"Path to the Beach" Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

                                                      graphite on 7" x 10" sketchbook page


                                                     

                                                       Found along the way:

                                                       graphite on 7" x10" sketchbook page

"Sycamore Beside the New River"

This past weekend we attempted to escape the heat and traveled to Jefferson, NC.  We visited friends in Crumpler and had a wonderful riparian afternoon and picnic alongside of the New River at their delightful setting there.  I enjoyed sketching this magnificent sycamore while embracing the soft trickling sounds of the  river and general peace and beauty of my surroundings.

                                                      watercolor and "Pit" artist pen on 7" x 10" sketchbook page

"Wax Myrtle"

Another plein air from our November trip to Wrightsville Beach, NC:

                                          watercolor and PITT artist pen on 10" x 7" sketchbook page

"Tonight's Self Portrait" (quickie)

Well, here's tonight"s quick sketch (not a good likeness) of my mug:

"Durham Davis House"

From trip to Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach, NC,  one month ago ( November ):

                                                             Precise pen on sketch book page.

"Self Portraits" (quickies)

Here are two very quickly drawn (about 10 mins. each) self portraits of my 70 year old mug.  I did them about a week apart both late at night just before going to bed.  I stood in front of my bathroom sink and looked into the mirror holding the sketchbook in my hand.  I think I look especially tired in the second one.

                                                   Precise pen on 3 1/2" x 5 1/2" Moleskine sketchbook pages.

"July 4th 2015"

                                           'peach bottom' road view
                                           cool mountain air refreshes
                                           fourth of july fun

                                           water color on sketchbook page
                                           10" X 7"

O my!  What a delightful time we had on the 4th!  My family gathered at my nieces farm in "Laurel Springs" and had such fun.  She and her husband made good ole North Carolina bar-b-que and the rest of our clan brought all kinds of wonderful sides like fresh tomato sandwiches, green beans, squash, cucumber salad, potato salad, watermelon and an array of scrumptious delectable desserts.  The mountain air was so much cooler (mid 70's and low humidity) than down in the Piedmont plateau where we've experienced many days of 90's with high humidity.  We had such fun watching the kids swimming in the pond, jumping from paddle boats, and simply playing with gleeful abandon all day.  I personally enjoyed sitting under a large "shade tree"  while playing with my watercolors.  At dusk, Jason built a fire in their fire pit that was enjoyed by all as the temps continued to drop and displays of fireworks across the ranges (Jason's were the best!) were exchanged by several mountain inhabitants. I'll never forget this day.

"Izoria's Garden"

                                                     just before sunset
                                                     warm and humid glistening
                                                     after day's late rain

                                                      graphite on sketchbook page
                                                      7 3/4" X 10 1/4"

Recent Drawings

"Waiting for the Ferry"
graphite on 10" X 7" sketchbook page

"Bo Napping"
graphite on 10" X 7" sketchbook page

"Recent Sketches"

                                                   "Today's Lily"
                                                   Precise pen on sketchbook page

                                                     "Southern Front Porch"
                                                     Precise pen on sketchbook page



Here's a quick-sketch of a still life that I set up for my art students per their requests.  They wanted glass, wine theme and simple (yes,  it is cliche). 

                                                   "Wine for Two"
                                                   Precise pen
                                                   on sketchbook page

"From a Week in San Miguel"

This is what we saw over the garden wall from the back of our hotel.
The beautifully designed "Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel"

graphite
on sketchbook page

The "Jardin" is like the center of the town along with the Parroquia because many people (tourists and locals) gather here to enjoy the beautiful ambiance of the town and each other.

graphite
on sketchbook page

The pool behind our hotel as seen from the garden.  Every evening we sat in the garden and had drinks as we relaxed.  I enjoyed drawing in my sketchbook as Bo read and enjoyed the environment.

graphite
on sketchbook page

A study of a tree in the garden of our hotel.

graphite
on sketchbook page

A lovely clay pot within a decorative iron casing/stand by the door at our hotel.

colored pencil (I don't think I've ever published a colored pencil drawing before this one!)
on sketchbook page

Doorway as seen from the garden of our hotel.

graphite
on sketchbook page

Beautiful use of pottery to adorn the wall and circulate water into the pool at "Hotel Villa Rivera".

graphite
on sketchbook page



Two quick sketches done with ballpoint pen in my 3 1/2" X 5 1/2" Moleskine sketchbook:

 

Entrance to the "Parque"

 

                                                          Entrance to "Hotel Villa Rivera"
                                                                      ('Our' hotel.)

Recent Sketches in My 3 1/2" X 5 1/2" Moleskine Sketchbook

All of these were very quickly done on location with a ball point pen.  I'm finding that rendering images very quickly within such a small format is very challenging!

                                          Behind "State Employees Credit Union"

                                          "Corpening" parking lot.

                                          In a waiting room.

                                                        At the end of "Stockton Building"

                                          The old "Hanes" manufacturing plant.

                                                        Things seen at street side: an interesting fence and car at curb.

January 16 and 24 Quick Sketches

                                          I sat in my car and quickly sketched this as I waited for an office to open.
                                          The temperature was 10F outside this morning.

                                                         This poor little Holly tree was so severely and brutally pruned to install
                                                         a new underground power line. It's next to a parking lot at the
                                                         "Corpening Building".                  

Last Week's Quick Drawings

All of these were done in my small (3 1/2" X 5 1/2") moleskine sketchbook with a ballpoint pen.
Having fun trying to capture what's around me as I go about my day.

"January 2 and 3"

A quick-sketch done in our living room on a page in my new 3 1/2" X 5 1/2" Moleskine sketchbook with a ballpoint pen.  I usually don't sketch this small unless I'm just doodling on something while talking on the phone.  I just bought this sketchbook and intend to carry it in my pocket so that I can take advantage of "free" moments in my life to capture what is before me.

This lovely Amaryllis (as red as Santa's suit!), a Christmas gift from Don and Don, is growing on our kitchen counter.  My quick-sketch done mid-day today with a ballpoint pen.

More Sketches from Thanksgiving Week

This day was cold and windy.  However, the sun was brightly shining and the bark and structure of these Sycamore trees  was too beautiful to resist sketching while sitting in the warmth of our car. "Precise" pen and a touch of watercolor.

An inside still life at our vacation retreat.  "Precise" pen, applying water for wash and some watercolor.

Thanksgiving Week

Over and over again I enjoy sketching/painting the interesting wind-swept  "Live Oak" trees at Fort Fisher. I did this while sitting in the front seat of our car on a windy, misty day during our holiday travels.

Earlier in the morning this amusing lavender colored house on Salisbury St. in Wrightsville Beach caught my eye.

"Charmed"

many hues abound
skies are Carolina blue
as Fall enchants us

"Precise" pen and watercolor
on sketchbook page

"Office Table"

Using supplies at hand capturing the moment.

"Office Table"
ball point pen on copy paper

Last Weekend

Last weekend we went to Blowing Rock,  NC,  a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains.  I enjoyed sketching and the very pleasant cool temperatures.  We also spent some time in the very near town of Boone.

                                                     "Downtown Boone"
                                                    "Precise" pen
                                                     on sketchbook page

                                                    "Grandfather Mountain at Sunset"
                                                    "Precise" pen, graphite and watercolor
                                                     on sketchbook page

                                                    "By the Stream in Julian Price Park"
                                                     "Precise" pen and watercolor
                                                     on sketchbook page

                                                   "Tree Study" ( in Julian Price Park)
                                                   graphite and watercolor
                                                   on sketchbook page


                                                                        

                                                   "We Three" ( in Julian Price Park)
                                                   "Precise" pen and watercolor
                                                   on sketchbook page



                                                                                

                                                    "After Picnic" (in Julian Price Park)
                                                    "Precise" pen and watercolor
                                                    on sketchbook page