Tag Archives: New York City

Blackout !

July 14, 2019 roxannebaldwin Leave a comment

“I’ve seen the lights go out on Broadway,

I’ve seen the Empire State laid low.” – Billy Joel

Right now, Rose Garden is going slowly. It’s through no fault of my own, but pet owners will understand. Pumpkin has taken up a new sleeping spot, right behind my easel. It’s a choice between letting Pumpkin sleep peacefully, or get artwork done. You can probably guess my priority.

So, I’ve been paying attention to the news. Along with Hurricane Barry, it seems that Manhattan has had another blackout. I’ve lived through a couple of those. Sure, there are big crises, there are also a lot of little crises. That’s part of living in a big city.

This is an ode to New Yorkers. They gang together during times of crisis, but most are not very friendly. I think it’s a matter of personal space. If I can’t have it in literal 3D dimensions, at least I can keep my emotions clear.

I can give examples of being pulled out of bad situations by strange New Yorkers, only to be met by gruffness afterwards.

So again begs the question ….did I do the right thing leaving NYC? I’ve come to the final conclusion, it just doesn’t matter. I am in Connecticut now, and unless I suddenly am flooded with wealth, I can go back to New York City. So, end of dilemma, I must make the most happy, successful life here.

So, here’s to old new beginnings:

This is not my Photograph

February 9, 2019 roxannebaldwin Leave a comment

Fabulous Photo

I found this on Google Earth, and it’s credited to Jan Prosek. I’ve been trying to seek out a website or a link to his work, to give him proper credit. It’s fantastic. I have artist envy.

I also wish I could find a way to paste the image in, rather just link it.

In other news, my wrist has gotten to the point where I can very gently do some artwork. I’m still too fragile to do large projects, so I’m working on Christmas cards. Yes, I know it’s February, but I want to have an inventory by October. I plan on doing a show then, and yes, they’re something that actually sells,.

20161122_162212

Like this one.

While I’ve had this right-handless problem, I’ve been going over the past, drawings I did of NYC.

Sentinel

Going back to the glamorous days of working in the gift shop of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Lots of great perks, but I really, I mean really hated the job.

Scan_20151207 (2)

Speaking of both the Met and Christmas cards, this is the card I did of the Angel Tree.

grandcentralsunday

For day jobs, I worked twice in Grand Central Terminal. One of them was in the Market, at a little shop called Adriana’s Caravan. It was the most interesting jobs I ever held. Totally loved it, part of a great team. The store had a good following, too.

Visiting gorgeous lofts. This one was in Tribeca.

skylinesketch

And having a skyline view to sketch from my studio window.

Yes, sometimes I miss New York. Our first night when we moved into Manhattan, we said “I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore”. It was an exciting time, but all the excitement wasn’t good. I was there for 9/11,for instance. Also trying to navigate the crowds on 5th Avenue on Black Friday put an anxious lump in my throat. Not to mention the subways……………..

So, I guess I’m back in Kansas, or Connecticut as it is. There’s no place like home,

Not for Sale

January 20, 2019 roxannebaldwin Leave a comment

My wrist is getting better, and I am savoring (More like salivating over) the prospect doing artwork again. Yes, in a little more than a week, my cast will be off. A little physical therapy, and I’ll be good to go.

After that announcement, I want to know…are you tired of blogs (including mine), trying to sell you something? Well, I’m going to put a reverse on that, and show you what you can’t have at any price.

This is my cat, Pumpkin. Not for sale, because, damn, it’s Pumpkin!

I gave this to a friend.

This one, because I’ll be damned if I know where it is.

This was given to a different friend as a house warming gift. Boy, did my bf get pissed I did that. But, he never told me he liked it!

I bartered this one for energy healing sessions. BF was pissed about that, too. In all seriousness, if I had known it was so special to him, I would have bartered something else.

I finally learned my lesson. BF loves it. Not for sale

This one I bartered for an art show in a coffeehouse in Manhattan. Yes, exhibit space is so competitive, you have to give some kind of exchange for even a coffeehouse show.

SOLD!

This one I lost by default, because I left it at a gallery too long after the show was over. we didn’t have a car back then. i always meant to make arrangements to pick it up, but time went by faster than I realized.

One of my favorites. Given to a friend. I do have reproductions of it. No reproductions of my friend. She’s one of a kind.

Given to a charity.

Given to charity.

Given to charity

SOLD!

Sold!

Of course my favorite, and my logo. And damn! She was my cat Hannako!

There’s more, but that’s it for now. My finger is tired. When the cast comes off, I’ll be able to type normally, again. I’m thankful for that.

Bricks

October 10, 2018 roxannebaldwin 2 Comments

A little background info….

I’ve been away for a while, in case you haven’t noticed. I needed some time to reflect, think about where I’ve been, where I’m going and most importantly, where I am.

And it all comes down to bricks…well, sort of.

When I first really got going working in colored pencil, I lived in Greenwich, CT. Somehow, and for what reason I can’t figure out, I became drawn to drawing (Ha) buildings with bricks. I sweated tears over each individual rectangle, making sure it was perfect.

Then I landed quite happily but totally unexpectedly in Manhattan. Again, loads and loads of bricks to be drawn! I still was sweating over each and every single detail.

So, then due to circumstances which are beyond explaining. I landed in Queens, a little community called Sunnyside. And much to my delight, I found bricks! By now, I was taking those little rectangles in stride.

Then after 20 years of ups and downs and all arounds in NYC, I ended up back in Connecticut in a small city called Danbury. It’s as a large of a city as I want to deal with for a while.

And whaddya think I found there? My first picture there, bricks.

And bricks and cats.

After this much needed break, guess what I start with?

And a familiar door. Yes, I know it’s October, I started this pic in May.

It’s Raining In New York

May 19, 2018 roxannebaldwin Leave a comment

As well as raining here.

My friend just asked me the other day if I regretted moving from NYC to Connecticut. Truth is, I don’t. I think I already went into how I remember the romance and excitement of the City, but not the humdrum stress. Like the idea of New York City in the rain.

Of course, there are some things I miss and always will. For instance, the white cherry blossoms at the beginning of spring. The skyline at night:

In general, I miss a lot of the human made parts of the vista. Yes, I enjoy nature, but for art, it starts to lack an interesting focal point. Yeah, really.

So, in honor of the memory of what is not really New York, here are some ATCs I made while I was trying to think of a way to make money. Funny thing, I never did find out a way..

The Worst of 2016….and Moving Forward…

January 1, 2017 roxannebaldwin Leave a comment

I’m still a little groggy this morning. I stayed up until midnight to see the ball drop in Time Square. Makes me think, all the years I lived in New York City, and close proximity, I never made good on my intention to go to New Years in Times Square. I think the lack of available toilets is what discouraged me.

However, let’s get to it. My worst work of 2016. I do this to keep it light on my part, and to keep it real. Everyone puts out a clunker now and then. So, here ’tis.

Shrubbery. It is. It’s not really all that bad, but then, it isn’t good either. Just laying there, in mediocrity, like yesterday’s stale sandwich.

My comforting observation to myself, is that my worsts don’t seem to be as bad as they used to be. Happy New Year…may 2017 be bright and populated with happy little clouds and trees, with friends.

After Not So Careful Consideration

December 8, 2016 roxannebaldwin Leave a comment

I’m going to work again on the Rainbow. I realize, that for one thing, I made it look as if someone took DuPont house paint, and painted the rainbow on the sky. It’s not luminous. And for that, it will take careful, detailed work. In other words, I’ve got to get back to being big.

Not a problem, really. When I think about doing an idea for a drawing, I almost always want to shout. For that, it’s got to be large.

Another thing…I wanted to make the storm clouds a better abstract composition. I’m still thinking that over. I realize there’s got to be some structure in a skyscape, which is funny when you think that it’s made up of air and moisture.

In the past I did a drawing of a late afternoon, before sunset. I realized just putting colors in abstractly just didn’t do it.

The fact, that I did this from a reference from a teeny tiny photo on a flip cellphone camera, probably had something to do with it, too.

Any, I also am posting another pic of me at the winter boutique. I must have been talking the whole time that my friend had her camera on me.

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