A day at the Opera

It has been ages since I viewed a show at the Metropolitan Opera so when a chance presented itself to a Saturday matinee show, I took it.  Well, it was an opera by Wagner and I'm not an opera fan but I was in for the experience. 

I sketched the interior hall before Act I started.  Sat next to a young fella to my left who I think has a bad case of halitosis.  Sigh...  Twenty minutes into the program and I was restless in my seat while the rest of the audience was stone still and fully absorbed into the program.  There was a moment I started caressing my two day old stubble not knowing it was creating a noise.  "Hush!" the fellow to my left said after tapping my armrest and signaling me to stop just that.  I froze to my seat.  My goodness!  How serious can this be?   Thoughts of leaving after Act I crossed my mind. 

Well, I eventually warmed up to the show and saw it to the end.  Truthfully, it was very easy to fall asleep in the dimly lit theater even with the operatic singing.  I may have missed a few but the subtitle was the savior for I would be so lost in this whole experience without it.   I'm not sure if I'm ready for another opera show anytime soon.

Commuter Sketch Series 16

Last Wednesday morning, I came prepared to sketch a scene and left out a portion of the page for the snippet of information that I look forward to hear from the train engineer once we got to GCT.   Finally,  I went over to the train head, introduced myself to the lady conductor and the engineer (Felicia and Ray) who has all these wonderful things he shares over the train PA just before the commuters detrain. 

 

Across from Grand Central Terminal

Across the main entrance to the Grand Central Terminal on 42nd Street is Pershing Square.  For a couple of days, 10-15 minutes in the morning before work and in the evening before heading home, I stood at a certain spot to sketch this view looking toward the West Side Highway.

The Grand Central Terminal

It started as a sketch of the lamp post sign a week ago and slowly branched out from there. A few days after, I would spend about 10-15 minutes adding things before heading to work in time and at the end of the day before catching the express train home. Yesterday, I was able to add a name to the person I sketched. Somehow, I feel comfortable with my sketching these days, it doesn't bother me that I interact with onlookers. It's a good conversation starter anyway.

Commuter Sketch Series 15

The PA voice of the train operator was heard saying this:  "Your attention please.  (Please make sure to take all your belongings and) welcome to the iconic Grand Central Terminal in New York.  Tuesday.  Sunny.  Home of the International Auto Show.  Have a good day in New York, the city that never sleeps."  This time, I quickly sketched my left leg and shoe.  Also posting here some people sketches on the train and some shoe sketches for practice.

Commuter Sketch Series 14

The train engineer/operator has fun comments to the commuters just before exiting the train.  Yesterday, it was the Jeally Bean Day.   Who knew?!

Tall and narrow sketches

There's a 3 in x 9 in sketchbook freebie that was handed out at last year's USK symposium.  I since have learned to adapt to its limitations of use.  Here are a few of my sketches.

East Balcony at the Grand Central Terminal

For two days, before going to work and after work, I allotted 15 minutes of sketching the East Balcony at the Grand Central Terminal, trying to capture the flow of commuters passing through this very busy train terminal.

The One Week 100 People Challenge Highlights

For the second year in a row, I participated in doing 100 people sketches in one week.  An Urban Sketcher noted how a person walking towards you have their legs and foot are planted in a certain way so on my last day of the challenge, I paid close attention and observed the throngs of commuters passing by the main hall of the Grand Central Terminal for exactly that.  I think I came close to achieving my goal - drawing people better - in this year's challenge.

Day 1 Sketches:

Day 2:

Day 3:

Day 4:

Day 5:

Commuter Sketch Series 13

Two and a half years later and I'm still not embracing the use of iPad and Procreate.  I gave it a try last night on the way home.

Commuter Sketch Series 12

The third row seat for two facing the car entrance/exit doors was a good spot to capture people sketches.

Commuter Sketch Series 11

Sketching on the train makes the journey a bit more relaxing and fun!

The Vessel

Last Saturday afternoon, I sketched with my Urban Sketchers group at the Hudson Yards in New York City.  This amazing architecture called "The Vessel" is a difficult subject to draw because it's easy to get lost with the lines.  A fellow sketcher, Sylvie, suggested to leave the sketch as is and don't add anymore floor levels.  A great advice.

Commuter Sketch Series 10

From my window seat on the train heading home, a nice reflection of this exhausted looking gentleman taking a rest on the commute home.

Commuter Sketch Series 9

April Fools Day commuter sketches.  I started at the train station at 10 minutes before the train arrival.  Then it continued on the train to GCT.

On the return home,  I was fifteen minutes early to get on the express train, window seat.  While waiting, I sketched what was reflected from the window and anything outside of the reflection.

Commuter Sketches

Commuter sketches from last weekend on the way to the city and back.  It was a good warm up exercise before joining my Urban Sketcher friends at the Lincoln Center.

The Lincoln Center

Glad to be with the NYC Urban Sketchers last Saturday at the Lincoln Center.  I made two sketches.  The perspective on this first one was off.  Up until I took I picture of my sketch did I realize my mistake.  Another mistake to learn from.

The second sketch started with the people I was observing by the water fountain and it grew from there.  Going left to right and then adding the buildings later.  I'm more pleased with this sketch than the former.