Tuesday, March 5, 2013

A Taste of Spring

Today was a taste of spring in New York City - the temperatures were in the upper forties (fahrenheit) and the sun was shining, that's right, SHINING, all day! I had the good fortune to spend a few hours on the Highline, a park on Manhattan's west side, and make some drawings of the New Yorkers coming out of their caves. We all saw our shadows - which means spring will be full on very soon. Although I hear we'll have snow tomorrow...
 The Highline has these great wooden deck chairs that people love to sprawl out in. Even while wearing winter coats. It's like the public living room of New Yorkers and we do get very comfortable. Maybe too comfortable sometimes...this lady was out for the count...
Can't even see the faces of the women below, too many coats, sweaters, and scarves piled around them.
I love how this lady (below) just slumped down right into the chair. A long, cold, snowy winter will do that to you. The lady to her right just wasn't ready yet to give up her coat with the fur collar, or her hat. But the sunglasses add just the right amount of "I'm ready for spring" feel, don't you think?
Of course the ubiquitous New York City water towers dot the skyline like birds in a forest of trees. Wouldn't quite be the same without them. I liked how the corner windows framed this one in my thumbnail below. And by the way, doesn't the fashionista on the left look happy? She actually seemed pretty happy but when I drew her this expression came out. Drawing is kind of like drinking - the truth pops out sometimes. "In drawing veritas," or something like that. Here's to an end to winter - happy (almost) spring!



14 comments:

kumi matsukawa said...

Beautiful and delightful depiction of happy warm moment!

Don McNulty said...
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Don McNulty said...

Happy spring, happy drawing!

Suhita said...

love the slump-y lines on all the slumped people.

Amy Williams Dapice said...

If it's possible to look cold AND hot at the same time, these New Yorkers are doing it! Love the loose line and spare use of value. Excellent.

Rolf Schröter said...

beautiful sketches, capture the specific pres-pring atmosphere perfectly. We have the same in Berlin at the moment - after months of cold and grey sky, its sunny since some days, what a delight!

Rolf Schröter said...
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alicacca said...

Simple lines to capture the nice moment. Enjoy the relaxing moment with the New Yorker :)

memi said...

Glad that you got to take advantage of that day, Ronnie- (I was in meetings all day, arrggghhh!) these are wonderful!

Shari Blaukopf said...

It's great to see the end of winter in New York through your eyes. A feast!

Veronica Lawlor said...

Hi all, thank you. Yes, there is a definite Hot/Cold body language that takes over on these pre-spring days.

Rolf - would love to see the Berlin version. ;)

Melanie - sorry you were in meetings all day, know the feeling - spring will be here soon, though!

matthew_c said...

I recognized your sketches right away - great expressive work as usual. I love your style.
Perhaps a "Fruedian slip" (of the pen) with the fashionista?
Happy spring!

Murray Dewhurst said...

These sketches really capture your excitement for the coming spring! Sadly your coming spring means autumn is on it's way for us down under :(

Veronica Lawlor said...

I like that - Freudian slip of the pen. Happens all the time...
Murray - sorry to be sending winter down your way, but we've had quite enough of it for a while up here!

 
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