Bridge View

The other day I decided to head to the beach at Robert Moses State Park thinking that if I left early enough I could stop on the way at Captree State Park and do a small painting. I painted a similar view  of this before, but it was tiny. This one isn't big...only 5 x 7. The bridge is one of two that you have to cross to get to the beach. This one connects Captree Island to Fire Island. There was a nice shady spot to paint from and a light breeze...perfect!

Mike

This week at the WetPaints Studio Group we sketched another member, Mike.

I enjoyed working on the character of his face.

DUMBO - Part 2

Back in DUMBO after lunch we headed off to sketch in another location that Mark had picked out....but on the way we saw a spot that we had to stop and sketch. lol So the plan was to sketch for 15 minutes before moving on. I said I couldn't sketch anything in 15 minutes but Michael told me to use pen, work within the confines of a small box and "just go for it." So I did...and did 3 mini sketches on one page at that location. I used a pen that bled a bit if you added water quickly.

It is rare to have us all sitting in one location so I was able to get a lot of the sketchers in a few photos.

Then it was off to Water & Washington Streets where some of us were actually sitting IN THE STREET to sketch. We were right next to a fire hydrant in the parking space, on the sidewalk and on the steps. Luckily there was very little traffic, and the artists who were standing in the street to sketch were able to move out of the way easily. This particular location attracts a lot of people taking pictures. While we were sketching there was a photo shoot taking place, and people were taking photos of us too. lol

This was what we were sketching.

At this point most of the sketchers were heading back where we had started in the morning.

My car was close to this location so Susan and I decided to sketch where we were rather than retracing our steps and then having to come back again. This was my last sketch of the day.

Although we didn't get to see all the sketchbooks at the end of the day, Shawne took a photo of all of them and that is what I am posting here.

Again, it was another full day of sketching.

DUMBO - Part I

After doing the "Paint the Great South Bay" on Thursday and Friday, my busy weekend continued. On Saturday the NYC Urban Sketchers met at DUMBO which stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. It is a great, energetic, fun spot in Brooklyn.

My first sketch was of the former lighthouse which is now an ice cream factory right by the Manhattan Bridge.

Then I moved on to sketch a view which included some of the other NYC Urban Sketchers sketching in front of me. That's Rayle, Mark and Shawne. I was right under the Manhattan Bridge and the Williamsburg Bridge is in the distance.

Here is a photo of that location. Only Rayle was still sketching there when I took the photo.

We took a break for lunch and as always shared our sketchbooks.

Santi from Barcelona had such wonderful work. He sketched with us last week too, but this week was his last week of his vacation in NYC. We will miss him. Who knows...maybe we will visit him in Barcelona. He is planning on turning his sketchbook from this NY trip into a book. I know we all want copies.

To be continued....

Carol

Last Tuesday I painted with the WetPaints sketch group. We didn't have an outside model so one of the artists, Carol, posed for us. She has a great face with a lot of character.

Paint the Great South Bay - Part 2

After a good breakfast I headed over to the Phoenix Gallery in Bellport to see what some of the other artists were up to. That was sort of our "home base" where we had snacks, water, and most important of all a restroom.

Next I headed back down to the Bellport dock and painted what I was told later is "rowboat beach." There are always colorful rowboats and kayaks pulled up on the beach there. I sat in the shade and I did the view of the boats with some of the larger boats in the marina and the yacht club on shore.

Here is my painting against the view.

Here is the painting itself.

By this time I figured I had done enough water scenes for the day and headed back into town.

Bellport is a small town with some cute stores and businesses. This is a local restaurant called "The Bellport." However on the outside all is says is "Restaurant."

Here is my painting of it.

I had other plans so I couldn't paint on Saturday. Can you guess which two paintings I submitted on Sunday for the show? I put in the sunrise and the boats on the beach. The show will be on exhibit until Sept 20th and we are having a reception on Sept. 7th from 1 - 4. It will be fun to see the paintings that were entered...too bad there wasn't room for them all.

Paint the Great South Bay - Part 1

I had a very busy weekend. One of the art organizations I belong to (South Bay Art Association) organized the "Paint the Great South Bay Plein Air Event and Show." From Thursday until Sunday the participating artists painted in locations of their choice on the south shore of Long Island. There were about 30 artists taking part, some painting solo and some in small groups. On Suday afternoon each artist was able to put in two paintings they had done for a show that will run from now to Sept. 20th in a gallery in Bellport.

I started on Thursday afternoon in West Sayville near the town dock. There is a marine repair company there that I have done several sketches of in the past, but never a full painting. Usually there is some rusty boat that they are scraping and sanding, but on Thursday it was a nice boat with not quite as much character...but I painted it anyway. I set up my chair, easel, and an umbrella behind my car. I didn't want to be in anyone's way so I stayed outside the fence.

This was the view I had.

I did attract the attention of the owner and the workmen, and some of them came over to look and comment.

Here is the completed painting.

I made plans with my friend, Rosamaria to meet the following monring for surmise at the dock in Bellport. I checked the schedule and sunrise was at 6:06, so we met at 5:30 AM hoping to catch some of the color before the sun came up. Here are a few photos of the sunrise.

Here I am all bundled up...it was quite cold down there in the morning. I had on a windbreaker, a scarf, and a heavy sweatshirt...and I was still a little cold.

Here is Rosamaria working on her painting. She was facing out towards the bay.

Here is the final painting from the sunset.

As the sky got light Rosamaria and I headed into town for breakfast. We definitely needed coffee!

I'll post Part 2 tomorrow.