SATURDAY: Sketching Killer Heels

January 3, 2015

Killer Heels explores fashion’s most provocative accessory

As fashion statement, fetish object, instrument of power, and outlet of artistic expression for both the designer and the wearer, throughout the ages the high-heeled shoe has gone through many shifts in style and symbolism. Deadly sharp stilettos, architecturally inspired wedges and platforms, and a number of artfully crafted shoes that defy categorization are featured among the more than 160 historical and contemporary heels on loan from designers

NOTE:  
1)  The museum requests that we work dry, meaning pencil, charcoal, etc.  (I've used watercolor pencils and a waterbrush in the past)
2)  There are many other exhibits including; 

• Chitra Ganesh: Eyes of Time, 
• Judith Scott—Bound and Unbound and 
• Crossing Brooklyn: Art from Bushwick, Bed-Stuy, and Beyond, in addition to the museum's permanent collection.

3)  The Museum is large and the Killer Heels show is just part of what we'll be doing. Use Mark's cell phone (973-809-9128) to find us.

DETAILS:
When:  11:00 AM to 3:30

Where:  The Brooklyn Museum - 200 Eastern Parkway.

Lunch:  12:30 at Brooklyn Museum Cafe

Afternoon:  1:45 - Back to the museum for more sketching

Show and Tell:  3:15 walk to Tooker Alley 793 Washington Ave, to share drawings, stories and drinks.
*  Note: Bonus Section below for optional 5 PM activities at the Museum.

How:  
By Subway:  

•    - 2/3 to Eastern Parkway/Brooklyn Museum. 
•    - Transfer to 2/3 from 4/5 (at Nevins Street) and B, D, Q, N, R, and LIRR (at Atlantic Terminal-Barclays Center). 
•    - See a subway map. Make sure to check with the MTA for any service changes, especially on the weekend.

By Car:  
There is parking On-site parking is available in the lot behind the Museum, off Washington Avenue. On Target First Saturdays there's a flat rate of $5 beginning at 5 p.m.

How Much:  General admission prices are suggested contribution amounts:

• Adults- $16
• Students with valid I.D. - $10
• Adults 62 and over - $10
• Ages 19 and under - Free

BONUS

Target First Saturdays:
Enjoy engaging and eclectic free art and entertainment programs every month, from 5 to 11 p.m. Michelin-starred Saul restaurant and bar is open all evening. The Counter café serves sandwiches, salads, and sweets, as well as wine and local beer. 

Music - 5 PM - Grammy Award–winning collective Snarky Puppy plays an infectious mixture of jazz, funk, and world music. Part of Carnegie Hall's Neighborhood Concert Series

Performance - 6:30 p.m. - Jazz percussionist Ches Smith presents a unique musical score to activate artist David Horvitz's installation of suspended bells in Crossing Brooklyn.

Can't find us?  

Call Mark - 973-809-9128

There are no fees or attendance taken. All drawing skill levels are welcome

Cross Sound Ferry Sketches

Traveling on the Cross Sound Ferry from Orient Point, NY to New London, CT is always a good place to sketch. On the 9 am ferry there was a continuous line for food.

A few models always cooperate.

Sushi and Sketch

Last night after work I went downtown and had sushi in the West Village.  Lucky I had my sketch pad, and the beers really helped out.

The sushi chefs loved it and took a pic.

Here is a close up:

Afterwards I stopped into a local bar and unwound with another brewsky while using my watercolors to sketch the pool players:

Overall a great night with inspiration from the Urban Sketchers!

Jeff Levine

Essex Market and Beyond

The Essex Market had so many little scenes going on I wanted to sketch them all.

First I sketched "Pain d'Avignon." I couldn't decide if I wanted to sketch it or devour what was inside.

Then I turned slightly to sketch the New Star Fish counter.

A half turn brought my focus to the Heritage Meat Shop.

A break for lunch brought us to the Meatball Shop. Marie and Amy were sitting across from me. 

I did the sketch on site but added the color when I got home. The restaurant was too busy to occupy the table for too long.

Back at the market I had 20 minutes for a quick sketch of the Saxelby Cheesemongers.

Then many of us headed off to a Dr. Sketchy event, which although it isn't urban sketching, I'll show you my one of my sketches of the model with some sketchers at work...Amy was one of them.

Essex Market and...

Always fun to visit the LES with its' eclectic melting pot. The Essex Market has an old world feel which made for some fun sketching. My first sketch was a bread shop.

 

Warning! These next sketches are not considered "Urban Sketching" so if you are offended, turn off your computer now! After lunch and another quick market sketch, many of us went to Dr Sketchys. This was my first time, and I am ready to go back! I worked large (19" x 17" paper), and mostly in oil pastel, which I have only used once before.

This first page is the 1 minute warmups.

 

 

This next group is a conbination of two minute and 15 minute sketches. The theme was Russian Fairytales.

 

This last sketch is a total suprise. We were asked to try our non dominant hand. I may become a lefty!

 

 

 

Celebrating Light with the Winter Solstice

Today is the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, when the ancient Druids celebrated the rebirth of the sun and beginning of winter. I will celebrate by posting my sketches done yesterday with the NYC Urban Sketchers on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

 Spent the morning sketching the local butcher, then went to lunch in a very crowded place:

Returned to the market for a quick sketch of the barber, then to a quiet bar to unwind, drink ginger beer, and review our work...

Then an evening with Dr. Sketchy and a strong but fizzy drink:

Another great day with the NYC Urban Sketchers.  Happy Holidays everyone!

Jeff Levine

Saturday: Sketch the Lower East Side

Sketching the Lower East Side

Soaked in History

( planned with help from Jeff Levine)

Soaked in history, the Lower East Side has been home to many waves of immigrants seeking a fresh start in the New World.  The streets have always teemed with life. Traditionally an immigrant, working-class neighborhood, it began rapid gentrification in the mid-2000s, prompting The National Trust for Historic Preservation to place the neighborhood on their list of America's Most Endangered Places.  It has become a home to upscale boutiques and trendy dining establishments.  Lots to sketch, lots to see and lots to do.

Pushcarts and vendors crowded the city streets, making it difficult for police and fire vehicles to easily pass. To ease congestion, Mayor LaGuardia created the Essex Street Market to find a new place for street merchants to do business.  The Market now offers a range of culinary products that include gourmet cheeses, premium cuts of meat, fresh fish and a host of other products for every palette.  

The Essex Street Market, will be our base of operations.  

The Essex Street Market

DETAILS:

When:  Part 1.  From 10 AM to 2:30 PM.  Running late?  Come anyway

Where:  The Lower East Side:  

•     We’ll meet at McDonald's - 114 Delancey Street (quick sketching opportunity)
•     From there we will go to the Essex Street Market (120 Essex St a half block away) by 10:30  (standing only sketching)
•    We will venture out into the streets to sketch the scene and back to the market for warmth

How:   F, J, M or Z Train to Delancy Street

Lunch:  12:00 PM -  1:15 PM  Although there are a number of interesting food places in the market including Peasant Stock, the Brooklyn Taco Company and Boubouki, seating will be a problem.  We'll walk two blocks to The Meatball Shop at 84 Stanton St (Despite the name there are a number of vegetarian options)

Afternoon:  1:15 - 2:45 Sketching the streets or back to Essex Market (depending on weather)

Show and Tell:  2:45 - 3:45 at Hill and Dale, 115 Allen St.  Possible time for a snack before we go to Dr. Sketchy

Post Sketch Sketching:  Part 2.  Dr. Sketchy - at the Botanic Lab, 86 Orchard Street. The Anti-Art school is the world's premier alt.drawing movement,  featuring Russian Fairy Tales  - models, costumes, lots of strange fun.  Come early - best seats go quickly.  I believe it’s $15 at the door or $12 if you reserve a spot (click above to see details)

Dr. Sketchy Poster

Essex Market (click to enlarge)

Lunch Map (click to enlarge)

Can't find us?  

Call Mark - 973-809-9128

There are no fees or attendance taken. All drawing skill levels are welcome

Saturday Sketching

I just realized that in five days it's the Winter Solstice, which means the days are going to start getting longer.  It will be a slow trudge sketching through the coldest months but at least the trend will be going in the right direction.

I got the Winter Garden early and got some breakfast.  I sat by the window overlooking the Hudson and sketched the view of the river and the New Jersey skyline.

While eating breakfast and sketching the view I had a conversation with Robert who was sitting facing me at the next table.  Once again sketching turns out to be a great ice-breaker.  Ended up having a very enjoyable conversation with Robert who was an interesting guy.

Jim didn't show up for the sketch event which always creates a problem.  I took advantage of the fact that Jeff was busy sketching - which is the same thing as posing. Did this quick sketch.  I guess it could be call the Optional Jeff sketch:

I did a quick portrait of Barbara and later in the day when we were in the Pub she was joined by her friend Gene who I also sketched.  Although I really like both these portraits I'm keenly aware that what I created was not flattering sketch of two lovely people. Since they're both involved in art I hope they'll consider these portraits "interesting".

Lastly as I sat sipping my beer in the Half King pub the guy at the next table seemed to practically be posing:

WINTER GARDEN 12 13 14 (and Patchin Place 10 29 14)

Mark

WinterGarden Atrium with Palm Trees

Jefferson Market/NYC Public Library

Patchin Place

Sketching at the Winter Garden

On Saturday, December 13^th NYC Urban Sketchers visited the Winter Garden at Brookfield Place, formerly the World Financial Center. The palms trees in the atrium were a tonic for the early winter cold weather we have been experiencing. I started off with a quick sketch of some people sitting under the palms.

The building and a few of the palms were seriously damaged on September 11^th. The rest quickly succumbed to the unregulated temperatures and the loss of the computerized watering system in the damaged space. The palms were replaced in 2002 by sixteen specifically selected from a farm in Florida. Now, Washington palms (species Washingtonia robusta), over forty feet tall fill the ten story atrium of the Winter Garden.  After lunch I set about trying to capture the big space with a sketch from one of the balconies. The perspective was a challenge and took a long time get set up with pencil and then ink. I added the water color at home.

 

Later in the afternoon we had a very enjoyable visit to the School of Visual Arts. We admired not only the artwork on display but the incredible view of Manhattan from the 15^th floor of the school.

 

Thank you, Peggy for setting up such a great day.

Going NUTS Sketching

This past weekend I went NUTS sketching in a 12 hour binge.  Maybe it was the inspiration from the NYC Urban Sketchers.  Maybe it was the mystical consecutive gematria of 12-13-14 (If you are into Kaballah you understand). Anyway here is the chronology of my day, which began at 9 AM with a warm-up on the 6 Train downtown.

The Urban Sketchers met in the Winter Garden next to Ground Zero in the World Financial Center.  I used my watercolors to paint Mark sketching, overlooking the Hudson River and my old hometown Jersey City.

After lunch I painted Yolanda, a new member of the group.  The light from the huge windows gave her beautiful skin a glow that I tried to capture.

Then I went scouting for a new Urban Sketch location in the ultra-hip Lower East Side.  I went to a bar and and ordered a beer and took out my paints once again.  This one was challenging because this place was dark and I winged it with the colors.  The guy in the maroon jacket was doing a great job chatting up the Asian lady on the left.

After a few brewskies the place got way too crowded so I stopped in Starbucks to wind down with a hot tea and sketched this guy who was really plugged in:

I couldn't stop sketching.  On my way home I sketched this down-on-his-luck sax player on the F Train platform.

Here's a close-up:

Coming back on the F Train I sketched this inebriated couple.  I used a waterbrush to get the color in while on the moving train. By this time it was past 9 PM and the day was getting long.  This was a 12 hour sketch binge!

Anyway I hope you enjoyed looking at my day in the great city of Manhattan through my sketches!  Thanks Urban Sketchers for the opportunity to enjoy the camaraderie of a talented group of artists!

Jeff Levine