Blizzard of 2022

 Since everyone knows the snowstorm was headed for the east coast I thought I would jump ahead with this post. The snow started right before I went to bed last night and right now (4pm) it seems to be finally winding down. Due to the snowfall and winds it was declared a blizzard. It is so hard to tell how much snow there actually was since the wind caused such drifts. I figure there is at least a foot and a half of snow. I had a lot of art activities to keep me busy indoors today including this sketch out my living room window that I just finished a little while ago.

Here are some photos I took at about 8 am this morning. It snowed continuously since then.

Snow in the Parking Lot

 I spent most of the day inside yesterday keeping warm. I really wanted to sketch the snow again so I checked the view from my garage...not bad but it was too cold to stand there (even inside) and sketch. So I got into my car, backed out of the garage, turned the ship around, parked in front of my garage, and sketched the view across the parking lot. Luckily I sketch pretty quickly because I didn't have my fingerless gloves on and the car wasn't running so my hands were cold.

First Snow Painting of 2022

Overnight into this morning we had our first significant snowfall. I think that here in Holbrook we got about 5-6 inches. It is always hard to tell. Although they had predicted a little more we lucked out. But it is very cold and what moisture remains on the roads will definitely turn to black ice by morning.

I decided I didn't need to be anywhere except home, so I pulled up the blinds in my living room and squashed myself between the window and sat on the edge of one of my end tables. If the Christmas tree wasn't up I could have sat on the other end table which has more room because the air conditioner isn't on that side. I used my sketch and wash pencil and a chocolate Derwent watercolor pencil to sketch out the scene. Then I went back in with watercolors and a bit more of the chocolate pencil.

I'm glad I sketched this when I did because about 2 hours later the wind had knocked most of the snow off the trees. 

Local Snow Scenes

While I was gone NY had a bit of snow. Our first storm dumped about 10 inches in my area. Luckily I don't have to go anywhere, so if I sit tight things get plowed and I can get out easily. This first sketch was done the morning after the snow started. We had about 24 hours where it kept snowing, sometimes very lightly but that was after we had a lot of snow.

 This was done from my living room window. The path had been plowed and due to some cutting back of the foliage in the fall you can actually see the houses beyond the fence.

This sketch was done down by the Sayville Grange just a few minutes from me. Some nice lady and her dog came walking into view while I was sketching which was a bonus.

 

Trees in the Snow

Our snow from the storm didn't last very long. Although we had an accumulation of about 6-8 inches it started disappearing once it got warmer, and then it rained. I caught one last sketch between the warmer weather and the rain when there were still pocket os snow on the ground. This was done in my beige toned Strathmore sketchbook.

 

Fresh Snow

Luckily the snowstorm wasn't as bad as predicted right here. Our temperatures were a little warmer down on the south shore of Long Island, and the snow changed to rain and sleet for a while through the night before changing back to snow. We got a few inches but it was wet and messy. I didn't need to go out at all so I stayed home and sketched the view out the living room window. This was done with watercolors and white gouache in my toned tan Strathmore sketchbook. 

After the Snow

Yesterday we had a very early snowstorm that made a mess of roads and commutes for many people in the tri-state area. Nobody expected it to hit as hard as it did. It took some people 6 hrs to do a ride home that usually takes less than one. Luckily I was home and didn't have to go anywhere. It was pretty when it was coming down if you were inside...or peeking outside like me.

I guess I was a little too late when I went out this morning because there was barely any snow anywhere. It had fallen off all the trees and the only place there was snow was in small piles on the ground. I looked for a spot to sit and paint and surprisingly enough there was still some autumn color that wasn't killed by the snowstorm. This was done by the Islip Grange in Sayville.

Fresh Snow

On Monday we had another snowstorm. We had a total of about 4 inches here and it looked really pretty. I rushed out to paint it before the snow fell off the trees. I sat in my car in a parking lot to paint this scene and by the time I finished the snow had almost all fallen off. It was warm enough that the snow didn't last long on the streets.

Snowy Woods

Yes, we had another small snowstorm last week. Not a huge amount but a few inches that looked pretty on the ground between the trees. This was done at a local park using gouache which seems to be my "go to" for snow scenes lately.  Today we are expecting more snow...predictions say between 8-12 inches later today. That's a bit more than we need. lol I will give you an update tomorrow.

I had paintings at an exhibit about 2 1/2 hrs from me that were supposed to be picked up today. Luckily because of the forecast they allowed us to come up and pick them up a day early if we were free. I was picking up my work and the work of 5 other people, so my husband came up to Middletown with my yesterday to help carry the 10 paintings from the gallery to the car. Considering we hit rush hour traffic for part of the ride home, we were only in the car for 5 1/2 hours. It could have been much worse. 

Snow from the Window

On the day after our snowstorm I was still in the house waiting for all the roads, paths, and the snow by my garage door to be plowed.  I moved to the bedroom window to paint. Like I've said before the views out all my windows is pretty much the same. The arrangement of trees is just a little different. The bushes in the foreground are right up to my windows. I used artistic license this time and removed the fence. This was done with gouache.

Snowy View

Before the party we were hit with a BIG snowstorm here on the east coast last week. There was snow from Florida up to Maine. Here we had about 14 inches...hard to tell because of all the snowdrifts.  It came down in blizzard conditions with frigid temperatures and strong winds. Once it started snowing I stayed in for the day, which turned out to be a smart move. I wanted to do a snow painting so I pulled up the blinds and sat myself on an end table facing out of the living room. All our windows are on the same side of the building and face a similar view. That is the only bad thing about being trapped indoors when I want to paint. This is about 6 x 6.

Snowy Branch

In the past week or so we have had snow twice. The first snowstorm was last Friday and we got about  12 inches of snow. It was thick and heavy and looked so pretty. Once it stopped I had to go out and sketch it. I walked around our apartment complex and had to sketch this while the snow was still clustered on the tree branches. Even as I was sketching the snow was falling off the branches onto my page. lol This was sketched with my Elegant Writer pen so I could let it bleed for shadows.

Our second snowstorm was this Tuesday. They predicted 10-14 inches but the storm turned and we got about 4-5 inches before it turned over to sleet and then heavy rain. It washed away most of it here, but ride north on Long Island about 25 minutes and there is a big difference. I really didn't mind more snow...I think I've had enough, but it is pretty when it is freshly fallen like the first storm.