Paper and Threads

I had horrendous bronchitis in January and after two weeks of a hacking deep cough, I awakened with an episode of coughing and sudden back spasms from my lower to my upper back.  For days I couldn't bend at all, but heat and rest kept me as comfortable as possible.  SLOWLY my back pain disappeared over several months, just leaving a dull lower back pain on the right side when I'm sitting in some chairs.  As the pain decreased, I increased my activities and did a few back exercises every morning.  These are figures from the moment I had the spasm and with the flexibility I now have.  It is almost, but not completely gone!   

Posted by Shirley at 9:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Waiting:  New York City is still in "stay at home" mode, but there were scary photos of young people standing outside restaurants drinking this past weekend when the weather was nice.  We watch Cuomo's Daily Briefing everyday and are waiting for the City to meet all of the statistics to begin a careful Phase 1 reopening.  My husband and I do stay at home except for our very brief trips to the neighborhood grocery stores before 7AM - having other groceries and drug store purchases delivered.  So my recent figure drawings are called Waiting.  The figures are collaged on a piece of paste paper I made. 

I'm listing my two artist figure drawing books below the image because I love having them as references.   

Mark Edward Smith  The Nude Figure:  A Visual Reference for Artists

Posted by Shirley at 2:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Can we even imagine when this Pandemic will be controlled?  Yesterday Gov. Cuomo began Phase 1 of his reopening plan.  This will be done by regions in the state, based on 7 Covid-19 statistics.  In Phase 1 Construction and Manufacturing can open.  Plans must be outlined and workers kept safe.  The State Government website has a dashboard for following daily health statistics, by region, and if the Rate of Infection goes above 1.0 in the next 2 weeks, closures will be reinstituted.  New York City residents will remain at home until at least 6/16. NYC's hospitalizations, and deaths are dropping, but we have an additional 3 criteria (beyond the region's criteria), that must be met before NYC can enter Phase 1.  My next figures drawn will be housebound again.  I was just happy for the people in the regions of NY State that could return to work! 

Posted by Shirley at 9:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Bad Social Distancing: I'm trying to kickstart my drawings since the full quarantine went into effect on March 20th in NYC, and I stopped my daily walk and drawing sessions in my neighborhood.  These are figures that I sketch after breakfast from two figure drawing books.  In my last blog post I sketched social distancing, so this one is "Bad Social Distancing."  The drawings are done on a quarter of a piece of copy paper. painted with watercolors, cut out and then collaged to the page.  The background painting was made as paste paper -acrylic paints textured with a Lego plate.

Stay Home and Stay Safe.   

Posted by Shirley at 12:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The first case in New York State was documented on March 1st.  March 16th was when the City shut down. New York State is still in P.A.U.S.E. (the name for the shutdown that began on March 22nd) and we are to stay at home, (except for grocery shopping and drug store shopping).  Social distancing at 6 feet and frequent hand washing are being recommended, and now face masks are required.  I can only observe Manhattan from my windows, and there are MANY fewer cars, bikes, and walkers.  But local news has frequent photos of the parks when the weather is nice and social distancing there is a myth.  Some of the hospitals have opened a floor for non-Covid patients so semi-elective operations can be done.  But while the case statistics are really good due to the leadership from Governor Cuomo, the number of new cases and the number of deaths have plateaued after a big drop from the apex.  On March 15th some regions Upstate may begin a very slow reopening.  New York City is no where near ready. 

I have had almost no interest in drawing since I stopped taking my walks on March 20th, so I've returned to my figure drawing book after breakfast to do these quarter-sheet of copy paper figure sketches.   Drawing one per day after breakfast from photos may kick start more drawing.  Time will tell.

Posted by Shirley at 8:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)