Sarafina in Graphite

Some drawings of the lovely Sarafina.
2 x 7 mins, 1x 20 mins, 1x 45 mins. Graphite.

Pinetum

I painted in Pinetum once many years ago when I was new to plein airing.
Pine trees are difficult. This is my 147th plein air painting in oil or pastel (not counting gouache).

Here is a little 6x8 oil, 2 hours with all leftover paint from yesterday.

I think it is absolutely wonderful that we have a whole area in Central Park solely dedicated to hanging out with pine trees.

Cloisters Plein Air

 Last week I went up to Ft Tryon Park to see what cool things I could paint.

Dec 22

A little friend came to visit....

He came right up, looking for food.

I had no food for him and, friends, he was PISSED OFF.
But he is my new pet and I named him Mars the Black Squirrel.

He needed a good paint name.

************
I decided to paint The Cloisters.

Day 1 I did not finish- 2 1/2 hours.

Dec 23

So I went back the next day and STILL did not finish after another 2 hours.
I did bring food for Mars but he didn't come back.
Maybe he was still pissed.

And also 190th Street subway is closed so I went to 200/Dyckman and climbed stairs up the mountain.

Day 3- just under a week later and my leftover paint was still nice and wet (mostly)!

I did not see Mars but I left food for him.

And another 2 hours I called the painting done, 8x10 oil.

Walk in the Park

I needed to get out so I went for a walk in Central Park. No ;painting today.

But I wandered around Central Park and tried to find my first plein air spot in the Ramble.
I don't think I found it, or I did find it and couldn't recognize it.  Everything looks different in Winter, or maybe something changed in the last 11 1/2 years.... although Central Park doesn't really change much.

I remember my first painting spot was in The Ramble, at the end of a very long grassy area because I was trying to hide.  This looks like it should be the right place but my pics didn't match.

?????? maybe these trees?

Commission

This is a commissioned painting from someone who contacted me over Facebook.
I don't know them- it has to be good because they won't like the painting just because they like me!

8x10 oil, reference provided by the client, who is very happy.

This painting took a few sessions- an underpainting and then glaze layers to give it good depth.

A lot of pre-thinking happened.  I do that a lot, I problem solve and visualize before ever starting to paint.

In this instance I definitely spent more time thinking about the painting than actual painting time, but all the issues were worked out beforehand and it basically painted itself.  Total paint time maybe 5-6 hours.

I got to use gold paint- and I know that before I even started- it is very subtle but has a nice effect, something for the viewer to discover.

I'm very happy with how it turned out... it looks so much better in person, but most paintings do.
And it feels good not only to get paid for painting, but to know I'm giving good work to someone who values it.

I know this is a good painting, but it had a *really* good social media response, which was a pleasant surprise.  Sometimes paintings I might not think are my "most impressive" get more of a response than I expect.

Christmas 2020

 Small this year.

Christmas Eve Drawing

 Simon hosted a free drawing session.  We listened to A Christmas Carol by Dickens, it was lovely.

KC modeled for us, he is wonderful.

Graphite.

20 mins

45 mins

Jo on Wednesday

Jo modeled for us tonight, she is awesome.
Graphite.

20 mins

45 mins

Solstice

Today is the Winter Solstice so I decided to go over to St Patricks to do my personal ritual of candle-lighting.

On the way, of course, is the tree at Rockefeller Center.

Our poor tree has barely any admirers this year.

I have 5 personal wishes this year.
And I lit 3 candles- one for me, one for Daya, and one for Everyone Else/NYC.

*************
Daya gave me her Christmas list SUPER LATE.
AND she got mad at me when i bugged her about it over 2 weeks ago.
So I said fuck it, we aren't doing Christmas.

I don't need to get yelled at for asking my kid for her Christmas list.
There are so many children out there who have NOTHING.

I did give to a local NYC charity this year that fills childrens' Christmas wishes.
So maybe someone will appreciate what I am willing to give.

But she sent her list, late but she did.

And on that list is a rather large stuffed shark from Ikea that does not ship.

So I went to Red Hook in Brooklyn.
It is a trek, and also not a good area.

The Ikea there is HUGE and an overwhelming maze.

But... I found the shark!!

Manhattan from the Smith-9th St station:

If you have a child or children, this is absolutely something you just do for them.