Call to Paint - Thursday, 21 May 2015 - 9 AM

OK, Hammonasset is it. And for a change, let's turn right and paint at the little pond and stream between West Beach and the campground. We painted there once before. I'll try to remember to put up my spare easel with an arrow where you turn right off the road to West Beach.  So at the rotary, go right (west) down the road to West Beach and go I think about one third of the distance to the end. There will be a dirt path that goes to the north into a field, leading to a little bridge that is blocked off with a chain.

If you have trouble finding it, give me a call - 203-641-7427.

I'll hope to see you there.

/j

Photos on the Blog

I cropped a lot of the photos into tall vertical format this time. If you want to flip through the photos one at a time in larger format instead of scrolling them, it's easier if you go to the blog.  Then you can just pop one up and navigate through them with your forward arrow. I don't know about you, but I can't do that on my computer if I look at them in the email message.

/j

Branford Green Again - May 2015

Greetings to All,

We were just nine painters for this return visit to the Branford Geen. I guess some of you got bored with this venue, but those of us who showed up had another beautiful and challenging morning, producing nine paintings, including seven inspired by the churches. Anne M joined us for the first time, and John and Tom came out for the first time this year. Julia came quite late and just managed to get through her drawing. Hans, Tina, Jay, Jane and I were the remaining four. Dorothea came to observe, coach, and encourage. Tina is not in the group pic because she was still finishing her painting, but others needed to leave. Most of us stayed for lunch, either byo on the green or G Cafe Bakery fare down the block for those who came without.

I'm thinking of Hammonasset for next week, to get in before Memorial Day. So far, the forecast looks good. I'll post the call to paint probably on Tuesday. One of these days, maybe I'll get around to assembling a schedule for the season. I just haven't been able to make time yet, and we're getting along without it for now.

Branford Green

CTSA Business Cards

Do you ever find yourself trying to tell someone how to find out more about CTSA? I got tired of trying to find a scrap of paper and then writing the name of the group, the blog address, and my own email address for them. So I've ordered some business cards. If you would like a little supply of these cards, I'll have them with me on Thursday. I omitted my email address to leave extra space on the card, so that you (or I) can write our own email address if we wish to add that.

I'll try to keep a supply in my car, so if you don't paint this week, ask me when you do come.

/j 

Call to Paint - Thursday, 14 May 2015 - 9 AM Branford Green again

Greetings to All,

After my last post, Jane sent me a note suggesting that the Clinton Beach might not be off-limits until later than Memorial Day.  Sure enough. They don't open until June 15. So let's go back to Branford Green this week, where we found so much of interest last Thursday. It looks like perfect painting weather again, with sun, breeze, but not too much, and a high of 70 degrees.

I'll hope to see you there.

/j

Branford Green -- May 2015

Greetings to All,

First a clarification, I am told that the white trees blooming around us were pear trees, not apple trees. And the cherry trees in that grove were just barely popping. So there may still be more life in this site.  Let's think about that.

But with just about perfect weather, and with the addition of MAS painters who got rained out on Wednesday, we had a good turnout of 13. It was Sally, Cheryl, Jay Ba, Jay Bt, Silvia, Betsey, Judy, Jane (first time this year), Bev, Pat A (first time this year), Pam, and a long-time friend of Silvia's - Jean P, joining us for the first time. I was delighted to see Jean there. I had met her last year at a party, realizing that she is the wife of a professor who had been an adviser on my honors thesis at Southern back in 1973. Tina had planned to join us but got delayed. Hans and Dorothea were in New York.

We all set up in roughly the same area, where the riot of blossoming trees and shrubs were irresistible. It was interesting to compare how different media helped or hindered in rendering the whites of the trees. Those working in pastel, oil, and acrylic were able to get right to it. Those of us working in watercolor and ink found the subject more challenging.

We lost Pam, Judy, and Jay Bt early. I didn't even realize that Jay had gone. He usually checks in with me for a pic. A few of us lingered for chat over our byo's.

Beautiful day.

Many of us wrapped up the day back together at the opening of the MAS show at Scranton Library in Madison in the evening. That show has some terrific artwork, which you can see during library hours between now and May 29.

Now to next week. I'm pretty sure the bloom in Branford will continue, and possibly be even better. But this also is the time of year when we get ourselves into Hammonasset and the Clinton and Madison town beaches before the summer access limitations kick in. We have just three more weeks before Memorial Day, and that would give us one week each for Hammonasset, Clinton Town Beach, and either East Wharf or West Wharf Beach in Madison. So unless I hear from you that you really-really want to go back to Branford for another week, we'll plan for Clinton Town Beach next week. Let me know.

Branford Green