Sketchcrawl #39 - NYC

Yesterday was the World Wide Sketchcrawl #39. My friend, Susan, and I went into NYC to meet with the NYC Urban Sketchers who had organized a sketching day for us. We met at Bethesda Fountain in Central Park. This was my biggest sketch of the day and is about 5 x 8.

Because everyone was enjoying the location so much, we stayed in that area for a few hours instead of moving as originally planned. There were people singing in the Bethesda Pavillion so we had entertainment too. There was also music down by the fountain which made it really nice.

I did a sketch of the railing of the staircase that came down to where the fountain is located.

This sketch and most of the others below were done directly in ink (yeah!).

By the time I finished this sketch above some of us headed off to lunch. Everyone sketched at the table before the food arrived. I sketched Richard who was at the other end of the table.

After lunch we headed over to the Lincoln Center area. On the way we passed a street market and a few of us topped to sketch there. I loved this colorful truck. The waffles they were cooking smelled so good.

Next we met the afternoon group in front of Lincoln Center. Many of them were sitting on the edge of the dancing fountain. I decided on sketching the sketchers with the fountain view behind them instead of doing Lincoln Center itself. I sketched it in pen and before I could add color a security guard came to warn them that in a few minutes the fountains were scheduled to shoot really high, and they would get wet if they were anywhere near them. He was so right. The whole area around the fountain got drenched. I added the color from memory.

As much as it is spring, the temperatures were pretty cold yesterday and most of us were too cold to continue sketching outside. We found a cafe inside that wasn't open yet and it had tables and big glass windows facing the Lincoln Center plaza. I sketched Mia while she was sketching.

I sketched a few of the other sketchers too.

I took a few photos of some of the sketchers either sketching or sharing tips on materials.

Here's my friend, Susan hard at work.

Here are Melanie and another sketcher.

Mia was showing the sketcher from India all the wonderful pens and inks she had with her.

Finally we shared our sketchbooks and work. This is just a small sample of the work done yesterday. Through the course of the day we probably had about 28 people participate in the NYC Sketchcrawl. One woman lives in India, and a couple that took part were from Minnesota.

I hope you enjoyed sharing our day!

The other evening the Patchogue Sketch Club met down at the end of Blue Point Avenue. There is a parking area with a gazebo and a small beach. Even though it had been warm during the day, by evening the wind had picked up and it was cold. All the sketchers had to work from their cars.

This is about 4 x 6.

April 13 - Augusta, GA

Suffolk County Farm Sketches

I made a trip to the Suffolk County Farm the other day. It is a good time of year to go because many baby animals are born around now.

First I sketched the cows who usually stay put while they are eating, but once they are finished have no loyalty to the artist sketching them. lol

Next I went over to sketch the sheep who were all clustered together by the shed. There was one baby included in the group.

The peacock had his feathers spread when I sat down, but that didn't last for long. Most of the feathers I had to do by memory.

Inside there were some baby goats that were just one day old. Mama goat was ignoring them for the most part, until I almost finished the sketch. Then she decided it was feeding time.

April 12 - Savannah, GA

Beverly

On Tuesday evening I joined the Wet Paints group for their sketch night.

Beverly was our model. I did one watercolor of her and then a small pencil sketch.

April 11 - Charleston, SC

Dune Road House

On Monday I headed over to Dune Road in Quogue. This is part of the Hamptons, and the houses here are expensive even if they are small like this one. It is prime real estate.

It was a bit windy so I did this from my car. This is 5 x 7.

April 10 - Dillon, SC

Beaver Dam Marina

It was the perfect weather for plein air today!!! Finally! I joined two friends at a local marina to paint this morning. This is 5 x 7.

April 9 - Raleigh, NC

Long Beach, Nissequogue

Nissequogue is named after a native indian tribe on Long Island. It is a very pretty area, part of Smithtown and has lovely spots along the water. Of course, being on Long Island you have to be a resident of the area to park in any of the beach parking lots. Right now it is still possible to park there without a problem. I was there yesterday and planned to sit outside and paint. However when I got there there were such strong winds I thought my car was going to blow away. While I was sitting in my car working on this one of the other aluminum boats blew across the parking lot.
This was done in my Stillman and Birn Journal and is about 4 x 5.

For those who are not aware of it, if you are on Facebook and "like" Stillman & Birn, about once every few months they have a contest and give away one of their journals. I was notified today that I won one of their new Alpha Journals in the latest contest.

Here is the next page in my "fake" journal. I wish I could just give the link to the actual blog, but it doesn't come up as a link when I type the blog address. It is listed on the right and that link works.

April 8 - Virginia Beach