Monday, May 9, 2016

Grounds for Sculpture Tour May 21. Registration Update.



There was an earlier glitch in the online registration process which has been fixed.  The registration system is now back online.  The easiest way to register (for admission ticket and box lunch) is through the New Jersey American Society of Landscape Architects website:  www.njasla.org.  Click on the GROUNDS FOR SCULPTURE heading.  Further information and a link for registration will appear.  (Use of this link is NOT limited to just landscape architects.)

If you have questions, please contact me at jeffreycharlesworth@gmail.com or by phone at 908.255.5051

See you there!  Bring friends!

Sunday, May 8, 2016

Action Sketches: Sheep Shearing at Howell Living History Farm

Sheep shearing at Howell Living History Farm on Pleasant Valley Road in Lambertville New Jersey.
 Sheep shearing takes about 15 to 20 minutes for each sheep. Each sketch here was done in four minutes. All the sketches were of shearing one sheep.
 You can see this is an action packed sketching opportunity.
 Howell Farm had three demonstrations with a total of eleven sheep shorn on Saturday, May 7, 2016.
After sheep shearing there were Shepard and collies herding sheep in a luscious green field.

I'll save sketching the barns, animals and other demonstrations for another visit.

Sheep Shearing at Howell Living History Farm in Lambertville New Jersey is always a special time of year. In spite of the dark grey skies and occasional rain yesterday, it was a perfect day for sheep shearing demonstrations and sheep herding by collies.

Visits to Mercer County Parks Howell Living History Farm offers a slice of farm life as it was in Pleasant Valley in 1910. About 48 Saturdays in the year offer sketching opportunities in the field with live animals, farmers, and many visiting families in a relaxed, peaceful, atmosphere.

You can find the Howell Farm Calendar here http://www.howellfarm.org/cal.aspx and make plans for a fun sketching and painting outing.

- Michael Skelly

Friday, May 6, 2016

SATURDAY: May 21.- Sketch the Grounds for Sculpture

Grounds for Sculpture
Hamilton, New Jersey 

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The American Society of Landscape Architecture 
presents a walking design and sketch tour of this internationally known sculpture park. It is is a 42-acre sculpture garden with over 270 large-scale contemporary sculpture pieces.The tour will begin at 10 am and lunch will be provided.  

The registration deadline is Monday May 16th. 
The group is limited to 30 people so register early.

​​Questions?  Or to confirm, 
contact 
Jeff Charlesworth 
jeffreycharlesworth@gmail.com 
or phone/text 908.255.5051. 

More information about NJ Urban Sketchers at njusk.blogspot.com
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  • All drawing levels welcomed and encouraged!  
  • Tell your friends.
  • Bring a folding stool and attractive sun hat! 

Saturday, October 17, 2015

Only the little sunflower adorning my table at breakfast was a little beat up and missing some petals on the left side.  That gave it character and made it interesting to paint.
 

                               watercolor pen & ink on paper 5.5X8.5 

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

SATURDAY: Sketch the Garden Conservancy

Saturday, October 10, 2015
This event was suggested by NJ Urban Sketcher - Helena Sarin



THE GARDEN AT FEDERAL TWIST
HUNTERDON COUNTY, NJ



The Garden Conservancy is a national organization dedicated to saving and sharing America's outstanding gardens for the education and inspiration of the public.  Spectacular gardens all over the US are open to the public for brief periods.  

The Garden at Federal Twist will be open this Saturday and should not be missed.  The garden is only available for viewing two times each year!

"The garden is hidden. You enter through the house, where you first glimpse the landscape, a sunny glade in the woods, through a wall of large windows. Featuring many large perennials and grasses that evoke an "Alice in Wonderland" feeling (many plants are taller than you), the garden is in the tradition of such “new perennial” designers as Piet Oudolf. Visitors have described it as a highly emotional garden. Plantings emphasize structure, shape, and form as much as flower."


 "Begun as an experiment to explore the potential for working in unimproved, heavy clay, the garden is ecologically like a wet prairie, and is maintained by cutting and burning in late winter. Flowers and butterflies peak in mid-July, then a second peak occurs in October when low sunlight strikes fire in the blousy russets and golds of the grasses. Two small ponds attract hundreds of frogs, insects and wildlife."

The garden was recently featured in the New York Times,  Horticulture magazine, and the book, Gardens of the Garden State.


DETAILS:


Where:  208 Federal Twist Road, Stockton, NJ

When:  Starting time:  10 a.m. Delayed or sleeping late?  Come anyway you'll easily find us.

Lunch:  Bring your own - we'll eat picnic style.  Bring a stool - it makes sketching easier and gives you options.

Show and Tell:   3:15 Leave for Apple-Jack (4935 River Rd, Point Pleasant, PA an 11 mile drive) to share drawings, good stories and a beer or wine if you're so inclined.

NOTES:
1)  Admission to this garden is $7.
2)  Bring a stool or a folding chair - it makes sketching easier and gives you options.


DIRECTIONS:

Directions: From the New York City area, take I-78. Take Exit 29 for I-287 toward Route 206/Route 202/Morristown/Somerville. Keep left at the fork and continue onto I-287 South for about 4 miles. Take Exit 17 onto Route 202 and continue to Flemington (about 19 miles). At the traffic circle, continue to the opposite side, and continue on Route 202 (about 10.8 miles) to the last exit in New Jersey, to Lambertville and Route29. At the foot of the exit, turn left, then at the bottom of the exit, turn right onto Route 29/River Road/Daniel Bray Highway. Continue north, passing through the village of Stockton, for a total of 5.1 miles from Lambertville. On the right is a large sign for Hidden Valley Nursery. Federal Twist Road is immediately past the sign. Turn right and drive up Federal Twist Road 2.9 miles to #208. Park on the right side of the road (the house side), taking care to leave the left lane open.

From western Philadelphia suburbs, take the I-276 East/Pennsylvania Turnpike east to Exit 343. Exit on Route 611 North toward Doylestown. In about 10 miles, exit onto Route 202N/New Hope. In about 10 miles, continue on Route 202 past New Hope, and cross toll bridge over Delaware River, exiting immediately on the New Jersey side toward Lambertville. At the foot of the exit, turn left onto Route 29 N/River Road/Daniel Bray Highway. Proceed as directed above.

From northern New Jersey or the Hudson River Valley, take I-287 south, take Exit 17 onto Route 202 and continue to Flemington (about 19 miles), at the traffic circle continue to the opposite side, and continue on Route 202 (about 10.8 miles) to the last exit in New Jersey, to Lambertville and Route 29. At the foot of the exit, turn left, then at the bottom of the exit, turn right onto Route 29/River Road/Daniel Bray Highway. Proceed as directed above.

Click to Enlarge



Can't find us?
Call or Text Mark - 973-809-9128

There are no fees or attendance taken. All drawing skill levels are welcome




Monday, October 5, 2015

Stormy Tree

It is a cold and blustery day on Friday and I was thinking about Hurricane/Tropical Storm Joaquin, whether it would hit us or not (at that moment we did not know if it was going to hit NJ).  I have not painted in a while and this was done without photo reference, visual reference or under drawing.  I just. . .painted, thinking about the storm.  I love using Daniel Smith deep apatite blue for dark stormy skies.  It is such a neat and powerful color.


                                      Watercolor on 200lbs paper 14x10

Monday, September 7, 2015

Labor Day - Washington Rock

Sitting at the base of Washington Rock, NJ.  In 1777, This is where General George Washington watched the troop movement of General William Howe in New Brunswick.  The high ground of this natural rock outcropping provides an unobstructed view of over 30 miles.  You can still see NY City today.  I thought about painting the vista, but looking up at the stone wall was more interesting.


                                        Watercolor, pen & ink 5.5 X 16.0