Day 19 - The Meeting

The Meeting

Ballpoint in sketchbook, approx 4"x5"

Combining a bit of "urban sketching" with this 30/30 Challenge at a board meeting I attended this evening. I see that there are a couple of things I left out. There should be a pretzel jar that the man on the left is reaching for, and I could have done more w/the negative spaces of people's legs, and draped coats under the table as well as darkened the floor. 

Day 18 - Caumsett Fisherman's Road

Fisherman's Road, Caumsett

Watercolor, 6" x 6"

I wore many hats today. Graphic design, mermaids and a little reading and practicing from Joyce Hick's book, Painting Beautiful Watercolor Landscapes. I squeezed this painting in as part of the practice. 

scraping in (top), and wet/wet with a little damp and dry details.

Day 17 - Three Little Pumpkins

Three Little Pumpkins

watercolor, 6" x 6"

I bought these mini pumpkins back in October along with a bunch of those little ornamental gourds that look like birds. The "birds" dried out and got moldy long ago, but these still look good and I couldn't bear to throw them away or put them in the compost. I love their squashed shape and their elegant skinny stems.

Working in watercolor and pen in the last few days reminded me that I need to start reading through some of the art books I got for Christmas - Joyce Hicks watercolor book and a book on Urban Sketching by Thomas Thorspecken.

Day 16 - Evening sky from my window

Eastern Sky

Watercolor and Pitt pen in my sketchbook.

While I was doing some other work, I happened to look up to see this lovely eastern sky at about 3:30 pm  - early evening in January.

Day 15 – Duck Egg Cup

Duck Egg Cup

Pitt pen

When we were kids, my mother went to ceramics class once a week. She made and painted all sorts of things – the life sized family of chickens, a Minuteman statue or two, and other things, though I don't think she ever made the ceramic christmas tree. One Easter we each had a duck or chicken egg cup or chicken (lid) resting on her nest (bowl). I have all of them now, though the chicken's "nest" recently disintegrated. This is the duck, I think he has a cute face.

PS: I looked at the bottom. My mom put her initials and '69. I was 9, my brother was 5 & my sister was 4.

Day 14 - Life Drawing at The Art Guild

On the second Thursday of the month, The Art Guild has a life drawing evening - 3 hours for $15. We have wonderful models! Here are a few of my sketches, which will stand in for a finished piece.

Short 2 minute poses

5 minute poses

10 minute pose

20 minute pose

Day 13 - Evening Tea

Evening Tea

Pitt pen in sketchbook

Because sometimes it's just what you have to do.
Playing around with my new Pitt pens.

Day 12 - Sketching at Planting Fields

I haven't posted in a few days, but I haven't abandoned the 30/30.

Last week I started an abstract that was going to end up being day 7-10. That didn't quite work out - yet. It's pastel and gesso and acrylic, and I haven't abandoned it. But, I also need to work out a poster design for this year's Great South Bay Music Festival, which may take priority. It's the 10th Anniversary, so I may be feeling a little pressure for fabulous!

Today was our monthly sketching morning at Martin Viette, but they were CLOSED! So we changed the plan and headed up to Planting Fields Arboretum to sketch in the greenhouse. The poinsettias were gone and there was no one around except for a worker taking down the christmas tree. I should have drawn him, but I had already started this! This is one of the cozy corners.

Greenhouse Corner

Pitt pen & pencil

I'll try to post again tomorrow!

Day 6 - Caumsett Spring

Day 6 - Caumsett Spring

6" x 6", pastel on uart paper

Caumsett State Park is an amazing jewel on Long Island's north shore. Acres of woodlands, meadows, and a formal garden make it a wonderful place to spend an afternoon in all seasons. Hundreds of birds and all sorts of wildlife call this park home. 

I took the reference picture for this last spring.

Day 5 - Lighthouse Keeper's Roof

Lighthouse Keeper's Roof

6" x 6". pastel

I am always drawn to the angles of roofs and gables particularly red roofs in contrast to cerulean blue skies. Maine, and coastal places in New England and New York, are full of these combos.
This is the Lighthouse keeper's home (which is now a fascinating museum) on Mohegan Island, Maine. I spent a rainy dreary afternoon exploring paintings, photos, historic items and other ephemera of the island, and it's residents and visitors.

Day 4 - Tree Branches & Sky

Tree Branches & Sky

Pastel, charcoal, watercolor crayon, 6" x 6"

All the best intentions today of getting this done early, but got engrossed in drawing mermaids, went to a client's for a few hours... and then I forgot to do something super important! (EEK!) So embarrassing. Didn't ever realize till hours later! Ug.

This was done pretty quickly and was inspired by my walk at Planting Fields on the 1st.  It was getting dark and the tree branches were magnificent against the blue sky and clouds were changing to gold in the west.

Day 3 - Short Walk in Bayville

I'm trying to combine a couple of things - a little exercise, a little painting - at least while the weather is rather mild for January in New York.
I took a short walk in town, down along West Shore road to the bridge and the marina and was treated to another gorgeous sunset! I can't ever do it justice. Golden and orange, rosy to purples and blues and greys. I also really enjoyed the ambient noise - the water lapping, the gulls calling, the thunk thunk thunk of cars crossing the drawbridge behind me, little birds saying their goodnights and finding a warm place to cozy up for the night.

January Sunset at the Marina

watercolor, 6"x6"

Enjoying some Downton Abbey now...have a great night!

Day 2 - A Walk at Jones Beach

First, a trip to Blick for a few minor things. Naturally, I ended up spending waaaaay more than I intended. But how can I pass up Neocolor crayons for 57¢ each?

Second, a stop at REI to pick up the three-legged folding seat w/back. Surprise! I had bonus points to spend, so it was free! Makes the Blick bill a bit easier to take.

I took a short walk around West End 2. The sun was low in the sky, the wind was blowing, but it wasn't too cold.
There were loons swimming around, tree swallows on the picnic benches, the usual herring and black-backed gulls, house finches, brants, sparrows of all sorts, chickadees, crows – and, just as I was getting back to the parking lot – a lone merlin sitting on top of one of the holiday light displays.

Worst picture of a merlin ever. But, trust me, it's a merlin.

And this is the watercolor painting I did when I got home of the path through the dunes to the fishing area. 

Jones Beach Path

2016 Reboot - Picking up where I left off

I'm back! Without making excuses - I will say that it was a long, busy year. Good and bad, happy and sad (sounds like a song, maybe).
Anyway, it's January and it's time for Leslie Saeta's 30/30 Challenge.
I will not guarantee a painting every day...I have some work I have to keep under wraps for now...but I'll try to post something.
This is a sketch I did today at Planting Fields Arboretum in in the main greenhouse. It's still decorated for Christmas with hundreds of red and pink&white poinsettias and a "lighthouse" christmas tree decorated with white ribbons, red poinsettias. little lights and white seashells. I did the pencil & watercolor parts while I was there and did the pen when I got home. Maybe I'll finish it (If I do, I'll post.)
We'll try again tomorrow!
Happy New Year!

Day 25 - 30/30 Challenge - Workshop w/Robert Kogge part 2

Here's what I did with my day. 

I started the larger version of Monhegan Keeper's Quarters late on Saturday and worked on it all day today – building the color and getting the structure right. Only at the end of the day did I start applying the ink washes.

I really love how you can simultaneously work on the smallest of details with the colored pencil and yet retain the soft focus created by the texture of the canvas. 

There's a lot more work to do on it! 

I'm looking forward to finishing it and entering it in The Art Guild’s next exhibit - 

Home on the Range – Landscapes we love.

This technique, colored pencil and ink on canvas, was developed by Robert Kogge, an artist from New Jersey. I first took his class at the Art Student League a few years ago. If you can't get to New York to take the class, you find it online at Craftsy.

Day 24 - Jan 2015 Challenge - Workshop Weekend

Lighthouse Keeper’s Quarters, Monhegan

Sketch, colored pencil on canvas.

I haven't forgotten about the challenge and I feel genuinely guilty for missing the last two weeks. I did a couple of things but didn't post - I've been that busy - BUT I'm going to a workshop this weekend at The Art Guild. 
It's called Colored Pencil and Ink on Canvas with Robert Kogge. I took the workshop several years ago at the Art Students League, but I'm taking it again to sort of refresh my memory.
This is the working sketch I did. Because there is a bit of prep and explaining about the process Robert has his students work on a small piece to get the feel for the canvas and the ink washes. (I'll explain more tomorrow.)

Day 6, 7 and 8 - 30/30 Challenge - The Faster I Go, The Behinder I Get!

Day 6 - Summer Pond

6"x6", watercolor, $35

Day 7 - Casita Rosa, Autumn

6"x6", watercolor

Day 8 - The View from Cadillac Mountain

6"x6", watercolor, $35

I got behind. Work and life catches up with you and in my case, I gotta pay the bills.
I did paint the Summer Pond on the 6th, but didn't quite finish it and certainly didn't have time to post it. After a couple of days off (from this) I squeezed in a little time to paint two more. So I'm caught up through the 8th. I have to paint a couple more today! LOL

The Summer Pond is from a hike I took in the summer with my cousin and her husband in Rhode Island.
The Casita is the little cabin in the woods on my aunt and uncle's property. There used to be several cabins, but this is the surviving one expanded over time with pieces of the others. It's a rustic sort of bunkhouse, but there's air-conditioning and a kitchen and a shower, so it's not too rough. We  have a lot of fun there.
The View from Cadillac Mountain is from this past October. The cool purples and blues of the water and land with the intense color of the blueberry bushes and birch trees was spectacular!

Stay tuned as I catch up!

Day 5 - 30/30 Challenge - Dune Walk, Sunken Meadow

Dune Walk, Sunken Meadow

watercolor, 6"x6", $35

A Labor Day weekend walk at Sunken Meadow State Park on a increasingly overcast day. The dunes, the tidal creek, the Sound. It seemed as though there was a painting around every corner – every curve in the path.

This is Day 5 of the Leslie Saeta 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge. This is the fifth time she has issued the challenge and there are more than 1000 artists participating this time. It's not a contest but an exercise.
My discovery the first time through was that it's about the doing. It's about getting your idea painted or drawn. It doesn't HAVE to be perfect and you don't need to spend hours. It IS an important way to grow as an artist. It's about problem solving and it's a commitment - like going to work is a commitment. 

Please follow me here on my blog and see what others are doing on Leslie's site. Feel free to share with your friends and check out my Etsy site and Facebook page as well (links to the right).

Day 4 - 30/30 Challenge - Favorite Sandwich

Favorite Sandwich

watercolor, 6"x6", $35

There is no doubt that a basic, homemade, softy soft, white (or potato) bread with lots of mayo (Hellman's only), salt and pepper, nice, juicy, thick sliced tomatoes, Tomato Sandwich is what I pine for every summer. Grocery store tomatoes are NOT an option. You simply cannot have one of these delightful mouthfuls of summer in December or January. Bleah!

Anyone see a theme developing for (at least) part of this Challenge?

Day 3 - 30/30 Challenge - Sea Cliff Beach Sunset

Summer Sunset, Sea Cliff Beach

watercolor, 6"x6", $35

One summer evening in July some friends and I grabbed a bottle of wine, some cheese and fruit and enjoyed each other's company with some laughs and a wonderful sunset.  

I think a lot about why we insist on painting sunsets. It is nearly impossible to capture on paper or canvas the spectrum of color, luminescence and majesty. The light and shadow, reflections and subtleties change constantly. It's even difficult to accurately capture one in a photograph – for one thing, the scale is always wrong.

Still, we keep trying. But while we're trying, enjoy the magnificence with some friends whenever you can.