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.

The Slush Puddle Dance

The continued bitter cold along with "everything but the kitchen sink" ( rain, freezing rain, sleet, and snow) during the past week, means boots and hats were the norm this week.  Whether it was climbing over piles of ice and wading through puddles of slush, boots were your best friend.  And with the wind whipping through the city, hats were also a smart addition to the wardrobe. 

January Mood

The train home was busy this week - this sketch was done in one sitting on a very crowded evening.  The line work was completed on the train, and the watercolor was done back at home over the weekend.  The colors used in the sketch reflect the overall mood of a cold dark early January evening - lots of browns and "rust colored" reds surronded by deep dark "cold" blues and greys.  On these dark winter evenings, I feel like I'm traveling home in a box with old green and yellowish fluorescent lights as the world sweeps by in heavy shades of navy blue that press up against the windows.  I know, sounds a little depressing - those  Caribbean Vacation posters that are pasted throughout the trains are starting to look very appealing.

New Years Resolutions

Here are some potential New Years resolutions for and from my fellow train riders - take a close look (click on the images for a better view) and see if any of them match yours?

Holiday Posts

Finally, I have made the time to post some of my work from the past few weeks.  The hustle and bustle of the holiday season has made me prefer just sitting and watching the scenery on the train.  And, having two of my wisdom teeth removed too didn't exactly inspire me to work in my sketchbook either, but here's what I've come up with anyway-

The signs started appearing two weeks ago, reminding commuters of the looming fair hike for mass transit on January 1st.  A single swipe on a Metrocard will rise from $2.25 to $2.50.  So I thought wouldn't it be nice if Jolly Old Saint Nick showed up on  the Main Concourse at Grand Central and started giving out free Metrocards?  I'm sure I could find a lot of people who would love for that to happen.

This past week was also the first snowfall in the city.  As I walked (no I didn't run this time) to the subway late one evening I admired the snowflakes dancing down under the street lamps.

Taking the train home this week really made me wonder what it would be like if it wasn't any train, but maybe, just maybe, the Polar Express?