Usk Sketchmas Day 23 - Person Wearing Red

 The prompt for day 23 of Usk's Sketchmas is a "person wearing red." Right away I thought of Santa. So I headed to the Smith Haven Mall. I think each year they make it more difficult to see Santa from outside the actual viewing/photographing area. I had to walk around quite a bit to get even a tiny view of Santa. I guess they don't want the families to get a good view and take their own photos of their child with Santa. There were a lot of decorations and trees blocking my view but I persisted...although there was something completely blocking my view on the left .

Little Bits

 Sometimes the sketches I do aren't full scenes. Often they are items from the Scavenger Hunts on WetCanvas like these sketches.

I forgot what the item was for this sketch, but it is a decorative bottle that I use for my olive oil.

For the current hunt the item was "left" so this was the view to my left when I was seated in my "mobile studio."

This was "Santa something" for the current hunt. it was done directly in watercolor.

Santa at the Library

I was at the South Country Library in Bellport earlier this evening to do something with one of my art groups. While I was there Santa happened to be in the children's section meeting the kids. Once I finished my task there I headed inside to see what was going on. Santa was sitting there talking with the kids and asking them questions. I stood in a corner and sketched him and a few of the kids sitting on the floor in front of him. Yay...finally a Santa sighting!!! Unfortunately I had remembered my sketchbook, my pen, my watercolors and a brush...but not any water. lol So I did the ink sketch there and added watercolors when I got home.

Santa

Guess who had some Christmas shopping left to do and wanted company. My hubby always waits until right before Christmas to pick up "a few things." I told him I would go but my plan was to sketch Santa, not shop. I end up at the same mall each year, the Lake Grove Mall and I swear there is always the exact same Santa. Maybe they keep him in the back the rest of the year. Anyway, I didn't do the whole setup this year and I moved the little Christmas tree closer to his chair.

Small Business Saturday

Today I participated in an arts & crafts show in Patchogue for Small Business Saturday. It was held in the lobby of the Patchogue Theatre. Santa was there taking photos with the kids. Between customers I worked on this sketch of a bit of what was going on at the other end of the lobby.

Here is a photo of my setup at the show. I had my alcohol ink tiles and ornaments, my books, and matted paintings of various sizes as well as greeting cards. I sold some of everything and still have a lot of stock for the two day show next weekend.

Barnes & Noble's Starbucks

We had a damp, mostly dreary day so I wanted to sketch something indoors. I was rather tired of being in the same places so I went to the Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove. Right outside is a Barnes & Noble with a Starbucks inside. Most Starbucks look pretty much alike but I like that the showcase was visible here.

The funny thing was that I was using my water brush which was still filled from last Saturday with a mix of water and rubbing alcohol so it wouldn't freeze. I hadn't used the water brush on Saturday...just my jar of water. For this sketch the water/alcohol mix made the watercolor pigments behave a bit strangely... they separated a lot on the palette and the paper. I'll have to remember that in the future and not mix them. My friend put vodka in her water to keep it from freezing. lol

After I finished this I went into the mall and there in the center was Santa all set up already. That was my first Santa sighting of the season, but I didn't sketch him. They use the same setup and outfit each year. I'll have to find a new location to sketch Santa.

Santa

With trying to get ready for Christmas my art time has been rather short. I decided to sketch what was around me. This Santa figure is sitting on the edge of a shelf of my bookcase.

Merry Christmas to All

There are a few of you who are on my actual mailing list who received this card, but for all my  blogging friends I wanted to share the card that I sent this year. This is the third Santa I did with my Venice references and I think next year I'll have to come up with a new theme.lol

This painting is called, "Plein Air Santa."

 

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

Some of you have had challenges and losses this year,

so I hope that the peace of the season warms your heart,

and the love of family and friends embraces you and strengthens you.

All the best!!!



Santa Hard At Work

I decided I wanted to paint a mall Santa and I knew I needed to do it before it was too late. So I headed over to the Smith Haven Mall. There was a perfect looking Santa there (really classy) and I carefully scoped out a spot to stand where I wouldn't be in the way of any of the vendors with their carts, or get knocked into by any of the frantic shoppers. I couldn't get a direct view without being really obvious, but I found a pole I could lean against with a fairly good view.

Of course as soon as I started sketching Santa someone came and walked him away for a break. That gave me the opportunity to sketch the Santa setup while he was gone. He finally got back and I worked on him. That was the easy part but getting a child done was hard. Either the parents would be blocking my view, the child was screaming, or they didn't stay long enough. The child I did was mostly from memory because she didn't stay put very long. I think I made her a little too small, but that is one of the perils of plein air. lol

When I was almost finished Santa did come over during one of the lulls in traffic to see what I was doing...that just shows that his mind wasn't completely on the kids if he noticed me. lol

I thought about saving this for next year's Christmas card, but knowing me there will be several more opportunities before then to get something new done.

This is 5 x 7.



On Saturday my plan was to put up my Christmas tree and then if I had the energy to go out and paint a nighttime Christmas scene. So I called my friend, Susan, and asked her if she wanted to come out and play. When it was dark we went over to a Christmas tree lot nearby. Imagine our delight when we pulled up to see Santa, 2 big white horses, and a carriage. Santa was giving rides to customers but luckily for us he was not too busy and always returned to the same spot right in front of my parked car. With a bit of light from my car we were able to capture Santa in action. I sketched him while he was feeding the horses. I also did some editing and only put in one horse.

 

 

And here is my decorated tree.