This is the second time I've painted the RFK Bridge (or the Triborough, as I will always think of it). Both times I stood at the same spot under the shelter of an amiable tree in Carl Schurz Park. I love this particular view of the bridge as it peeks behind the foliage and glows in the afternoon sun. I wanted another go at it after taking Sam Adoquei's wonderful landscape workshop earlier in the summer.
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Last weekend I hopped on the F train into Brooklyn to see what the artists there are up to these days. At least the ones that signed up for the annual Gowanus Open Studios. It was a treat to chat with the artists about their work and their set ups in the quaint old warehouses and factories. And to take a break from gigantic skyscrapers to see the offbeat mix of low-rise residential and industrial buildings. And get a real good look at the sky for a change. A Canal Runs Through ItOnce upon a time Gowanus was a booming industrial and commercial district. Millions and millions of tons of cargo came through the Gowanus Canal each year. In the 1940s all the activity started tapering off, when trucks began toting goods over the newly constructed Gowanus Expressway. What remained was a waterway with a powerful stench that glowed in the dark. And eventually a Superfund site.
Thomas Hart Benton, an American artist (1889-1975), was only 5’3” but had a cantankerous, larger-than-life personality. He came across as a plain-talking, small-town roughneck, but in reality he was educated in Chicago and Paris, and came from a prominent Missouri family. Early in his career Benton lived in New York City, experimenting with abstract compositions and following the latest art world trends. But they didn't take. So he turned with a vengeance to a representational style, and antagonized artists and critics with his hot-tempered heckling. When he finally got fed up with the New York art establishment, Benton moved back to the Midwest. There he joined a Regionalist art movement that painted everyday people in a distinctly American landscape. Recently I had the pleasure to watch Thomas Hart Benton, a 1988 documentary by Ken Burns. This fascinating introduction to the artist’s complicated and dynamic personality inspired me to pay a visit to the Benton mural, America Today, now residing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The mural, a series of ten panels originally commissioned by the New School for Social Research in 1930, was sold to AXA Equities in 1984, and then given to the Met in 2012. You can watch a video about the Met’s acquisition here.
It's a Beautiful Day in the NeighborhoodThat's one reason why I look for plein air subjects right in my own back yard. I like to set up my easel within a few blocks from home because it saves energy and time. Two things I could definitely use more of. But convenience isn't the only reason I do this. With the never-ending construction, noise, and chaos of the city all around and everywhere I go, my eyes seem to scan the scene for something, anything that's peaceful and lovely. Especially on my way to the subway or to the corner grocery store. Sometimes I get lucky and find something.
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Julie Kessler
I'm a representational painter enchanted by the unique qualities of watercolor. Sometimes oils, gouache, colored pencils and other media call to me too. I started this blog to share my work and ideas about making art. Sometimes I toss other things into the mix. Such as painters I love, and art books and exhibits that inspire me. Your comments are welcome. I'd love to hear from you! Recent PostsCategories
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