My Memorial Day Weekend

Since we didnt have plans to meet in the city, on  Saturday I met with a small group of local sketchers in Center Moriches at Nettie's Farm and Market. The coffee was good, the people were nice, and the view was colorful.

Yesterday I was at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum for an art show that one of my groups was doing. (I had a few paintings in the show too.) Before going into the show I painted the wisteria hanging from the porch of the manor house on the property.

For the last few years I have tried to attend one of the Memorial Day Ceremonies here on Long Island. This morning I missed the one in Sayville which I usually attend since I slept late, so instead I went to Patchogue. I sat in the park by the VFW Hall which I knew was the end of the parade, and caught some of the participants as the marchers in the parade arrived there. I was there sketching long enough for most of the ceremony. It was a touching tribute to those who gave their lives, those who served, and the families and friends of those who are still serving.

Since this is the beginning of the summer season I had to make a stop at the beach. It was warm enough to sit on the sand, but only the little kids made any attempt to go in the water. The lifeguards up on the chair were in sweatpants.

Sketching in the West Village

Today the NYC Urban Sketchers did a bit of an author's tour of the West Village.

I traveled into the city on the LIRR from Pathchogue which takes about 1 1/2 hrs. I planned to use my time sketching. At first the only view I had of a person was through the opening between the seats.

Then a woman sat down on the other side of the aisle.

Then a young man got on and was sitting facing me so I was able to do a full sketch.

The NYC Urban Sketchers were meeting at 1 Washington Square North which was at one time the home of Henry James and at another time the home of Edith Wharton.

I sketched the house.

Then I did a quick sketch looking down Washington Square North. This one was done directly with paint...no pencil lines.

Our next stop was supposed to be 130 Macdougal Street where Louisa May Alcott once lived, but the building was gone or incorporated into the college. By this time we were all cold and we saw the Tea Spot at 127 Macdougal Street. It was heaven inside! There was wonderful hot tea and a great interior to sketch. We were there quite a while and they were very gracious to us.

I sketched the waitress and the counter area. 

The assorted tea accessories made a good still life. I had mango green tea...yummy!

Mark and Mia were sketching across from me.

Suma was working to my left.

Svetlana and Maria were discussing problems with Svetlana's pen. 

I did a few sketches of my fellow sketchers and other people there.

Here is a photo of all of us at the table.

It finally looked like the sun was out and we were ready to venture back outside. We walked past several buildings related to writers on Grove Street.

This sketch was done at 10 Grove Street which was where O'Henry wrote his short story, "Last Leaf."

Here is Sveltlana working on her sketch.

And Mark working on his sketch.

A few of the sketchers left at this point and Mia, Mark and I headed over to the White Horse Tavern to get something to drink before heading back home. It was a really good day of sketching and my thanks to Mark for organizing this themed sketching tour for us.

Unfortunately on my ride home there were no other commuters nearby that I could sketch (my train car was very empty.) so my day of sketching was over.