Call to Paint -- Thursday, 17 October 2013 -- 9 AM -- Dudley Farm, Guilford

Greetings to All,

As the days get shorter and cooler, it was tempting to move up our meeting time to 10 AM. But lest someone think I'm getting wimpy, I've left it at 9. When we start suffering, I'll move it. Meanwhile, I know you all will decide for yourselves anyway. Since the forecast keeps changing, there's no good way to know what the odds are of our getting rained on. I guess it's just another day when you get up and look out the window. Odds for sun are looking pretty slim.

Most of you know Dudley Farm. October is a great time for painting there, with the fall colors brightening things up.

Directions below.

I'll hope to see you there.

/j

DUDLEY FARM, 2351 Durham Road, Guilford

 

From I-95, take Exit 58 – CT 77.  Turn north on CT 77/Durham Road. Go for 4.4 miles. Just after crossing CT 80, Dudley Farm is on the right side.

Clinton Town Beach -- October 10, 2013

Greetings,

We certainly had good fortune today, though chilly and breezy, we did not get rained on!  

Kay, Terry, Judy, Hans, Betsy, Denise and I showed up prepared for the chill.  With the arrival of much cooler mornings, we're still trying to acclimate to the end of warm weather.  

Judy painted a house that was built in the 1700's (first photo below).  The man who owned it (now his son lives there) came out to show us a painting of the house he was living in at the time in the cluster of homes referred to now as Old Harbor Village.  The artist wasVictor Mays and his painting was a monochromatic watercolor that was quite nice (oops, should have taken a photo of it).  After we finished, we gathered at Malone's for a nice lunch and art talk (well, okay, some bird talk, too).

Joan told me that next Thursday, we will meet at Dudley Farm in Guilford.  

Announcement: the Autumn Arts Festival sponsored by the Arts Center Killingworth is this weekend on the Madison Green.  I was informed that 56 artists are participating in this event.  This should be quite a show!  It runs Saturday, 9:30 to 5:30, and Sunday, noon to 5:30.  Many CTSA and MAS members will be there.

Enjoy the weekend and good wishes to all the artists on the green.

Sally

Call to Paint -- Clinton Town Beach --- Thursday Oct 10--9 to noon

As weather forecasts change, there might be a chance of showers or drizzle on Thursday.  Not to worry, there is a pavilion under which we can paint.  :-)

Sally

Call to Paint--Clinton Town Beach--Thursday October 10, 2013--9 to noon

Unfortunately, we will NOT be meeting at Lobster Landing in Clinton to paint.  I visited the site Saturday and spoke with the manager.  We would have to park at the Clinton Docks which is not close to the choice spots to paint.  Another problem is that the ideal locations to set up our easels are in the prime outdoor eating areas.  Perhaps this is a spot to choose once the Lobster Landing closes for the season.

But we will be meeting in Clinton at the Clinton Town Beach.  There's Sound views, Cedar Island views, marina views, beautiful marsh and river views, older houses, revolutionary war canon.  Take your pick.  We'll gather at the pavilion for the photo shoot and lunch for those who want to stay.

The weather forecast is sunny and mid-60s.  Hope to see you there.

Sally

Directions:
If you are heading southbound on I-95, take exit 63, turn right at the stop light at the end of the ramp.

Continue on Route 81 until you pass underneath the RR bridge and reach the stop light.  Stay in left lane.  Turn left. This is Route 1 or E Main St.  Stay on E Main Street for 1/2 mile.  Turn right at Waterside Lane.  Proceed to the end where a marina gate is and bear left which takes you over a little wooden bridge onto Clinton Beach proper.

If you are heading northbound on I-95, take exit 63 and at the end of the ramp, stay in the right lane and   take a left at this stop light.  Then at the next stop light, which is less than a couple hundred feet, turn right onto Route 81.  Proceed as above.

Hope to see you there.

Sally

Painting at Riverside Park Exhibit

On September 7, a handful of CTSA members painted at the Down By The Riverside Festival in New London. Our paintings will be exhibited at New London's Union Station from October 19 through November 16, with an opening reception on October 19 from 7 to 9 PM. Poster attached. Just in case you need another art exhibit on your schedule at this time of year...

CTSA participants were Cheryl, Keiko, Gretchen B, Gretchen K, Elena, and me. Cheryl, Elena and I plan to exhibit our paintings. Gretchen B will not. I'm not sure about Gretchen K and Keiko.

Birbarie Marine -- 3 October 2013

Greetings to All,

Well, the best laid plans... When I arrived at Foote Memorial Park Thursday morning around 9:05. Sally and Tom had heard from a park worker that there would be a large affair right where we were planning to paint. Sally suggested we might move to Birbarie Marine -- right down the road. While Sally went to be sure they would have us, I scrambled to make a sign to post on my "change of plans" easel at the entrance, directing CTSA painters to move to Birbarie.

Meanwhile, Betsey arrived, and Jay, Pam, and Gretchen B. Kay and Terry saw the sign and caught up with us at Birbarie. All nine of us started fairly late. Pam had to leave early but managed to dash off a fresh little painting, in spite of the truck that blocked her view for a while.

It was a fine morning, hot in the sun, but we pulled out a few shade umbrellas and tucked in behind buildings and boats. LOTS of things to paint. We will return here regularly, as long as they will have us. And then there's the bonus of the Lobster Shack open air restaurant.  Six stayed for lunch -- Kay, Terry, Jay, Sally, Tom, and Betsey.

I took the liberty of including a photo of a certain blue-water cruising sailboat -- SV Wildwood -- that is moored just down the river from Birbarie. Unfortunately, the photo is not sharp enough for you to admire a hint of my gleaming fresh varnish on the trim around the cockpit!

Next week, Clinton Harbor -- Sally's suggestion. Sally will issue the call to paint, with directions, convene the group, and post the recap.

Unfortunately I will not be with you next week, as I am trying something new. For a long time, I have been interested in painting people and the gestures of relationship -- not nudes, not portraits, but clothed bodies in their environment. I have been waiting for a spot to open up in New Haven's Brush and Palette Club, where a small group works from models. The invitation came just two days ago. Unfortunately, the group meets on Thursday mornings, so I will have to do some creative scheduling between now and December, when CTSA quits for the winter. But the fall's inclement weather may help me to split my time between CTSA and B & P. We'll see how it goes. But you can be sure I will not be pushing you to paint in the rain or heavy wind for a while!

Images from Birbarie Marine