The Coney Island Beach

It's the Labor Day holiday weekend and Sunday was a great day to head out to Coney Island Beach.  I took the time to explore a little bit of this famous beach and play land complete with thrill rides and fun stuff to do.  One day is not enough to have fun sketching here.

The incessant typist

I recognized her from a previous time we were on the same train car.  That time, she was seated directly across from me.  What made her stood out that time was the full headset gear she had on, the fashion accessories on her hands and fingers, the incessant blind typing done on the Apple Magic Keyboard 2.  Her iPad securely locked between her forearm, propped upright, face-down, against her chest.  She would occasionally stop for a quick glance on the iPad screen maybe to read/edit what she had typed before resuming the process again.  It was no different this time except that I was seated across the aisle of the same row which allowed me to discreetly sketch her.

After we de-trained at Grand Central Terminal, I decided I would show her the sketch.  And why not?  Great that I caught up with Theresa, I would later learn her name, because it would not be the same had I miss this one chance.  She smiled and thought it was a beautiful sketch. Theresa took a picture of it with my permission.  And that was how my Friday morning started.

Sketch Grand Army Plaza

On August 25, 2019 the NYC Urban Sketchers group met at the Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn, NY.  I sketched two views of the Bailey Fountain and one of the beautiful Arch.

A ballpoint pen sketch of the fountain.

Two things affecting the sketch - the hot sun and the drawing paper (NOT the watercolor paper type).  It was a warm sunny day, the watercolor almost dried up as soon as it touched the paper.

The beautiful Bailey fountain.

The Grand Army Plaza Arch.

Observational sketches for the week

My little sketchbook comes in handy at times when I have nothing else to do but sketch what is before me.  Most of my free time now is during my commute and doing gesture drawing keeps me occupied.  It helps to improve my figure sketching even when time is short.

Weekend Sketching in the city

The NYC USk group met by the Central Park entrance on 103 Street Central Park West before heading down to a little known waterfall gem.  It was a nice waterfall except that the water smelled afoul the morning I sketched there.  I also did a view of the stone bridge facing East and a few vignettes of what it was like on that hot and humid day.

Observational sketches

Doing a daily dose of observational sketching keeps me focused even for a short time.  I try to squeeze-in a sketch or two on my way to work in the city.  Sometimes, a few sketches would turn out nice but mostly it was just that - a practice sketch. 

The Ryoma Quartet

Outside of the USA, this young group of Japanese artists playing some traditional Japanese musical instruments have a good following.  I was invited to see their live show at Joe's Pub in NYC earlier this month and did we ever enjoyed their performances!  Great jazz music tunes.  I sketched the group as I listened to their rendition of some familiar music.  I love that theme song from Cinema Paradiso movie!  At the end of the show, I was led to meet them by our hostess, Madonna, who made sure I got to show them my sketch.  They were kind enough to sign it next to their person on the sketch but in the end, I gifted it back to them.  We bought a CD where they autographed the cover and we had our group picture taken.  That was a fun night.