Inktober 2022 - Day 27 - Unicorn Scarecrow & Autumn Colors

 One of the fun things about Bellport in October is that they decorate Main Street with all sorts of scarecrows for Halloween. Then the public votes on them. Somehow I haven't been in the town yet this year to see and sketch the scarecrows. Usually I sketch a few of them. So today since I was in the town anyway to go to the frame shop, I stopped to sketch the unicorn scarecrow for Inktober. This one is named Hairy Unicorn. I was going to take this photo of it in black and white and then add color (since she was so cute in pink) but it was so windy I couldn't sit there any longer.

When I finished I sat in my car looking out at autumn's colors and painted this.

Inktober Day 7 - Bellport Scarecrow

For the last few years I have enjoyed being able to sketch some of the scarecrows hanging on the trees and lamp posts in Bellport. When I passed through the town yesterday they were being put up, so today I headed back there for my Inktober Day 7 sketch. Each scarecrow is decorated differently and a contest is held to see which is the popular favorite. Today I sketched Scarecrow #3, "The Ghost of Bob Ross." I used my Elegant Writer Pen, my Lamy Safari pen, an orange micron pen, and some colored fountain pens from Zebra. I am sure I will get to sketch a few more this month.

#inktober

#inktober2019

Inktober 2018 - Day 14 & 10 x 10 Workshop

For today's Inktober 2018's Day 14 sketch I went to Bellport. Like in the years past the town has decorated lamp posts and telephone poles with creative scarecrows with pumpkin heads. There is always a vote for your favorite scarecrow. The one I selected this time is Scarecrow #2 titled "Charlotte Mistress of the Night." I was attracted to her gown and the black long gloves...very high society. lol
#inktober #inktober2018

As I promised yesterday here is a bit about the NYC Urban Sketchers 10 x 10 workshop with Laura Rosen titled "Adding Atmosphere and Form with Color." It was a great workshop but the weather really didn't cooperate. Laura had us meet her at Riverside Park South at 68th Street and the Hudson River. The morning stared with rain so by the time everyone arrived they were wet and it was chilly and windy. Laura did a demo under the umbrellas at the outdoor cafe there but the rain was falling between the umbrellas and the wind was blowing it over to where we were working. We moved from there to a covered roadway that runs along the park. She showed us some prepared examples of how the colors in the sky transition from almost an ultramarine at the top slowly changing to cerulean as you go down and then to a light area with a tint of blue, yellow ochre, and a touch of alizarin. She also showed how warm and cool colors can help to give something form.

The rain finally stopped so we joined her out on the pier looking upriver toward the George Washington Bridge. She did a demo showing us how she layers cool and warm colors as she goes back into the scene to provide depth and atmospheric perspective. Laura uses an orange micron pen to sketch. She likes the warmth it adds to the sketches and it neutralizes with the cool colors. Here are a few photos from the demo.

Laura demonstrating her technique.

Laura adding color to the painting.

Laura's nearly finished painting.

It was hard to paint in the conditions we had because it was so damp that the paint wouldn't dry on the very damp paper. We moved back by the cafe for a wrap-up. It was a little warmer there because there was a lot less wind. Except for myself and one other sketcher everyone else opted to go leave and not paint because they were too uncomfortable. I knew I wasn't leaving without painting. So Ron and I went back on the dock. We went near some kind of storage shelter that blocked a little of the wind...enough that I was able to sketch without my fingerless gloves. lol Laura came out to check on us but she was shivering from being wet and cold. We told her she should go home and we would stay as long as we could. We were comfortable and the sun actually came out for about 2 minutes. Both of us were able to do two paintings each, one facing the bridge and one facing south. With the dampness it was hard to get dark colors without layers, but I was happy with my two paintings. I did end up adding a few darks at home to make the sailboats stand out a little more.

Around 2:00 Ron and I decided to call it a day and went to get some lunch. I think it was a productive day and a helpful workshop.

Inktober Day 30 - Sayville Park & Scarecrow

Today I went into Sayville and sketched the entrance to the small park that is by the beach there. I like the one stone pillar and the fence. I've sketched it before but not with my twig and Chinese ink.

#inktober #inktober2017

I did another of Bellport's scarecrows. I didn't count this one for Inktober. I think she was a fairy.

Inktober Day 18 - Scarecrow & People Sketches

I stopped in Bellport for a quick Inktober sketch of another scarecrow this afternoon. This is "Mylar Mermaid" and her tail seems to be made from pieces of mylar in colors and prints.

#inktober #inktober2017

The NYC Urban Sketchers almost always go to a bar or restaurant at the end of our sketching day to have something to eat, drink or just to share our work. There is always a "show and tell." The place that was selected for Sunday's gathering was Greewood Park. It was an unusual place since it is a former gas station that now houses a 13,000 sq ft indoor/outdoor pub with food, games, and a fireplace. 

Steve and Marie sketching.

Susan and Nobuko.

Here is one photo that Ruth took of some of the sketchers.

Inktober Day 16 - Scarecrow & Green-Wood Cemetery Part II

Today was a damp day so I didn't want to sit outside and sketch. I figured that if I went back to Bellport I could find a parking spot near one of the scarecrows and sketch from my car. Moday is a fairly quiet day in Bellport. I picked "Farmer Joann" or did she pick me? LOL I didn't realize her name until I got out of the car to check. I used my Elegant Writer pen and Lamy with waterproof ink for this. #inktober #inktober2017

Yesterday was a busy day at Green-Wood Cemetery. I spied another angel to sketch. In fact, I could have spent several days there sketching angels. If you haven't heard of this cemetery here is a bit of information about it. It is a National Historic Landmark and was founded in 1838. By 1860 it was attracting 500,000 visitors a year. Today people enjoy the 478 acres of hills, valleys, ponds and paths. It has one of the largest outdoor collecting of 19th and 20th century statuary and mausoleums. Since it is so popular trolley tours are given to take you around this huge place.

Inktober - Day 12 - Scarecrow

At this time of year I love going to Bellport to see all the scarecrow decorations they have. Most of the lampposts and trees along Main St and Bellport Lane have a scarecrow hanging. You can vote on your favorite. I checked out a few of them and picked "Skippy the Hippy" for my Inktober Day 12. Why did I select him? It was windy out and he was in front of a restaurant called Porters on Bellport Lane that offered a wall to block the wind and a cushioned ledge to sit while I sketched.

#inktober #inktober2017

As with most of the Inktober sketches I have the urge to add color, so after I photographed Skippy, I pulled out my watercolors. With all the patterns in Skippy's clothing I had to add the color.

#inktober, #inktober2015 - Day 22 & Pumpkin Field

I cheated a bit with this Inktober sketch because I did it last night. My sketch group met indoors at a studio and we set up an October still life to sketch. I did the still life and then did an ink sketch of some of the other sketchers at work.

This painting was done at the beginning of this week...and it was cold out. I just barely finished the painting before I would have quit and went in to the car. lol I did like this field full of pumpkins and that fun scarecrow. It is such a fun time to ride around and find spots like this.

#inktober, #inktober2015 - Day 19 & Scarecrow #2

I was driving around in the Stony Brook/Setauket area today and decided to sketch this building with the marsh grasses behind it in the harbor as my Inktober Day 19.

I couldn't resist doing another scarecrow when I was in Bellport the other day. I may have to go back and do a few more.

Bellport Scarecrow

Right now the town of Bellport is decorated with scarecrows. They were designed by students and they are on most of the available telephone/electric poles and trees in the downtown area. They really look so cute and festive. I sketched one and hope to go back and do another soon. This is Gabby the Witch.