Last Saturday's gloomy skies didn't dampen (no pun intended) the enthusiasm of the NYC Urban Sketchers to sketch at and around FAO Schwarz. The store is slated for closure, but it was most certainly busy. Outside the store there was a greeter dressed like a toy soldier. He was constantly busy posing with people outside the entrance. It was hard to get a photo or a sketch done without someone besides him in the picture...so I included a visitor.

When it started to sprinkle some of us headed into the store. I think I could have spent days there sketching. There were so many things I wanted to sketch. This was my first trip to FAO Schwarz so I knew I had to find the "Big Piano" what the movie "Big" made so famous. I had to sketch that if nothing else. I had a hard time deciding where I could stand to sketch without being in the way...off to the side seemed to work best. The people on the piano changed quite quickly so sketching them was not so easy. I decided to focus on just one girl and included some of the people behind her. 

After lunch we headed over to the carriage horses by Central Park. They also may be leaving the city...the decision has not been made yet. They are a definite draw for tourists and were very busy today. We had two horses and their drivers in front of us for a short while so I concentrated on the sketch of this horse and driver before they moved away. I added another carriage that replaced them a while later. I needed to include a bit of the Plaza in the background for atmosphere.

Of course no street in NYC is complete without a food vendor or two...we might starve if we walk too far without being tempted. lol

Our day of sketching last Saturday was much too short. There was so much more I would have loved to sketch. Maybe we/I will just have to return.