Get Out!

Friday evening we ventured out to hear musical stylings of friends and look at local art downtown. We started out near Stash in this area because they had beer here and I spent the day with children so...

Love their signs!

Closure

So that unfinished, but not quite blank canvas above the bar got finished today. Recall last year when I was trying to get motivated to complete the painting using collaboration. That didn't happen because I have trust issues and with some folks that attend our gatherings, who knows what would end up on the canvas?

Tooling Around the Town

Locally Sourced Inspiration

Last night we were finally able to carve out some time to attend the Norman Art Walk. We didn't do any research on what to expect, we just got into the car and went downtown.

Just listen to the music of the traffic in the city 

Linger on the sidewalk where the neon signs are pretty 

How can you lose? 

The lights are much brighter there 

You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares 

 So go downtown 

Things will be great when you're downtown 

No finer place for sure, downtown 

Everything's waiting for you

Not So Sketchy

‎Yesterday, after I published my draw-rings post, I added 'watercolor paper' to the list of things to get. Just now, while I was down in the basement switching out loads of laundry, I spotted my drawing valise. When I went to check inside for more drawings, I came across an old (and unused by the looks of it) set of watercolor pencils and an unused pad of watercolor paper. (papier-d'aquarelle). Comment fortuite!

Sketchier Days

Many years ago I took a drawing class at the Firehouse Art Center (first class I'd had there since the 6th grade!!!). I was looking for a creative outlet and thought Portrait Drawing might be cool. I loved watching our instructor draw his subject. At first the pencil marks on the page were scribble and then a few seconds later, the subject was perfectly captured on paper. These were a few of my drawings back then.

Late Night

Sadly, it was not with David Letterman...but we did get close.

We dined at Angelo's Pizza tonight and that area - near Times Square - makes me very sad...

Lots of lost souls and unhappiness and bright lights.  The first bit of sadness was a very scantily clad young girl clutching onto a young boy for warmth as he talked on his cell phone. I saw 2 young Asian girls being carried/dragged by a group because they could not stand up by themselves. I also saw a young man passed out on the corner and when we came back by, 6 police officers were cuffing him. It was a bit too real tonight. This is the NY that they didn't show us on Friends, Mad About You, Seinfeld and Sex and the City. Well, maybe on that last one...

It wasn't a totally depressing day, just for a few minutes before dinner. Earlier in the evening after class, we took a cab ride to The Carlyle to meet up with a friend of mine and her daughter before we went to the Met.

Mr Cab Driver (Lenny Kravitz) was playing in my head until the cabbie opened the door to spit in the street ...gross!

Cosmos at Bemelman's (in The Carlyle)

That was a nice time, catching up with friends, while listening to wonderful piano player. And the Met was nice too.

And this morning Christina and I hoofed it over to Rockefeller Plaza to try to get on the Today Show. This is a picture of us and the very artistic sign I made yesterday in preparation for our big moment. We not only got on camera, but we were there when Taylor Lautner came out to greet the crowd!!! That was a nice surprise! I am not a big Twilight fan, but if I were, I'd be on Team Jacob.





We had lunch at the Plaza Food Hall too.

Tsaziki, Hummus and Baba Ghanoush with Pita Chips

It was a packed and fun day exploring the city, looking at art, eating wonderful food and catching up, but this girl is ready to be home.

Catch you on the flip side!

Imbue

[im-byoo] verb (used with object), im·bued, im·bu·ing.

1. to impregnate or inspire, as with feelings, opinions, etc.

2. to saturate or impregnate with moisture, color, etc.

My blank canvas

So I haven't done anything with that blank canvas that I hung up 3 months ago, but it has sparked conversation at every gathering we have at our house since that time. And it's a step ahead of where it was before (parked beside the piano).

I'd thought about doing a mixed media project- affixing mementos of places visited or favorite places or keepsakes and paint and sketches - and I'm still toying with that idea, but I'm thinking about making it a collaborative effort with family and friends. 

Scott's brother Randy put that idea in my head last night when he suggested we put markers or paint out near the canvas and let party attendees add their "thumbprint" as they pass by each time. What a neat idea! 

I like the idea of getting a unique piece of art made for me by loved ones...I can't  wait to see the finished product!

Winterfest 2006

A friend of mine, Nick Wu, sketched our portraits during the Winterfest Artwalk tonight. It is always neat to watch Nick draw. I took his portrait drawing class a few years ago but I found that I enjoyed watching him draw more than I enjoyed sketching things at that time.

Check out the drawings...we look so serious....