NYC Fire Museum

November 16, 2014

When I first arrived I found the museum was so chock-filled with stuff I didn’t know where to start. I spotted a quiet corner by the elevator with two fire alarm boxes where there was also seating, so I began there.

I moved to a more ambitious sketch of a mannequin of a fireman seated at the back of a firetruck. He looked very real and one little girl waved to him and said “Hi” twice. When he didn’t respond she hit him in the leg!

There was also a model of a horse pulling a cart so I tried that.

After we broke for lunch we returned to the museum and I made my way up to the second floor where I worked on this sketch of a hand drawn hose reel cart from 1857. What attracted me was the naive illustration of a tiger on the side panel but all the Victorian ornamentation plus rendering the wheels in perspective made it a very challenging object to draw indeed.

NYC Fire Museum

Perfect day for an indoor sketching event (thanks Elaine for putting this together!) Here's a couple of the old-timey engines from our visit to the NYC Fire Museum.

This sketch is from a painting of Chief Engineer Harry Howard, one of the most celebrated engineers of the 19th century. On the right, a volunteer badge from 1860.

A sketch by Nicolas.

in between our two sessions, the group had lunch at Lupe's, a Mexican restaurant. 

Keeping Up with the Season

It was really the first day of the season where we had to juggle getting cold outside with running inside to warm up  It was also the day Rockefeller Center was putting up their Christmas Tree.

Trimming the Tree at Rockefeller Center

They erect a platform all around the tree so the workers can get it trimmed and decorated.  The tree dwarfs the statue of Prometheus and the firegiver dwarfs the tiny people on the platform

Skaters on Ice

The next obvious thing to sketch were the skaters.  The mix of skill levels on the ice was interesting to try to capture.

The View from Inside

Got cold and went in for a cup of tea.  We got seats near the window and tried to sketch the skaters again but this time from the warmth of indoors.

Chatting 

Did a quick sketch of the people at the next table who were seated by the window having an animated conversations.

Putting up the Lights

On the way back from lunch I sketched a man in a bucket lift putting up Christmas Lights on the trees in Rockefeller Center.

The Mandatory Picture of Jim

And of course I knocked off  a Mandatory Picture of Jim.  You'll notice Jim has switched from his summer Boston Red Sox baseball cap to his winter Boston Red Sox woolen ski hat and flannels - ... keeping up with the season.

SUNDAY - Sketching the NYC Fire Museum

The New York City Fire Museum 

Sunday November 16, 2014

Sketch Event Planned by Elaine Langer

NYC History Comes Alive:
Come and see NYC Fire Trucks -  past and present as well as historical artifacts of NYC’s fire history.  There are several full size trucks inside an old brick fire house as well as memorabilia and clothing.

DETAILS:
Where:   278 Spring Street

When:   From 10 to 12:30  (Running Late?  Again?  Come anyway)

How Much:  Group admission $5.

How:
  - Access via subway, take the "C" or "E" train (8th Avenue Local) to Spring Street. Walk west 1 ½ blocks.
-   Alternately, take the "1" train (IRT) to Houston Street. Walk south along Varick Street for 4 blocks to Spring Street. Walk west ½ block.

Who you gonna call?

Lunch:  Walk to lunch at Soho Made Soups (75 Varick Street)

Afternoon:  Sketching in the Tribeca Historic District.where we'll sketch the numerous landmarked buildings including the American Thread Building and the iconic Ghost Busters Firehouse (keeping
with our theme) at  (14 N Moore Street)

For Show and Tell:  We'll finish up at 3:30 and head over to Girello (11 Varick Street) to share drinks, stories and sketches.

NOTE: Elaine mentioned that for anyone interested, the Assistant Director at the Fire Museum would love to post some of our work for their social media website.

Can't find us?  

Call Mark - 973-809-9128

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

Weekday Urban Sketchers at St. Paul's and Trinity Churches

DATE:  Thursday November 13, 2014 

This week we will be at two of the oldest church in NYC, St. Paul's and Trinity Churches on lower Broadway.   In addition to the beautiful buildings there is the pew that George Washington sat in, beautiful statuary, stained glass windows, cemeteries and beautiful interior spaces to draw.   If the weather is nice we can work outside in the cemeteries  skyscrapers of lower Manhattan as a backdrop.   

LOCATION: We will meet at St Paul's Church and move to Trinity in the afternoon.

                        St. Paul's is at 209 Broadway and Fulton Street.

TIME:  11:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Please RSVP to Raylie Dunkel at raylie@verizon.net

CAN'T FIND US?  Call Raylie at 201-978-6387

TRANSPORTATION: 

Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall

Chambers Street

Broadway-Nassau Street

Weekday Urban Sketchers at St. Paul's and Trinity Churches 

This week we will be at two of the oldest church in NYC, St. Paul's and Trinity Churches on lower Broadway.   In addition to the beautiful buildings there is the pew that George Washington sat in, beautiful statuary, stained glass windows, cemeteries and beautiful interior spaces to draw.   If the weather is nice we can work outside in the cemeteries  skyscrapers of lower Manhattan as a backdrop.   

LOCATION: We will meet at St Paul's Church and move to Trinity in the afternoon.

                        St. Paul's is at 209 Broadway and Fulton Street.

TIME:  11:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Please RSVP to Raylie Dunkel at raylie@verizon.net

CAN'T FIND US?  Call Raylie at 201-978-6387

TRANSPORTATION: 

Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall

Chambers Street

Broadway-Nassau Street