Astoria Park Views

The NYC Urban Sketchers met at Astoria Park today. We had a good turnout with 9 of us sketching for most of the day. The park is in Astoria which is in the borough of Queens. 

Our first sketching location was right at the entrance to the park, just along the RFK Bridge, formerly called the Triborough Bridge. 

Here are Susan, Ben, and Mark hard at work.

I sketched the bridge from below.

This is about 4 x 7.

I also sketched Mark working at his easel.

Next we moved closer into the park. Susan and Gene were busy talking 

with a wonderful view behind them..

I painted a view of the RFK Bridge.

We also had a good view of Hells Gate Bridge...and yes, it actually was

pink and fuchsia.

Here is a photo of the view with my sketch in front of it.

We took a break for lunch at a wonderful Greek restaurant in the neighborhood called 

Agnani located at 19-06 Ditmars Blvd. We talked, shared our sketches, and swapped some sketching information about materials. Then a few of us went back to the park to sketch.

I did this small one which is about 4 x 6.

Beach View

It is a good thing that I have a few sketches that I haven't posted yet. Believe it or not I haven't been plein air sketching in 3 days!!! Yes, 3 days!!! I am getting antsy and I know I am going out with the NYC Urban Sketchers tomorrow, so I will get out. lol

Although it hasn't been nice enough to get to the beach this week, I was there a few times last week and sketched this woman enjoying the view.
This is small...about 4 x 4.

Outside Starbucks

Last week the Patchogue Sketch Club met outside Starbucks on Main Street in Sayville. It was a beautiful, warm evening. We started sketching at 6 pm and by 6:30 it was nearly dark, so we finished by the light coming from the windows of Starbucks, and I had a little clip on flashlight that illuminated my paper a bit. Sketching late at night is getting to be a challenge. Before you know it we will have to be indoors to do our evening sketching. Ugh! This was done in my Stillman & Birn journal.

Andrews Farm Revisited

Today my Tuesday morning art group, PALS (see the blog list on the right) returned to the Andrews & Sons Family Farm in Calverton. Denise Andrews, the sales manager, has been so welcoming to our group. I swear she sets up the colorful displays with us in mind. It was a cool, windy day but that didn't deter us. We all dressed warmly and painted away.

This is 8 x 10.

Here are some photos from the day.

The chickens out back.

Laurie trying to keep warm.

Jeanne and Arlene (who brought donuts again).

Laurie #2 painting the flowers.

Marlene doing her pastel magic.

Susan using a riot of color.

Rosamaria, Marlene, and Susan swapping stories.

Docked Blue Boat

Long Island has a lot of marinas and boats. This was painted at the Squassux Marina in Brookhaven. This is 5 x 7.

Bellport View

Last Friday I had to sit at the Phoenix Gallery in Bellport where the South Bay Art Association was having their member's show. I knew that since it was a weekday the odds were that it would be very slow, so I brought along my art supplies. I sat at the front window of the gallery and painted the view of the streetlight decorated with baskets of flowers and the view behind it.

This is about 5 x 7.

View into the Garden

Last week I went with three friends for an art day heading west of here.

First we shopped for art supplies at the Dick Blick Store in Nassau County.

Then we headed over to Old Westbury Gardens to paint. We were lucky and got free passes for all of us through the library here.  There is a wonderful walled garden in the middle of the grounds.

I've painted inside of it before but this time I painted it from the outside looking in.

This is 8 x 10.

Sue and Dot were at the other end of the garden busy working by the waterlily pond.

The others weren't finished yet so I had time to do a very quick ATC of a waterlily.