Sunflower Field

I have painted this view of the Suffolk County Farm many times, but have never seen sunflowers in the field...cows maybe, but not sunflowers. This view is on the exit ramp of a very busy highway here on Long Island. The ramp runs on the south side of the Long Island Expressway and there is this very roomy spot next to the marked exit ramp. I'm always expecting the highway police to come along and give me a hard time about parking there, but so far I've been lucky. It isn't like I'm anywhere near the traffic coming off. Just one side of the field had the flowers so I backed up into the corner to get this view. I always sit in my car for safety when I paint or sketch there.

30 Day Challenge - Day 10 - Farm View

My painting for Day 10 of the "30 Paintings in 30 Days" Challenge was done in gouache while I was sitting along the side of the Long Island Expressway service road near the Suffolk County Farm Museum. You can see the paintings by the other artists participating in Leslie Saeta's 39 Day Challenge if you click here.

Local Farm

The Suffolk County Farm is a spot that calls to me when I am driving along on the Long Island Expressway. As soon as I get off the exit I pull all the way over on the exit ramp and park to get this view. Some day I am sure a highway patrol car is going to come over and see why I am there. LOL But the only way to get a view of most of the buildings is to look at it from there.

This is tiny....maybe 2 x 6.

Inspired by Maggie Latham

One of the bloggers who I have followed for a long time is Maggie Latham.

http://maggielathamstudios.blogspot.com

In addition to posting her own wonderful work she often teaches on her blog. She is presently doing lessons incorporating permanent ink with other water media. She started the lessons just as I was on the road to my workshop in Myrtle Beach so I am trying to do a few of them and catch up. I don't know if I will get to all the exercises but it is fun to see what she recommends doing.

I went to the Suffolk County Farm and Environmental Center in Yaphank. My favorite all time view there is from the exit ramp on the Long Island Expressway. You can see many of the small barns across the field as well as the silos. I have painted this a few times before. For safety reasons I always do this view from my car (NY drivers are crazy.) and every time I sit there I expect a police trouper's car to come over and see why I am sitting there for so long, but I guess they are too busy chasing down speeding cars. lol

Here are the three quick sketches I did.

I did the top sketch with my dip pen, a small brush, a bottle of India ink, and my water brush. I did have visions of spilling the ink in the car, so I made sure to put a towel on my lap for protection. Then being a colorist I couldn't resist adding some alizarin and yellow ochre tones.

The second sketch was done just with the dip pen and brush and some water from the water brush.

The bottom one was done with my Lamy pen with brown ink that is not very permanent.

Thanks, Maggie for some good ideas. I'll have to try a few more of the ideas you showed. I know my Myrtle Beach sunrises and palm trees are calling out to be combined into something.

Farm and Corn Field

This is one of my favorite local scenes. It is the Suffolk County Farm from the off-ramp on the Long Island Expressway. I sat there on the shoulder to paint this 5 x 7 painting.