This structure is located across the street from our office. It was constructed in the 1920’s as a mill building along the Seekonk River. The style is a typical industrial building from that era with a 2-story saw tooth weave shed. The angled saw tooth shed contained a series of roof windows on the saw tooth to maximize natural light into the interior of the working floors. The structure is brick and heavy timber construction. Faber-Castell Pitt art pens with watercolor and colored pencils.
Trying to catch up on some of my scanning that was missed during the year. This is a very interesting front porch on a house on Main Street in Middleboro, Massachusetts. Main Street is was where the wealthy built their houses as the town developed so this house must be historic. I have not seen any other style like this with the vase like columns supporting the roof. Pilot Falcon fountain pen with Noodler’s black ink in a Stillman and Birn Alpha sketchbook.
The conclusion of another wonderful weekend. Swordfish on the Grill, a roaring fire and a martini. The reflections in the glasses was difficult. I think the fire through the martini glass should have been more of a glow and the olive oil bottle looks more like mustard in the scan. Faber-Castell Pitt art pen (.005) and Holbein watercolors in a Stillman and Birn Alpha sketchbook.
Today we visited the Truro Public Library for an Art opening sponsored by our favorite art gallery – The Addison Gallery in Orleans, Massachusetts. The opening was for “In Hopper’s Town” – Celebrating the work of contemporary artists inspired by Edward Hopper and Truro, the town he chose to build his home and to paint for decades. It was a fantastic event with wonderful artists and their works. Amazing talent. This is sketch of the library entrance as dusk was falling. I like the richness of the foreground building with the layers of colors. The scan washed out some of the depth overall, but I should have darkened the entire building more. Faber-Castell Pitt Art pens with Daniel Smith and Holbein watercolors in a Stillman and Birn sketchbook.
This is a study of 4 skies in my sketchbook using different blues as a base. All 4 were done wet on wet and each one is about 3″ x 5″. The first one is Cerulean Blue with Burnt Sienna highlights – Holbein Watercolors. The upper left is French Ultramarine with Cadmium Orange highlights that are more streaked- Utrecht Watercolors. Bottom left is just Phthalo Blue Holbeiin Watercolor. The final study in the lower left is also Phthalo Blue with color removed with paper towel while still wet. This is a technique that I use often for skies. The paints do not mix or flow as well on the Alpha paper as they would on true watercolor paper.
A watercolor sketch of one of the pump stations on Assawompset Pond in Lakeville, Massachusetts. There was still a little color on the horizon from the sunrise an hour earlier. I did not notice until I scanned this image that my structure on the left is leaning a little, oops. Assawompset Pond is a reservoir/pond within the towns of Lakeville and Middleboro in southeastern Massachusetts. At almost four square miles, it is the largest natural lake in Massachusetts. It is known in Wampanoag (local Indian tribe) as Place of the White Stones and is host for the largest Alewife (Herring) run in the eastern seaboard. In the early spring the Nemasket River runs black with fish heading for the spawning grounds. The origins of the King Philip’s War started with the discovery of John Sassamon’s body that was slipped under the ice on the pond and found the following spring. The outcome of the trial sparked the beginning of hostilities. Faber-Castell Pitt art pens with Holbein and Daniel Smith watercolors in a Stillman and Birn sketchbook.
“A breeze, a forgotten summer, a smile, all can fit into a storefront window.” – Dejan Stojenovic A wonderful window set within a brick wall and encased in beautiful fall foliage. The small metal pipe bench held a terra cotta pot with bright petunias that are holding onto the last of the summer warmth. Faber-Castell Art pens with Holbein and Mission watercolors in an Alpha Stillman and Birn sketchbook.
This is a view that I saw as I was returning to the office from and appointment. The view is of the Seekonk River as seen from East Providence, Rhode Island. The foliage, hanging vines and cut telephone pole in the foreground made an interesting silhouette against the train bridge in the mid range and the hills in the distance. Prismacolor Art pen with Pelikan watercolors in a Stillman and Birn sketchbook.
A very quick sketch of a lamp and raffia pumpkin on a table in the breakfast room at the hotel I was staying at. The lamp was detailed in bronze and the pumpkins were made of stiff raffia. Pilot Namiki Falcon fountain pen with Noodler’s black ink in a Stillman and Birn sketchbook.
I think this is similar to the chicken and the egg. This sketch is of a large split rock and a tree growing in the gap. You cannot tell if the tree grew and split the boulder or if the boulder was split and the tree grew in the crack. The boulder is a perfect split like it was sawn in two. This is located in a parking lot adjacent to a fish and tackle store. Very interesting and wonderful the power of nature. Black Prismacolor Art Pens in a Stillman and Birn sketchbook.
A SKETCHBOOK ODYSSEY 