This is a view from Stage Harbor Marina looking towards Mill Pond. The layering of the marsh grasses and the water make an interesting view. I am off on my grass color although it did range from a reddish brown to brownish yellows. Faber-Castell Pitt pens with watercolors in a Stillman and Birn sketchbook.
Lisa and I spent a wonderful day yesterday on Outer Cape Cod. The weather was amazing for December and people were strolling the streets and shopping in the village of Chatham, Massachusetts. This sketch is from a photo that I took of a window box at an information booth all decorated for the holiday. Brightly colored ornaments with fishing net and seashells. It was beautiful and the epitome of Cape Cod. Faber-Castell Pitt pens with Holbein and Mission watercolors in a Stillman and Birn sketchbook.
Our Christmas Tree on Christmas morning. The tree always warms up the house this time of year and we are sad when we take it down. The actual tree used for a Christmas tree is like any other pine tree. The magic comes when you decorate the tree with lights, ribbons and ornaments that have special meaning from friends, family, milestones and travel. Faber-Castell Pitt pens with Daniel Smith watercolors in a Stillman and Birn sketchbook.
A beautiful festive evening with wonderful friends. A powerful Christmas Eve Mass followed by conversation and a lovely dinner. Dinner was an Italian tradition – the Feast of the Seven Fishes. Shrimp cocktail, Grilled Oysters, Crab dip, and an amazing linguini with seafood marinara sauce. The sauce was flavorful jarred tomatoes and herbs from a neighbors garden, garlic, clams, mussels, calamari, scallops and lobster. Fantastic dish and great work by Keith. Before heading to Mass, we stopped at Island Creek Oyster Company in Duxbury, Massachusetts for the freshest and most flavorful oysters on the East Coast. I grilled these with a little butter and herbs over charcoal. Fantastic celebration. Faber-Castell Pitt pens in a Stillman and Birn sketchbook.
This caught my eye in the village center of Chatham, Massachusetts. The American flag and lantern contrasted against the white trim of the storefront and the reflections of the sunset in the shop windows. Mission and Holbein watercolors with ink in a Stillman and Birn sketchbook.
A simple line drawing of a structure on Chatham Harbor in Chatham, Massachusetts. A classic New England structure of naturally weathered cedar shingles with unpainted trim. The windows were mix matched and were probably what they had laying around or could barter for. Lamy Safari fountain pen with Noodler’s Black ink in a Stillman and Birn sketchbook.
A sketch of the beautiful table centerpieces at our company Christmas Party. The event was held at Al Forno in Providence and was wonderful. Great food, lovely space and fun with co-workers and families. The centerpieces were created by a friend of the owner and were a mixture of greens, gold and silver ribbon, metallic ornaments and small birch logs. Lamy Safari fountain pen with Noodler’s Black ink and Holbein watercolors in a Stillman and Birn Beta sketchbook.
Another trip to New Jersey for work and some extra time before my meeting. This is a very interesting church located in a residential neighborhood of Paramus, New Jersey. The entire tower structure has stained glass on all 8 sides and must be beautiful from the interior. I could not get any information on line in that I got a security warning when I tried to access the church site. Faber-Castell Pitt pens in a Stillman and Birn sketchbook.
This is a sketch of one of the history cases at Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, New Jersey. Golf legend Byron Nelson worked as an assistant professional at the club in the mid-1930s, early in his career, and represented Ridgewood for several of his early significant victories. Nelson went on to become one of golf’s all-time greatest players. Lamy Safari Fountain pen with Noodler’s black ink and watercolors in a Stillman and Birn sketchbook.
Tonight I attended the American Institute of Architects Rhode Island design awards which were held at the Providence Public Library this year. The Library opened this classic Venetian Renaissance building in March 1900. Now on the National Register of Historic Places, the Library is a prime example of turn-of-the-century American architecture. Ground was broken in 1896 on the Library’s present location on Washington Street, and with an extraordinary gift totaling $268,500 from Rhode Island philanthropist John Nicholas Brown, the classic Renaissance building was completed at a final cost of $387,000. It was opened in March 1900 with 93,000 volumes and 39 employees. This sketch is of the West entry portal with it’s carved stone, cast iron light and beautiful mahogany woodwork. Faber-Castell Pitt pens with watercolor in a Stillman and Birn sketchbook.
A SKETCHBOOK ODYSSEY 