"Cohasset Al Fresco" ink, pencil, marker 9 x 9

One morning this past summer, we had breakfast at a nice little cafe a couple of towns over.  While waiting on the street for our table, I saw this trio eating outside and was drawn to their silhouettes against the summer backdrop of colonial architecture and bright sky.  Initially, I designed the drawing without any indication of the overhead canopy, though I had it in my photo reference. It didn't really make sense to have the diners in the shade while the street was in the sun without explanation. I know it could have been the sun behind the building, or some type of overhang but decided to add my version of the awning.  One of the things I like about constructing drawings is that I can arrange the elements as I want.  I purposely organized the buildings behind the diners to bring the attention down and around the diners, to keep the design from looking like two separate environments.  I also moved the angles and intersections to avoid any unintentional tangents.  
This is my seventy-first daily drawing.  Again, thank you for looking.

"'Study Al Fresco" 6 x 9 ink with warm gray #inktober

 
This past summer I was having breakfast with some old friends in Washington DC and we found a sweet little cafe with a big open back area, grape trellises and sunshine.  It was a perfect spot to catch up after a long time apart.  This young woman was studying under the grape leaves in the sun.  As I look at the finished drawing I realize she looks a bit like she's in a Victorian wheelchair, which she isn't... it's the cafe chairs which I should have designed a little differently.  
This is my 28th entry for #Inktober.  Thank you for looking. 

"Quiet Corner" oil 12 x 8

This is the main intersection at Humarock Beach, bustling in the summer with a cafe, ice cream window, and that great type of convenience store with the worn plank floors and beach necessities next to the day's newspapers, wine, and a packed bulletin board.  I like painting "through", and am drawn to architecture that offers that option, sometimes through windows, sometimes through a skyline, sometimes through a porch... double-decker porch?  Bonus.

A few weeks ago, I took my painting class down by the local beach.  We met in the parking lot, spoke briefly about a plan for the morning, but I could see they were itching to disperse, to discover their own subjects and to dig in.  Usually, we try to stay within a reasonable distance so that I can circulate and paint as well.  This was a not that kind of day. Have you ever dropped marbles onto the floor?

We met at the end of class for a critique.  Everyone had terrific results, and an interesting variety of subject matter. And, one of my thoughtful students surprised me with a bowl of chowder from the cafe, which hit the spot, as it was pretty blustery.  Nice day.