I’ve had my eye on the controversial redesign of the Museum of Art and Design for some time. When I discovered a composition including the CNN Sign and the sexy Hearst Tower, how could I resist?
Apple’s stock finally surpassed the mighty Microsoft, to the chagrin of Steve Ballmer no doubt. But wait, now there is a huge security flaw with the iPad… oh, and Steve Jobs thinks Flash is garbage. And Obama thinks the iPad is a major distraction – he told some recent college grads.
Standing before a blank 3’X5′ wall of canvas, a rush of memories and emotions crept up from the far reaches of my brain. To date, I have driven across the country five times, lived on both coasts and spent a summer pounding massive G&T’s at 8000 feet. A pebble cracked my windshield in Texas, five miles from my destination after driving 2000 consequence free miles. In Oklahoma, I went to dinner at the only diner in the town of Arbuckle, where the marquee read, “Happy Birthday Edna Arbuckle.” My gauge hit 130MPH in Montana.
My friend Greg messaged me from Kenya, sharing some interesting perspective on the media, product placement and social mobilization. His point circled back to my general approach, positioning, and use of headlines.
Nothing beats a quick, fresh and loose plein air painting session on a Saturday. Setting up on my roof deck, I decided to capture the TriBoro Bridge (renamed the Robert F Kennedy Bridge in a fit of fine fiscal judgment by the perpetually frisky, former fat kat of Albany.) My objective was to keep it loose, explore and play with the paint without an preconceived notions.
When I had the incredible opportunity to experience the Stanley Cup, I asked Cup-Keeper Mike Bolt (his father, Ron Bolt, is an epic artist) to recommend a goaltending subject… his referral was no surprise. Martin Brodeur, The Devils and Goaltending have been three in the same for 19 years. At this juncture in his career, he is fighting rumors of an early demise, despite shattering records and posting consistent numbers. This, I felt, was the right time to capture Marty.
On Friday, I spent the day painting the Thomas Jefferson Memorial from the Tidal Basin. Visiting my brother, Tim, who is a Junior at American University, I enjoyed a windy day of plein air in our nations capital. My intent was to capture the Cherry Blossoms, but they were swept away in a violent storm the day before I set up shop.
My 3’X4′ painting of Time Out New York‘s 12th story view is now complete. A little back story: After being named Time Out New York’s Most Creative New Yorker (a title I do not sew onto my blazer, but do use to help sell paintings and commissions) – I decided to ask Time Out if I could set up shop, and paint the view from their West Side offices. After getting the go-ahead in December, I broke my leg playing hockey and had to wait three more months.
When Dave, Randi and I began discussing a commissioned piece, I asked them to think of meaningful places in Manhattan. After a few back and forth emails, they decided on the place they were married – the South Street Seaport. To get things rolling, I spent a sunny afternoon taking shots in the area from about twenty different angles. From there, I narrowed-down, cropped and emailed six choices to the Wenders.
And the Central Park Boathouse commission is now complete. To recap: In early January, Stephanie, Scott and Ryan (their son) Gurtman came by my studio for an up-close-and-personal view of my work. With a vision of a painting in mind, we discussed a commissioned piece and the Gurtman’s decided to give the image some thought. The initial concept of painting J.G. Melon shifted to the Central Park Boathouse, they place they were married.
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