Japanese Knotweed

The Japanese Knotweed grows healthy in front of our employee reserved parking spots.  Today at lunch, I sat in my car and sketched a section of its foliage.  There was a nice breeze though a bit warmer than in the days past.  It was interesting to watch how the leaves dance against the wind.  Bright green leaves with a hint of red stem grows in alternating fashion. Fun to observe and sketch it.  A nice change from the local scenes I've recently been sketching.

I-95 Freeway Ramp

Construction at the I-95 and I-287 Freeway merge in Port Chester, NY has been going on for sometime now.  Every time I get off the ramp at Exit 22 off I-95 North, I marvel at the exposed geological patterns on the hill after they carved out more road space.  This was the lone heavy machinery left there. I suppose the bulk of the work is now concentrated on the other half of I-95 Freeway.

A Sketch at the Marshlands Conservancy

On Mother's Day last week, I visited the Marshlands Conservancy Park in Rey, NY for the first time.  Lots of trails in the wooded area.  A sign on the trail past the visitor center says "Nature is Neat, but Sure is not Tidy" which I thought was funny.  The meandering trails allowed for a slow commune with nature.  Off-the-path, I saw one of the largest fallen trees good for sketching.  So I made my way near it and settled into place. Minutes later, something stirred from the ground.  It was a Wild Turkey!  She was taking a break from incubating 5 of her eggs I spied from about 12 feet away.  Good that I was able to capture her on video but I never dared disturb her peace.  

The Gavi's Grocery

A short distance from our office is this local store called Gavi's Grocery.  Yesterday, after work, I found an opportunity to sketch the scene.  It was a bit difficult at first to get the scene right onto my sketchbook.  I had to adjust the measurements of the whole scene for the full hour I was there.   At home, the sketch paper just buckled on watercolor application but I wanted to color it anyway.

A Day at the MET

We were supposed to be there at 10:00am but had a late start getting out to the city. Since it was close to noontime, we took an early lunch at the cafeteria while it was less crowded.  I managed to sketch a few patrons nearby.  

After lunch, we went upstairs on the 2nd Floor to view the Alice Neel Exhibit.  Of course, there was a line but it didn't matter, I have my sketchbook anyway.  I sketched the people in front of us.  Once inside the gallery, I decided to step off the normal queue and just quickly and randomly glanced at the portraits  of interest from afar.  A sketch of the scene was far more interesting for me this time.

Afterward, Anne and I took an hour to ourselves and decided to rejoin again at the South entrance lobby by 2:00 PM.  I took position at the Medieval Art Gallery 305 for the ongoing current exhibit Cross Roads: Power and Piety.  Happy to have done several sketches in one day!

Flowering Trees

Peak times it must be! For the flowering trees are in full bloom these past few days and soon they will be gone.  I sketched a few of the ones near my work.  It's hard when I don't have much free time during the week so I try to insert sketching during my lunch time and whenever possible after work.  I wish I have more time doing this kind of activity.

A Corner Auto Repair Shop

There's an auto repair shop located on Eldridge Street and Milbank Avenue in Port Chester, NY.  Parked in front of the shop is a VW Combi and an older Mercedes-Benz Station Wagon.  I haven't seen it move from that spot in many months.  Perhaps they aren't in good working order.  Yesterday, at lunch time, I found an empty parking spot across from the repair shop where I did my In-Car Sketch of the scene.