Painting ferns..

is sort of a meditation. I drew this one first in pencil, then carefully added the watercolor. Most of my work is much looser than this so it was a good exercise in patience and observation for me. I love ferns, especially in the heat of summer when they seem cool and refreshing in the shadows.

I look forward to doing more of these...after I tackle a few Queen Anne's lace blossoms....

by Mary Richmond, Cape Cod Art and Nature

Beach birds and other things - Mary Richmond

We've been having a lot of fog but as everyone prepares for the onslaught of tourists this holiday weekend on Cape Cod it was fun heading down by the docks and continuing on to one of the beaches on Nantucket Sound. It was totally socked in by fog and I could barely see a hundred feet in front of me. Birds loomed out of the mist like shadows against the sand as the waves whispered and washed the shore.

I often carry my sketchbook on my walks and just stop and draw as I go. These are a few of the birds I saw along the beach. I didn't have my camera with me so took the pictures of the sketches when I got home.

One of my favorite beach flowers is the lovely beach pea and it has just come into bloom over the last few days. I sat in sand at the end of the sand spit drawing these while listening to boats I couldn't see pass through the channel. Perfect way to spend a morning.

Sketching Fiddler Crabs at the Beach - Mary Richmond

Today was the first nice day we've had in weeks and after completing some writing assignments this morning I packed my lunch, my paints and my sketchbook and headed for the beach. It was a bit windy for painting still so I did some writing and drawing instead. Watching the little fiddler crabs peek out of their holes and start displaying was a lot of fun and a great way to spend an hour or so.

This picture may show them a little better, especially if you click on the picture...

I also threw in a rosa rugosa--the beach rose--that was behind me since it was the first I've seen this season...

I took some other pictures and posted all on my Cape Cod Art and Nature Blog.