The South Nyack Street Fair

The street fair was held on the first Saturday of October and we were just lucky to be there on that day.  I was able to sketch this scene outside of the Thai restaurant where we had lunch.  Watercolor added three weeks later.

At the Lower Level Dining Concourse

Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to sketch the Lower Level Dining Concourse East view in Grand Central Terminal.  It was done using an almost dry Micron Ink Brush Pen.  Last Monday, I did the West view sketch since my train was to leave on Track 114 and I didn't have to hurry.  Now I have two sketch views of the Lower Level Dining Concourse on the same page!

After-show Dinner

There was a long line at the Japanese restaurant on W49th that we wanted to try so we looked for another one.  Luckily, Kin Ramen on 56th was not too far.  It's a small place but the food was delicious and service was great!  Of course, I had to sketch our little table and the food we ordered.  I can't help but sketch the pork chashu ramen dish so only mine was drawn.  She ate her ramen while it was still hot. 

An afternoon Ballet Show

We saw two ballet classics, “In the Upper Room” and “Nine Sinatra Songs” by Twyla Tharp at The New York City Center on Sunday.  Here I sketched from the Upper Section, 5th Floor, Seats D100, D101. A few quick gesture sketches in the dark as the dancers move and float gracefully to the tune.   I must say I enjoyed the latter more than the former.

The Best Ice Cream Truck

Back in mid-August when day light was much longer, I sketched this ice cream truck before heading to the Grand Central Terminal. I finally took upon adding watercolor and have fun with it this evening.

Friday Commuters at Grand Central Terminal

I did a quick 10 minute sketch at the Main Concourse of the Grand Central Terminal on Thursday evening.  I started with a National Guard standing by the shuttered ticket booths below the New Haven Line Departures billboard.  Then I focused on the two guys who lingered in a chat for a while.  The next evening, I had more time before my train left for Harrison so I added some more to the sketch.  I wanted to add the busy feeling of the place.  I hope I conveyed that feel.

Commuters on the 8:20 am Train

Finding an aisle seat three rows back from the train exit doors was nice because I could get a good look at passengers not wanting to have a seat.

 

Coffee and Pastry

We took a day trip to the historic Hudson, NY on Sunday.  At the top of Warren Street, we ordered some coffee and pastry and sat outside the Hudson Roastery Wine Coffee shop.   The weather was nice, lots of things going on and the place was good to people-watch.  I sketched this duo (guy partly hidden from view) at the next table before my partner came back to her seat.

A Classic Car

Sunday, we decided to eat early our lunch sandwich at the Stormville Rest Area on I-84W for a day trip to Hudson, NY. It was also an opportunity to sketch other motorists taking a break, like this family of four next to our picnic table. Moments later, a classic car pulled in into a parking spot in front of us. I had to sketch it! I did it in a hurry and took some pics. I also met the owner, Allan, who asked to see my sketch of his car - a 1954 Lincoln Capri Special Custom Coupe. He saw me sketching it. I would have stayed a little bit more in our conversation but my partner was already in a hurry to explore Hudson, NY. Such an interesting start to this day!

Free Fridays at the Morgan

I like that we finished work early so I got some time to hang out at The Morgan.  We’re on the same cross street two blocks away.  The Jazz musicians were out on a break when I got in so I looked at a current exhibit before taking a spot by the music corner.  I sketched the mother and child looking at the music set but sadly they didn't stay long.  The drummer soon arrived but with a seeing stick.  He's blind but he was being guided to his chair by the guitarist, Joe Ravo.  His name I came to know after showing him the previous sketch I did and asked if I could put his name on it.  Soon the bassist joined them and the trio started the next set.  I was trying my best to have a good look at them as they played music even as more patrons came to form a crowd.  Didn't have time to take a video but I got the sketches done.

The Model at Fifth Avenue Crossing

Funny story this morning.  I saw iPhone video shoot of a tall, young model strutting a light flowing gown dress at the corner of West 37th Street and Fifth Avenue.  This routine was repeated several times as soon as the southbound traffic on Fifth came to a stop.  Never mind that I was running late to work, I had to sketch as she does the modeling walk.  Then I decided to show it to them while they were re-grouping.  I asked for her name and she replied "Marina".  As I started walking away, I heard one of the guys asked if I can hold my drawing with her in the background while he took a video of my sketch and her, too.  The other guy said they love it, it almost feel like it was a painting.  Who knew?  Hours later, I realized the missed opportunity of asking for their instagram account or social media post.  Oh well...I was already running late to work anyway.

Waiting at the Eye MD office

My post eye check-up/follow-up visit was due today.  They gave my eyes three different kinds of eye-drop meds before I could be seen by the doctor.  As I sat in the waiting room for the medicine to take effect, this other client was busy with the phone entertainment.  I had to sketch her.  

Sketching the Six Overlooks

This past Sunday we walked the 3.7 miles long Mario Cuomo Bridge span from Tarrytown Landing to Rockland before heading north to South Nyack.  There was a Street Fair going on that day, unbeknown to us, which we enjoyed seeing anyway.  Nice to see the crowd coming back to doing normal activities and injecting life into this vibrant river town.  We nourished ourselves with good food knowing we would need it for the reverse trek on the bridge. 

On the way back, I asked for a 10 minute sketch break at the Fish & Ships Overlook.  Finished it at 4:30 pm before walking to the next overlook.

I sketched at the Palisades Overlook for about 10 minutes as well.  This one finished at 4:52pm.

Next, at Painter's Point Overlook, I was negotiating for more time than the 5 minutes she would give me to sketch.  We were getting closer to the cable-stayed main span.  It was 5:08 pm I wrote on this sketch.

Some 15 minutes later, we were at the River Crossing Overlook.  The cables toward the main part of the bridge was just amazing to see.

Then we arrived at the Half Moon Overlook a short time later where I finished sketching the curve of the bridge and the deep view of the river below.  It was about 5:38 pm.  We were getting close to the destination!

We finally reached the Tides of Tarrytown Overlook and I sketched there for about 8 minutes.  Our walking adventure was coming to a close.  It was about 5:51 pm.

We read that the entire span walk is about 80 minutes.  Well,  I had fun doing these quick-sketch-stops at certain intervals.  Our legs and hips were kinda sore from the walking but it was nice to do it on a beautiful fall weekend weather like it was that day.  Note that I added some line shading to the sketches and defined the lines some more when we got home.

Sutton Place Parks

The Urban Sketchers destination was at the Sutton Place Parks along the East River starting at the 55th Street.  Apparently, there are five small parks that are in that neighborhood.  The plan was to move up the the parks after a short time.  Three of us sketchers arrived late so decided to skip the first and walk one block north to the next park.  

I sketched this view looking south on this beautiful but iffy cold/warm day.  The locals enjoying the sun by the park benches attracted me to this scene.  A toddler girl exclaiming "Pigeon! Pigeon!"  as she chased after it while the guiding mother was right behind her.  Soon, a father and daughter arrived and stayed long enough to be added to this scene.  His name is Abdul and daughter, Kayla.

After lunch, I decided to sketch the 59th Street Bridge/Queensboro Bridge.  Three Urban Sketchers were seen having a fun conversation.  Then a couple came into view and took some selfies just enough to be captured into my sketch.   For the Show & Tell portion of our sketch day, I volunteered to go first since I had to be home early for another commitment.

  

Commuter Sketches on Cars 9608 and 9412

It's my Thursday commute sketch and meditation.  Morning and evening sketch.  The dark background makes the figure pop a little bit so I'm now adding it onto my sketch.

Commuter Sketches on Cars 9157, 9128 and 9416

It's now a habit somewhat to sketch a commuter on the train.  Here are some from the last couple of days.  I think I was able to get a good likeness of her than the two other gentlemen.  Also, adding a dark background appears to help the subject stand out more prominently forward.

A Live Jazz Performance

There's a Free Friday access to get into the Morgan Library and Museum from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.  In the last two times I visited, I just showed up the door.  They have free tickets available for the asking, I didn't even have to sign up ahead of time.  The last time I was there, I was in such a hurry to view the Rick Barton exhibit, some few minutes to sketch the Jazz Trio, before catching my train home at the Grand Central Terminal. 

This time however, I just focused on the jazz guitarist's performance.  I caught the tail end of the first set and had to wait 30 minutes for the second one.  Since I barely got some sketch done on the first set, I used that as the framework for what I saw on the second set.  A little messy and confusing but I like the results.