Stony Creek Waterfront - June 2015

Greetings to All,

We ended up with seven painters, one sketcher and one late cheerleader/photographer for a total of nine. When I arrived in Stony Creek at 8:20 or so, Denise was just unloading her car at the gazebo. I found Pam at the docks, just finishing a quick sketch before she headed off to a book club meeting. She had actually arrived at 8 AM, which was my intended start time before I had a bit of a sleepless night. When I circled back toward the gazebo, after shooting too many photos, Hans was already sketching his painting from a park bench, and Sally was settling in near Denise.

After some greetings and chat, I headed back to the dock area where I had left my car, still uncertain about what I would paint. That was around 9 AM. Quickly a waterfront scene grabbed my attention. Pat came by just after I finished my drawing, but aside from greeting the regular passersby as they headed for the ferry, I kept my head down until 11:50.

Back at the gazebo for the wrap up, I found that Betsey and Cheryl had joined the painters there, and Jay had showed up to chat after having a busy morning elsewhere. So Jay insisted on being the photographer today and staying out of the group photo. True to this year's form, seven of us headed to the Stony Creek Market for another delicious and most copacetic lunch out.

It was a perfect morning, actually, in spite of a little spritz of rain now and then. A light breeze kept the heat down, even when the sun broke through. The vibrant waterfront bustled with energy and affirmation. And, best of all, there we were, all doing what we love to do together. You just can't beat that.

I have to apologize for scheduling Flo Gris on the day of the MAS bus trip to the Clark Museum. I am going to explore the possibility of postponing Flo Gris until the following week, our rain date. But that may leave us without a rain date, so let's see how that goes.

/j

Stony Creek Waterfront

 

Call to Paint - Thursday, 11 June 2015 - 9 AM

Greetings to All,

I've scheduled us for painting at the Stony Creek Docks -- or at least on that end of the waterfront. My rationale is that we can paint at the gazebo on another occasion later in the summer, perhaps when we anticipate a need for the shelter. Of course if you prefer to paint at the gazebo or any other spot, you can do that and join us later for the wrap-up.

Although I've posted the time for 9 AM, that is quite late now for good long shadows and good light, and temperatures already are beginning to heat up. So I'm hoping I can make myself go out at 8 AM or thereabouts. I'll be aiming for a personal start time of 8 AM for the next two months.

If you don't have it already, you might want to enter my cell phone number into your contacts:  203-641-7427.

I'll hope to see you there.

/j

The Show Scene

Greetings to All,

Since I'm managing two blogs now, some of you may get two posts by this title. This is just to point your attention to several shows you might want to catch this month, some of which will be coming down very soon.

With all the art activities that are happening, perhaps some of you did not make the opening of GAL's second member show at Scranton Library last Thursday. The Viewer's choice award went to Denise Casey for her oil painting, Azaleas.  The exhibit will be in place for just about two more weeks, until June 28.  If you've not yet had a chance to see it, I think you will enjoy this very contemporary exhibit of just 40 paintings, with plenty of air around each one -- quite a contrast to the recent MAS juried show.

If you have any open space in your art calendar, you might also want to catch the following offerings:

Essex Art Association Elected Artist themed exhibit Calm and Chaotic - at EAA, 10 N. Main St., Essex - Showing only two more days through June 12 - another excellent and very contemporary/abstract exhibit.

Clinton Art Gallery,  Reception - this Saturday, June 13, 5-7 PM after an all-day open house serving light refreshments - 20 E. Main Street Clinton. This is a small co-op gallery that I've joined recently, showing the work of 17 artists. We're two doors up from Cindy Stevens' gallery, which opened around the same time as CAG, a little more than a year ago.

Connecticut Watercolor Society 75th Annual Exhibition at John Slade Ely House on Trumbull St., New Haven - June 13 through July 12, opening reception June 21 - 2-5 PM.  This promises to be the final CWS show at the magnificent JSE House, as the building is being sold. I am told that CWS will continue to bring their biennial exhibit to New Haven in the future, using the gallery of the Creative Arts Workshop.

Lyme Art Association themed maritime exhibit American Waters - at LAA, 10 Lyme St., Old Lyme, (juried show plus exhibit by American Society of Marine Artists) - June 12 through July 31, opening reception June 19 - 6-8 PM

These are just a few shows on my personal radar this month. I'm sure you know of others.



/j

Clinton Landing - June 2015

Greetings to All,

Here I am finally with last week's recap. It's been a very busy week. And you will see by the limited number of pics that I was staying very focused this week, trying to figure out how to mostly finish a painting on site. Of course that's just a pipe dream for me, but the idea kept me glued to my task and not out shooting photos.

Six painters enjoyed a sunny, breezy morning at Clinton Landing - Denise, Sally, Judy, Betsey, Keiko, and me.  We enjoyed the company of a glossy ibis, 3 Canada Goose goslings with their parents, and a yellow crowned night heron. Not a bad little bird list for a morning's painting.

After the wrap-up, a few of us went by my new coop gallery - Clinton Art Gallery -- to check out the new layout and new artists. Then Judy, Sally, and I went to Cohen's Bagel Shop for a yummy lunch.

Next time, Stony Creek Docks.  I'm thinking the dock area and the little store. We can do the gazebo scene later in the summer. But, of course, if it's the gazebo or something else that suits you, that's your choice. So far, it looks like the weather will cooperate

Clinton Landing

Call to Paint - Thursday, 4 June 2015 - 9 AM

Greetings to All,

Well, the forecast is getting iffier by the moment, but let's plan to paint.  Clinton Landing at least has a little cover in the gazebo, and the parking lot is suitable for tail-gating. We're talking about the waterfront behind the town hall.

I keep suggesting byo lunch, and we keep ignoring those lunches and finding a restaurant instead. So the best I can offer is, byo but then, if you wish, be prepared to ignore it.

Check the blog Directions Page if you're uncertain.

I hope to see you there.

/j