Crain's article "How to make it as an artist in New York"

I thought this article was worth sharing as there are many insightful observations on life as an artist in New York to be found here. Having been at it for over 40 years, I can attest first-hand to the difficulties faced by those wishing to live the creative life. Making art is not the challenge most artists face, it's the BUSINESS of art, the finding affordable live/work spaces, finding opportunities to exhibit and finally selling the work in order to keep doing it. Ah, the life of an artist.

http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20160320/ARTS/160319833/how-to-make-it-as-an-artist-in-new-york

NYC Gone But Not Forgotten

Remembering the Bottom Line
Oil on canvas
24x30 inches
Sold

Ah, the Bottom Line, a wonderful music venue where I saw some amazing performances. Gone. So many sites have disappeared and continue to do so. I've painted many places during my painting career, some I still really miss. In this spirit, a new page has been added to my website of buildings and places that once were and are no longer part of the New York City urban landscape. I've selected a few of my favorite paintings and hope you'll take a look.

Here is a link.
http://sharonflorinart.com/gone-but-not-forgotten.html

Café Des Artistes

Café Des Artistes
Oil on panel
6x6 inches

A small study of the facade of the building that once housed the Café Des Artistes. This building on West 67th Street was designed to house artists with living spaces facing south and studio spaces facing north. Oh, to have affordable buildings like that in Manhattan available to working artists today! The apartments are very pricey these days and I'm pretty sure there are not many artists living in the building as was first envisioned when it was built. The cafe on the ground floor provided meals to the residents and later became an upscale dining spot for the public. Renowned artist Howard Chandler Christy, a resident, painted the murals that hung in the cafe. I did have an opportunity to eat at the cafe during Restaurant Week several years ago, before it closed in 2009.

The facade of the buildings features images of artists, a subject close to my heart.