Frank Melville Memorial Park, Setauket 8/9/11

It amazes me that I have never heard of this park ever before, and yet 2 people just told me about it in the same week (Thanks Muriel and Allie)!  Well I loved it and I can't wait to go back again. It was quite an adventure finding though, and my journey involved at least 4 U-turns, but it was well worth the effort.  I was surprised at how many PALS found there way, and I am sure there will be some wonderful paintings from this location.
    When it was time to leave, thank goodness for Rose Ann, because I am not sure I would have found my way to my car on my own! Next time I will sprinkle some paint brushes to follow!

Lands End, Sayville 8/2/11

This was a sunny, hot day...we all searched for some shade. Sharon was creative with the use of her car doors, and most of us were inside the wedding gazebo, enjoying the piped in music and a beautiful view of the Great South Bay as well as some nice conversation. I love summer!

Sayville Maritime Museum 7/26/2011

Stony Brook Village Harbor 7/19/11

This was a beautiful location, enjoyed by all. Each way we looked was another painting. It was also one of the locations that was enjoyed by plein air painters the week before with the Gallery North Wetpaints Festival.

Squassux Landing 7/12/11

Today was a step back in time in Brookhaven Hamlet, NY. Squassux Landing is an old fashioned, natural marina, with little more than rickety docks and a huge collection of interesting boats - untouched by commercialism.
          Most of the artists gathered by the gazebo for some shade, painting away on this very hot summer day.
         I walked along the gravel road of this marina, and around the bend, much to my relief, was a mirage...shade from a tree! I settled there and set up my canvas and brushes. After awhile a wind blew in, yes, wind! So I looked around for something to weigh down my easel and I came up with this invention-in honor of my creative dad...a cooler for my water bottle and a weight at the same time.

      Couldn't be a better morning...Happy Birthday Dad!

The Lavender Farm East Marion, NY 7/5/11

Loved this location! It was the perfect temperature for comfortable
 painting on the North Fork of Long Island.  The sun was shining and a light breeze was just enough to enjoy the lavender scented air.
    We had a nice turn out of artists, and most of us painted the Lavender fields from under the shade trees.
We even shopped and my car has never smelled so good!

    The highlight for me was the surprise turn out of young artists. They arrived and quickly set up their easels, in a style I have never seen before...two to an easel...now thats ingenuity at its best!...I mean, there's no need to waste the back of your easel!
     Now that's what PALS is all about, sharing the love of art...good job moms!

Sayville Maritime Center 6/28/11

Another beautiful morning painting Plein Air. Many thanks to Joan Tavolott for the wonderful photos.

Gazebo Park, Brookhaven, NY

Another beautiful PALS location..."a gem" with a painting everywhere you turn. We enjoyed painting, feeling one with nature, listening to the babbling brook. I even painted with a
twig that I found on the ground.
It was interesting to see such different artist interpretations of the bridge...enjoy the paintings by Ros, Marlene, and Sandra!

Bayard Cutting Arboretum, Oakdale, NY

Rain and clouds were brewing in the sky, but it didn't stop many PALS from turning up at this favorite location on the south shore of Long Island. It felt more like an autumn day, and even a few (we could count them on 2 hands!) rain drops appeared. I didn't mind much, I thought they might add a bit of drama to my watercolor painting! Artists tend to go with the flow. Even a bit of duck poo on our shoes didn't bother us, since the location is just spectacular. The highlight for me was going inside, yes I said inside, a tree! I could live there happily!

Flowerfield Saint James, NY...again

Back by popular vote! We had such a great time, we painted it twice!

Flowerfield Saint James, NY

PALS had a spectacular day at Flowerfield. Clear cerulean blue skies, beautiful reflective lake, flowers of course, huge trees, birds chirping, and most of all...peace. The only thing that seemed odd were the 2 plastic swans across the lake, under a tree. Rita and the other artists were busy

painting away, when after a while we looked up, and the swans came to life and jumped into the water! Thanks Flowerfield for allowing us to visit and paint your amazing location.

Smith's Point Beach

Tuesday morning, the most amazing Fog rolled in, so I wasn't sure what to expect at the PALS Smith's Point Beach location. All I could see were the side railings as I drove over the bridge, and when I found my way into the parking lot I could only see about 100 feet ahead of me. I parked and began to walk toward the beach and via cell phone, I met up with Laurie S. We enjoyed our morning on the beach, listening to the huge waves crashing loudly, watching birds fly by in flocks, and painting away. It was so relaxing. We even watched in amazement as 2 surfers swam into the waves until they were swallowed up by the fog. It was a wonderful morning, a great way to start the day....when I arrived home to an email with photos, I couldn't stop smiling...turns out, not far away down the beach, more PALS were sketching and painting on the other side of the fog!