Finally a new one.
This is the back of a little Bodega around the corner from me. Greasy, grimy, urban goo. It feels good to get out and paint again.
Another blog where some guy goes on and on and on about himself. NOW WITH PICTURES!
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Friday, March 22, 2013
BETTER WITH AGE?
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON Urban Sketchers,MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013
THERE IS NEVER ENOUGH TIME TO SKETCH.
These days, the feeling that I deserve to take time, get out and treat myself to a sweet, slowed-down day of drawing has become a scarce commodity. On those rare occasions, I feel I'm trying to sprint my way through a marathon. An urgent race to find a spot that says, ah, this is the place. Then rarely enough time to reference a sense of light before it changes. Not enough time to work a mark of paint, seeing it dry too soon as my strokes mock me like scars. Never enough time to finish before I'm squinting in the twilight, at a ghost of what attracted me in the first place. Faster, faster, paint faster!
As I scurry to relax, I think, if only I had more time. Grappling to embrace that feeling, long ago, of calm that once washed over me. Dripping, dabbing, scratching, blotting. Because this is it, my day to paint, I scramble to outrun the sun and produce something that will justify the time that has been graciously given. Inevitably to find the mountain has brought forth a mouse.
Woe is me, the tortured artist.
Then today, tucked away on a forgotten page, I came across this.
Don't get me wrong, it's no masterpiece. I can hardly express the disappointment I felt when my efforts on this one were exhausted. I still see a hurried, over-worked blob. It still looks desperate to me. I still remember what I hoped it to be. And it still does not feel worthy of the time spent.
I know it's not a bottle of wine, getting better with age. I'm sure the physical architecture has not shifted to compliment my sketch. I know the paint did not re-arrange itself into a better composition, or the colors become more true.
But, something changed. Maybe my eyes are going, maybe I'm just desperate to post something. But, I see something else there and I don't hate it so much anymore.
Woe is me, the tortured artist.
Then today, tucked away on a forgotten page, I came across this.
Don't get me wrong, it's no masterpiece. I can hardly express the disappointment I felt when my efforts on this one were exhausted. I still see a hurried, over-worked blob. It still looks desperate to me. I still remember what I hoped it to be. And it still does not feel worthy of the time spent.
I know it's not a bottle of wine, getting better with age. I'm sure the physical architecture has not shifted to compliment my sketch. I know the paint did not re-arrange itself into a better composition, or the colors become more true.
But, something changed. Maybe my eyes are going, maybe I'm just desperate to post something. But, I see something else there and I don't hate it so much anymore.
I makes me remember why I started painting in the first place. To relax. So, maybe now when I find the time, I will just paint. Not to justify time or feel accomplishment. Not to produce a painting, but just to be there, painting. That way, when something is finished, it's purpose will simply be to remind me of the day, where I was and what I was lucky enough to be doing. And if I am dissatisfied with the outcome of my time it won't be because I was rushed or felt pressured. I can just put it away for a while and peek back every couple months with new eyes. Agree to disagree with myself for the moment and consider that eventually, I may come around to a different perspective.
I am hopeful. Maybe, because I know nothing changed here. But, time.
NO SLEEP TILL THE LAST EXIT WHERE THE TREE GROWS IN...
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON Urban Sketchers,MONDAY, JUNE 11, 2012
TO EL AND BACK
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON Urban Sketchers,MONDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2011
This is the sketch I did for Danny Gregory's short film " To El and Back".
It was a great privilege working with Danny and Tommy Kane. I was a bit nervous during the shoot, I'm far more comfortable on the other side of the camera. If you haven't already seen them, check out Danny's other films. Really cool stuff.
PRINCE STREET
It's been a while since I posted. I'll be playing catch-up for a while. I did this in April, sitting in my car.
WATER BLOGGED
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON Urban Sketchers,MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 2010
These were done late in November. Back when the air was merely brisk, well before it turned so bitterly cold.
This is the abandoned Grain Terminal in Red Hook. It is a wonderfully odd structure for NYC, with it's scores of soaring silos. I hope to do another from a closer vantage point. Intimidated by the rapidly changing water, I practiced with a little one first. It was done in my tiny Moleskine, the other in the larger book. I also found a photo taken from the smaller tower on the roof of the building. The arrow indicates my location, when the sketches were done.
The photo was not taken by me. It comes from this site:
Here you can also find some great photos of the interior of this old beast.
Happy New Year to All.
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