Lamppost & Tree Bark

 These sketches fit items on the current Creative Spark Scavenger Hunt. It included a lamppost. Right now it is difficult to find a lamppost in any of the local towns that doesn't have some kind of decoration.

Another item was tree bark. I was near the Bayard Cutting Arboretum so I scooted in. Where else would it be easy to find an interesting tree? Both of the sketches here were done from the warmth of my mobile studio...it has been really windy and cold here lately.

Usk Sketchmas Day 1

Urban Sketchers has come up with a fun list of prompts to keep the members active leading up to Christmas. They posted a calendar of the "24 Days of Sketchmas" with a prompt for every day leading up to Christmas Eve. You know I enjoy things that challenge me. The day 1 prompt is a market stall. This was in front of the South Shore Farm Stand in Oakdale. The previous farm stand closed after Covid so I was surprised the other day when I passed by and it was open under a new name and decorated for the holiday. I sat in my mobile studio to sketch since it was drizzling a bit. They have some foods and local products, so I will definitely have to go back and check out what they have. #usksketchmas

Just in case you are interested in participating here is the calendar of prompts.

Advent Wreath & Nativity

 At the beginning of the week I was trying to come up with something different to sketch related to Christmas so I decided to go over to our parish church. The church is always nicely decorated and I focused on this advent wreath for my sketch.

When I turned around to leave I noticed that there was something unusual in the room behind the main part of the church. This area is soundproof and used as a "baby area" during Mass. I decided to investigate and found that there was a huge, wonderful Neopolitan Nativity set up in that room. Apparently it belongs to one of the priests of the parish and with about a dozen volunteers they set up this Nativity for the congregation to enjoy. It takes up the entire length of one wall of this room and is probably about 2 1/2 yards deep. Every inch of it is covered with figurines and buildings relating to the story of Christmas. There are running water features and lights and clouds with cherubs hanging from the ceiling. Father Jerry has been collecting these pieces since he was 8 years old and has set them up in the parishes he has been assigned to during his priesthood. The entire thing was just so incredibly amazing! Here is a small video of part of it that barely does justice to what is there. It shows about 2 feet of something that is about 30 feet in length. I have a longer video but blogger won't allow something that long.

Patchogue Porch

Some days I just ride around until something inspires me, like this porch in Patchogue. Who could resist those soldiers and all that trim?

Festive Harbor Crab

I went out looking for something decorated for the holidays. Harbor Crab in Patchogue had their palm trees decorated as well as the front entrance. Looks like they are having special packages for the holidays.

 

Bellport Gazebo

Bellport had their tree lighting the other day but I missed it. Instead I was able to get over and sketch the festively decorated gazebo during the week. 

Christmas in the Air

Tuesday was the last day for the year that my plein air group, PALS, met to paint. Our last location is always the Bayport Flower House. By this time of year it is usually too cold to be outside painting (unless you are in a mobile studio) so we happily paint the decorations inside. There is an entire large greenhouse filled with nothing but poinsettias in all different colors. There are so many choices for paintings. This year I selected this Christmas milk can filled with ferns, pinecones and big bells. Several of my paintings done here have been used for my annual Christmas card. Our last day there always fills us with the holiday spirit and spurs us on to get ready for our annual exhibit and sale.

 

Three Gnomes

 Last Wednesday the Patchogue Sketch Club met at the library. Our theme for the night was Christmas/Holiday related items. I recently bought three small gnomes after painting larger ones at the Bayport Flower House. The little ones were my models for the night.

Red Truck

 I saw this red truck parked on someone's lawn in Sayville and knew I wanted to sketch it. The problem was that every time I passed by the truck was in shadow and it was impossible to see any of the details of the truck. Afternoons are usually the best time for me to get out and sketch but it wasn't going to work for this truck. So I organized my morning so I was out by 10:30 and the sun was shining on the truck. By noon the shadows were creeping over the truck again, so I was happy I had timed it so well.

Port Jeff for the Holidays

Last week I took a ride up to Port Jefferson to see what I could find that was sketch worthy. Really it is more like where can I park that has a decent view. I was lucky enough to get a fairly good spot on this curvy street that goes down toward the harbor.  Thee were cars parked right in front of me but due to the curve of the street they  didn't block much. I liked that the overhead decorations spanned the street.

I have a holiday art show this weekend with my plein air group. I believe we have about 85 paintings this year. We missed doing it last year due to Covid. I've been working hard to select paintings to hang (6 pieces) as well as assorted sized matted pieces and cards that will also be for sale. It is always a fun event and I really enjoy having friends come to the show. Even if they don't buy anything they get to view some of the work that I've done this year. Wish you were all close enough to stop by.

The City

Yesterday I went into Manhattan to meet friends and see the Christmas decorations. The two friends I met are not sketchers so I needed to sneak in some sketching before I met them. I took the Long Island Railroad into the city, so that gave me the opportunity to sketch people on the train. So this sketch will be added to the ones I have for the project for the military unit.

I also went into the city earlier than we were meeting so that I would have about 40 minutes to sketch before they arrived. We were meeting in Bryant Park on 42nd St to shop at the Holiday Market. Bryant Park also has a great free skating rink in the winter. It was a mild day so I found a seat near the rink and sketched until they called and said they were at the park. The rest of the sketch I finished this morning. This will also be for the project. I will have to fix this because the man only seems to have one leg...and I'm sure he had two. lol

We took a photo in front of the tree in Bryant Park but it hadn't been lit yet for the season.

From there we went up to Rockefeller Center. We had to take our annual photo in front of the Christmas tree.

We sort of blocked most of the tree in our selfie, so here is a better view of it.

Catching Up

I am a bit behind posting, and already on Day 3 for the Doodlewash Challenge I have nothing new to post. I guess I just don't work well with prompts. 

This first sketch was done last Wednesday evening with my sketch group. We did Christmas decorations again so we would have more sketches for the showcase where we are going to display our work for the month of December.

This sketch was done in Yaphank. I don't know if it is just a shack or if it is lived in, but I thought it was kind of cute. I like run-down buildings that need TLC. lol

Just Believe

On Wednesday our sketch group met at the library. This time we brought along some greenery, Christmas plants, decorations and treats. I sketched a bit of everything.

Christmas Characters

The last week or so has been crazy busy with Christmas things, shows, and gatherings. I haven't sketched as often as I should and the other night I just had to do a sketch. I pulled a few of my favorite Christmas characters off their spots on the bookcase and they posed for me. The mouse even sang a few toons.

Celebrating in NYC

Last Thursday was my birthday and my husband and I spent it in NYC. We got into the city about noon. He went off to do a few things and I went off to sketch. The plan was to meet for an early dinner at this Italian restaurant, Carmines, that I love, go out for drinks, and then we had tickets to see the Broadway show, "Beautiful."

I have always loved these red ornaments that are on the street diagonally across from Radio City Music Hall. I sat on my stool and by the time I finished I was frozen.

I decided to head to St Patrick's Cathedral on 5th Avenue to warm up. It is a beautiful church and I love to walk around there. On my way to my favorite chapel in the back of the church I passed the Nativity set. All the statues seemed like a bit much so I kept walking but when I got to the side I noticed that the camel could be done on its own. I liked that I could also incorporate some people looking at the Nativity and the lady lighting the candle.

I have to say that I turned out to be a wonderful birthday with many of the things I love, as well as the person I love.

Lights in Bay Shore

I was riding around Bay Shore the other day and noticed this guy on a ladder. He was stringing lights on the town Christmas tree. The guy with the long stick had the lights attached to it and he kept walking them around the tree. It looks like a handy gadget. I had to find a spot to park and sketch this. I think some of the towns have been taking advantage of the mild temperatures for this time of year and getting the holiday decorations done early. I like Christmas, but we seem to start getting ready for it earlier each year.

Art Deco and Rockefeller Center

On Saturday my friend, Susan and I headed into Manhattan on the subway. There are always some models if the train isn't too crowded. The woman on the left got off at the first stop (the nerve of her) so I moved on to sketch the second woman.

This woman was directly across from me. She alternated between being half asleep with her head all the way back, looking straight ahead, or putting on makeup.

The NYC Urban Sketchers had planned a day at Rockefeller Center to sketch the art deco in the buildings, decorations, etc. But we got there and the Christmas tree was standing up behind the skating rink and the workmen were putting scaffolding around the tree so that it could be decorated. We just HAD to do a sketch of that! Now you may be thinking to yourself...this is just the start of November...but this tree is BIG and it takes an extremely long time to put all the lights on it. When you see it finally lit ( the lighting is on Dec 3) you will see what I mean. I still don't understand how they keep the tree from now until the beginning of January without it losing it's needles. When we had fresh Christmas trees as a kid the needles started falling off the tree as we were bringing it home. lol

I found a spot in the middle of the promenade that leads from 5th Avenue all the way to the skating rink. There were art deco designs over the doorway, but I was interested in sketching the workers who were planting the tall trees that would be decorated and will stand in the middle of all the lit angels that will also be put up. By this time I was starting to get cold. My body was warm enough in my down jacket, but my feet and hands were cold. I did have fingerless (and regular) gloves that helped my hands but I couldn't do anything about my feet.

Then I walked down 49th Street a half a block and sketched the NBC Studio marquis. It had some art deco elements too. Then it was time for lunch...and we were able to warm up indoors. Yay!!!

After lunch I sat on 5th Avenue right in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral facing across 5th Ave where  the bronze Atlas is supporting on his shoulders, not the earth, but a representation of the heavens (or so says the brochure about Rockefeller Center). This is the largest sculpture in the Center...he stands 15 feet tall on a 9 foot high pedestal. I happen to have worked in this building when I was in college and passed this statue just about every day.

Since it now gets dark so early we headed indoors to share our sketches with the other members before most of them headed home. A few of us hung out a bit longer at a local restaurant bar, but only Mark sketched there. It was a good day...but a bit too cold to be sitting around. lol

Decorating

Well the painting from yesterday was loved by Heike and her staff! They were all fighting over where to put it in the salon and who would get to see it all the time in the shop. lol I told Heike about painting in the rain and how I saw her pull up and block my view for a few minutes. She thought that was so funny.

 

Yesterday I drove into Sayville and saw this guy on a ladder painting Christmas decorations on the outside windows of the Sayville Modern Diner. I wonder what kind of paint they use that stays on the outside windows in all kinds of weather...definitely not watercolors. lol



Christmas Decorations

The Patchogue Sketch Club met at Queen City Cupcakes for a sketching session last night. Carol, the owner, not only serves coffee and cupcakes, but she has an assortment of unusual home decor items all over the store. It is always fun to find something there to sketch. This is the top of one of her display shelves. It definitely caught my eye!



A Trip to Manhattan

Yesterday I was meeting two friends in Manhattan to see the Christmas decorations. I took the LIRR (Long Island Railroad) into the city. The ride takes about 1 hr 15 min so I had a bit of time to sketch one of the commuters.

 

Once I got into the city I had about an hour before I was meeting my friends so I walked as quickly as I could from Penn Station on 33rd Street up to 48th St and Sixth Ave where these huge red balls caught my eye. So I found a spot and sat and sketched.

 

By the time I was nearly done my friends had arrived and the rest of the day was spent walking around Manhattan, especially the shops in Bryant Park and the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center. Here are a few photos from my day.

The skaters in Bryant Park.

The tree in Bryant Park.

Decorations along Sixth Avenue.

 

 

The angels in Rockefeller Center.

 

And the Rockefeller Center tree.