Mother and Son doing art

A grey day Saturday but it wasn't a problem when inside the Yale Center for British Art. On the Third Floor, a Bridget Riley "Perceptual Abstraction" exhibit was on display. We walked in there from the Fourth Floor and saw a mother and son on the gallery floor doing some artwork for kids. It was by the displayed artwork entitled "Current (1964)". They soon left before I could take a picture. Ballpoint pen. Added a bit more line shading at home. Exhibit on view until July 24, 2022.

The MET Opera's AKHNATEN

We went to see the Philip Glass AKHNATEN at the Metropolitan Opera last weekend.  Our top-most seats, at center section, afforded some view.  Once seated on row K, here looking down, I sketched the usher by the stairs leading to our section.  I also added some heads poking out from the rows below us.  Soon the place went dark and the show began.  After the first Act, the auditorium lit up for an intermission, I sketched these guys at the stairs near their seats, two rows down from us.  Between their heads I included a bit of the right balcony seat in the far distance.  And yes, below the usher, that was the orchestra pit.  Did I mention it was a great show?

The Enid A. Haupt Conservatory

The New York City Urban Sketchers were once again invited to the New York Botanical Garden: Colors of Spring and Plein-Air Invitational this year.  We weren't competing for the invitationals but it was so nice to see a lot of urban sketchers today.  This must have been one of the most attended event we have had in a while.  

Together with Elaine, another USk member from NYC, we headed to the back area of the Conservatory and chose our spot for our drawing.  Luckily, one of the pre-marked pages I brought with me somehow fit this scene I like.  so I started with the ballpoint lines and added the watercolor next.  I really like how the tall hedge came out on this page.

One Vanderbilt Pedestrian Plaza

On four occasions, I sat on on the raised planter facing the 42nd Street at the One Vanderbilt Pedestrian Plaza.  I use some 15 minutes to observe and sketch the people, the scene, the vibe of the place.  It was fun to add more details from the previous sketch because the more I look, the more I saw what I hadn't noticed before.

  

The Kerbs Boat House at Conservatory Water

On Sunday, the NYC Urban Sketchers met in-person at the Conservatory Water, one of the more popular spots in Central Park.  This was the first time we sketched together again in-person since the Omicron surge last year.  Great to see others I haven't seen in a while.  It was well attended by over 30 sketchers and most sketchers stayed behind for the show & tell portion of the sketch meet.  Next to the actual sketching, this is actually the part I always enjoy doing.

Here I sketched the baby stroller first to anchor the scene, with the mother sitting on the bench nearby, and The Conservatory Water and Kerbs Boat House in the background. 

The Walkway to the Lower Level

A couple of weeks ago, I tried sketching a portion of the towering columns and the arched ceiling in Grand Central Terminal.  This time, I became ambitious to sketch a little bit of Grand Central Terminal.  This was at the walkway to the Lower Level.  Since I started the sketch a week ago, I've added three more sittings for the 10-15 minutes I have left before catching my train home.

A coffee house sketch

I went to visit my son one weekend in April but not before having a cup of coffee at PLG Coffee House and Tavern in Brooklyn, NY.  So, while enjoying my cup of Joe, I sketched this view in front of me.  I wouldn't mind coming back to this place again.