Lucia

It's difficult to take photos during a busy weekend in the North End, but the upside is the people watching. I had been photographing this cafe but got distracted by a wedding party at a church a few doors down. My friends alerted me to the wait staff that had come to the door to observe it. I quickly got a shot before they went back inside. This is mixed media- pen and ink, watercolor and just a bit of pastel. I would love to do a cafe series.

Mount Auburn Cemetery

I took advantage of some great weather yesterday and explored Mount Auburn Cemetery with some friends. It is located in Cambridge, MA and is a favorite place of many for walking and bird watching. I had been meaning to visit it for years. A little history- it was founded in 1831 and is a national historic landmark, being the first large scale designed landscaped open to the public. Among those buried there: Winslow Homer, Isabella Stewart Gardner, Longfellow, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Amy Lowell.
It was more beautiful than many parks and arboretums I have seen. Many trees and plants were labeled. Interesting features include a tower with a great view of Boston and a dell containing a large vernal pool, with a foot bridge. My legs were rubber at the end of the day, but I can't wait to return.

Wistaria complete

Newburyport

I have been working on this painting for a month and it's finally finished! I skinned my elbow and broke my cellphone for this piece so don't let it be said that I never suffer for my art. (I fell right in the middle of busy Main Street in Newburyport trying to take photos. One of the more embarrasing moments of my life) The little boy and the bike was in one of my photos and I just had to put him in.
Two things that are characteristic of Newburyport- the buildings have lots of chimneys and the stores have the best flowerboxes. I think the town even has an annual flowerbox competition.
For those of you not familiar with the history, Newburyport has so much brick because it kept burning down.

Wistaria

This is a cropped photo of my latest pen & ink/watercolor. (the actual painting shows the entire house front and part of a gate). I actually used a little pastel in it as well. I saw some amazing watercolors in Newburyport recently and noticed upon close inspection that the artist used pastel in parts of several of his paintings. I decided to give it a try and had a great time. I have used watercolor and pastel in combination before so I don't know why it didn't occur to me to use them with my pen & inks. My ink fountain pen scribbles right over the pastel with no problem.

Tuna

My camera broke so I haven't been able to post my new pen & inks. Here's an old one that I found and touched up with watercolor today. It was small enough to fit into my scanner.
The image is from a photo that I took while on a boat tour of Gloucester Harbor. I love old faded buildings with evidence of former lettering or signs.