Daily Life, Sketching with the NYC Urban Sketchers

Today I went to meet the NYC Urban Sketchers in Manhattan. We sketched on the walkway of the 59th Street Bridge (aka the Queensboro Bridge) which connects the boroughs of Queens and Manhattan. I did 5 sketches but am only posting one here of the bridge, the bikers, and the walker.

Daily Life, The castle, Sirkka Jalava

I did a try to draw the one and only castle Kastelholm in our landscape on the island. It is perhaps 4 -5 kilometer from my place if you take the bird way. This castle is built in 1100-1200 centuries, first time it is documented in 1300 century.  it was nearly in ruins long time, but in later decades it has been renovated so to day there are warm halls with exhibitions and there you can have meetings or feasts of different kind.

There you can feel the wings of history. The swedish kings have lived  short periods hunting and enjoying the nature in the castle. It was possible untill the end of 1700, when Finland and Sweden were one state. Then came Russia in the beginning of 1800 and conquered Finland, took Finland away from Sweden for a hundred years. During the first world war  Finland became the independence from other countries. That we celebrate on the 6. decmber every year.

That was the history shortly. 

Why I show you this? Because it came on the talk in other contest during our sketching. And this is a part of our daily life, I used before often drive to this castle and look around.

Now I have been more lazy, but there it is. There is a golf arena near the castle, very popular I understand.There is too a harbour for sailboats and other turist boats.  There is a good restaurant in area.
But now, I am afraid to make you bored. This was the last daily life posting fom me.

Daily Life, Waiting for a walk, Ann Hyde

Okay William, so I promised you a walk an hour ago -tough life sometimes isn't it!

Daily Life, Plein Air Painting by Joan Tavolott

I usually get out to sketch or paint en plein air most days...today I didn't because I spent the day with some non-art friends. So when I got home tonight I sketched this from a photo someone took of me plein air painting last September.

Daily Life, Frisbee time, Ann Hyde

 The frisbee is always a big hit

 

Daily Life, 2 ladies in hats, Penny StewArt

Two Ladies in Hats:  Done in my Watercolor Class yesterday.  We were supposed to learn about values.  Watercolor, Pen and Ink.  7x10 on hot press paper.  I had to take the Dial A Ride (DART) to class because my painting partner was out of town.  She does the driving because I sold my car, so I have to find other methods of transportation.  I find I don't like to draw or paint about my daily life.  But I do paint Daily, so posting the art is much more fun for me. I try to sell everything I paint, in order to supplement my SS income.  So far it is working.  I sell on Etsy, Ebay, Daily Paintworks, and from my websites.  As long as I keep painting and selling it keeps me off the streets, busy and out of trouble.  LOL.

Daily Life, Laugh and Love, Jez Eden

Painted in a few moments on my Ipad - Jez

Do you ever get too old to be silly?  It's not happened to me yet.  And throughout our marriage we have always tried to make each other laugh at least once a day and hopefully more.

This morning poor Dev spent the whole morning up in our small town doing bank jobs, posting mail off to Linda and Carol Ann, and then supermarket shopping - while I spent most of the morning in bed.

He came home shattered, put everything away and then made lunch.  He looked so weary that I brought up my reserves of silliness, pulled my glasses down my nose, crossed my eyes and stuck a whole tomato in my mouth.  When he looked up he burst out laughing, of course.  What could be better.  I think we were both wondering what would have happened if I had accidentally bitten into the tomato.

I hope you all have moments of silliness, no matter how you may be feeling otherwise.   And now I'm off back to bed with my beloved hottie-bottie for my back.

Daily Life, Chris's Boat by Joan Tavolott

Every Wednesday evening the Patchogue Sketch Club meets at a local spot.

This week we met at a marina where one of the woman keeps her sailboat.

It was a nice spot and the sunset should have been wonderful, but it was overcast and cold. We were all bundled up in winter coats and sitting in the open hatchbacks of people's cars to stay out of the wind! Hopefully spring will be back soon.

Daily Life,Wallace and Co, Ann Hyde

A different matter with Wallace & Gromit

the TV clip that

William had to watch -

I kid you not.

 

 

 

 

 

Daily Life, Method of Transportation by Joan Tavolott

I am forever driving around in my Sentra to all the locations I got to for sketching and painting.

But it is fun to see the other vehicles that people drive. I needed to sketch a truck for EDM (Every Day in May) today so I to find one on my way to the hairdresser this morning (cut and color). I passed a lot of boring, no character trucks before finding this rusty red truck in Blue Point. Believe it or not this was on the lawn as a decoration in front of a local restaurant. The side of the truck had a big sign that said "White Horse Tavern."

Daily Life, Flower Pots, Sirkka Jalava

Now I have filled several pots with plants I had on my porch.  Some pots are allready out  like this here, which is placed by the entrance way. Most of the pots  are waiting in the greenhouse some days more. But soon they´ll be out too.

I hope this my little break in posting has been a creative break and am sure I will soon be enthusiastic for sketching and painting  again. 

Daily Life, TV, Ann Hyde

Every time football is on the TV, Dad has trouble watching it.   I wonder why?

Daily Life, Mrs Mopp, Jez Eden

Perhaps your daily lives are like ours.  Although certain things are standard and repeated every day, we find that each day is different and never turns out as we expected.

Today was no exception, and today was a 'big decision' day.  We had decided that, although we have always fought against the idea, it was time for us to have someone to come in and do the majority of the house cleaning for us.  Today the cleaning firm's owner came to assess the flat (and us, of course) and give us a chance to assess her and what her staff could do for us.  Big decision made, so from next week we hope that life will be easier.  All rooms to be cleaned and tidied EXCEPT the studio.  No-one tidies that or we would never know what we were doing and where everything was.

Here's my sketch to illustrate today's version of our 'Daily Life', with a little doggerel verse to go with it:

Pitt Pen and Coloured Pencils - Jez

MRS MOPP, QUEEN OF THE CLEANING LADIES

I brush, I mop, and then I clean,

Swipe away any dust that can actually be seen.

Stop for a drink, a ciggie and a rest,

I may not be good but I'm doin' me best.

When I've banished all the dust and fluff

I'm all worn out, and I think I've done enough.

Just wash the windows, there's no more time,

Say I'm finished - and they'll think it's fine.

I have to assure you that the firm we are using does NOT employ Mrs Mopp.  Now I will leave you with my usual farewell - feeling tired and rather painful so I'm off back to bed.

Daily Life, Relaxing by Joan Tavolott

This young man that I found today was doing my favorite thing...just relaxing and watching the water down by the bay in Sayville. The bench he is seated on faces the Great South Bay and a small beach area. There is always someone there just watching and relaxing.

Daily Life, Daily Walk by Margaret Coote

I thought I'd draw a little sketch of my daily walk for you. I can't think of anything more "daily" in my life than this walk! Sometimes with one or more instruments, this is how I get to work each day.

Definitely not to scale, definitely not "accurate", but definitely a representation of my experience of it...

Daily Life, Kickback Day, GloriaV.

Hope your weekend and Memorial Day was great.

We remembered our veterans and said a prayer for them, especially my son.

 

The rest of the day was spent doing absolutely anything and everything we love. Gardening, weeding, eating, drinking iced tea, and barbecuing hot dogs. That's all, but it's enough because that is how we spend our lives here at home. Just enjoying it.

 

 

Then I decided I was going to spend the day laying on my bed after a cold shower and just watching TV, snacking, eating ice cream, cold drinks and being happy. So here's my sketch of my lazy day, after of course working outside early in the morn.

 

 

KICKBACK DAY

PPPP, Kickback Day  #77, glv, 2014

Ipad, P53



Daily Life, Bubbling Ideas, Jez

One of the things that is irritating me most at the moment is the fact that in my daily life my mind is always bubbling away with dozens of ideas, and at the moment I am not able to take them on to the next stage.  Today I was determined to try:

So this was the simple idea that was taking shape in my mind.  The logistics of trying to take it to the next stage were difficult, but Dev went and found me some pre-gelliprinted pages, glue, scissors and coloured pencils, 'cushion-type desk-tray', PPP&P sketchbook …… and anything else I called for.

Not easy, but I managed this, and once again concentration helped with the pain.

The background colour is not quite true, it is really rather nice shades of sea-green/turquoise.  I tore a rectangle of gelliprinted paper with the aid of a ruler (about 4" x 6") and stuck it to the sketchbook page.  Then collaged on the cut pieces for the windmill petals and the leaves, with a little added coloured pencil decoration.  Good enough for the first realisation of the idea, and one day I shall be able to take the idea further.

Very tired now and pain pretty bad, just had latest lot of pills and am going to fall into bed with my lovely hot-water bottle on my back.  I love everything you are doing dear friends, even if I can't comment much.  Thank you for your comments, they keep me going.

Daily Life, Home after the walk, Ann Hyde

So there we are, home after a long walk and who decides he wants to play?!

 How does he make one tennis ball look like dozens!

Daily Life, "Mikiah Meditates", Lynn Cohen

My eldest grandson celebrated his 24th birthday last evening surrounded by family: two sets of grandparents, parents, and three siblings, plus sisters beau. I often draw him when we get together. I'd shown him some portraits I'd drawn recently of some of my Sketchbook Skoolmates we are doing there as a drawing challenge. He pulled out a photo of himself meditating and asked if I would draw him from that. Today I spent several hours drawing this first in ink, then coloring it with colored pencils.

As I keep saying drawing is how I  spend much of my days. I've drawn seven Klassmates portraits in the last few days. They'll show up on my blog later this week!

Daily Life, Memorial Day by Joan Tavolott

Today is Memorial Day here in the USA when we honor those who gave their lives in service to our country. There are parades and ceremonies in most of the towns. I decided to go into Sayville to sketch their service which was supposed to begin at 11:00 according to the internet...wrong!

The service in Sparrow Park was already over when I got there, but there was a ceremony taking place in front of the Sayville Fire Department honoring those who served and I caught the tail end of it.

I sketched two members of the color guard and the memorial wreath.

Then I went over to tiny Sparrow Park and sketched the memorial there.