Afternoon at the Gramercy Diner

"Afternoon at the Gramercy Diner"
Oil on canvas
8 x 10 inches

An ongoing project that I am working on with several other artists is capturing interiors and exteriors of diners and restaurants that we've eaten in over the years. Eventually, we will gather our work together and find a place to have an exhibit. So, in the spirit of the project, I have painted an interior as a change of pace from my usual exterior views. The Gramercy Diner, located on 17th Street and 3rd Avenue in Manhattan is your usual place, with a huge menu featuring everything and then some. I found myself here with two friends one mid-afternoon last winter. It had just snowed heavily and we decided to meet up and explore the neighborhood with our cameras. But first, of course, we had to be those "ladies who lunch." It was mid-afternoon and the place wasn't too busy, with a lone customer sitting at the counter. The ceiling of this diner is painted to evoke the sky and there are all kinds of lights and reflections bouncing off the various surfaces.

Since one cannot walk a block in many neighborhoods of Manhattan without encountering one eatery or another this theme will lend itself to countless ideas for paintings to come. And hopefully a few good meals too.