Flowers Along the Fence

This is yesterday's plein air done at Smith Point Park which is on the easternmost tip of Fire Island. It is one of the beaches that is accessible by car. I used a bit of artistic license because the sky was completely overcast and grey...not blue like this. This watercolor and ink is 4 x 6.

Happy Memorial Day Weekend to all of you!!! I won't be back on the computer until Tuesday, so have a great one!

Prague Street View

I finally got my act together to do a painting for this month's Virtual Paint Out which was painting the Czech Republic using google street maps. I missed last month, and didn't want to miss two in a row. This is 7 x 10 done in watercolors and ink.

www.virtualpaintout.blogspot.com

Patchogue Park

Last evening I met with the Patchogue Sketch Club for a sketch night. It was my first time joinging with the group and it was fun. We painted in a small park. This is about 4 x 5 done in watercolors and ink. Please pardon the wonky bottom on my bench.(http://www.patchoguesketchclub.blogspot.com/)

Beach Treasure

This is another painting I did for the WDE from one of Marianne's photos that I cropped a bit. I used watercolor and ink for this one. It is 4 x 6.

Front and Center

This was done for the WDE on WetCanvas from a reference provided by the host, "mginsberg." Marianne had wonderful photos for us to work from. I did this on a Strathmore greeting card, and I will add it to my growing collection of cards to send out to people for important occasions. This is about 5 x 7.

Bench by the Irises

This is another piece I painted at the arboretum on Saturday. It is about 4 x 6.

Rhodies in Bloom

Even though flowers aren't my best subject I get drawn to them at this time of the year. The local arboretum has a wonderful garden full of these beauties. I tried doing this one without any pencil sketching first. This is about 4 x 6.

Island Lighthouse

This is another view of the Fire Island Lighthouse that I posted yesterday. I went back to do this yesterday and sat up on a bird viewing platform so I could see both the Great South Bay and Atlantic Ocean on either side. This is 3 1/2 x 10.

Fire Island View

Yesterday was sunny and breezy...perfect for plein air painting. I went over to Robert Moses State Park to paint the Fire Island Lighthouse. I've painted this several times before and always enjoy it. I decided to do it as a long vertical painting. This is 3 1/2 x 10 and done in watercolors and ink.

Lupines

Over the weekend one of my art groups had a member's show at the gallery at the local arboretum in Oakdale. On Sunday I went to pick up my paintings and chat with some of the other artists. I was telling one woman about my plein air painting and how I always try to have something with me in case I want to paint. I showed her my moleskin journal and travel paints which happened to be in my purse. When I left the building I spied these lupines which were calling to me. I put the paintings in the car and grabbed my stool and went back to paint the lupines. Don't you know it...the woman that I had just been speaking with comes along the path and sees me doing this painting. She couldn't believe that I was already plein air painting so quickly. lol Of course this is tiny (3 1/2 x 5) which was good because the arboretum was closing in a 1/2 hour....just enough time.

Canopied Window

Here is another ATC I did for the Wet Canvas "Windows Exchange." I used a reference photo I took in Arles, France.

Calypso Palm

This was done late for the WDE on Wet Canvas. The reference photo was supplied by "Lisilk." I thank Li for this great reference. This is 11 x 15. I almost tossed it after working on it for about 2 hours, but it finally worked itself out of that "ugly" stage. I'm happy with the way it came out.

Boscobel - 27th World Wide Sketchcrawl

Yesterday was the 27th World Wide Sketchcrawl. My sister, Michelle, and I went to Boscobel near Cold Spring, NY. It is a historical site overlooking the Hudson River. On the property are several buildings, a hiking trail with a waterfall, and views that are to die for! I decided I had to work small or I would end up with only one or two paintings...so I used masking tape to make small areas on each page. I painted in watercolors and ink and was able to do 2 views of the Hudson River from the lawn and a painting of the waterfall on the first page. I decided that drawing the entire house would take me until next year, so I concentrated on just a part. I also did the orangery (which I'm still not sure excactly what it is) and the herb garden.

There were a number of other artists painting on the grounds while we were there. I'm sure we will go back again. One Tuesday a month they offer free admission to artists to come and paint while the grounds are closed to the public.

Sunlit Bench

For some reason I was drawn to another strange sized composition. This is 3 1/2 x 10 and was done in plein air at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum in Oakdale, NY. I loved the look of the steps leading up to the bench in the sun.

One Last Sip

This was done for last weekend's WDE. I wasn't really happy with the way it came out. I should have stopped when the boy was finished. Doing two people in one painting was too much. lol This is 4 x 6.

This was painted in plein air yesterday at Sunken Meadow Park here on Long Island. There is a beautiful marsh area and some egrets if you look carefully. This is 3 1/2 x 10. I think the almost panoram format worked for this.

Wisteria Branches

I love wisteria and had to try painting the actual flowers themselves. I cut a few bossoms and brought them home with me yesterday. This is 3 x 5 done in my moleskin journal. I did it without any predrawing which is a rare thing for me.

Protector of the Castle

I think I've reached the point where I will attempt anything. lol This was done for the WDE on WetCanvas which was hosted by "oldrockchick." Lin had a separate reference for the knight and the castle. But what is a knight without a castle to protect? This is 5 x 7 done in watercolors and ink.

Twisted Vines

I headed to another arboretum yesterday to paint the westeria before it was gone. I think I should have put more of the hanging wisteria into the painting. This is 7 x 10. Maybe I'll go back and try it again.

Pansy Pot

This is 4 x 6 and was done in watercolor and ink for an exchange I'm doing. This pot is sitting on my patio.

Flowered Cottage

Due to my MIL being in the hospital my plein air time has been cut. I managed to arrange yesterday's schedule to get a few hours free. This is 7 x 10 and was painted at the Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay, NY. I'm not sure what this tiny cottage was used for (maybe the groundskeeper's home) but I loved that arched roof and the fairy-tale like look to it.

Glass Trio

This is 4 x 6 and was done for the last WetCavas Scavenger Hunt. Painting glass is always a challenge.

Sunlit Patio

This is 4 x 6 and was done for my "Warm Weather" Exchange on WetCanvas. For a reference I used a painting I had done of a patio in Capri when I was there. I changed the background to make it tropical, but the railing, chair and flower pots are basically the same.

WDE Portrait #2

This is another portrait I attempted for the WDE from Bunny's references. This is her adorable grandson who I aged quite a bit. I really need to practice portraits on a more regular basis. It is harder to do them so spread out. I forget what works and doesn't.

Portrait

This was done for the WDE on WetCanvas from a faded sepia photo supplied by Bunny. This is her dad...a very handsome man! I hope I did justice to him. This is about 4 x 6.