Alla Prima Portrait: Anthony (Oil, 20 x 16)

It was VAC Portrait Studio day again. Today's model was Anthony. Everybody said it was the second time that Anthony posed for us, but to me it was the first time. I must have missed the week when he sat for us last time. Anthony was a good model and he came, to my surprise, in tuxedo. He said I did him justice in my painting.

Sketch Drawings: Images at Miromar Outlet Shopping Center

My wife and I went to Miromar Outlet Shopping Center this morning. My wife is a good shopper, so as usual, I simply went to the Starbucks so that she would not feel I was rushing her by standing by looking bored. I ordered my drink and then sat outside in the shade to draw people in my sketch book. I drew a couple of people there including a Canadian snowbird whose first name happened to be Mo, too. Mo eventually bought my sketch but kindly allowed me to post it in my blog.

Announcement

Friends:

I'll take a week's break before I resume my regular painting.

Sketch Drawings at Naples' Open-Air Concert: Americana

My wife and I went today to Naples, FL for an open-air concert which was presented by the Cultural and Performing Arts Center (CAPA). Americana was a great concert. It introduced various cultural fabrics that have been knitted together to form the richness of American music, including Jazz, Blue Grass, Gospel, Country West, etc. I grabbed a few sketch drawings there. The figures are about some audience and young volunteers. The following are four of the sketches. I apologize for putting in the wrong date.

Alla Prima Portrait: Susan (Oil, 20 x 16)

Thursday, VAC's portrait studio day. Today for portrait studio, we had two models, both named Susan. Like everyone else, I did one of them.

En Plein Air: Fire Wood Machine (Oil, 11 x 14)

At first, I meant to paint a rusty old farmhouse this morning across from the Meloy Hay Company. Because of the busy traffic on the road, I decided to go directly to the Artful Gardens. I painted a firewood machine by a pile of tree trunks.

En Plein air: Cookie Vendor at Church's Yard Sale (Oil, 11 x 14)

On my way to Buckingham Rd. where I planned to paint this morning, I passed the A-framed Congregational Church on Leland Heights Blvd. Some vendors were beginning to set up their booths on the church parking lot. It was only Tuesday! It brought back the questions I had last week when I passed the church: What were they doing? It was not weekend and why are they holding yard sale now? And they also did that for a number of days on end. Then I remembered the Congregational Church often organized charity activities for the needy people. It must be a similar activity to raise fund or something like that. There were  booths selling plants, honey, veggies, dresses, etc.

The tents in the sun caught my eyes and reminded me of the view to paint. So immediately I made a U-turn and got into the parking lot. I asked the person in charge, Wayne, if I could set up to paint by the church sign. He said yes and helped me by telling the in-coming vendors to set their booths at places further away from me. I really appreciated it because they might have blocked my vision if they had set up too close to me. When I finished, I thanked Wayne for allowing me to paint there. He looked at the painting and said with a smile, "I should thank you for coming here to paint.