The Waters of Venice, Italy

The City of Venice is one of the tourism capitals of Italy, with a rich history of art, architecture, and engineering feats. Every street you walk contains a story. Along the charming canals one can think about a city built on water where there once was a marshy lagoon (https://venezialines.com/blog/venices-canals-built-city-built-water/). The buildings share distinct architectural styles of Gothic, Byzantine, and Ottoman influences from over a thousand years ago (http://imaginingvenice.com/2013/04/16/venetian-architecture/). The city also contains many tales of folk lore and myth, identified by statues, bridges, and other relics of love, loss, terror, and spirits that remain, to remind us of the city’s rich and sometimes dark history.

Canals of Venice, 11in x 15in, pen+ink with watercolor (2020)

The drawing “Canals of Venice” began as a pencil sketch drawing meant to capture the breathtaking architecture and character of the city streets. As the drawing developed, I began laying on hatches of ink to define and give character to the scene. The image I used as a reference was taken at night, and had an incredible feeling of calm and mystery. The stories of noir and myths of the city encouraged me to incorporate some intentional areas of muted color over the pen and ink drawing, to bring focus to the murky waters of the canal, and bring a sense of contrast between the buildings and the canal.

The Ephemeral Glow of Manhattanhenge

I have now seen Manhattanhenge three times while living in Queens, NY. For those who have also witnessed this truly magical event understand the excitement, anticipation, and buzz on the streets as people crowd on street corners… or just block traffic by standing in the street, to see the minutes of yellow, orange, red glow of the sun setting between NYC sky scrapers. Almost as soon as you see it, it has disappeared. Perhaps this is what keeps bringing us back!

Manhattanhenge, 18in x 18in, oil painting (2020)

No one knows how long New Yorkers have observed Manhattanhenge, though the name was officially given in 1997 by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. Read more from the “Science Man” in his BLOG here. We can thank this bi-annual phenomenon to the rectilinear grid streets laid out in the “Commissioners’ Plan of 1811,” which gave us straight streets aligned at a slight angle to the island of Manhattan.

For those interested in seeing for themselves - the phenomenal sunset happens twice per year, typically towards the end of May and in early July; the exact dates are different every year and are typically posted by national and local news sites online. I have seen it both from 41st street in Manhattan and the Long Island City waterfront where the memory for this painting was captured.

The sunrises are a bit more elusive because it happens EARLY in the morning. I for one am not an early bird, but someday will make the early AM trip to the westside of Manhattan. It is also hard to predict viewing the sunrise Manhattanhenge because to the east are the lovely developed skylines of Queens and Brooklyn, which may block the view.

Either way, the experience of Manhattanhenge is truly memorable and a powerful sight to see.

Watercolor Sketch Painting - A Walk In the Forest

“Forest Bathing”, watercolor painting, 7in x 5in

To stand amongst mature trees in the forest can feel very grounding; it reminds me of endurance, rooting, and persisting in one place for many decades. This red oak tree, along with many other trees have lived here in this forest for over 100 years.

The deeply cracked bark of this red oak tree indicates its age and acts as a suit of armor, protecting from unwanted insects and disease. The oak trees wide and expansive canopy provides wonderfully filtered sunlight below for life below and helps to cool and protect the forest floor.

Trees are invaluable to human kind for many reasons, and there are many people (Robert Frost, Henry David Thoreau, and contemporary Peter Wohlleben) who spend their lives protecting, learning from, and admiring trees and forests around the world. I once stumbled across a carved sign in a forested area of the U.S., with a beautiful poem. Although unattributed on the sign, I later looked it up to find out it was originally written in Portuguese, by Alberto de Veiga Simoes, and was displayed on the grounds of a castle in Lisbon, Portugal. (Article: National Tree Week)

“Prayer of the Woods:

I am the heat of your hearth on the cold winter nights,
the friendly shade screening you from the summer sun,
and my fruits are refreshing draughts quenching your thirst as you journey on.
I am the beam that holds your house, the board of your table,
the bed on which you lie, and the timber that builds your boat.
I am the handle of your hoe, the door of your homestead,
the wood of your cradle, and the shell of your coffin.
I am the bread of kindness and the flower of beauty.
Ye who pass by, listen to my prayer: Harm me not.”

Seeking Calm and Hope Through Nature

In these times of quarantine, we are surrounded by uncertainty and loss everyday - even if we are fortunate enough to still be employed… My entire life, I have found great comfort in connecting with nature. Research shows that being in or even just viewing images or artwork of nature can reduce stress, anxiety, anger, and contribute to your physical well-being including decreased blood-pressure or muscle tension. Before I heard and read theories related to “Forest Bathing”, the benefits of gardening, or taking care of house plants - I was doing this because it just made me feel better.

As my art making has developed over the years, the presence of nature has been consistent. Even after moving to New York City, with limited “nature”, I have sought out every opportunity to connect with and appreciate a beautiful allée of street trees, a sunrise/ sunset from the waterfront, a view of the rippling water from one of our many bridges; also the city parks, public and private gardens, and forested areas through the 5-boroughs and beyond.

In the last few months, I have found great comfort in daily walks through our local forest with my dog Stanley. As a regular practice I sometimes take photos during the walks as inspiration for future paintings. In the desire to create an almost-daily-ritual, I have been making small watercolor paintings I call “sketches”. Each sketch expresses a moment of beauty during one of those walks. The sketches are for my well-being, and also in hopes by sharing these sketches of nature with friends and others I can help brighten someone else’s day. I hope we can all find small moments of beauty everyday to help us connect to the present in a meaningful way that bring hope for a better future.

“Spring Beauty” - a flowering dogwood tree. I love the whimsical white petals as they almost glow in the late afternoon sun, and shift back-and-forth from the wind.

“Squirrel Watching” - my dog loves to stand on fallen trees to watch for squirrels.

LIC-A Spring 2020 Online Exhibition

I am pleased to be member of a group of talented artists devoted to sharing positivity and beauty in these difficult times. This online exhibition brings deep gratitude to the Long Island City Artists group, which provides the opportunity for artists to share our deepest selves with other artists and art lovers alike.

Many wishes for the safety and health of everyone, and I very much look forward to the time we can reconvene in person to share creativity, great conversation, and perhaps a glass of wine.

Please visit the LIC-A website: www.licartists.org/spring-online-exhibition

LIC-A Member Exhibition at Atlantic Gallery Feb. 18 - Mar. 07 2020

Last night, Thursday 20 February 2020, was the opening reception for the Long Island City Artist’s Annual Member Exhibition at Atlantic Gallery in Chelsea, NYC. It was a fun and exciting night - the gallery full of circulating eyes took in some truly fantastic art work created by 40 artists who live/work in Long Island City, Queens.

(left) Photo with my watercolor “Branches VI” on the exhibition opening night; (right) photos of final touches to artwork just before opening night!

In fact… there were so many people and such great conversation, I forgot to take photos during the event. Oops :(

Just days before the opening, artists dropped off works to the gallery, and with careful direction from esteemed curator and organizer Carol Crawford, 15-20 of us spent the afternoon hanging the show together. It’s always nice to catch up and make new friends!

A few photos from the show hanging on Sunday afternoon - my pup Stanley came for moral support and to help supervise.

We are hosting a “Meet the Artists” on three Saturdays during the show - February 22, 29, and March 7. Many artists will be at the gallery and available to share insights about their works on display, or any curiosities related a day-in-the-life of artists in NYC. Hope to see you there!