Feliz Navidad

I'm currently in Panama City for Christmas, and someone was actually singing Feliz Navidad loudly outside my hotel room this morning.  It was the best. Also, Panama MTV seems to still play music videos, which is a nice blast from the past.  Here are my sketches from this afternoon.

More sketches of Ecuador

Last weekend I put some color on sketches I made while we were stuck in traffic leaving Quito.  I also painted a restaurant near the hotel where I had dinner one night.  Quito is a great city and I'd love to spend more time there.

Old Sturbridge Village

I visited Old Sturbridge Village while the interpreters were explaining how leftovers were repurposed in the Freeman Farm Sketches. It was so pleasant sitting by the hearth that I took the time to sketch my view of the kitchen table.  I highly recommend a visit if you are nearby.

Crafts from Old Sturbridge Village

Recently I have been making crafts when I visit Old Sturbridge Village.  Earlier this month I took a class on wool appliqué and penny rugs, which were popular during the 19th century. I finished my Thanksgiving piece today.

Penny rugs sometimes had pennies used as template shapes sewn into the back of them. Here I've sewn pennies and also coins from Bulgaria and Ecuador.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

Cold Spring, NY

Sketching in ink and watercolor with the NYC Urban Sketchers.

Figure sketch

I drew this model at a drawing event tonight- I read Charles Reid's The Natural Way to Paint during the breaks.

Plovdiv, Bulgaria

A sketch from the Old Town of Plovdiv-lovely town.

Sketches of Ecuador

I'm participating in New Haven's City Wide Open Studios next weekend, and these are two paintings made from photos I took last month in Quito.

NYC Sail and Sketch

Last Sunday I joined the NYC Urban Sketchers again for a sketching day at South Street Seaport.  After a few hours sketching the environs we boarded the 1885 sloop Pioneer to sail for two hours in the harbor and see the iconic images. Here is what I got:

NYC Urban Sketchers

I'm at my first NYC urban sketchers event painting the beautiful Alwyn Court.

We also painted Millionaire's Row and Carnegie Hall.

Baby quilt

Here's my latest baby quilt, sewn for one of my closest high school friends who is having another little boy.

Bulgaria: Rila Monastery to Plovdiv

Today I made a number of sketches in the bus as we drove between Rila Monastery and Plovdiv, Bulgaria's second city which is home to many artists.  You can probably tell the road was bumpy.  We had a wine tasting at Bessa Valley wines which was delicious.  I also painted an icon from St Alexander Nevski cathedral (St Andrew).  Always helps to have a sketchbook when photos aren't allowed.

Sofia, Bulgaria

I spent the day exploring Sofia and recording what I saw in my sketchbook.
I also went to the lovely Absinthe Aquarelle Gallery to see the water colors.  I'd write down the names of the artists I liked but unfortunately I don't have a Cyrillic keyboard!  There were many beautiful works and the woman working in the gallery said that there is no one style of Bulgarian watercolor, but everyone seems to do their own thing.  Nothing wrong with that.

Angel from a fresco in the St Alexsandr Nevski cathedral.  No photos allowed so you need to draw!

My name in Cyrillic and the welcome flower from the tour director 

St George's rotunda, hidden in a Stalinist baroque courtyard behind the President's office, and the oldest church in Bulgaria.

Statue of St Clement, father of the Cyrillic alphabet.

Heather Ridge Farm, Thomas Cole's house, and the Catskills

View from Thomas Cole's house porch. They have wonderful contemporary art exhibits on display.

Hancock Shaker Village

I went to Hancock Shaker Village for their baby animal festival in May.  Here is what I got:

The round barn

Animals friends

Sketches from the Met backstage tour

I took a backstage tour of the Met Opera house and it was phenomenal.  Here are my sketches of some large props.

Pomeranian

Here's a quick sketch of my parents' dog.

Ceramic toys

While visiting my parents' house this weekend I decided to sketch some odd ceramics I've had since I was little. The money hungry bank is apparently my dad's, and the China dogs and deer are from my mom.

More cards

Since we are having a tough northeastern winter, I thought I'd post some art to forestall the further collapse of society! Just kidding - it is not that bad, but here are some nice distractions in any case.