Snowy Riverbank by Joan Tavolott

A few weeks ago we had quite a bit of snow here on Long Island. I kept going out to paint the snow scenes while I could. This one was done along the river in Riverhead.

Selfie by Joan Tavolott

I wanted to sketch myself from life, but I needed to change it up a little from the last selfie I posted. I found that I could pose in front of the "photo booth" on my Mac and could see myself live instead of trying to balance a mirror. lol 

Selfie by Joan Tavolott

This was done while holding a hand mirror between my knees. lol It works well. I left off my glasses which I use when using the computer...and a few wrinkles. Hope you don't mind.

What I Observe by Joan Tavolott

So sorry for being absent for so long. Life got very busy. I'll try to do better in the future. I love the sketches posted for this theme. Happy New Year everyone!!! Wishing all of you a healthy, happy, inspired 2016.

I have so many sketches that could be posted here, but I'll just do a few. I have gotten into doing digital sketches on my iPad with a program called Artrage. The first and last sketches were done on my iPad, one at a cafe and the last one on the railroad going into the city. The group of Steelers fans were in a bar where my urban sketching group went to share our sketches for the day. Of course Lynn will recognize the third one done at Starbucks.

Night Scenery, Main Street at Night, by Joan Tavolott

I have a local sketch group that meets every Wednesday night. In the summer it isn't a problem to find locations to sketch, but now that it is getting dark earlier it gets more difficult. Last night we went to Patchogue. Rain was forecast so the plan was to sit inside the coffee shop and sketch, but the rain didn't come until much later so we set up outside the coffee shop. I started sketching this about 6:30 and by the time I was ready to paint it had turned dark. We had enough light from the inside of the coffee shop and the street lights to still be able to finish by 7:30.

Activities People Do, Playing Music by Joan Tavolott

My friend and I went to a local "dive bar" that has big band music once a month. It was fun to sketch each of the musicians and a challenge because it wasn't too well lit.

Activities People Do, Historical Reenactment by Joan Tavolott

This weekend one of the towns near me was having a Civil War Reenactment. I'm not much of a history buff, but I thought it would be a fun place to do a few sketches. I figured that I would be safe sketching a soldier standing guard, but before I could add any paint he was called to "muster" and left his post. lol Typical!

There were a few tables set up with objects and information about that period in our history. I sketched one of the tables and then this lady in full costume came to talk to people. She was fairly cooperative until she sat down with her back to me. I had already started painting the sketch so I didn't mind.

Things People Do, Make Music by Joan Tavolott

All the other musicians inspired me to share this one I did earlier in the year.

Things People Do, Eat and Drink, Joan Tavolott

This was sketched at a restaurant in Brooklyn after a day of sketching outdoors.

Things People Do, Plein Air Painting, Joan Tavolott

Yesterday I was with a group sketching in Brooklyn and nearby was someone from our group painting.

All Kinds of Trees by Joan Tavolott

Sorry I haven't been around lately but this summer has been pretty busy. I did enjoy looking through the posts of all the trees that have been posted so far. Super job everyone!

I painted this tree back in the beginning of the summer. It is one of two that are along Mill Pond in Setauket. They are giant trees with huge trunks. Some day I will find out what kind they are. It has a lot of personality. 

Summer/Winter Madness, the Art Show by Joan Tavolott

One of the art organizations I belong to hosts a fine art outdoor show every 4th of July in Bellport, called "Artists on the Lane." For the last few years I have contemplated doing the show, but then I think about all the work to put up a tent, racks, hauling the work and I decide just to visit. This year I did volunteer to help sell raffle tickets for our student scholarship show...but first I sat and sketched some of the art booths.

Summer/Winter Madness, Beach Crowd by Joan Tavolott

Here in the USA this is 4th of July weekend. I went to the beach on Friday and I think half of the world had the day off for the holiday. The beach was packed...and I didn't draw all of the people. This was started directly in watercolor and then the ink was added, and then more watercolor.

Summer/Winter Madness by Joan Tavolott

My summer madness always includes many visits to the beach. I love the dunes. This was done en plein air at Robert Moses State Park. 

Animals/Pets, Carriage Horse by Joan Tavolott

Yesterday I went out with the NYC Urban Sketchers. Our theme for the day was sketching things that are or may be disappearing from NYC. There have been heated arguments in the city about the carriage horses in Central Park. I can understand the arguments for and against them remaining, and the decision hasn't yet been made. Until then, they are fun to sketch and each of the horses (and their drivers) is unique.

Animals, a Lobster by Joan Tavolott

Not everyone sketches their dinner, but I did last night. This guy was 7.11 pounds. 

Just so you can get some sense of his size here is a photo of the two of us.

In the Style of Georgia O'Keeffe, by Joan Tavolott

Georgia O'Keeffe's flowers are so amazing, so I did a crop of one of my iris photos and painted this.

In the Style of Van Gogh, The Marsh by Joan Tavolott

Anyone who has visited my blog (watercolorsbyjoan2.blogspot.com) knows that I do quite a bit of paintings of marshes and water since I am on an island. I decided to do this in the style of Van Gogh with some dabs of paint to let the colors sit side by side. The watercolors however have a mind of their own and like to mingle a bit more than I wanted. lol I'm sure it would have worked better in oils or acrylics, but I don't use either of those. Since I have been focused on florals lately on my blog, maybe I'll try one of those a la Van Gogh next.

Water by Joan Tavolott

My sketch group met along the water in Bayport the other night. I can imagine sitting on that little dock, drinking wine, and watching the sun go down.

Water, the Harbor at Port Jefferson by Joan Tavolott

This is a sketch done the other day at Port Jefferson harbor. There is a nice park along the water and being Mother's Day there were a lot of families around. Quite a few people put their feet in the water because it was so warm outside.