COOPERSTOWN,NY

my day off in Cooperstown NY, but it's a full day...not enough time for A SKETCH A DAY.....  I've sketch Lake Otsego many times from the porch of Otsego Inn...this is one of my finish work....this morning, while enjoying my breakfast at Otsego Inn, the lake looks just like this egg tempera...once again, I was visiting garden.....I get to visit not one, but two gardens, both lovely in their own way....another meal in fine company today

FORAGING

another serendipity kind of a day...I was suppose to do a quick garden tour at Nick's & head back home to work....we wind up foraging for mushrooms in his backyard & hanging out with our coffee on his porch (best coffee in town)....all this lovely setting, fantastic day & company all adds to my creativity....yes, another table full of artists, on a Monday morning

MILLIERS D'ETOILS

something unusual at the night sky yesterday....continuous light show on the horizon & on my end, there were million of stars....formidable...love this big chunky charcoal by grumbacher...just the right shade for clouds....I rub it down with  tissue,& a shade of pastel on top of the charcoal

WATERSIDE DINING

fox my way into yet another delicious meal....A SKETCH A DAY captures the essence of a lovely evening at the Karlin....multi-talented couple that has turn their home into a showcase of their passions...a table full of artist can get quite lively....any time spend at their property is a feast for the eyes, senses & stomach....very important to cultivate friendship with creative cooks if one is leading a lifestyle of a starving artist

GARDEN ACTION

what a day...lots of action in the garden....this is going to be an amazing weekend, tooo nice to be tie down to the computer

BUTTERFLIES

wow, the rain finally stop....we must have gotten 8 inches of rain yesterday....sun came out, Summer is back in full swing...salamander is out & about, bees & butterflies are quite busy in the garden, & the birds are working overtime

TASHA TUDOR

this sketch is from a photo in" Tasha Tudor's Garden"...most inspiring test & gorgeous photo by R. Brown....heard the news that Tasha Tudor died recently......what a lost....aside from her charming children's books, I always wish I can have a garden like hers...I was introduce to her wide range of talents in Victoria magazine, early 90's...been collecting her books & news ever since

DEGAS'S DOODLE

A SKETCH A DAY  is a copy of Degas's doodle....came upon "A Degas Sketchbook" by C. Armstrong in my local bookstore...saw this little exhibit at Getty Museum years ago.... I guess I have to buy it...postscript by David Hockney is quite funny....as much as I love Degas's pastels, his drawings are exquisite....I think on his tombstone, it's engrave "he likes to draw".....some of my other favorites for masterful drawings are Holbein & Ingres

STORM CLOUDS

serious storm clouds on the horizon...for a few evenings in a row, we've been getting some wonderful light shows before the thunderstorm...wish I can capture these light shows

WESTBURY GARDEN

spend half the day at Westbury Garden, Long Island, NY.....got more than A SKETCH A DAY.....pastel is still the fastest medium to capture a scene & mood...very productive day

SCENIC BACKROADS-scenique

morning fog lingered longer than usual...just came back from errands...a ride to the dump can be quite scenic & enjoyable

SHINING CREEK

it's a hot one today...summer is so short up here, one does not complain about the heat wave...there's plenty of creeks & trees....pretty easy to find a breezy & shady nook for A SKETCH A DAY

SUMMER SHED

4x6 oil on wood, small is good.....A SKETCH A DAY does not have to be in a sketchbook....I get all kinds of scrap woods from my carpenter friend Egon...his workshop is a candy store for ideas

spend a few days in New York City...mainly to catch the Turner exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art....I think this is the first major exhibit of his work in the states....long before there was Impressionism, Turner (1775-1851) is a master at creating ephemeral atmospheric effects....one really need to see the real thing up close, with the lively impasto touches, to see how he achieve his effects...the show is suffused by light & color....magnificent...hope I can see it again before this show is close....tried my hands at copying his technique for A SKETCH A DAY

SUMMER

this little sketch, oil on board, saids it all about summer in the Catskill mountain...wild flowers, hayfields, foggy mountain views, & endless sky.....endless inspirations for A SKETCH A DAY

TEA & GARDEN

spend a lovely summer day in Schoharie, N.Y.....stop by to visit Wellington Farm's garden...Carolyn created the perfect garden to have tea & scone...the breathtaking view of the valley is worth a couple of sketchbooks......roses & tons of lavender, what a clever combination for A SKETCH A DAY

pastel-summer sketch

OK....the same holbein sketchbook......I used oil yesterday, I'm working with pastel today....different medium brings out different quality of the same subject.....that's what so great about keeping a sketchbook, it's fun to experiment

oil sketch-hollyhocks

love to buy different sketchbooks....with most art supply, I dont know till I try it.....my favorite is holbein's spiral drawing books...it's thick enough to take on any medium,watercolor & oil, etc.....that bit of texture lends itself to a quick landscape....the tie ribbons make it very special each time I use it  for                          A SKETCH A DAY     

strawberry

looks like it's the end of strawberry season..I guess I wont get to paint strawberry till next Summer

botanical treasures

biked off to Franklin, New York on my day off....when I'm not working in my garden, I like to visit other gardens...quaint shops, farmer's market, good food, & beautiful homes make for a wonderful destination....came upon a new shop in town ......REFINE  is good word to describe everything at BOTANICAL TREASURES....I hope I can go back next week...the amazing lilies at this very refine garden next to the shop should be peaking....more inspiration for A SKETCH A DAY

tea in my garden

on these summer mornings, I start my day with a pot of tea in my peaceful garden....the garden light this morning is amazing & pure magic...it's so inspiring I went straight into my studio for A SKETCH A DAY....                       I think I'm going to include this page in my COUNTRY NOTES-from an artist's sketchbook        by Judith

summer days

another delightful day in the mountain.....the morning usually starts off on the cool side and very foggy.....this always reminds me of a typical chinese painting

beautiful fourth of July, great day to start something new....one more project to add to my long list of projects! A Sketch A Day will include my sketch for the day and a few comments. I usually put in an hour of yoga before I start a sketch a day. The birds keep me company in the early hours while I sketch. Everything is easier on these fine summer days.