I have always loved going to Mystic, CT, about 45 minutes from my house and down on the Connecticut shoreline. The drawbridge and river park along the river along with historic downtown are favorite haunts. I cracked open a new 9x12 Fabriano hot press watercolor pad- not as big as Barbara’s book but the largest I have - and used half a page to sketch part one, a view from the rail of the drawbridge, just near the bridge house. I have seen this view many times but this photo can be found on the web… Hope to find another picture - next time from my personal photos - of downtown to complete the second sketch. Just a note about the giant knotted/braided wreath on the bridge house: if you visit mystic there is actually a store where they make all sorts of knots and knotted things: a bracelet in your choice of rope color would be a great trinket from your visit. I used: watercolor and watercolor pencil, regular color pencil, and just a touch of pastel on the reddish building.

 

Second sketch: I tried for a more loose style with inked outlines… it’s not as whimsical as I imagined. This is a view from the drawbridge looking into the historic downtown area with Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream in the background. All watercolor and ink on this one, no pencils. I’d love to try a very large sketchbook like Barbara’s and I had fun making these sketches!

 

last update: added some shadows and color - just a bit, thanks for suggestion Barbara L.