Sketching Out Blog: Sketches of art, watercolor, photos, recipes, books, interviews, Jewish topics, and Highland Park, New Jersey

Fishing at the Raritan River: Man and Boy

Boy and man fishing by the Raritan River, drawing in colored pencils 2013 by Leora Wenger
Boy and man fishing by the Raritan River, drawing in colored pencils 2013 by Leora Wenger

It’s been a while since I posted a bit of art. I took a photo of a boy talking to a man fishing by the edge of the Raritan River. I decided it would make a nice subject for a painting, so I did this sketch with colored pencils. It has a similar feel to the watercolor I did last summer of two men relaxing by the Raritan River (presumably, they had been fishing at the Raritan River before relaxing).

When you look at the boy and man, what do you imagine is the relationship between the two? I’ll let you in on the setting: it was taken at the community Lag B’omer event (the 33rd day of the Omer, a day of celebration in the Jewish calendar) in Donaldson Park. I’m assuming the boy was there because of Lag B’omer, and the man just happened to be fishing nearby.

I also started working on an “urbanscape” – a painting of “downtown” Highland Park, basically a piece of Raritan Avenue. I’m not terribly happy with the composition, so I may put it aside or work on one piece. I have three busy weeks ahead, so I will have little time to do art for a while.

Happy Mother’s Day to those who celebrate. Happy Shavuot to those who celebrate. Enjoy a beautiful spring day, if you are lucky enough as we are in New Jersey to have a gorgeous one outside.

Lorri says

How lovely! I like the tones and contrasts and how the individuals are standing within two trees. It is very serene to my eyes.

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leoraw says

Thanks, Lorri! I'm not sure I'm happy with the tones yet, but I do like the composition, so it has potential.

Maybe I'll do some drawings of the figures next. I want to work on the relationship between the boy and the fisherman.

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Lorri says

I like how the tree branches seem to be hovering above the two of them. The boy almost looks as if he is staring at the river. The boy might be asking the man about fishing, the how-to of it. The fishing pole is held back, making me think the line is not in the water.

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Hannah says

Lovely scene! I am under the impression that the boy is questioning the man.
Happy Mother’s Day and Happy Shavuot!

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leoraw says

Thank you for the comment/compliment. I did another drawing of them today - this one was an up-close. Maybe I'll take a photo at some point and put up that drawing.

So much happier with this composition than the one I started in my artist group!

Chag sameach.

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Ramblingwoods says

I like this and I am a huge people watcher...always wondering what the story is...

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leoraw says

Good, because it will show up again! I spent some time yesterday on a drawing of just the boy and the man. Maybe I'll get a chance to post it next Sunday.

We will just have to guess what the boy is saying to the man and what the man is thinking.

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NatureStop says

Beautiful and lovely colours. Have a great day!

Shantana

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magiceye says

This is lovely!

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