Concord-St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church

I've long wanted to paint this church, and especially its steeple. I set up my easel in the church parking lot yesterday, under a beautiful sunny sky. A few parents came by to pick up kids from school (or was it daycare?), and then I seemed to be completely alone. 

After I'd drawn a couple sketch lines, a large group of elderly folks appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. They walked by me on their way to an exercise class in the social room of the church. They were friendly, and a couple of them asked me how long it would take to make the painting. So I was hoping to show it to them when they finished their exercise.  But when I stopped painting, the exercise group was nowhere to be seen. The group must have exited in a different direction. Rats!

One nice thing about keeping a blog is that it helps me remember little episodes like that. (Like the time my easel blew into a lake.)  I used to dread that passersby would watch me paint. Now I kinda like having an audience!

Geoff Watson, "Concord-St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church," oil on canvas panel, 11" x 14," 2018.

Church and Temple

I spent the afternoon at Carter Barron soccer fields, near 16th Street in Washington. D.C. I was originally drawn to the 6th Presbyterian Church, on the left, but as I started painting I grew increasingly interested in the temple on the right -- Chua Giac Hoang Buddhist Temple. As the day wore on, people filled the park, but I didn't want to distract attention too much from the religious buildings, so I sketched only a few folks.

Geoff Watson, "Church and Temple," oil on linen, 8" x 10," 2017.