Lifeguard

 This never quite got finished and I think I will leave it without color in the sky and water. I always love the different poses that the lifeguards have when sitting up on their chairs. This lifeguard was at the Sayville Marina Beach.

Larry

I don't get to paint live animals very often but my art group met outside and my friend, Jenn brought along her pooch, Larry. He sat fairly still except when he would spy a squirrel...luckily I drew him fairly quickly.

 

Lucy in Blue

 On Tuesday evening Lefty Lucy posed in a beautiful blue gown like she was royalty...complete with a tiara. What do you think?

Plein Air in Bellport - Part 2

 After looking at the gray skies for the first painting that I posted yesterday I was craving some color. Off in the distance I could see a spot filled with colorful kayaks. It was still drizzling so I stayed under the shelter where I was standing and painted from there. I had a small square piece of watercolor paper that fits into a 6 in x 6 in frame. I painted slightly larger than that and when I framed it I cropped it to fit the frame. I worked with more pigment this time so I didn't have as much of a problem with the paper not being dry. I'm happy with the way this came out.

Plein Air in Bellport - Part 1

 On Sunday the South Bay Art Association held its first Bellport Plein Air by the Bay, a paintout open to all artists. Unfortunately the day was dreary and damp, with light mist and showers. There was no rain date. 

I found a fairly covered sheltered area that had a view of some of the boats docked in the marina. I sketched out the scene and then went to do a wash of grey color for the sky...the paper absorbed every bit of the water and would not dry! If I tried adding any additional color to the paper it bled and faded. The humidity really made it super difficult to get anything to look like anything other than a faded grey. I waited and waited but the drying time was really slow. I decided to try and do the pencil lines over in ink and that worked a little better, allowing me to isolate some of the colors on the boats. I worked on this for about 2 hours before deciding that I would have to do stronger colors at home once the paper dried. So this is not officially a complete plein air painting. I punched up the color and added the reflections in the water. Since the weather was so difficult for painting all the artists were told that they could work on their paintings more at home from their photos so I am not the only one who has added to the work they did on location.

The completed artwork is going to be on display and up for sale next Saturday at Bellport Day, a big celebration in town. There will be prizes for 1st place, 2nd, 3rd and best in show.

I haven't decided on a title yet...maybe "Bellport Grey." This painting is 8 x 10.

Assorted Sketches

Here are a few quick sketches that I've done recently. The first one is of a jeep. It was red and I planned on painting it red but mistakenly used my Lamy that had water-soluble brown ink in it. Adding watercolor just wouldn't have worked so I just did it as a wash.

When I finished the jeep I noticed this white house behind it that had this wonderful light and shadow. I knew I had to capture it quickly before the light changed. I used a small piece of watercolor paper that was about ATC sized and painted directly in watercolor. Of course when I finished I wished I had done it on larger paper.lol

These leaves were done for a Wet Canvas Scavenger Hunt recently. They were done in direct watercolor.

Balloons

 I had time to join the NYC Urban Sketchers Zoom group yesterday morning. They were virtually sketching hot air balloon festivals and events. I am not brave enough to take a ride up in a hot air balloon. I don't like heights but do OK if I have a wall or a railing nearby...I'm not sure a basket would give me enough security. While looking through the images I found these cute hot air balloons that were part of the Great Reno Balloon Race.

Waterfront View

 While I was in Sayville the other day I sat in the Land's End parking lot facing back toward the shore. This house must have such great views.

Cherries

 On one of our recent rainy days I set up a still life with cherries and fabric. They were two of the items on the last Wet Canvas Scavenger Hunt.

Stylish Lucy

 Let's Art With Lefty Lucy brought some fashion to us in her great outfit! Here are some of my sketches from the night.

 The other day I was in Bayport for my physical therapy. When I was done I decided to take a ride down to the Bayport dock. I parked facing east and soon it started to drizzle. Luckily my plan was to sketch from my mobile studio anyway. The drizzle didn't last for long, but the sky had some wonderful dark grey clouds in it.

Flowers and Brick

As I roamed around Sayville the other day I came across this brick wall with flowers in front. I usually see the brick wall from the other direction but the flowers with the dark greens behind them looked so nice. This was done directly in watercolors.

Sedona Reds

On Saturday the NYC Urban Sketchers had a virtual event visiting the red rock country of Sedona, Arizona. We had visited there quite a while ago an in person and the area is so beautiful. For this painting I used several different colors of ink, my watercolors, and then added some oil pastel for texture.

 

Flowers In Front

I was in Bellport on Saturday to stop into the Frame Shop to talk to my friend, LuAnn who owns it, but I was early. Bellport is one of those towns where I can almost always find something to sketch. These flowers in front of this red building attracted my attention.

 

St. John's

 I have passed by this church in Oakdale many, many times and have always thought it would make an interesting sketch. St John's Episcopal Church was built in the 1700s and is an odd shaped building that looks very narrow on one end. I'll have to make a point of going inside sometime to see what is is like. There is an old graveyard with really old tombstones. According to the sign it is open to all, but I just sketched from my car.

Nursery

 I was looking for a location to sketch from my mobile studio yesterday and ended up at Avery Nursery in Patchogue. Unfortunately they were closed. But I was able to sit in the shade of a big tree right outside the fence and sketch anyway.

 

Let's Art With Lefty Lucy was very colorful this week. Her theme was "For the Birds" and she was wearing a lot of feathers in bright colors. I thought she looked more like a showgirl. Throughout the night all the music that was playing related to birds. Here are the poses that ranged from 5 to 20 minutes.

This was the final pose that lasted 20 minutes. She was close enough to see some of the details on the costume.

Greenhouse

 On Sunday I met my friend, Suzala for a bit of sketching at Seatuck Preserve in Islip. It was my first Plein air sketching location since the surgery...and it felt so good!

Mesa Verde

 On Saturday the NYC Urban Sketchers held their first official meeting since Covid 19 hit. The group met in Central Park. Of course I am still in no condition to travel to the city, and I don't know how long before that will be possible. Several of the members are continuing to hold the virtual events on the weekend too, so for those of us who are not joining the city group yet will still have an opportunity to sketch. This weekend Cecilia did a website for Mesa Verde. I've never visited there in person, but it was fun to see all the cliff dwellings that have been left behind. Here is my sketch. This was done in my Strathmore Toned Tan Sketchbook using an assortment of ink pens, watercolors and white gouache.

Emu

 My final painting for the 30 x 30 Direct Watercolor Challenge is of an emu that I took when I was in Australia. They are such interesting looking birds.

Crayons

 This small painting for the 30 x 30 Direct Watercolor Challenge also fit for an item in the Wet Canvas Scavenger Hunt. We were supposed to find something that represented childhood. Being a kid at heart I often pick up the crayons that restaurants give out for kids to color while waiting for their food. I will have fun sketching on the table if it is one of those that is covered with paper. I kept this little set...just in case.

Garlic

 I am finally almost at the end of the 30 x 30 Direct Watercolor Challenge. This time I did a head of garlic.

Lefty Lucy as Carmen San Diego

 This Tuesday Lefty Lucy posed in costume dressed similarly to Carmen Sandiego. Apparently in the early days she wore a yellow trenchcoat instead of a red one. 

here are some of the five and ten minute sketches.

Here is the longer 20 minute pose.

Wooded View and Sketches

Here is another direct watercolor. for the 30 x 30 Challenge.  I'm not too happy with this. I lost the light around the edges of the front bush. 

For the Wet Canvas Scavenger Hunt I sketched a pot, pan, mug and fabric...

as well as some utensils. I used a Sketch & Wash pencil for these but never added water.

Flowers by the Window and Neocolor Sketches

This painting of hollyhocks by the window was done for the 30 x 30 Watercolor Challenge from a combination of images from my photos.

The last Wet Canvas Scavenger Hunt included a bottle and a glass. I wanted to use something a little different to sketch with and ended up using a box of Caran d'Ache' Neocolors that I hadn't ever used. They are watercolor based pigments that are in stick form. They were different to use because you really couldn't focus on details. Here is my Michelobe Ultra Bottle...

and my Stella beer glass.

 

Floral Bouquet

Friends sent me some really pretty roses and lilies as a get well gift. Usually I am not good at painting arrangements when they arrive and then they are on their last legs by the time I get to them. This time I got the painting done early...done in direct watercolor for the challenge.

 

Overstuffed

 For this painting for the 30 x 30 Direct Watercolor Challenge I used a reference photo that I took at Pump Hill Farms in Australia.

4th of July

 Today's painting for the 30 x 30 Direct Watercolor Challenge is a patriotic one for the 4th of July.

Wishing those of you who are celebrating today a

HAPPY 4th of JULY!!

The Marsh

 Painted for the 30 x 30 Direct Watercolor Challenge from one of my own photos.