In Remembrance

Soaked

Sometimes the phrase "tunnel vision" has been used to describe commuters - all they want is to get on "their" train, get in "their" seat and go home.  Well, all of this was disrupted with Hurricane Irene, the Metro North New Haven Line came to a standstill, and was one of the last train lines to get back up and running after the storm.  So, I experienced "tunnel vision" of a different kind, walking through the rail tunnel underpass in Old Greenwich, CT, down near Ole's Boathouse, in about 18 inches of floodwater.  To say that it felt surreal didn't do it justice, it rather felt like I was sloshing through a flowing spring in a cave miles below the earth's surface.  Instead of the faint rumble from trains above, there was symphony of splash and drip of water rushing through the tunnel returning to Long Island Sound after engulfing ground far from shore.

It says it all, right?

More Work Is Coming...

Hurrican Irene was very mean.
She huffed and puffed and distracted me from my routine.
So check back in a few days,
And I'll make sure there's new work to be seen.

Sudoku Impressions

Take a careful look around the train and you'll find them, intense in thought, marking up their pages, and counting to make the perfect combo of numbers.  It's Sudoku! And it was the perfect opportunity to use all those ticket stubs the conductors place in the seat pockets!

JP has been one of my consistent commuting buddies when commuting into work in the morning.

As a sketch artist and illustrator, I create and compose views from what I observe and see on the train.  However, as I'm working in my sketchbook, I'm only looking at my subject an average of 50% to 60% of the time.  The other time is spent looking down at my book making sure I'm putting my pen or pencil where its supposed to go to create a good drawing.  The act of "seeing" as I make my work happens really quickly, my eyes are always switching back and forth between my subject and the page.  So this is what I see as I'm drawing everyone coming home while sitting on the long benches in the bar car.

August: A Slower Pace

Walking through the Main Concourse of Grand Central it's easy to notice it's August.  The heavy dark suits have been left at home in favor of short sleeves and skirts.  Instead of the usual haze of oxford blue, black, and grey, there are pops of color and the occasional sun hat to go along with it.  Yes the pace is still comparably fast, but people do take it a little slower.  Honestly, they're probably dreading going back outside, or worse into the subway tunnels, but let's just pretend this isn't the case - welcome August.

August is also vacation month.  Here's a peak into one of my days off where the "commute" was by boat to a local beach.  The Greer family, longstanding family friends were visiting from England, and we spent the afternoon under tall shady locust trees looking out onto the water.

Harlem 125th Street

As the train makes its way into Midtown, it really isn't until 125th street that one really grasps they're in New York.  After spending miles rushing past aging soot covered granite walls below grade in the Bronx, the tracks break away and turn over the Harlem River and down to 125th Street.  It's as if someone flips a switch and all the sights and sounds of the city suddenly appear outside as the train pulls into the station: honking yellow cabbies, the aging bus rattling along the road, crowds of people along the sidewalk, and the brick tenements and offices line the street. In that instant everything comes together and the people on the train know, without a doubt, they've arrived in New York City.

On A Magic Carpet Ride

I don't think Steppenwolf would have ever thought their song would inspire something just like this, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who listens to them on my ipod while on the train.  So whether you're meditating on your piece of persian rug or holding on tight, it would be pretty cool to take one of these to your destination.

Everybody Is Working for the Weekend

Make sure you click on this image to read the tags!

Weekend getaways are great during the summer, but they have one side effect on Friday evenings and Monday mornings - lots of extra bags that get pushed and packed into the train competing for space.  Did you ever wonder what's in all those bags?  I think I've provided a few clues and good guesses in the illustration above.

Wouldn't this be nice?  A few drinks, the sunglasses, flip flops, .  Now, the only thing you have to figure out is to get that bathing suit to somehow work with the casual Fridays outfit without your boss knowing.  The guy on right obviously hasn't figured this out yet.

Care For A Seat?

The commuting crowd traded train chairs for beach chairs and blankets for the 4th of July.  And, being super efficient, (even on a holiday weekend)  everyone put their chairs to good use - and used them to save a seat for the fireworks display.  So if you happened to be driving through Binney Park in Old Greenwich on the day of the fireworks, this is what you saw.  A sea of technocolor plastic fold out chairs and blankets reserving the best places for viewing the fireworks.  Hope you found your spot when you came back at dusk!