For the 16th work in my 20-Year-Guggenheim Series, I re-visited to the streets of New York to paint on 5th Avenue.

Returning to the corner of 89th and 5th for the first time since 2015 was indescribable. It felt like ten minutes and ten years simultaneously. I’ve adored hearing people share they have grown alongside this series. The weather was immaculate for day one… hence, the title of the work — “Spring Time Guggenheim”.

Number Sixteen began with an extremely fast drawing with a burnt umber oil stick. In the days leading up to this painting, I dreamt about the result. From the very first marks, I realized it would look nothing like my subconscious creation.

As a Virgo, I often find myself painting vast regions with a five-zero size paint brush. Leaning into exploration, I used a large, wide brush to block out some blue and yellow. The palette of this piece is how the day felt… warm… inviting… a touch of humidity.

When painting, I often use 4-6 concurrent palettes to ensure colors don’t cross-contaminate. Here? I dumped color atop color, influencing one another. The red-orange was added while the first layers were still slightly wet, allowing them to play and interact. Thanks to color theory, blue is always a model host for orange.

Inspired by the energy of NYC, I allowed the brush to go a bit wild with a greenish yellow… again, mixed on top of the previous colors. Spring and Manhattan’s pulse… chasing with paint. Interesting fact — I had several people come up to the easel, and ask, “is it possible that I saw you painting here ten years ago?”

Indeed, they had.

When painting en plein air with shade cover, it’s important to get the painting in the sun for a color check. Following some palette knife action, and a series of pastels… this bad boy looked vastly different. I probably could have called it done here… alas, there was more to discover.

Next, I went in with some dark purple outlines, and splashed a liberal amount of cadmium red medium. One of the great perks of painting on the streets of NYC? The people. My first familiar visitor — friend, hockey teammate and collector, Matt… who not only provided great company… he brought lunch. Always a pleasure, thank you for the sammy bruv.

A background-free Guggenheim floated through my mind of possibility. However, I found myself drawing in the rest… the brush guided me. With the addition of a slice of muted colors, I continued to push, pull and play with paint in pure creative freedom.

Impasto was the case that they gave me. Thick paint everywhere… letting multiple layers shine through the final layer. The shadow on the side of the Gugg really anchored things. I continued to draw and redraw with paint to create a visual linear reverberation.

Another pair of beauties stopped by to say hello… Rory and Ann. Dear friends and collectors, it was amazing to catch up in-person for the first time in a long while. Rory and I were roommates, and produced comedy shows together in NYC twenty years ago.

Done for the day, we broke out the brown bags, and hit up Blondies for the Rangers playoff game.

And now… day two of two. Following a torrential morning downpour, the skies opened and delivered another immaculate spring day. Considering Erin sent me a photo of our snowy driveway the day before, I was grateful for the sun.

My high school buddy and former track teammate Jim stopped by to say hello. He visited me nine years ago while painting… so it was a trip to catch up. As he walked off, he turned and said, “see you again in ten years.”

Long time friend, college buddy, collector and frequent collaborator Tony DiGiacomo stopped by to chat and snap some stellar pictures. If you ever want to talk photography or college (check out Novella Prep, I designed his logo) — hit him up.

Mixing paint with an audience. It’s incredible to have someone capturing the action when you are completely immersed in the experience.

My first move was to bang out some yellows on the background, and in the Guggenheim itself. These highlights really tied things together. On the building, I used a smaller brush to push paint like they were oil pastels. Lots of movement in the marks.

As I was nearing the final strokes, friend and former colleague Kaity stopped by to say hello… and, she brought cookies (thank you Michelle and Franklin). We worked as recruiters together back in 2006.

With the finals marks applied in the street, on the sidewalk and in the sky… Spring Time Guggenheim, the 16th in my 20-year-series was complete. What an adventure… here’s a bit, huge thank you to Erin and the kiddos for allowing me to have this experience.

Celebrating the new painting, I met up with dear friends and collectors — Katinka and Nelson. I can say with 100% certitude, Erin was wishing she was right there with us. Kick ass on that dissertation K.

My fabulous brother Dan and his lady Kathleen were kind enough to host a crazy artist from Idaho. We enjoyed a glorious Mexican dinner before my first departure (more to come on that).

If you love American Airlines — ear muffs. I got from the UWS to through security at LGA in 40 minutes Thursday morning. A miracle. I boarded my 9am flight at 8:40am… so smooth. We sat at the gate for 20, 40, 60, 80 minutes… finally, we had to de-bark. The 9am was switched to 2:30pm, which would force me to miss the connection. Getting lunch at 1pm, I received a notification — the flight was bumped further to 5pm. After waiting on a line the size of Texas, my trip was moved to Friday. Seven hours at LaGuardia, only to double back to the UWS. The bonus? I went for a walk, called my man Dave, and we had an incredible evening catching up with his awesome friends at the Russian Vodka Room.

My final NYC stroll at midnight, getting ready for my 5:45am ride to LaGuardia for take two. Lincoln Center at night is something to behold.

Down in the village, I caught C. O. Bigelow’s magnificent neon. This could be on the to-paint list.

Stepping back in time to the beginning of my journey to NYC, I met my man Joe and his brother Michael for a golf tournament — the vaunted Studz Cup. I went straight from the airport to Peter Luger’s in Williamsburg. Incredible.

Dear friends and collectors, Stephanie and Joe, reveling in our to-go bags. What better way to start a NYC trip than Luger’s?

Here’s the Studz Cup Crew after a crazy beautiful round on a perfect spring day. Frankie from the Red Bulls joined us for 18.

If you’ve never been to Le Baratin in the Village… you must. The food was incredible… and we were treated like royalty. When you get there, ask the owner, Mike, to tell you about Oscar (pictured above). It’s real, and yes — it’s much heavier than you would think.

The boys getting in more golf… this time, with our friend Kenny joining the fun. We closed the Studz Cup with a very special, rainy round, to honor Michael and Joe’s brother Seth. The scores weren’t pretty, but the memory will last a life time.

Dan and I hit up a fabulous course in Westchester to prep for this summer’s Member Guest at Bronze Buffalo. We didn’t hit any balls across the pond.

Finally, after a long journey… I arrived back in Jackson Hole… and my stunning wife was there to pick me up.

Thank you to Joe for putting together this tourney… can’t wait for next year. Thank you everyone for coming to visit and join my on this Guggenheim-tastic journey. I may have to paint the final four on-location to close outs twenty years.