A week in New York

I am very fortunate to be able to spend a week sketching in New York directly after the symposium... and wow! what a week I had. I can't put adequately into words a description of the fun that I had...but I hope it comes through my sketches.

I spent a week in New York in 2010 as part of my big trip, and although I knew that I had a great time, as it was sandwiched between the Portland symposium and a month in UK and then onto to Italy, I had trouble trying to re-live that part of the trip. This visit, having already sketched many of the tourists must-sees, I was able to explore the city more as a local and I really got the feel for the place ...and the pace of the city got in my system and my sketching hand! I sketched more normal scenes like the classic skyline



Although I was doing a lot of sketching, the highlight was the people that I met- I caught up with 13 fellow artists in 5 days including Shirley Levine(who did a wonderful job showing me around last time) France Belleville, Danny Gregory, Anne Watkins - what a privliedge to meet these inspirational artists! I also meet up with some USkers who were at the symposium - so it was like a little reunion. Richard Alomar, Jason Das, Denise, Mark, and Veronica Lawlor (but sadly missed Melanie!) and a few others on the way! It was great to be at the first gathering of USKers in NYC - a group that is meeting every week now! Here is a photo of the gang sketching on the highline.



The symposium was great training for this non stop sketching, talking, being inspired by others and although I didn't feel like I had the chance during this week to implement anything that I picked up in Santo Domingo- the creative buzz certainly kept me going. I did however have a few moments of chill... in that I found two great tearooms.(Sorry, I just had to include this sketch - I spent 3 hours at Radiance Tea House, the only time on the whole trip when I did a little relaxing- along with 3 spreads in my sketchbook!!)



I also found a wonderful over-the-top apartment building to sketch (and conveniently, a cafe just opposite)


and in my crazy - go for it mood - sketched Times Square on a wet Friday night.

Open publication - Free publishing - More sketchbook

And as usual here is the whole book in an Issue version
and as a single image!