The Star Magnolias

The magnolia flowers went into full bloom this week among the ones I see everyday along Park Avenue and East 37th Street.  I noticed it earlier this week and I thought I should do a sketch before the flowers are all gone.  Yesterday, I got out early from work so I took some time and made a sketch of it.  I'm pleased with how this came out against the kraft brown paper.

A Corner Sketch

After attending the life drawing session in midtown Manhattan last Saturday, I stopped by the a corner shop and sketched this nice view of the 8th Avenue and W39th Street corner.  Not sure how long it took me because I get lost in time when I draw.

The Star Shoe Repair in GCT

Martha and Jenny work at keeping the Star Shoe repair business inside the Grand Central Terminal.  This one is located along the East Side ramp from the Lower Level.  The sketch was done earlier in the year.  I showed them the sketch so I can attach a name to the figures.  Of course, not the patron who was having his shoe polished.  And yes, there are still gentlemen who likes shiny shoes.

A Big Rig in front of Vanderbilt One Building

The big rig and trailer caught my attention as soon as I stepped out of the Grand Central Terminal.  I knew I only had a limited time to do a sketch so tried it anyway before heading to work.  In the evening, I added more finishing touches and shading done at home.

 

A Coffee Shop Sketch

The reception and opening of the Westchester NYC Urban Sketchers Art Show was held at the Warner Library in Tarrytown last Saturday.  After the event, I proceeded to the Coffee Labs Roasters coffee shop on Main Street for some good ground coffee.  They renovated the shop and the seating capacity look much larger now than how it remember it back in 2020 before the COVID shutdown.  In the 50 minutes of nursing my cappuccino, I was able to sketch the scene before me.  I showed the sketch to the young teenager named Susan who politely asked if it's okay to take a picture of it.  

Fridays at The Morgan Museum & Library

I got off work early today so I made a stop at The Morgan Library and Museum.   It's free to get in from 5:00-7:00 PM on Fridays.  I didn't book on-line but they gave me a free ticket at the door.  I like to watch the jazz music performances so I can practice live sketching.  This evening, it was by The Bailsmen that played the gypsy jazz and hot swing music type.  They don the period outfit too which is great to identify with the music.  Fun filled evening until I noticed it was time to catch the train ride home!

Near the Graybar Passage

I started this sketch in three different short sessions last December before catching my train home where it usually depart from the tracks nearby the Graybar Passage. On my third sketch session, I captured Michael, the young man in the middle, who was nervously waiting for his girlfriend to show up near that spot for he was ready to propose that day. I saw him rehearsing how he was going to kneel down with a bouquet of flowers to offer her. Only got two of Michael's party but there were about 5 others who were there to witness a very important event in Michael's life.

A weekend commuter sketch on Car 9285

Last weekend, on the 8:52am train to Grand Central Terminal, a situation occurred after it opened its doors to the Harrison Station commuters.  For about 10 minutes, the train just sat there on its tracks.  However, I kept busy by sketching this view of the small pay loader equipment where it was parked at the construction site across the tracks.  Soon the train made its way.  A couple of stops later, a passenger showed up and took position where I could partially see his leg and the hand so I included them in my sketch.

Sketch the Grand Central Terminal: Part 2

After a late lunch, I started another sketch at the Lower Level by Track 107 before the 3:00pm show-and-tell and continued working on it afterward.  I was trying to capture the view of the arches (Whispering Walls) and the Oyster Bar in the background.  

Sketch the Grand Central Terminal: Part 1

The venue for the weekend NYC Urban Sketchers outing was at the Grand Central Terminal.  It's a great subject to sketch and I don't mind it even if I commute here daily for work.  A lot of sketchers showed up for this event and took positions all over.  One formerly active sketcher (Meredith) stopped by to say hi.  She said she recognized me right away because of the pre-marked page I was working on.  She was actually just passing by GCT on her way to an appointment downtown.  Great to see friends whom I've not seen for a while.  Here I used one of the pre-marked pages and worked on making a scene out of it.

Day 5: One Week 100 People Sketch Challenge

On the 5th day, I opted to just show three figures.  I was aiming to show more by using less lines or blobs of the black ink from the brush pen and using negative space.   I also used a fairly dried up Micron ink brush which was fine by me.

 

Day 4: One Week 100 People Sketch Challenge

At the end of the day, Thursday, I met the goal for this year's challenge.  Initially, when this all started last Monday, I was going after the size and a better quality of sketch.  Once I switched to using more of the brush pen, it got a lot faster but I needed to be mindful in executing the results.  I like how simple and interesting a result can get even with just a few big brush strokes.  In the end, I was happy with how some of the figures came out.  I even used color ballpoint pen ink on some.

Day 3: One Week 100 People Sketch Challenge

My morning and evening train ride bring a good number of people sketches.  I work in the city and there's really no shortage of people to sketch, if only they will stay still!  Anyway, I'm scaling down my people sketches just because it's easier to get more done in a short time.  I also find that the brush pen is just too good of a tool to make a sketch impression of a subject.

Day 2: One Week 100 People Sketch Challenge

It was a productive sketch day yesterday.  I made 35 people sketches.

Day 1: One Week 100 People Sketch Challenge

 Made twenty one people sketches on day 1.

A day in the city on a Saturday

We had a busy day!  Anne and I planned on having a brunch before catching the Edward Hopper's New York exhibit at the Whitney Museum.

  

Took the Downtown Red Line #1 to Christopher St. Station from 42nd St Times Square.  A guy was apparently watching me sketch.  "Nicely done. I was watching you. Very nice!" he said with a smile before exiting the train at a station before ours.  

At the Buvette restaurant in the Village, there was no wait line for outside seating.  Started a sketch but I didn't finish in time. 

Then we walked over to the ad hoc collective coffee shop on Christopher Street where I spotted a little corner to sketch.  I like this basement coffee place!

The Hopper exhibit was amazing!  Settled on a bench in front of this Macomb's Dam Bridge, 1935 oil on canvas painting.  A handholding couple in front of this painting caught my interest and that was where I started this drawing.

In another room, I just people-watched and sketched them in preparation for the upcoming One week, 100 people sketch challenge this week.

Soon we found a quiet place and a comfy sofa facing the Hudson River view.  A young family of three was a perfect capture of this scene.

We explored more of the upper level exhibit areas including the outdoor balcony on where some big sculptures are installed.  I didn't finish this sketch but there was enough info to capture a visual entry on my sketchbook.

To cap off the day, we met with Lauren and Aaron for dinner at the Flex Mussels restaurant on 13th Street.

Got there early so I had time to sketch this scene outside of the restaurant, looking West toward 7th Avenue.