A prelude to year 2023

In January of 2020, I sketched this Sabrett food cart vendor on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 37th Street.  I would later learn his name is Abdul.  He saw me sketching his food cart again last night. He offered me something to drink to which I respectfully declined.  Today, I went back to the same spot as last night, armed with Luminance colored pencils to add and finish the sketch done last night.

The Downhill Curve View

I've seen this view many times before and I thought I'd sketch this one day.  It finally happened on the morning of Christmas Day while waiting for my car mechanic friend.  After waiting some 20 minutes plus a pencil sketch of this scene, I couldn't wait much longer for him to come out and quickly diagnose the car noise on my passenger side.  It will have to wait until a week into January 2023.

The European Sculptures Gallery at the Met Museum

On Christmas Eve, we came down to the city and had our brunch at Cafe D' Alsace on 2nd Avenue between 88th and 89th Streets.  I was able to sketch the restaurant scene while waiting but mind you, the food came out and was served to us fairly quickly.

After our brunch, we walked toward the Met Museum on this very frigid day.  The windchill made it even worse!  Once inside the museum, we were cozy and warm like all those other customers who crowded this great place.  I told Anne I needed to sketch the Nativity scene but soon found it was too crowded.  The European Sculpture gallery was a much better option.

Waiting for the Pharmacist

Earlier this month, I swung by the nearest Walgreens Pharmacy on Broadway and 40th Street to collect the monthly COVID test kit supplies.  The pharmacist took my insurance information and submitted the claim.  She said fifteen minutes wait.  I step aside and watched for something to sketch.  This young gentleman was waiting for his turn to be called.  He was seated across from the counter but was fully engaged with his phone.

A Commuter Sketch

I like to use the Kraft toned paper in my sketches.  Just add a bit of dark ink lines and some white lines and there you have a nice set of values.

2022 Sketches Video Compilation - Part 1

Part 1 - A compilation of regular daily sketches I made in Jan/Feb 2022, compressed into a 30 second segment video clip.

The Lincoln Center

Back in April/May, I did a pro-bono commission artwork featuring the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts for a relative who is also an independent author. She made my painting the hardback cover of her latest novel, Maestro: A Love Story. Preliminary sketch done on-site and finished in the studio.

The Nostalgia Holiday Train Ride

The 2022 Nostalgia Holiday Train ride in NYC runs for a limited time schedule.  I got the ride experience last Sunday on the 125th-Broadway Station to Chambers Street run.  It was like a regular train ride and it was bumpy, clunky, and crowded with riders who were there to enjoy the experience.  I was on the Red Line, Car 9586, toward the rear part where I got to lean on the conductor's cabin while sketching the scene.  It was crowded but I was able to get some commuter names like Sarah and Julio next to me.  There were costumed commuters at the 125th Station that I got to sketch in a hurry.

Weekend Get-Together

Although the weather was lousy last Sunday, we had a great time having after-dinner drinks at the Balzem Restaurant in SoHo.  It has now become a familiar place to hang out especially after making friends with the staff working there.  Twice I've come to this place before and I sketch the scene.  This time was no different.

The Rockefeller Center

The Rockefeller Center Christmas lights on in full display on this chilly afternoon.  Today also happens to be the Santa Con in New York City so this place and everywhere else seem so crowded with people.  I took the outline of the scene and marked it on my Kraft square format sketchbook before finishing it inside the ground level floor of the center where it was warm and comfortable.  Managed to join the group in time for the show and tell.

 

A Hot Dog stand at Times Square

This sketch was done on that chilly Sunday evening (Nov. 13).  The fountain pen was hesitating to write so I mixed up the sketch with the trusty ballpoint pen (faint thin lines).  I've been meaning to add some watercolor wash to it but who knows when that can happen.  Instead, I'm posting the raw image now before this one gets shuffled and lost into the unfinished sketches.

A Commuter Sketch on Car 9244

She sat across from mine and laid the two boxes of Rubalta Pizza pies to her left seat.  I suppose the pies must be good for she ate the one slice fast, followed with another for good measure.  Or she must have been hungry.  All this time, I was trying to discretely sketch her, trying to remember the placement of the fingers as she held the slice of pizza with both hands.

Draw-A-Thon 2022

I always enjoy attending the Art & Design HS Draw-A-Thon. Yesterday was my third year attending this fun event. Great seeing my other Urban Sketcher friends there, too.  I brought my tripod this time and set up my easel which made it fun to sketch the sketchers in the room.  I was keen on capturing the gestures of the subjects I draw in my scene.

Korean Food Lunch

Our lunch at Hana Michi on 28 West 32nd Street was enjoyable.  The ambiance was nice and the food was good.  While waiting for my ramen soup dish, I made a rough sketch of the scene before me.

The Main Concourse at GCT

Took some time to sketch this scene while waiting for my train to depart from Track 17.  Came back to the same spot at the Apple Retail store in Grand Central Terminal the following evening and added fine details before catching my train ride home.

 

Post Thanksgiving Day sketches

The train was running on the weekend schedule.  I noticed this commuter across the aisle on Car 9128.  His relaxed slumped gesture was fun to sketch.  Anne, beside me, is also fun to sketch but I misjudged how much more space I need to get her complete profile.  The next stage, adding color to a sketch, is now a more fun thing and a challenging work to do.

Another Christmas Market Scene

The Bryant Park Christmas Market was our first stop last Friday, a day after Thanksgiving, for our day trip to the city.  You know the gift giving season is in the air.  I made a sketch from the steps just above the rows of stalls along West 42nd Street.

A Union Square Park Scene

We visited the Holiday Markets in the city a day after Thanksgiving Day to see some wonderful selections of things to buy as presents.  While she browsed the market stalls, I stayed in one spot outside of the market area and sketched this scene.  It was fun to see people going about their ways heading into the holidays. 

Waiting at the 42nd Street Station

A week ago, I was early to meet up with my son at the 42nd Street Grand Central subway station.  Not a problem, I had my sketchbook with me plus a performer was nearby for entertainment where I sketched this scene.  Soon, my son arrived and we both descended down the stairs to make the 7 train to Queens, NY.

A Commuter Sketch on Car 9163

I made a sketch of the train conductor using a Flair felt pen and added a passenger waiting to exit once we got to the next station.  I wasn't satisfied with the line quality.  I guess I haven't learned how to use it to advantage yet.  Thus, I switched to an almost dried-up ink brush pen to map out the figures and for easier line definition before adding the watercolor splash on it later.

A Commuter Sketch on Car 9312

Saturday morning train ride to the city.  I saw a knitter across the aisle from me on the same row.  I started the sketch with her and grew the scope to include the Asian couple in the front seat of her.

A Commuter Sketch on Car 9102

On Friday evening, I took a later schedule after having a birthday dinner with my son and his girlfriend.  On this train, I got the window side seating so I can see the reflection rather than the actual "nodding my head up and down movement" or the trying the "discreet look-up glance in a second" which can be embarrassing at times.  I caught him getting a quick nap before reaching the New Rochelle station.  He has a son who was dead tired and could hardly wake up once we reached that station.  

 

A Commuter sketch on Car 9394

I was focusing to sketch the seated lady until she became aware I was doing so.  After the Harlem/125th Street, I put down my ballpoint pen, dug out the colored pencils in my backpack, and added the commuters in color as several of them made their way to the train door area.  I like the Luminance color pencils.  I think it will become a new tool for my commuter sketch series.

A Commuter Sketch on Car 9163

A Tuesday morning delay for the 8:20am MNR train to the city.  Good for me because I had a late start to my day.  Once on board, I had to sketch the scene before me.

Practice Sketches, with colors!

Some of the more recent small sketches that I have fun adding colors today.  The small sketchbook is perfect to capture ordinary scenes like these.  A perfect companion for simple enjoyment.

 

The Clock inside the Grand Central Terminal

It's the famous clock at the center of the Main Concourse of the Grand Central Terminal.  First sketch for about 10 minutes on Thursday and same on Friday evening before catching the train ride home.  Also a good practice sheet for adding color at home.

 

A Commuter

I was able to sketch this commuter within a relatively good time.  The daily practice helps.  Sometimes, the sketch result should be left in its finished state but often, I wonder if a little color would add value to it.  A hit or miss.  Most of the time, it's a miss.  It's a good practice anyway.

 

The Commuters

Thursday morning commuters were packed on the 8:13 train to the city.  I initially took the aisle seat to get a nice view of the crowd by the train door but had to scoot over to the window side.  Naturally, my POV changed but I think I'm happy withe what came out of the sketch.

The scene that materialized after the POV shift.

The initial scene I was trying to build upon.

The completed scene.