A Walk Above Ground

Now that the weather is getting a little better, I sometimes opt to walk above ground across town on 42nd street to the Times Square Station rather than taking the shuttle underground.  With the return to daylight savings the sun has been a little lower in the sky and it's been catching the side of the newly cleaned stone of the New York Public Library.  Here's a painting from a recent morning inspired by famous watercolorists like John Singer Sargent.

The New Haven Line Local

As an alternate to the sterile maps of station stops found in the ticket windows and schedule packets, here's my (much more fun to look at) version.  Perfect for anyone who thinks visually!

I know I owe you a sketch....

I know I owe you a sketch.

Actually, I owe you a few.

But I've been really busy,

So forgive me for not giving you something to view.

There are lots of works in progress,

Don't worry I haven't forgot.

You're just going to have to trust me when I say,

They'll be a lot a lot A LOT.

I know this poem is cheesy.

But please cut me some slack.

The'll be new pictures up soon,

So please do come back....

                          (maybe in a few days?)

                                 - Teek

Works in Progress

After two very busy weeks, and a few days in bed with a stomach virus, I'm on the mend.  I have two works "in progress" for you to see.  Both of them were done piecemeal - a little bit at a time.  In fact, doing a sketch in "sections" is actually moredifficult then doing it all at once, because I still have to consider how to draw everything to make it appear as if it's lining up and coming from the same view.  Bearing this in mind, here they are, and remember to check back to compare to see what they look like when they're finished.

Due to the reduced train schedule over the last few weeks, I needed to take an earlier train in during the morning rush.  It gave me ten or fifteen minutes of leeway in the downstairs cafeteria of Grand Central to linger and watch people pause to get their morning coffee or snack.  Can you guess what table I always sat at to get this view?  Check back next week to see if finished with color.

By luck, there were several nights over the past week, that I ended up sitting in a bar car on the train ride home.  Each night I tried to find one or two people to add to this collection.

Think Spring!

We may have another month before it's officially spring, and yes it's certainly possible we'll get some more snow - but after a nice weekend, and warmer temperatures this week, here are some brighter lighter spring landscapes to cheer you up this week!  Here's the birdseye view of the train crossing the Harlem River.

Sometimes the train doesn't come in upstairs at Grand Central, and it's easy to miss out on the beautiful sunlight that pours through the east windows in the morning.  I walked up one of the staircases on Wednesday and turned the corner to find myself totally bathed in warm sunlight reflecting off the marble stairwell as I stepped up to the main concourse.

The Village of Old Greenwich and train station - Think Spring!

(Or just close your eyes on the train platform and stand in the sunlight!)

Below Park Ave

If your train goes down one of the center tracks on the way into Grand Central, you might just catch a glimpse through the vents to the apartments above on Park Avenue.  It's easy to forget the whole part of the city that you don't see - good to remember to take a peak.

February Fever

That's right, after yet another long week commuting which coincided with the reduction in service on the New Haven Line branch of Metro North, everyone has had it.  This illustration is inspired by the old saying of sailors who had "cabin fever" for being stuck at sea for too long.  Well call it what you like, whether it's "train fever" or "commuting fever" or some other madness, these commuters are severely afflicted.  Take a close look and observe some of the symptoms - you may be next to catch it!

Valentine Vision

If Cupid had X-Ray vision, and could see under all the coats, scarves, and hats, this is what he would see on Valentines Day.

Meanwhile, everyone on the train platform this week had a chance to be a Olympic figure skater given the inch of ice left on all surfaces during the latest storm.  Competitors got extra points for not holding onto the platform handrail (don't try this at home), carrying their bag or briefcase (keeps you off balance), and being able to laugh it off once they got on the train (double bonus).

January Weary

It's been a rough week for everyone riding the rails.  The latest storm reduced train service leaving everyone with fewer seats and combined trains.  Whether it was coming into the city in the morning or running to get on the train coming home, scoring a seat was considered a "big deal" this week.  Now, if only I was like this gentleman above, and I could fall asleep in an instant - but then again, I might miss my station.

Pop Quiz: Everyone riding home in this rail car are:

• A. Too self absorbed reading articles about the bad weather to care what's happening outside the window.
• B. Purposely trying to not look out the window as in, "If I don't see the snow, it must not be there."
• C.  Secretly dreaming they're on a rocket ship bound for outer space reasoning that, "Anything could be  better than commuting into the city after this week."

Prints Available for Sale

Select signed and framed prints of some of my work from the blog is now available for sale at Images of Old Greenwich on Sound Beach Avenue in Old Greenwich, CT Tel: 203-637-4193.