Anne Watkins Workshop

If sketching at Governors Island wasn't enough, several of us were scheduled to take a workshop sponsored by the NYC Urban Sketchers with Anne Watkins starting at 6pm in Bryant Park. My friend, Suzala's husband, Rick, was a prince and had driven us into the city in the morning and spent the day with us at Governors Island. Then he drove us uptown for the workshop. The workshop was on doing fast gestures of people with watercolors. Anne works with flat brushes, something that I generally don't use. She wanted us to paint our subject in large blocks of color softening with water where the shoulder or back turned away. We used very little detail and she wanted us to use mass not line. I had a very hard time not using line, but I did my best. Here are a few that I thought were successful, although Anne thought I still used too much line. Since we didn't start until 6 it was really getting dark by the time the workshop was nearly over. We wrapped up about 7:45.

A woman in a colorful sari was sitting near a man who was on his cell phone.

My friend, Rayle was working nearby.

Paula was close by painting too.

Suzala was working on her gesture sketches.

A man on his cell phone was nearby...a good model.

Olivia was painting near the wall overlooking the park.

Here is a photo of Anne Watkins doing her demo.

All in all, it was an interesting method, but since I don't want to paint exactly like someone else, I will use some of her ideas, but I'm happy using line to show the shape too.

Governors Island Sketches

So sorry I missed posting yesterday. This one is a bit long so I hope it makes up for it.

On Saturday the NYC Urban Sketchers took the ferry from downtown Manhattan to Governors Island. This is a small island between Manhattan and Brooklyn and is car-free with an old fort, some lovely old houses, and great views back to the city. 

I did a quick ink sketch on the ferry ride which lasts all of about 7 minutes.

Our first stop was Colonel's Row where there are some wonderful houses that were once used for the military officers. This sketch and the one below were done in my Stillman & Birn Beta softcover multi-media sketchbook.

While we were on the island a Civil War Reenactment was taking place. I caught some of the "soldiers" during their break from firing the cannon.

Before leaving I had time for a quick ink sketch of the skyline.

Sketching Post Governors Island

Somehow yesterday I forgot to include the photo of me that Mark took during our "show and tell." We always share our sketches at the end of the day, since so many of us are sketching different subjects.

We left Governors Island as a group last Saturday, getting back to the mainland about 4. Everyone else scurried off to their lives but I figured I'm in the city so I might as well do one more sketch. I wanted to sketch the Battery Maritime Building which is where the ferry to Governors Island departs from. I like the design and details to the building. Of course the best view would be across the street...but that meant across 2 sections of roadway and a wall...I was sure that I wouldn't be able to see anything if I sat down. Instead I sat off to the right between the Staten Island Ferry Building and the Maritime Building as close to the street as possible. It was like sitting in a wind tunnel. lol I really had to hold onto everything. This view came with a bit of construction and a fun ice cream truck too.

I headed up to Penn Station only to find out I had just missed the train to Ronkonkoma. So I made use of my time sketching some of the commuters inside the station.

On the LIRR coming home I was able to sketch a few of the passengers. This lady I could see between the seat backs in front of me.

This man was on the opposite side of the train where there are seats facing each way. His little girl was fast asleep in his lap. I ran out of paper to fit her completely.

Sketching Governors Island

I was so glad the NYC Urban Sketchers made a return trip to Governors Island this year. It is such a beautiful, relaxing spot with such great views and since no cars are allowed it is a perfect spot for bikes and scooters. It is a seasonal park and just reopened the weekend before we visited. I started sketching on the ferry...and this model didn't seem to mind...although he did get up and walk around for a few minutes before he sat back down.

Once we got to the island we picked a spot to meet for lunch and a few of us headed to the side that has views of the city. I sat in the shade to sketch the skyline across the water.

This house was a particular favorite among our group. I think we all sketched it. It was near Nolan Park and was where the military officers lived when the island was a military base. Now the buildings are mostly used for exhibits.

We had a pleasant surprise when Lance and his wife, Elizabeth arrived and brought along two future sketchers, their adorable twins who were born in December. It was great to see their family but I double that Lance gets much sketching time since his hands are full.

Jim catching up with Lance and Emma.

Of course Mark sat down and sketched Elizabeth and Etienne.

Mark sketching Elizabeth and Etienne.

The other side of the island has great views of several of the bridges. Isn't that a nice spot for a picnic?

Governors Island - Part II

This is a continuation of my sketching day on Governors Island begun below.

Fete Paradiso was taking place all summer on Governors Island. Vintage French carousels, rides, and games from the late 19th & early 20th century had been brought over and set up for the public. We had lunch from a stand selling French food and ate on a pavillion built from a former French bumper car ride. While eating we were entertained by a French chanteuse singing French songs. What a mood that provided! During lunch some of the sketchers continued to draw
...mostly each other and people sitting near us.

I did a woman at another table with her cell phone in hand.

When we finished lunch a few people left but a few of us remained to begin sketching the amusements.

I began with the Bouffe Balle Game in which the player tosses balls in the mouths of the characters.

I know that the characters in the game included Charlie Chaplain and Josephine Baker, but I don't know the others. Maybe you can tell from the actual photo.

I also sketched a carousel horse that wasn't part of a working carousel.

Here is an actual photo of the horse.

I moved over to sketch a carousel with some unusual animals. This one was working.

By this time it was nearly 5:30 and we were tired and hot. The humidity was getting to us. We decided to head over near the ferry and see if we could get something cold to drink. What we found was Water Taxi Beach which had a bar, food, sand, palm trees, and a wonderful view of the city.

We got cold drinks and sat at a picnic table to sketch the view. A couple was sitting under the palm tree posing for us. You can see a view of the Brooklyn Bridge on the right of my sketch.

The last ferry departs from Governors Island at 7, so we decided to take the 6:30 ferry back hoping it wouldn't be as crowded. We did have to stand on line for a bit, but got seats for the return trip.

I have to say that by the time we got home (about 8pm) we were exhausted! It was a long day out in the heat and we were carting our supplies all over the island. Was it worth it? Definitely!!!

Governors Island - Part I

Yesterday the NYC Urban Sketchers went to Governors Island which is a 172 acre island in the heart of New York Harbor. It originally was a military base - home to the US Army and later to the Coast Guard. Now it is being renovated and is overseen by the National Park Service.

There is a free (Yes, FREE!) ferry from downtown NYC.  My friend, Susan, and I took the 10am ferry for the short ride over to the island. We were early enough to do a sketch from the inside of the terminal looking out. When we put away our sketching material a woman behind us asked if we were part of the  Urban Sketchers. She was too and this was the first time she was joining the group.

Here is the sketch I did of the inside of the ferry terminal.

The ride over took only a few minutes. I worked on finishing my sketch but Susan and Allison were busy chatting and sharing information about sketching and life.

We found a spot with good views of the city and started sketching.

Several other sketchers came over on the 11:00 ferry from Manhattan and the other ferry from Brooklyn. We had a total of 8 people participating this week.

I decided to do some small sketches of what I saw.

Bike riding is a big thing on Governors Island. You can bring your own bikes or rent them there. Someone parked their bike nearby and that was my next sketch.

There were solo bikers,

and groups biking together.

While I was sketching the other members of the group were busy too.

Here are Mark and Allison,

Brian and Susan,

and some of the other sketchers.

While we were in that location I sketched Lady Liberty

and the Staten Island Ferry.

Along the fence were some life preservers just in case.

There are still a number of sketches that I will post tomorrow in Part II.