Grand Central Terminal Sketch

As I said yesterday, I went into NYC to meet friends. I took the train to Penn Station and then walked across town to Grand Central Terminal where their train was arriving. Grand Central is such an iconic  location. I had about 35 minutes to sketch so I walked up one of the many sets of stairs and sketched the view looking down into the main room of the terminal where the clock sits on top of the booth in the center. There were crowds of people everywhere. I didn't sketch all of them. LOL Who could.

I did the drawing and most of the color before they arrived, and finished the rest last night after I got home.

Then we went off shopping through all the Christmas booths in Grand Central, then to a very nice lunch, and then shopping at the holiday booths in Bryant Park. It was freezing out! Once the sun went down we were able to stay outside for a while but then it got too cold and we went for coffee so we could be inside. This was my last sketch for the day. I didn't sketch on the train coming home because it was crowded and I didn't want to be that obvious in a crowded car. I like being able to sketch on the train mostly hidden by the high seats.

Train Ride to the City

Today I went into NYC to meet two friends and experience some of the excitement of the city at Christmas time. I took the Long Island Railroad into the city and of course sketched on the way. Two people posed for me in transit. Of course they had no idea they were my models. I was sitting far enough away from them that they didn't notice and the high backs on the seats hid me pretty well. I used a combination of watercolors and watercolor pencils for these.

I did another sketch but I have to finish adding the color. My friends met me before I could finish it completely. I hope to finish it tonight and post it tomorrow.

Vanderzalm Christmas Trees

On Sunday I had to go to Bellport to drop off a painting for a show. I figured I would find a tree lot to sketch. This was done sitting outside the Vanderzalm Nursery in Bellport. They looked like they were pretty busy, but this lady spent a lot of time checking out just one tree. lol

I'm glad I had a few extra sketches done that weren't posted yet. I didn't get to sketch outside at all yesterday or today. Yesterday I put up my Christmas tree and assorted decorations inside. That exhausted me!

Today we had some snow. Luckily it didn't really accumulate much but there were some big snowflakes coming down for a while. I didn't venture out until late in the afternoon and spent most of the morning getting paintings matted and framed for my plain air group's holiday show this weekend.
I'm still not completely ready and am supposed to be meeting friends in NYC tomorrow. I will try to sketch before I meet them. It is supposed to be very cold tomorrow so I am hoping to sketch inside Grand Central terminal and on the train into the city. Wish me luck!

Can I Get It Up There?

I have been searching all the Christmas tree lots for people buying trees.

This lady seemed a little stumped when she got back to her car. Luckily help came shortly after.

Buying a Tree

Yesterday I took a ride out east and stopped at a "cut your own" Christmas tree farm.

I had no intention of getting a tree. I just wanted to sketch. I parked my car along the opposite side of the street. These cars were parked in a line side by side amid LOTS of other cars...maybe about 60 of them...almost as far as the eye could see. I focused on just one car at a time and took artistic license to leave out the others. I watched for when they carried over a tree by a car...that would be my model. I figured I had enough time to sketch the activity while they tied the tree to the roof...and I was right.

Sandy's Garden Center

The other day I took a ride over to Sandy's Garden Center in Farmingville.
They had their trees and wreaths ready along with an inflatable snowman.

Decorating the Tree

Last Friday I was driving through Sayville and noticed that they were putting up the Christmas tree and decorating it in anticipation of the parade and lighting of the tree that was taking place on Saturday. It was really cold out so I was lucky to get a parking spot with a view so I could work from my "mobile studio." This is about 5 x 7 and was done in my Stillman & Birn Alpha Sketchbook.