Red Hook Part 2

 After viewing the Red Hook Artist Coalition's exhibit I came back outside and sat in front of one of the warehouses. It seems like some of them have been renovated and turned into businesses. I was overlooking an old trolley and this huge warehouse facing me had shutters on all of it's windows...and there were an amazing number of them. I got bored and stopped doing all the windows and shutters and left it this way.

Between the two warehouses on my side was a very interesting industrial view...with the Ikea sign as part of it. I had fun doing this view in direct watercolor.

Red Hook Part 1

 On Saturday the NYC Urban Sketchers met in Red Hook, Brooklyn to sketch. I started with a sketch of the Red Hook Yacht Club. It was closed which gave me a view of the doorway with the symbol of Red Hook and a version of the American flag. 

We had sketched in this location back in 2013 and I sketched this same building. At the time it was open and the older gentlemen who were members of the social club invited us in to see the unusual things that were inside. They also brought us olive bread and Italian bread. This time it was quiet with none of the members around. My sketches from that visit in 2013 are here.

Part of the reason for our visit to Red Hook was that it would coincide with the reception for a gallery show going on in which included several of our active members. The exhibit at the Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition included over 100 artists' works all related to the theme of Art of Coney Island. My friend, Shawne Cooper had 6 of her sketches in the exhibition. Here she is with some of her pieces behind her. The gallery building itself was a former Red Hook warehouse which is a treasure and a wonderful place for an exhibit.

The Mary A. Whalen

Down along the docks in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn is a wonderful, historic boat. The Mary A. Whalen is a coastal oil tanker that is the last of her kind. This year she is celebrating her 81st birthday. The NYC Urban Sketchers visited her on Sunday. She has been repurposed for public culture and education and is owned and operated by PortSide New York. For the morning we were given private access to sketch where we wanted inside or out. Later the ship was open to all visitors.
#portsidenewyork

 I started out on the portside deck where our host Caroline, had a table set up for visitors to sketch or paint, complete with clipboards, paper, paints, and colored pencils. I used my own supplies.

Next I went into the galley to sketch. The staff loved that we enjoyed sketching their messy area, but we told them that sketchers love that. I don't think the galley has been modernized much in her 81 years. The stove is amazing and runs on diesel fuel (which does have an odor that I wasn't crazy about) and it has no traditional burners. The staff still uses it and does cook on it and bakes things in the oven. This sketch was done directly in ink...no pencil...and then the color was added.

I had lunch with some of the other sketchers on the portside deck and then went looking for a view that showed more of the ship. I went down along the dock and found a front view of the ship.

My view was looking through a fence, but it was a good view.

Around 3:00 we had our "show & tell" back on the deck. By that time they had put up a canopy for shade from the sun. One of our members, Louis, always takes photos of everyone with one of their sketches so here I am.

Because it was Mary Whalen's birthday, our host, Caroline brought out two big cakes to celebrate with us and the other public that was visiting.

Red Hook, Brooklyn

Today the NYC Urban Sketchers met in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Some members took the ferry from Manhattan, but Susan and I drove instead. This was my first trip to Red Hook and it is quite an unusual place. Our first stop to sketch was at the Fairway Market, the first stop for the ferry. Out back they have tables and food stands. We sat in the partial shade of an umbrella.

I also sketched one of the windows on the upper floor of Fairway Market.

Next we headed to the Red Hook Yacht Club, which is sort of a men's club in this crazy building filled with all kinds of things from the 60s. The men inside were quite the characters, and so nice to us.

Here is an actual photo of the place from the outside...

and the inside. Don't you love that car?

Here are Mike and Melanie sketching.

And Mark sketching.

The it was off to the Brooklyn Crab for lunch. I sketched a few of the patrons.

After lunch we headed down the street to continue sketching the views.

Here's the real thing. Isn't the Statue of Liberty great?