Paper and Threads

January 16th was a wonderful art day - beginning at the Grand Central Transit Museum Holiday Train display and then followed by a visit to the Center for Italian Modern Art. 

My sketch of the Grand Central Terminal model was done quickly - the building was wonderful.

The afternoon was spent at the Center for Italian Modern Art in Soho where I sketched some of Marino Marini's terric, rough, female sculptures - ranging from table size to life size.  The Center has excellent exhibits, with tours some days of the weeks.  When we were there, we were the only visitors and were able to relax and draw until we finished. 

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A Prime Time Workshop at the Museum of Modern Art was held this week, and they presented images of art works made with textiles that currently on display.  Then a museum educator at the museum gave us a pile of fabric scraps, cardboard, colored tapes, and string, yarn, cords, and wire.  We had Tacky Glue, a palette knife, scissors, and newsprint as tools. and had about 90 minutes to create something, anything. 

I always wanted to make collages similar to Hannalore Baron and Kurt Schwitters, and created two pieces.  It is so much fun to have limited supplies, a time limit, and no pressure.  There were 15 people in our group and there were 15 totally different works of art! 

Here is the second, smaller one. 

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Figure Drawing on the Upper Westside - NYC

I am posting these selected drawings in reverse order today - 20, 10, and 5 minute poses.  I sketched with a GENERAL Sketch and Wash pencil and then used my water brush to move the graphite to add shading. 

Twenty Minutes:  The model had a little pose drift with some rotation, and suddenly I saw his left arm appear during the last 5 minutes.  There was no other change in his pose.

Ten Minute Pose

Five Minute Pose (with cropping).

This is a lovely location for figure drawing and many of our Battery Park City artist friends come here after the outdoor figure drawing ends for the year on Oct 31st. 

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I just completed a 14 week course at Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT).  I usually take courses in Fine Arts, Illustration, and Textile Design.  This course was in the Fashion department, but was really more illustration for fashion.  I learned how to draw a "croquis," the 10 head size elongated fashion figure, and to work with markers and colored pencils instead of watercolor.  My end of class project was presented several days ago and this was Board #1 - my models in 2 outfits from my 9 garment collection of clothes.

These were my actual fabric swatches, gathered from my favotie NYC fabric store - B and J Fabrics on 7th Ave in the Garment District.

These are the basic designs for my 9 piece collection.  They are called "Flats" in the fashion jargon. and show the details of construction.  My boards are 11" x 14" inches and had to be photographed instead of scanned - and even photoshop couldn't get rid of the shadows.

This is my "Mood Board" - prepared to give a feeling about the type of collection and the target shopper.

Everyone of the models have gray hair like me (and my professor), but were dressed in classic styles of clothing.  I am in class with young students who are studying to enter the world of fashion, and it was great fun to see all of their ideas for their presentations.

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Thirteen years ago my husband and I were racing across the Atlantic when our daughter was admitted to a London hospital 6 weeks before our grandson Callum was due.  She had excellent care and when he was born 6 days later he was small but healthy.   Now he is a smart, talented, handsome, and loveable guy - and his Bar Mitzvah was impressive.  We were able to take a few photos before the guests arrived - practicing his Torah reading and standing in the gorgeous synagogue.

Congratulations Callum.  We love you so much!  

Before the guests arrived:  One photo to show the beautiful stained glass windows, and Callum, to remember the gorgeous setting for the event. 

Several days before the Bar Mitzvah our NYC Urban Sketchers group met in this synagogue - one of many houses of worship we visit to sketch in December.  I sketched, but haven't painted those sketchbook pages yet. 

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