I add maps to my Urban Sketching and to my plein air sketching. Because more than one perspective is good.

A watercolor painting of Columbus Circle in New York City looking east, with dark clouds, tall buildings, and trees in gray tones, overlaid with a colorful map and text describing the location and context.

Out with the urban Sketchers at Columbus Circle. There is a balcony in the Time Warner building across the way. We drew from there. The map was made with Open Street Map.

Map illustrating social justice projects in Brooklyn Togo, Cameroon, and New York City, showing locations of Ford Foundation initiatives for social justice, with inset maps of each city.
Watercolor of a historical building with multiple arches and columns, identified as St. Bartholomew's, located between East 50th and East 51st Streets on Park Avenue.

This is St Bartholomew’s church on Park Ave. and 50th St. Go to see the beautiful mosaic’s by Hildreth Meière.

Map of Wave Hill with a branch of a cherry blossom tree at the top, the Hudson River in the middle, and sections labeled Manhattan and The Bronx at the bottom. It includes illustrations of a greenhouse and plants.

Experimenting with drawing on my iPad at Wave Hill Gardens.

Map of Central Park in New York City showing paths, landmarks, and points of interest with illustrations of a tree, a bear, and a landscape scene.
Illustration of Manhattan skyline on the West side near pier 26, depicting a restored habitat with tall seaweed, a person in a boat, and labels for boat house, pier 26, and tide deck.

The Westside Pier 26 tide deck is worth a visit.

Map of Caumsett State Park highlighting views from the manor house, garden, stables, and marsh areas with illustrations and watercolor views of each location.
Map highlighting the location of The Africa Center at 110th Street and 5th Avenue with illustrations of windows and people.

The Africa Center at 110th and 5th ave.

The Ford Foundation has a wonderful Art Gallery dedicated to social justice. I saw the show Perilous Bodies there. I sketched Barthélémy Toguo sculpture; Road to Exile, 2018. The map is overlaid on the watercolor sketch. It is a Wooden boat, fabric bags, glass bottles and plastic containers.

A watercolor painting of a park scene at sunset with leafless trees, a small hill, and a pathway with a park lamp post in the foreground.

Out with the urban sketchers in Fort Tyron Park. Later that day I mapped where I had drawn this view of trees from.

It was a highlight that first winter of Covid to see the Snowy owl on Jones Beach. Somehow, the day we went out there was no one else there. Just us and this gorgeous creature.

The Sea Glass Carousel is wonderful to visit at dusk, as the fish are beautifully lit.

Map of Battery Park in Manhattan showing the SeaGlass Carousel, Castle Clinton, Whitehall Terminal, Hugh Carey Tunnel, and surrounding streets. Illustrations of the carousel's sea creatures are visible.

Dancing Tango

Watercolor painting of a messy cardboard box filled with colorful, assorted socks and underwear, with a pair of green and white socks and a red sock visible outside the box.

A walk in Central Park is always nice. My favorite bear sculpture, Honey Bear, is right behind the Delacorte clock. Created by Fredrick Roth. There are tiny frogs at honey bears feet.

Map of Jones Beach Island with an inset illustration of a snowy owl on Jones Beach Island and a photo of a snowy owl, showing locations such as Jones Beach, Jones Beach State Park, and surrounding areas.
A watercolor image of people standing on a bridge or dock with a map overlay of a city with streets and waterways in blue.

More sketches to be added soon.