My focus has switched from painting to teaching this week, and I'm enjoying showing my students the wealth of motifs here in Hope Town--though we haven't yet indulged in a round of Kalik beers and sketching on the Harbor Edge bar's deck.

Sunday Sketchbook: Bahamas

Yesterday I painted an oil and watercolor, drew in my sketchbook, and had lunch in a restaurant with a dock that overlooks the Hope Town harbour. No matter how middling the food, being able to sip a cold Kalik beer and draw boats will no doubt lure me back there again many times.

Sunday Sketchbook: Paris

Two sketches from a lovely Sunday spent wandering like a flâneur (an idling stroller) along the Seine.

Click here for an online view of my exhibit Paris/Provence.

Sunday Sketchbook: Paris

Two sketches from the Musee D'Orsay's "Paris A La Mode" exhibit examining fashion in Impressionist painting--the top one looking at hats from the period and in paintings by Degas, and below, my study of a Berthe Morisot figure painting that was lovely for both subtlety of drawing and mastery of color (one hundred shades of gray.)

Click here for an online view of my exhibit Paris/Provence.

Sunday Sketchbook: Paris

 My last day in Paris (unless my flight is delayed by frankenstorm), and I'm off this morning to see a little more art, stand in a few more queues, and drink a cup or two more cafe cremes as I plan my next trip back.

Studies

I spent yesterday in the Louvre, and looked for a long while at two paintings by Poussin and Titian that combine both great formal beauty and immense compassion (a rare combination in art.)

Sunday Sketchbook: Provence

Back in Provence again, driving from Les Bassacs to I'Isle sur la Sorgue and looking at views that are familiar (after almost twenty years of teaching and painting here) but still surprising in their beauty.

Click here to see paintings and sketches from Provence.

Sunday Sketchbook: Vermont

I'm at a Vermont Land Trust board meeting this weekend, and as usual find I can listen better if my hand stays busy.

Sunday Sketchbook: Travel

I'll be driving down to Washington next week to teach for ten days, and maybe if I'm lucky like last year I'll see a chevron of geese crossing my path, heading north towards home and into spring.

Sunday Sketchbook: Bahamas

Waiting in the morning outside Vernon's little grocery store, looking at the flotsam in the side yard, and waiting in the afternoon across the sidewalk at Munchies snack shop for my order of fish, salad and Kalik beer.

Sunday Sketchbook: Vermont

This barn lost its purpose when cow herds and square bales disappeared--but the beautiful form (hopefully refitted to another function) remains.

Sunday Sketchbook: Vermont

Driving south in Vermont this week I was sad to still see damage from Hurricane Irene along stream beds and river banks, with many homes empty, and businesses (such as this restaurant near Sharon) closed until further notice.

Sunday Sketchbook: New York

I made a trip down to New York City this week to see the Indian miniature, Renaissance portrait, and Willem de Kooning exhibits (as well as some favorites from the Met's and Moma's permanent collections.) I came home very inspired by these many artists, so separated by time, country and culture, yet sharing many similarities in approaches to color and composition, and all speaking the same universal language of visual art.

Sunday Sketchbook: Vermont

Finally I'm on the road again for my blog "Let Me Show You Vermont", this time exploring my local town of Plainfield. Click here to read all about it!

Sunday Sketchbook: Canada

On my out of New Brunswick , after an inspiring and relaxing trip to the Maritimes, and into Maine. I'll be posting more oils and watercolors from Maine and PEI in the coming days!

Sunday Sketchbook: Canada

Prince Edward Island is a perfect place to practice drawing pine trees, shingled houses with pointed roofs, and plates of mussels.

Sunday Sketchbook: Maine

Driving through a Maine town's jumble of pickup trucks, pine trees, and telephone poles on my way north to the border.

Sunday Sketchbook: Vermont

Today I'm driving north again, after a busy and enjoyable week of teaching in Washington. Meanwhile, back in Vermont, flood-damaged roads are reopened, cider is being pressed, and the first frost visited last night.

Sunday Sketchbook: Vermont

I showed these drawings to my travel sketchbook class yesterday, and looking at them, I felt the same pang I did at the yard sale, saying goodbye to my son's teddy bear and my husband's backpack (and I held on to both of them, as it turned out.)

Sunday Sketchbook: Vermont

Here's Wilmington, Vermont, in happier and drier times. Just a week ago today, Wilmington was extensively damaged by flooding from Hurricane Irene, as was Wallingford, pictured below.

An update on my online Vermont Flood Relief Art Sale:
I'm delighted to report that we raised $2,500. yesterday! Thank you so much to all who purchased. There are still eleven painted photos left, including some of my favorites (like the one below). You can take a look by clicking here. Then email me at sa@susanabbott.com and I'll reserve your piece.