"Morning in NYC" 23.5" X 16" watercolor

Morning in NYC

Morning in NYC

watercolor

23.5" X 16" image

31" X 23" brushed silver frame

$1700

My husband and I typically travel to NYC at least once a year to take in some shows on Broadway, visit some art museums, or visit historic sites.  This painting was inspired during a trip with our son, during which we visited the Empire State Building.  The views from the Empire State Building are magnificent. We had gone early in the day so morning light played across the city.  I took quite a few photographs, as I am inclined to do. I am always composing paintings in my view finder so I take several photographs with slightly different zoom or perspectives of the same place.  After the trip this view of the New Yorker Building kept speaking to me. At the time of the trip I wasn't technically ready to take on this scene, but after a few more years of working with watercolor I finally decided to take rise to the challenge. 

I started by doing a drawing on tracing paper, figuring the first time out might not work. I also knew getting the architectural angles right was critical and that some erasing would be involved.  Drawing on tracing paper meant all that erasing would not mar my watercolor paper. Once the drawing was complete I transfered the drawing to the watercolor paper and off I went. Much to my delight the painting came out just as I wanted it, so I didn't have to paint multiple versions.

I submitted this painting to the National Watercolor Society (NWS) International exhibit and was delighted that Morning in NYC was accepted.  I was so surprised since NWS receives nearly 1000 entries for this exhibit each year.  I was one of 93 artists accepted into this prestigious show.  Two others in this exhibit are artists I admire from whom I have taken workshops: Chen-khee Chee was one of the first few artists I took a workshop from and Nicholas Simmons introduced me to fluid acrylic and a new way of looking at my work. Both workshops were invaluable to me.  To be in a show with them was a delight.

Exhibition update: in 2014, Morning in NYC traveled to Houston to be included in the Watercolor Art Society -Houston.  There it was exhibited with a many wonderful paintings.  The first place winner was a painting by John Salminen, another artist from whom I have taken a workshop.   After returning home, I decided to enter it in the Maryland Federation of Art's National exhibition American Landscapes, which resulted in a trip to Annapolis, Maryland to exhibit in that show.

I haven't felt this much satisfaction in something I have done in a very long time; my decision to refocus on art has been validated.   Thanks to all of you who have encouraged me and sent me feedback.  It is much appreciated.  Now I've got to try to get my feet back on the ground so I can finish the painting I'm currently working on.

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