1870s Firehouse
Posted: September 16, 2025 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Coxsackie, firehouse, ink and watercolour sketches, urban sketching 23 CommentsI’m just back from a near-perfect week of sketching in upstate New York with a really fun and talented group at Hudson River Valley Art Workshops in Greenville. We hopped all over the place during the week, and our sketching stops included a visit to Olana and a day at a horse rescue farm. We also spent some time in the quiet village of Coxsackie where we sketched this 1870s firehouse, which is now an antique shop. I loved the mannequins in the upper floor. If you ever find yourself in this part of the state and are looking for a place to sketch, check out the town. There are great storefronts and very few parked cars to block the view. Tomorrow: more sketches from our week together.
Your colors are always so clean. What paper is this on? It looks so white.
Jan, I did that on Millford paper from St. Cuthberts Mill. It is the paper that has more sizing so it stays wetter longer. Nice stock to work on, and I was working on a block of it. https://www.stcuthbertsmill.com/st-cuthberts-mill-paper/millford-watercolour/
Shari – LOVE LOVE LOVE the firehouse! And I so love old and interesting architecture. I take a lot of photos of old architecture, interesting buildings, etc in hopes of drawing them some day (with watercolors) when my dormant creativity returns. It was your class on Craftsy some years back that I was introduced to your work, which I admire – wish I had a fraction of your talent. In your class you were urban sketching in my neck of the woods – colorful Colorado and you were sketching the train station in Denver.
Lynn, that was the second course that I did with Craftsy. Glad you found me!!
Love this!!!
Thanks so much!!
Glad you had a good week! Excellent weather lately. You were very close to my neck of the woods on the Olana side of the Hudson. Looking forward to seeing more of your week in sketches.
Jean, I figured I was pretty close to where you are. I even showed your work to some of the local sketchers so that they could connect with you!
That’s great! I’m eager to see your Olana sketches– what a place, right?! One of these years we’ll connect in person.
Jean, I would love that!!
Glad to read it was so nice. End of August I got approached as one spot opened but unfortunately could not hop over at that short notice. Maybe next year!
Bunny, I will be back there next August so maybe you can join!!
What a vibrant drawing, bravo. I especially like the cast shadows on the fire station, which convey the beautiful sunny moment so impressively. I love everything about it.
Many thanks Dagmar!!
So beautiful
Thanks so much!!
You’re welcome
It was a memorable sketching week.
It sure was!!
This is so typical of a NY red firehouse. It is lovely and made me smile. I haven’t been up to that area in a long time. Maybe it is time for a trip.
Joan, you should definitely make the trip up there. It’s an easy drive and there’s so much to do!!
Good Evening dear friend Shari,
So very beautiful, no words.
Thanks for sharing this lovely image.
All the best and good luck,
Wishing you happy days always.
Blessings
Uma🙏
Uma, I send you all the best in return.
Shari