was able to get a few sketches at Momentum by the Bay, the rehab facility where Jerry is staying. I usually disappear for a little while when he goes for PT. Down on the first floor is a deadly spot where there is a busy baker making things for the facility. He has a little kitchen and there is coffee, tea, and goodies available most of the day to the patients and their families. (Not something I really need...but very nice to have when you are there for a few hours. So the other day I went down and sat at one of the tables in the little seating area and sketched the baker.

Today while the physical therapist was working with him in his room I headed to the library, which was a good place for a quick sketch.

Pitcher With Flowers

On Wednesday I took a little time for myself. I left Jerry with his sister at the rehab facility and had a very early dinner with friends followed by sketching with my Wednesday night group. I brought along a white pitcher and a red flower and some blue flowers. I mistakenly thought the theme for the night was red, white and blue when it actually was red, yellow and blue. lol I like my idea better. This was also done as an art postcard for the project going to the troops.

End of the Road

We had so many streets that stop at the edge of the bay, like this one in Sayville. I'm not sure if the puddles are from high tide or from the sporadic rain we've had lately. This is part of the art postcard project.

Colorful

Here is another art postcard for the troops. Done in watercolors and ink from a sketch I had done previously.

Rocky Coast

Another art postcard for the project. This was done using a previous painting done in Maine for inspiration.

White Flower

This is another art postcard done for the project for the troops. 

Vineyard View

I love looking down the rows of vines as they go into the distance. This was done with inspiration from a previous sketch I had done. Again, this is for the art postcard project.

Pump Hill Farm Character

This was done from an iPad photo I took in Australia at Pump Hill Farm where we stayed for my niece's wedding. There were all sorts of animals roaming around including this duck. They acted like they owned the place. lol This is another art postcard for the project I am taking part in.

White Dog

This was done from one of my photos of my sister's dog, Toby. It is part of my collection for the art postcard project for the troops.

Good news...Jerry was discharged from the hospital and is back in rehab!

Sunset at the Farm

Another art postcard done from my many, many sunset photos taken in Australia.

An update on Jerry...he should finally be moved to a regular room at the hospital. He is doing better and is off most of the monitors and back on regular oxygen. It is good to see him moving in the right direction.

On the Bay

This was done from a reference photo I took when we went to the oyster farm in the Great South Bay this summer. It is for the art postcard project.

Flower Collection

I figured I should do one more small art postcard of the flowers my sister had sent to Jerry. If I wait too much longer the petals will be all over the table. lol One more for the troops.

Outside for a Change

The other day I left home early for the hospital so that I could do a sketch before visiting hours started. This is the southern end of Brookhaven Hospital/Long Island Community Hospital. I sat in the parking lot across the street and this was pretty much the only view where the hedges weren't blocking most of the building. lol

Because Jerry hasn't been eating the doctor told me to bring him anything that I thought he might eat because he has been eating nearly nothing.  I headed over to Mc D's in Patchogue. His favorite breakfast has been the Sausage and Egg McMuffin at Mc Donald's. Apparently it hit the spot because he ate about 3/4 of the sausage and egg part. Yay!!! However I bough him another one yesterday and he didn't even want to take a bite. Good news...he was finally downgraded from the ICU to a regular room. Still suffering the effects of all that has happened and the pneumonia isn't completely gone. Thanks so much for your prayers and support.

Emu 2

I really liked sketching the previous emu, so I looked for another reference photo from my Australia trip. This will join my collection of art postcards for the troops.

Flowers

For today's art postcard I used a photo I had taken this past summer. This is heading to the troops.