Oyster Bay Views

On Sunday the NYC Urban Sketchers ventured out of "the city" and came to the burbs. My friend, Suzala organized a day in Oyster Bay on the north shore of Nassau County. Unfortunately the trains to and from Oyster Bay only run each way every two hours so the sketchers had to time their visit with the train schedule...or be stuck for another 2 hours. Most of them wanted to head over to the beach since they don't get that in the city. It was a hot day so I had no desire to walk to the beach in the heat nor to sit on the beach without any shade. I opted to stay right in town where I could find shade.

Luckily there was a lot of shade across from the restaurant, "2 Spring." Not only did I have shade but there was a bit of a breeze. While I was sketching the staff was setting up for lunch outside. They noticed I was painting and kept coming over to see my progress. Suzala was on the other side of the restaurant painting the view down the street and they kept chatting with her as they passed. They also offered us water and told us we could come in and use the rest room if we needed too. It was very nice inside and the food smelled great! 

Next I headed down the main street to the next corner, found some shade, and sketched this view. The building was once the summer office of Teddy Roosevelt when he was in office. Now there are some kind of offices upstairs and a restaurant, Wild Honey, downstairs.

We took a break around 2:00 to chat and have show and tell. The first train back to the city was leaving in about 40 minutes and most of the sketchers had planned to be on it. We did our show and tell and then most of us headed over to the Bonanza hot dog and Italian ice stand that the town is known for...the chocolate ice is delicious.

A few sketchers stayed longer but it was hot so we sat in the shade by the gazebo and mostly talked and only Suzala was sketching. It was a nice relaxing way to end the day. Even though we get together each week, everyone is busy sketching and we really don't get a lot of time to talk. It was nice to find out a little more about some of the people.

Swan River Bridge

The Patchogue Sketch Club went to the Swan River Preserve recently. When it first opened it had good views but over the last few years the foliage has gotten so tall that most of the water is blocked and all you see is green. I found a spot with a view of the bridge and that and the contrast in the foliage color gave me a focal point. The area to the back was lit by the sun so I painted that first because I knew as the sun moved down in the sky we would lose the light there. 

DUMBO

I recently went with my friend, Suzala and Robin, a visiting sketcher from LA on a sketch trip to DUMBO in Brooklyn. For those who don't know it stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. Robin had sketched in the city before but hadn't been to DUMBO for the iconic view of the Brooklyn Bridge. (It was much more crowded than my sketch...maybe X50. It was a long ride in but Suzala's husband, Rick played chauffeur, tour guide and photographer for us. He gave us a tour from Long Island through the city describing and telling about each area.

This part of Washington Street is closed to traffic and there are tables set out which made sketching very convenient.

We even did a little throw down of our sketches. Left to right...Suzala, Robin, Joan.

Then we moved on to another area of DUMBO. Robin selected a different spot to sketch than Suzala and I did. We both sketched the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory. Again I didn't include the massive line of people waiting. I was so tempted...but resisted.

Top to bottom: My sketch, Robin's sketch of the Manhattan Bridge, and Suzala's sketch.

It is always fun to share sketching time with people from other locations.

Swan River Preserve Bridge

 The previous post showed my friend, Rosanne sketching this foliage-covered bridge at Swan Lake Preserve in East Patchogue. The bridge gave us something to focus on amid all the green.

Rosanne Sketching

The other night the Patchogue Sketch Club met at Swan River Preserve in East Patchogue to sketch. I don't find the location very inspiring...too green. I did one sketch and then sketched my friend, Rosanne who was working at the picnic table in front of me.

Lobster Traps

The other day I drove over to White Cap Fish Market in Islip to see if there was something there to sketch. Right across the water there were some colorful lobster traps...or I think that's what they were. Most of them were a reddish-orange but there were a few yellow ones and green ones that snuck in. I wonder if the place sells lobster to the public. Hmmm......

Assorted Sketches

I do a lot of sketching for creativespark.art, especially the Scavenger Hunts. Sometimes we sketch things that aren't big sketches...like these. 

I was in the middle of sketching out a scene for a commission when this goose meandered by with a group of friends. They were busy eating and kept turning around and walking to a new spot. I would just jump ship from one goose and continue with the next one that was posed in a similar position. I like how this one came out. 

I was at the pool the other day and this dad and his kids were nearby. I thought they needed to be sketched but I only had a small pad of writing paper and a ball point pen. Gotta use what you have!

The two bottom sketches were for one of the Scavenger Hunts...something spicy

and something sweet. These were done with a medium I don't use very often...colored pencils. I got a free set from Zebra a few years ago (24 colors) and they've been sitting in my cabinet unused.