The Subject and The Object

8 x 10 Oil on Gessobord

This was at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.  What intrigued me was who was studying whom (Is that grammatically correct?  If not, I will certainly hear from my Literature Professor daughter :-).  Who was the subject and who was the object?  Thought provoking for me, at least.  Painting this was a challenge at best due to all the angles, but I really enjoy the effort that goes into something a little different and am pleased with the outcome.

Subway Couture

6 x 6 Oil on Gessobord

Well...What can you say?!  New York City is a perfect place to people watch and who could resist painting this woman?  She was dressed for Alaska and had her iPad and her iPhone, so she was totally connected to the outside world.  The socks matched the hat, so she was totally stylish :-)  The woman next to her was studying and drinking her Starbucks coffee.  It was actually an open cup, but I put a lid on it due to the fact that I couldn't stand the idea of all those germs getting into her coffee....This one was fast and fun.  Quick strokes hopefully coming together.

Village Trio

SOLD

6 x 6 Oil on Gessobord

When we lived in Greenwich Village in the 60's, there was always music being performed in Washington Square Park day and night and we hung out there a lot.  It apparently hasn't changed.  What has changed is the wonderful lighting around the Arch.  It's probably been there for a while, but our recent trip back to the City was the first in a long time.  The building we lived in was still there and looked the same, although now it has a doorman.  We would have turned our noses up at having a doorman then.  Now, not so much..:-).  The park was and still is a wonderful place with so much "life" going on.  I do miss it.  I enjoyed painting this.

LBJ On Display

16 x 8 Oil on Belgian Linen Board

"LBJ" by Marisol Escobar (1967) at the MoMA.  This was certainly a show stopper!  At first, you pass by it and suddenly stop and think: "That looks a lot like LBJ."  Then you really look at it and realize he's holding his wife, Lady Bird, and two daughters in his hand.  They look quite a bit like birds...i.e. "Lady Bird."  The structure is coffin-like.  I did a little research and found out that Escobar might have used the coffin effect due to the way Johnson got the presidency, and perhaps was a statement about the Vietnam War.  All in all, I found it fascinating and a pretty strong statement.

One World Trade Center

7 x 5 Oil on Gessobord

The new Trade Tower was still under construction, but certainly stood up tall and proud Downtown.  The reflection of the sky on the windows was really breathtaking.  I debated about putting in the construction bins along the street, but decided to keep them as they draw one's eye to the tower.  I wonder if the construction workers thought of that when they placed them there....

This painting is being auctioned at Daily Paintworks, DPW.  If you are interested in bidding, please go to the DPW link on the right and then to my Auction page.

Sketching the Masters

SOLD - DONATION TO HURRICANE SANDY RESCUE RELIEF FUND

7 x 5 Oil on Gessobord

Another New York moment!  It was hard to find a quiet spot at the museum, but this woman did.  She was tucked into a place where she wouldn't have people gawking at her or stepping on her, and she was really focused.  There's no better way to learn from the Masters, and how lucky to have access to that wonderful art.  This donated piece was sold and 100% of the sale went to The American Red Cross Hurricane Rescue Fund.



Tourist Heaven

11 x 7 Oil on Arches Paper

This tour bus passed us as we were walking from the hotel to the MET.  If I could have flagged it down and hopped on, I would have.  We thought we knew where we were going, but wound up walking way out of our way...What felt like miles out of our way.  I really loved the man looking up with his mouth open.  In the city, that's probably not a good thing.  One never knows what might fall in :-) 

Rat Messenger, New York City

7 x 5 Oil on Gessobord

Crazy, huh?!  We passed this rat sitting across from Trump Tower in New York City, displaying his message to all who walked by.  Apparently, they pop up with different messages at different times.  When I lived in the City, I saw a few rats but they were scurrying across the avenue and heading for the subways.  They usually didn't wear aprons with messages on them :-)  Some were pretty big, but this guy must have been a couch potato....

Holland Tunnel Glow

 8 x 10 Oil on Gessobord

Believe it or not, the Holland Tunnel has the most beautiful glow at certain times.  The last part of our trip into NYC was a challenge due to a terrible rain storm, but once inside it was so quiet and peaceful.  Not much traffic.  Just this golden glow...and then we exited to thunder and lightening and rain so heavy we couldn't see.  We really would have liked to go back in.  Bet not too many people say that!

Seven Seated Figures at the MET

11 x 14 Oil on Gessoed WC Paper

What attracted me to this scene was the row of six people sitting in this great hall at the MET along with the seated sculpture.  Perhaps each of these people would have preferred being on a pedestal, too :-)  One of my favorite parts of travelling is coming home and reliving everything in paint.  It doesn't get any better than that!

Confused at the MOMA

5 x 7 Oil on Gessobord

This gentleman seemed totally confused while looking at Picasso's "Violin and Grapes" at the Museum of Modern Art in NYC.  I think he was scratching his head and thinking "Where are the grapes?", "Where is the Violin?" and "Why??"  He also apparently had hit the Museum store and was lugging all his purchases around.  This is the first of my NYC series.  Can't wait to paint more!

New York City Canyon

5 x 7 Oil on Gessobord

SOLD

 

We just came back from a few days in NYC, and I'm trying to get used to the slower pace of Virginia now.  This is really abstract, and some of it was done with the best tools of all...fingers...at least a little :-)  I just went with whatever happened and left it for the art gods to determine the outcome.  Tomorrow, I will start to paint some of the sights and scenes of Manhattan.  There is nothing like the City!