I’m In A New York City Of Mind

If it’s June, it must mean I’m in NYC again for my annual recharge.  Where even the Lowland Gorillas at the Bronx Zoo possess an attitude particular to the revered.

The trip coincided with Jeremy Lipking‘s one man show at the Arcadia Gallery which included a portrait demo by Jeremy that unfortunately could only be viewed effectively by Kobe Bryant. But still.. a stunning show.

A spectacular installation at the Met Roof Garden- ” Big Bambu ”  a growing structure soaring up to 100 feet high and added to on an ongoing basis.

Staying with my good friend Judy-of Lobo’s Rants, an artist as well, and fellow animal lover, which is evident in the montage of her pet portraits seen below:

Convened with fellow friends, frequent visitors to St. Croix and fellow bloggers Carol King of Carolkings Weblog  and Mary Schwalm of 2 Frames Per Second for our annual NYC reunion.

Still the towering symbol of achievement, success and hope, a sharp eye can catch a sardonic flip side of all that:

And a hint that maybe the end IS near?  Tonight’s forecast…..

This city is one long drink of everything you ever wanted which can sometimes lead to excess of stimulation resulting in impromptu naps.

During my last visit I encountered three people in unrelated places that were born on St. Croix and now living in NYC which confirmed what I’ve noticed since living on St. Croix: there is a strong link between the two places.

Proof.

If You Can’t Take The Heat….. A New Painting

…Then get a Parasol

” Woman With Parasol ” 8 X 10 oil on panel

A step by step of the determined effort to keep it fast and unfettered.

I had taken the photo of this woman many years ago in NY. Only recently looked at it with new eyes for its Notan-esque qualities. Wanted to see if I could start and finish a piece in a day.

Something clicked for me with this one and Fun became the muse du jour.

Yeah, fun and the following quote, which played an endless loop in my head:

” It takes two to paint. One to paint, the other to stand by with an axe to
kill him before he spoils it.” ~W. Merritt Chase.

Thanks to Randy Higbee – King of Frames, who chiefed this quote from someone else and posted in on FB.

I was fearful of the axe. And stopped.

My husband said it looked like someone else’s painting. Yes, someone who knew when to stop.

These two don’t know when to stop, and have no fears in their limited vocabulary….

Something I just noticed ( don’t flinch Jala and Pat,  the insects are metal ), but two fellow artists and bloggers are represented in this photo in my kitchen. The very large, floral fruit bowl made by my friend Carol King, the watercolorist,  and the Hot Chili Pepper photograph made by fellow islander and photographer Don Diddams.

The gravitational pull of artistry.