Fifth Avenue Blooms

A few weekends ago the NYC Urban Sketchers met across from St Patrick's Cathedral to sketch "Fifth Avenue Blooms," an exhibit of colorful sculptures and live flowers stretching 12 blocks along Fifth Avenue. It was designed by French artist, Alexandre Benjamin Navet with Van Cleef & Arpels, and there are arches, benches, pergolas and other elements in bright colors. In addition there are activities and music for the public to enjoy.

We started out sitting in front of the statue of Atlas which is in front of one of the buildings that are part of Rockefeller Center. With the flower sculpture in the foreground I had a bit of St Patrick's Cathedral as my background.

Next I crossed Fifth Avenue and sat on the steps of St Patrick's Cathedral looking back at the statue of Atlas holding up the world. When I was in college I worked part-time for a company that was in that building, so I brings back some memories. I was able to include a few sketchers at work.

After lunch I left the group and ventured a little further up toward Central Park. There was a sculpture of arches that people could walk under straight ahead in my view.

The group gathered once again for our "show and tell" near the fountain across from the Plaza Hotel.

I almost forgot to include the sketch I did on the Long Island Railroad going into the city.

Celebrating in NYC

Last Thursday was my birthday and my husband and I spent it in NYC. We got into the city about noon. He went off to do a few things and I went off to sketch. The plan was to meet for an early dinner at this Italian restaurant, Carmines, that I love, go out for drinks, and then we had tickets to see the Broadway show, "Beautiful."

I have always loved these red ornaments that are on the street diagonally across from Radio City Music Hall. I sat on my stool and by the time I finished I was frozen.

I decided to head to St Patrick's Cathedral on 5th Avenue to warm up. It is a beautiful church and I love to walk around there. On my way to my favorite chapel in the back of the church I passed the Nativity set. All the statues seemed like a bit much so I kept walking but when I got to the side I noticed that the camel could be done on its own. I liked that I could also incorporate some people looking at the Nativity and the lady lighting the candle.

I have to say that I turned out to be a wonderful birthday with many of the things I love, as well as the person I love.

Art Deco and Rockefeller Center

On Saturday my friend, Susan and I headed into Manhattan on the subway. There are always some models if the train isn't too crowded. The woman on the left got off at the first stop (the nerve of her) so I moved on to sketch the second woman.

This woman was directly across from me. She alternated between being half asleep with her head all the way back, looking straight ahead, or putting on makeup.

The NYC Urban Sketchers had planned a day at Rockefeller Center to sketch the art deco in the buildings, decorations, etc. But we got there and the Christmas tree was standing up behind the skating rink and the workmen were putting scaffolding around the tree so that it could be decorated. We just HAD to do a sketch of that! Now you may be thinking to yourself...this is just the start of November...but this tree is BIG and it takes an extremely long time to put all the lights on it. When you see it finally lit ( the lighting is on Dec 3) you will see what I mean. I still don't understand how they keep the tree from now until the beginning of January without it losing it's needles. When we had fresh Christmas trees as a kid the needles started falling off the tree as we were bringing it home. lol

I found a spot in the middle of the promenade that leads from 5th Avenue all the way to the skating rink. There were art deco designs over the doorway, but I was interested in sketching the workers who were planting the tall trees that would be decorated and will stand in the middle of all the lit angels that will also be put up. By this time I was starting to get cold. My body was warm enough in my down jacket, but my feet and hands were cold. I did have fingerless (and regular) gloves that helped my hands but I couldn't do anything about my feet.

Then I walked down 49th Street a half a block and sketched the NBC Studio marquis. It had some art deco elements too. Then it was time for lunch...and we were able to warm up indoors. Yay!!!

After lunch I sat on 5th Avenue right in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral facing across 5th Ave where  the bronze Atlas is supporting on his shoulders, not the earth, but a representation of the heavens (or so says the brochure about Rockefeller Center). This is the largest sculpture in the Center...he stands 15 feet tall on a 9 foot high pedestal. I happen to have worked in this building when I was in college and passed this statue just about every day.

Since it now gets dark so early we headed indoors to share our sketches with the other members before most of them headed home. A few of us hung out a bit longer at a local restaurant bar, but only Mark sketched there. It was a good day...but a bit too cold to be sitting around. lol