Lenny's -- 2014

Eight painters took the Lenny's challenge on a sunny, breezy Thursday morning. Tina and Hans chose to paint at the Indian Neck Garage, across the street, and Jay worked from that side to capture Lenny's at a better angle. Kay, Betsey, Keiko, Terry and I worked in the parking lot. Betsey found an alternate subject next door, the artistic value of which she managed to elevate considerably in her sketchbook. She didn't share the second painting she started, but it was looking good too.

Sally came early and shot some photos, but she decided the sun was going to be following her over the edge of her tail gate all morning, so she did not stay. Keiko couldn't stay for the wrap up, and Tina also disappeared early without touching base.

That left six of us to enjoy a relaxed lunch on Lenny's back deck, overlooking the marsh.

Next week -- Clinton Town Beach. Can you believe it's going to be After Labor Day already?

Lenny's

Call to Paint -- Thursday, 28 August 2014 -- 8 AM

This will be our first time painting at Lenny's Restaurant on South Montowese Street in Branford. The site looks out over a marsh on the west side. On the street side, to the northeast, is the Indian Neck Garage General Store, which is a colorful spot with a red flying horse, Indian totem, American Flag, and an outside market area with picnic tables and umbrellas. Lenny's restaurant, itself, is an interesting subject, with a stone chimney, a deck with umbrellas, overlooking the marsh, and signage worthy of being in a painting. Months ago I also spoke with someone there about painting on their site and was told that that would be OK. So, if you would prefer to paint on that side, we can ask, and it probably will be OK.

I've posted for 8 AM to take advantage of the cool and the lighter breezes. The forecast is looking better than I had expected, with a high of 79 degrees, partly cloudy, and a hopefully not too brisk breeze from the northwest. We will be working from a parking lot of dirt and crushed stone. As long as we leave the entry drives clear and leave plenty of space near the restaurant entrance for lunchtime patrons, we can move our cars around to block either the sun or the breeze, and there are a couple of safe grass areas where it looks like it would be possible to dig in with a shade umbrella.

There is no shade in the parking area, so for lunch it's either eat out at Lenny's, or have byo while we sit in the sun at the back end of the parking area, or try to persuade the people across the street to let us use their picnic tables, maybe if we buy beverages and/or chips or fruit from them. Or if you have any other ideas...

Since it's our first time, I've included the directions, below.

I hope to see you there.

/j

DIRECTIONS:

LENNY’S RESTAURANT, 205 South Montowese Street, Branford

Heading south on I-95, take Exit 55. Turn RIGHT on Rte 1 (East Main), and move to left lane. After 0.3 mi., turn LEFT (south) on Windmill Hill Road. After 0.5 mi., turn RIGHT (southwest) on Damascus Road. After 0.9 mi., Damascus merges with Pine Orchard Road. Stay straight, heading west for another 0.4 mile. Turn LEFT (south) on South Montowese Street, and continue for about 0.9 mile. (You will pass over the Branford River, through one stop sign, by Brewer’s Bruce & Johnson Marina.) About 0.2 mi. after Brewer’s, Lenny’s will be on your right.

Watercolor Demo

Cheryl shared this invitation to a watercolor demo by Ralph Acosta on September 12th, from 9:30 - Noon at Lymes' Senior Center, 26 Town Woods Road, Old Lyme. Cost: $10

Refreshments will be served.

All are welcome!

Dudley Barn Studio

Two years ago, Rosemary made arrangements with Dudley Farm for CTSA members to rent their barn for studio painting in the off season. There is heat, water, two-person tables and good light. There is no program or teaching and no organized critique, although we do solicit feedback and advice from each other. It's just a time when we can go and paint together, with each of us working on our own projects -- a way to motivate ourselves to paint regularly and a way to stay in touch with each other during the months when not everyone wants to paint outside. 

For $700, we have the barn for ten Tuesdays, beginning on September 9 ending November 11, 9:00 - Noon or thereabouts.  We hope for a total of 10-12 painters to share the cost -- which comes to about $60 or $70 for the 10 weeks, so about $6-$7/week. Although we already have about 8 slots filled, if you would like to be one of the 12, please either contact Rosemary directly, or let me know, and I'll ask her to get in touch with you. We'll settle up to split the costs when we convene in September.

/j

Down by the Riverside Festival and Exhibit

Our deadline to sign up to pant out at the Riverside Festival in New London is just nine days away --August 31. The festival organizers need to know how many artists will be painting, as they need to plan for food and water for us, and of course, they also need to get a sense of how many paintings might be submitted for the subsequent exhibit at Union Station.

Here are the dates -- Festival at Riverside Park -- Saturday, September 13, from 11AM to 4 PM.
                                 You can begin painting earlier than 11 AM, if you like.
                                 Exhibit at Union Station Gallery -- Opening Reception:  Saturday, October 18
                                 from 7 to 9 PM

I plan to make a trip to New London before that time to get a feel for where I might like to paint. I'll shoot some photos and likely will come home and prepare a couple of sketches, as I did last year, so that I can focus on painting when I'm there at the festival. Since the exhibit is a month later, there's also plenty of time to finish up or do additional paintings back in the studio. This is a fund-raising event for the Riverside Park Conservancy, so people come prepared to purchase paintings, and artists are encouraged to donate a share of their sales to the Conservancy. But there is no prescribed "commission".

If you plan to or think you might like to participate in this event, please let me know soon. If you painted last year and have notified the Conservancy directly, could you still please let me know that you are planning to be there?

Thanks.

/j

Follow-up -- Mercy Center

Greetings to All,

Over the past two days, I've been enlightened. On Wednesday, I ran into Jeannette at the MAS paint out in Old Saybrook. She said that she DID paint at Mercy Center and that she saw Judy there, but that neither of them was aware of the rest of us on the other side of the site. Judy also mentioned this when I saw her at Rosemary's yesterday. Since all of us have not painted together there previously, I should have been more specific about where we would meet. There is a large gulf between the east and west end of the property.

I have asked both Jeannette and Judy to send me images of their paintings of the day, so I can post them. Jeannette, as always, said, Oh, her painting is no good! but I'm not sure I've ever seen one of Jeannette's paintings or sketches that was no good... Maybe Judy will send hers...

Several of you have asked me whether it would be possible to go back on your own to paint at Mercy Center. They tell me they welcome artists on the grounds just about any time, but that if you go, you just need to check in at the front desk when you arrive.

/j

Rosemary's Garden -- 2014

Eleven happy painters convened around Rosemary's pool -- Veronica, back from her trip and recovered from the flu, Judy, Kay, Kaleigh, Hans, Rosermary, Sally, now driving herself and out again in August, Terry, Cheryl, Patty, and me. Hans and Judy worked in their sketchbooks. Patty explored with her watercolor pencils (I think that's what they were -- I didn't look closely). 

Rosemary's garden has so many spots that want to be painted, it was even harder than usual to pick one. Sally and Cheryl found the coolest spot in the step-down patio (I neglected to get a photo there). Kay and Kaleigh picked the sunny pool-side. It was a delightful morning, and Judy's sketch says it all!

Judy had a meeting and had to leave early. The rest of us chatted while we ate lunch beside the pool. Rosemary had a big jug of delicious iced tea for us. But, alas, then it was time to go. Veronica sent her charming Impressionist double portrait away with Kaleigh. We all were so sad to have Kaleigh go, this being her final paint-out with us for the year, but also happy for her, as her long-anticipated move to Vista will happen this coming Wednesday. We all wish her Godspeed  --  the wonders of a broadening horizon, the evolving comforts of new friends, and her own space. We will be thinking of you, Kaleigh.

Next week, we go to a new venue -- Lenny's Indian Neck Restaurant on S. Montowese Street in Branford. I think you'll like it.

/j

Rosemary's Garden