Fort Myers Beach Sketches

While visiting my brother and sister-in-law at their getaway place in Fort Myers, we took a walk down in the small community of Fort Myers beach.  The colors and people made for great subjects for some digital watercolor sketches…..

Fort Myers Beach Street

Palm trees, colorful buildings and blue skies – what more does one need for a great sketch of a beach town?  Wandering down toward the beach in Fort Myers Beach, I was drawn to this scene and all the fun and relaxation it suggests!

Bright Beach

As I walked up the wharf along Fort Myers Beach, the colorful beach umbrellas were reminders of all that is fun and relaxing about life!  It was hard to feel a moment of worry while looking at all the cheery colors that seemed to dance in the breeze along the beachy shore!

         Day at Fort Myers Beach   

                   

This scene feels traditionally beachy to me, not because of the great blue skies, the glimpses of water, or the bright beach umbrellas.  It’s the beach grass in the foreground of the sketch that really does it for me.  I can just feel it swaying in the gentle onshore breeze.

Enjoy!

Note:  This sketches are available in a variety of sizes, formats and finishes on www.fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

Artful Blooms in Wellington

There were some beautiful blooms all along the city of Wellington, altho most were found in the Botanic Gardens.  It was spring there, and provided a lovely counterbalance to the autumn we were experiencing at home.  Take a look ~

This lovely bloom was found in Old St. Paul’s Church, in Wellington, New Zealand.  The lighting was naturally dramatic, coming in thru a window next to the flower.  It truly accented the beauty of this bloom.

Poppies were blooming in force and served as the perfect subject matter for this digital watercolor sketch.  You can almost feel the breeze that they were swaying in.

I’m glad I noticed the layers of petals that this rose had.  I felt that I needed to capture it from the side, showing off all the layers of its being. Having it be a digital watercolor sketch softened the look a bit.

The name of this waterlily is St. Louis Gold, and it certainly is standing tall in the pond at the Botanic Gardens.  The subtle shading of it adds to its delicate beauty.

The dramatic coloring of this Black Prince Waterlily really highlights it.  It makes a quiet, yet bold statement in the pond.  Nothing else there could quite match these striking colors.

Enjoy!

Photo Imagery at Christchurch

There was certainly a lot to see at Christchurch and some of the images just begged for a more creative process to be applied.  Hope you like the results –

New Regent Street is a very cool section in Christchurch.  It has quite a few shops and cafés and the hop-on, hop-off trolley runs right down the middle of it.  Altho there still some earthquake damage, it’s more charm than damage, and I found it to be a great subject for a digital watercolor sketch.  This is the section of the street showing several shops.

Here’s one of the beautiful flowers we saw today, and this one really fit with this quote. It’s true all the time, but when I think of what this area went thru with the earthquakes, the damage and the deaths, this thought really becomes powerful.

Back to New Regent Street, this time to have a look at the open air cafes.  I know it was early November, but remember, that’s spring down in the Southern Hemisphere, and today was a great day to have a bit to eat, a cup of coffee or tea, and just soak up the lovely warm weather.

Here’s a more formal painting type effect of some of the lovely pink blooms at the Botanic Garden.  The fragility of the petals is accented by this effect and the image seems to reflect the soft breeze that was slipping by at the time.

One of my favorite things about the Botanic Gardens in Christchurch were the benches along the Avon River.  This scene just seemed to want to be more of a sketch than a photo, and that was ok with me.  I don’t know how to draw, but I could imagine sitting on that bench actually sketching this scene, in an artistically perfect world!

 These tiny little blooms were very low and close to the ground.  It would be easy to miss them, with all there was to see in the gardens.  But, how much richer my experience for having looked down to see this little treasure.

Enjoy!

A Pretty View of Apia

There were some views of Apia that fell more into the category of art, than travel images.  Hopefully, you will agree!

As we walked down Main Beach Road, we approached what I thought was most likely an old estate home that was now a hotel.  I was certainly surprised to find out that today, it’s a casino!

In a previous post, I talked about how bright colors were used in slightly unusual ways.  This clock tower is such a bright pink color – most unusual, but somehow, appropriate in Apia!

This image of the colorful flowers found in town just seemed made for a watercolor sketch, and so that’s what it became.  It is one of my favorite images from this day of all the lovely ones I took.

I have no idea what this flower is, but I absolutely love it.  The shading of the orange apricot petals offset by the green foliage behind the tiny little blooms is almost delicious.

And, finally, this great image of a palm tree with coconuts up high.  I made sure to stand so that if a coconut fell off the tree, it didn’t hit me, and I couldn’t help but think of the song that talks about the lime in the coconut!

Enjoy!

Picture Perfect Kona

When we visited Kona, on the Big Island of Hawaii, we decided to just wander the main street and enjoy people watching and check out the scenery.  We had been to the Big Island of Hawaii several years ago, and thoroughly explored the island and Kona then.  I thought the sights we saw today was worth converting to some watercolor pencil sketches!

The shoreline of Kona is very pretty, altho you won’t find sandy beaches in this area.  I think those are to be found more on the other side of the island.

I always enjoy the bright colors that we find along the shops on the main street.  It was bustling, due to so many cruise tourists being in town, along with the Ironman competition that was happening in town.

There is a lovely old church along the main street.  I can’t recall what religion it’s affiliated with, but if memory serves me correctly, it is the oldest church on this island.

Enjoy!

Prince Edward Island (PEI) Watercolor Sketches

Altho the day was gray, I did find a couple of scenes that made for some wonderful digital watercolor sketches!

Birch Stand

I purposefully accentuated the mistiness of the scene with this sketch.  The colors were vibrant, but also muted by the mist that hung in the air at this point.  

Village on PEI

This is one of several villages that we drove thru in the western portion of PEI.  What a charming picturesque place!

Enjoy!

Cape Breton Trail Watercolor Sketches

There were some wonderful views along the Cape Breton Trail that made for some nice digital watercolor sketches.

Pleasant Bay Wharf

I love the different shades of blue in this scene.  It left me with such a peaceful feeling.

Along the Beach

That’s Jeff walking along the beach at Halibut Head.  I thought it was amazing that there were so few people around.  Just as we got to this area, another couple were leaving, and we didn’t really see another soul while we were there.

Nova Scotia Daisy

Again, along the Halibut Head coast, I noticed some daisies.  They made a lovely little sketch.  Just a happy little snippet of life.

Enjoy!

Cabot Trail Watercolor Sketches

Cabot Trail did offer up a few sketch worthy scenes.  Take a look –

Reflect at Cape George Lighthouse

There was a lovely little bench next to the Cape George Lighthouse on the Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia.  I can imagine someone sitting on the bench, reflecting on one’s life, the choices one has made, or just the beauty of the day and the scene in front of them.

Livingstone Cove

Livingstone Cove is located on the Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia, just off the Northumberland Strait.  It’s named after Malcolm Livingstone, a true pioneer and someone with absolute grit, which translated into the village, dating back to 1800.  I loved the idea of the rugged settlers, and that spunk and determination passed down to the fisherman of today.

Enjoy!

Note:  These images are available in a variety of sizes and finishes on http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

Watercolor Sketches of Peggy’s Cove

Altho most people seem to focus on the lighthouse at Peggy’s Cove, I found the charming village at the base of the lighthouse an inspiration for some digital watercolor pencil sketches!

Small Boat House

Depending upon one’s point of view, this small boat house at Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia, is either waiting patiently for the return of fisherman or is the first welcome home for those fisherman.  I love the weathered look of it, and the spindly legs of the pier.  They look very fragile, but I cannot imagine the number of winter storms they have withstood.

Claire’s Hot Dog Stand

There is a lively entrepreneur at Peggy’s Cove – Claire, the woman who runs the hot dog stand.  I had to capture her chatting up some customers, while another is sitting in chairs she provides (and paints the Peggy’s Lighthouse on), enjoying both her food and the view!

Boat Ramps

Throughout the village, there are constant reminders that this is a fishing village, in addition to being a tourist destination.  Altho the boat in the foreground of this sketch seems to be a sightseeing boat for tourists, the ramps and boathouses in the background tell the other side of the story.  It’s a very simple, yet complex little village.

Enjoy!

Note: These pieces are available in a variety of sizes and finishes on http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg. 

Harbor and Shore Watercolor Sketches

While we explored along Digby Neck, Long Island and Brier Island, in Nova Scotia, we came across several scenes that were just perfect for converting into digital watercolor sketches….

Seaside Village

While traveling down the route, we had to take 2 different ferries to get down to Brier Island, and back.  We had an opportunity to see several small seaside villages, and this sketch represents all that is charmingly typical of them.

Along the Pier

As I walked along the shore of one of the villages (while waiting for the ferry), I saw several scenes like this – a pier that looks rather lonely waiting for the fishing boat to return.  If you look closely, you can see 2 seagulls perched on two pylons next to each other toward the outer portion of the pier.

Waiting for the Ferry

This pier scene has almost the opposite feel to it.  The bright colors, both on the pier building and the buoys in the lower left corner, add some festivity to the scene.  The chairs have a sense of excitement about them, like they are eagerly awaiting the ferry which is passing in the straight.

Barn on Country Road

Away from the water, driving the road that dissects Long Island, we saw this barn.  I wasn’t certain if it was deserted or not (all the buildings look rather weathered on the islands).  I did love the way it sort of nestles in the trees, and the way the telephone poles mirror the curve of the road.

Enjoy!

Magical Moments along the Way

While exploring Nova Scotia, my husband and I happened to see this abandoned boat on the shore of an area known as Sandy Cove.  I loved the look of the weathered wood, frayed rope and solitude of this boat.  It wasn’t clear why it was left on the shore to slowly decay and eventually return to the sea in tatters, but it certainly made for a lovely photo opportunity!

Ashore at Sandy Cove

It was a picture perfect lighthouse scene on Brier Island, in Nova Scotia.  The seagulls glided, dove and swarmed around this lighthouse on a tiny patch of land just off the island, known as Peter’s Island.  With the lighthouse on the island, and all the seagulls, there would hardly have been room for poor Peter!

Peter’s Island Lighthouse

Along several of the small harbors on our drive, one could always finds boats that didn’t go out to sea on that day.  This digital watercolor sketch of one of those harbors was one of those peaceful idyllic scenes.

Boats in Harbor

It was always the perfect touch when I would see one of the fishing boats leaving the harbor as I watched the day evolve from the shore.  It made me think of how a day that was so special and different for me, was truly just another work day for someone else.

Headed Out

While waiting for the ferry to transport us from one island to the next in Nova Scotia, I noticed this incredibly colorful supply building sitting on a pier, and the chairs sitting on the end of the pier, seemingly inviting someone to just come, sit and reflect on the water, when the next ferry would be passing, or just life in general.  The old buoys on shore added to the lighthearted feeling of the scene.

Colorful Pier Perch

Old deserted cabins or houses are some of my favorite subjects.  This old house, along the road on Long Island, in Nova Scotia, wasn’t any different.  I especially was drawn to how I could look thru two windows at the same time.  Buildings like this always make me wonder about the people who once called this home.

Through an Old Window

When windows are broken in an old abandoned house, it somehow strikes me more than if the window was gone or intact.  It truly emphasizes the fact that this building, which was once home to, most likely, a family, is totally unloved and is a sad statement.

Broken Window

Enjoy!

Note:  Each of these is available in a variety of sizes and finishes at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

Fundy Trail Parkway Treasures

The Fundy Trail Parkway had lots of wonderful views, but there were a couple of treasures that made it to this blog.  There was something differently special about these two pieces.

Butterfly on Bloom

It was great to have lunch at a spot where we could look out over the water and see Nova Scotia (see my travel blog for more on that!).  But, when I looked down, I saw another treasure – a butterfly that gently flit from bloom to bloom.  I was able to capture it with my camera, and then converted the photo image to a watercolor pencil sketch.  It just captured the feeling of that gentle creature kissing those blooms…..or so it seemed!

Old Window

When we came back from a lovely day’s exploration, we turned onto the drive into the campground and I suddenly noticed a deserted building of some sort.  I don’t know what it was originally – part of it reminded me of a church, and another part of an old barn.  The thing that struck me the most was this window.  It looked like it had always been rather rustic, but the light sconce spoke to something a bit finer.  I loved the contrast of the two, found in this one building!

Enjoy!

Beach and Harbor Pencil Sketches

At St. Martins, New Brunswick, we stayed at a campground that was literally steps from the beach and a short drive to a charming fishing village.  Some of the images I took from this area just begged to be converted into digital watercolor pencil sketches – how could I refuse?

One of the nice things about the campground where we stayed in St. Martins was that it was practically on the beach.  There was this footbridge that crossed over a small water channel to the actual beach, and it made for a lovely sketch.  Looks rather inviting!

To the Beach

The harbor at St. Martins is very close to an old no longer used covered bridge.  I love the bright colors that the fishing boats are often painted, and the boat in this sketch is no different – a bright aqua color!

St. Martins’ Harbor

This wider view of the harbor at St. Martins, in New Brunswick, shows two fishing boats in for the day.  Their bright color is in sharp contrast to the weathered wood of the surrounding dock and old covered bridge.

Seaside Village

There are actually two covered bridges in St. Martins, NB.  One is no longer in use, but this one is still used, altho it’s only a one-lane bridge, so cars have to be polite and take turns going over it!  It’s a charming touch to this small village.

St. Martins’ Covered Bridge

Enjoy!

Note: Each of these images is available in a variety of sizes and finishes & can be purchased at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.