I like finding marine related buildings like this one in Islip. It is fun to sketch the vehicles and details.
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Sunday, March 15, 2026
Islip Lake with Snow
The snow had collected over by the small lake in Islip. I like this spot that has the lake in the background and a small creek in front...sometimes even a small waterfall. The snow added some nice character to the landscapes.
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Mobile Home Park
I've sketched this location before. It is a quaint mobile home park. I sketched it from across the canal while I was parked in the lot for White Cap Seafood. I would love to sketch some of the other mobile homes but aside from sitting right in front of them, there is no view from a distance.
Monday, July 28, 2025
Rocky Waterfall
Brookwood Hall and Park in Islip was the meeting point for the Patchogue Sketch Club last week. There is a lake, a ball field, a garden, and Wednesday night there was also a concert. We hadn't sketched there before so there was no set location in the park to meet. I wandered around and found a serenity garden which had a rocky waterfall. It was peaceful and surprisingly enough a few other sketchers found me. It was fun to play with the rocks and foliage.
Thursday, June 5, 2025
The Bayside Clam Bar & Grill
It was damp and chilly but that didn't stop me from sketching from my mobile studio at the beach in Islip. The Bayside Clam Bar & Grill wasn't open when I was there, but I'm sure it is now open for the season.
Monday, May 26, 2025
Key West Beach Cafe
I was looking for a new location to sketch the other day and drove down to one of the town beaches in Islip. I was happy to find this "Key West" cafe setting up for the season. I think they may have music too once the season starts. They were already serving food which surprised me. I will have to go back.
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
White Cap Fish Market and Restaurant
Recently I drove over to the White Cap Fish Market and Restaurant in Islip. I like the buildings and the semi-nautical vibe of the buildings along the canal. The restaurant was doing a fair business as I sketched. I'll have to try to sketch it in the summer when the outdoor deck is filled with diners.
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Islip Buoys
Riding around in Islip I found this house with a lot of lobster buoys along one of the canals. It reminded me of the houses in Maine. They were prepared with a few boats too.
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Islip View
What can be more fun than sitting and sketching the view in front of you? I sat in my mobile studio and started on the right side of the page sketching down to the building with the clock on it. Then I sketched coming back up the left side of the page. Of course I had to include a few cars in this sketch of Islip...both closeups and a few in the distance. Add a few signs and wires and the sketch is complete.
Monday, December 9, 2024
Monday, July 1, 2024
30x30 Direct Watercolor #31 - Islip Farmers Market
I was still in a direct watercolor mood and did that method at the Islip Farmers Market the other day.
Thursday, March 21, 2024
Beach Grasses
I don't get tired of sketching beach grasses. This was done over the weekend at Captree State Park in Islip.
Sunday, February 25, 2024
Islip Charm
Sometimes I just drive around in areas that have older houses like this one in Islip. I find that they have a lot of character.
Thursday, February 15, 2024
Seatuck
We had a semi-mild day last week and I took a ride to Seatuck Nationlal Wildlife Refuge in Islip. I was able to sit outside for a while to sketch which has been a rare thing lately. The breeze picked up and I got cold, so I completed the rest of this from the car.
Monday, December 18, 2023
Usk Sketchmas Day 17 - Street Corner
The day 17 prompt was a "street corner." It was cold out and most spots that I liked I couldn't sit inside my car to sketch. I found this shop on a corner in Islip. I loved the blow-up soldier standing by the steps outside.
Saturday, September 2, 2023
Lobster Traps
The other day I drove over to White Cap Fish Market in Islip to see if there was something there to sketch. Right across the water there were some colorful lobster traps...or I think that's what they were. Most of them were a reddish-orange but there were a few yellow ones and green ones that snuck in. I wonder if the place sells lobster to the public. Hmmm......
Thursday, May 11, 2023
Clouds over the Bay
Sometimes the clouds are what attracts me to paint something. I saw the sky and knew I had to find an open area to see far in the distance. Although Hecksher State Park is on the Great South Bay in Islip, you could see all the way down to the Captree Bridge in the distance.
Sunday, April 16, 2023
Kups Krazy Dogs
While riding along Main Street in Islip recently this food truck caught my eye and I turned around to see if I could get a good sketching view of it. How could I not be excited by that color and fun sign? I sketched and then moved on...no tasting of the dogs was done.
Sunday, March 5, 2023
Birds Watching
Birds have such great balance. I don't know if I would be happy sitting up there, but it gives them a good vantage point. If they see something that looks like food they're off! This was sketched at a small beach on the bay in Islip.
Wednesday, November 23, 2022
Islip Town View
This building was along Main Street in Islip. I think it is an insurance company. I liked the location for a quick watercolor.



















