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Talking art

Photo, speaking to a class about being an artist

An art teacher that I know in the LIC neighborhood, invited me to speak to a class of elementary school kids about what it is like to be an artist. So last Friday I headed over to meet with the class. On the way, I found myself remembering my 2nd grade art teacher, Miss Calabro. With her red hair and green stockings she made quite an impression and I remember art class being my favorite time of the day.

Being back in a classroom with little desks and chairs and art supplies brought me back to my own childhood. The kids looked at a bunch of postcards of my paintings that were displayed on the board and they had lots of questions for me. I was impressed, not only with the questions but with their observations on the paintings. This painting, "LIC/Yellow Factory Revisited" elicited a lot of attention as many of the kids recognized the building. They were a lively bunch and afterwards I stayed to watch them working on their sculpture project.


"LIC/Yellow Factory Revisited"
Oil on canvas
10 x 8 inches
Sold

I did a stint as a student art teacher while in college as I got a dual degree in Fine Art and in Art Education. When I graduated, New York was in the depths of a recession and no teaching jobs were to be found. Instead of teaching art, I took a typing class and found a job in an office, painting in the evenings. I spent years pounding a keyboard in order to pay the rent, eventually finding a job working nights so that I could paint during the day. It paid off. One of the questions asked was "Is it hard being an artist?" The answer I gave was "yes it is, but it is worth the effort."

Erica, the teacher, sent me the following email: "Thank you again for coming. the children had a blast! I've never seen them so excited and well behaved. They could not wait to get to the post cards you brought. I feel they got a lot out of it and it was fun."

I had a blast too. Who knows, one of the kids in that class might be a budding artist and years from now will recall the day I came to talk about what it is like to be an artist.

Scribner's Then and Now

Another bookstore no more

Schribner's II"
Oil on canvas
24 x 30 inches

A WONDERFUL building resides on 5th Avenue, the Scribner's building. I've painted this architectural gem several times and was interested to learn more about this historic building on Jeremiah's Vanishing New York blog today. Here's the link http://vanishingnewyork.blogspot.com/

Once artwork leaves the studio...

Where will they end up?

"LIC 1889/1989
Oil on canvas
48 x 36 inches

Artists often refer to their paintings as their "children". After all, the painter spends time thinking about them, helping them come to life and grow on the canvas brushstroke by brushstroke and finally finishing them, ushering them into "adulthood". Then it is time to leave the studio and go out into the world. Exhibiting them in shows, sometimes winning an award or two. And then hopefully, making the sale that sends them to a new home. Once that happens, the artist pretty much loses track of them, becoming immersed with the work currently on the easel.

Occasionally these paintings do surface again, sometimes years later. This happened the other day when I chanced upon a listing on Craig's List offering this painting for sale. It is a view from my studio window as I watched the Citicorp building in Long Island City under construction. This was back in the late 1980's and the building in the foreground had been built in 1889. The painting epitomized the change in a neighborhood over a century of time. It had been sold a number of years ago as a corporate sale through a consultant. Now it seems this company is moving their office and selling artworks. I'm hoping it finds a good home. I did contact the owner and asked that I be informed, if possible, as to where the painting ends up. But, like a wayward child, it might never call home, letting me know where it is.

That got me to thinking, as I suspect many artists do, as to what happens to their work once they are gone. Paintings can survive for years if they were created with good materials and properly cared for, long outliving their creators. It is the artist's way of leaving a lasting legacy, the "I was here" statement. The vast majority of working artists today will fall into obscurity at some point, but sometimes their works live on. I hope some of my paintings do.

St. Mark's and 40th Street

Who's watching who?

"Carved Lady"
Oil on canvas
20 x 16 inches
Sold

One of the blogs I enjoy following is Ephemeral New York. On January 18th, a post featured a picture of a building facade on St. Mark's Place, an image I recognized immediately, as I'd painted that building back in the 1980's. This medusa-like figure, along with the fire escape shadows brings to mind the history of the block, so different from the street level retail hustle and bustle. It is exciting to discover these interesting architectural details.

"Midtown Artist"
Oil on canvas
10 x 8 inches

The other day I found myself on 40th Street with a friend when I recognized another great building facade that I had painted and I excitedly pointed it out. On the north side of 40th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues is a building with a number of life-size figures adorning the facade. I decided to do a painting of the "artist", naturally. When walking around the city, just look up and you'll be surprised what you'll see.

Citicorp Lobby Showcases in LIC

The show is up and running

"LIC Courthouse Fountain"
Oil on canvas
10 x 10 inches

"Urbanesque", a new exhibit, has been installed in the 6 lobby showcases located in the atrium of the Citicorp building, One Court Square. In this exhibit, sponsored by Women in the Arts Foundation, Inc., 4 artists explore the urban landscape, with several paintings of the LIC area included as well. Works by Carole Barlowe, Elinore Bucholtz, Diane Waller and Sharon Florin (curator) will be on view through the end of March. Hours are Monday - Friday, 7am - 7pm.

Installation day was pretty interesting. I had a chance to meet with several of the art staff at Citicorp. They manage a very large corporate collection and one of my favorite artists, Charles Sheeler, is represented in their holdings. We had lunch in the company cafeteria and I was then taken to the 50th floor where I was treated to the amazing views from on high. Luckily I had my camera with me and was able to get some interesting photos. During lunch, I spoke about being an artist in LIC for close to 30 years, and we talked a bit about the neighborhood and it's history. As you can imagine, folks working in the building often don't venture out into the nabe, but I did my best to extoll the virtues of LIC and urged them to get out and explore. Curating a show was also a new experience. I enjoyed meeting the artists and presenting them with an opportunity to exhibit their artwork.

One of my paintings of the Long Island City Courthouse was featured on liQcity, a popular neighborhood blog. Here's the link.

New Year New Show

"LIC Jackson Crossroads"
Oil on canvas
10x10 inches


Starting 2010 off right.

First off, wishing you all a Happy New Year! And a big thank-you for your comments and support of my efforts with this blog.

The new year finds me not only wearing the hat of the artist, but I've now added the hat of curator as well. A new exhibit sponsored by Women in the Arts Foundation, Inc. features four New York artists, exploring the urban landscape in their own individual styles. We're installing the show on Wednesday in the Lobby Showcases located in the atrium of the Citicorp Center building in Long Island City - Queen's tallest building. I am happy to have this opportunity to show some of my LIC-themed paintings in the neighborhood that inspired them. Several paintings of the Long Island City courthouse - just across the street from Citicorp - will be on display along with paintings of P.S.1, the #7 train, Jackson Avenue, construction workers and Brook's restaurant. Diane Waller, Elinore Bucholtz and Carole Barlowe, the other participating artists work range from abstract to realistic to mixed media and I think the selection of art will make for an interesting exhibit. It's been a new experience pulling this together and hopefully the installation will go well.

If you're in the neighborhood and would like to stop by to see the show, Citicorp is located at One Court Square on Jackson Avenue. Just head for the Atrium and check out the six lobby showcases. The hours are 7 am - 7pm Monday through Friday. The show will run for 3 months though March. The #7 and the E trains are nearby.

The Holiday Season

"Shirley's View II"
Oil on canvas
36 x 24 inches
Sold

This painting is a scene overlooking Central Park and Fifth Avenue and is currently part of the corporate collection of a pharmaceutical company. They chose this painting for their holiday card and as I was given a bunch, I sent them out this year to family and friends. The holidays are not my favorite time of year and I always breathe a sigh of relief when they are over. The next two weeks will find me eating latkes during the festival of lights, having holiday get-together's and lunches with friends and helping to trim a tree. I try to avoid the hectic pace that this season can bring on and instead try to keep to my usual painting schedule when possible. I'm hoping that the upcoming year will be a good one for all of us. Wishing you a happy holiday season and thanking you for following my blog postings throughout the year. Hope to have some really wonderful work to share in the upcoming months.