Bryant Park
Posted: May 19, 2012 Filed under: Uncategorized 8 CommentsIt’s a perfect day in New York City. Perfect for sketching in Bryant Park, in back of the New York Public Library. It’s an ideal little park — surrounded by plane trees with a big grassy area in the middle. It seems that all of New York was there today, sunning themselves, having lunch and just enjoying the day.
This is a famous park in the world of landscape architecture. The story is about management more than design. I think any green space in NYC is so precious that it would be appreciated as long as it was clean, green and safe. It used to be a shambles, but has was turned around through the creation of a foundation about 20 years ago The really cool aspect is the moveable chairs (which get locked up every night). And yes, as a landscape guy I love the huge london plane trees.
If you happen to be near the Highline, check it out.
I’m so glad to have a bit of history of Bryant Park. I’ve been to New York so many times but never there. I didn’t mention the chairs but I loved them and you can see them in the sketch. And guess what we did in the afternoon? Walked the Highline from one end the other. The plants are much more mature than they were two years ago and we got to see the new extension. I wanted to sketch there but the crowds were awful on such a perfect day. At some parts it was hard to walk. I love the landscape architecture and the native plants. On the agenda tomorrow is Olmstead’s Prospect Park in Brooklyn. I’ll try to sketch there. Maybe even in colour.
Lucky you! I love NYC. I know exactly where you were, but wouldn’t have thought to sketch there.
nice shadows!
Nice shading, modelling… and people! But, is this sensitive little sketch really done with pencil? Is this a new direction for you? : )
I don’t even know if I can remember you using pencil previously… unless it was those cucumbers from months ago.
Yes, pencil! I found a mechanical pencil I really like at the museum shop with a comfortable holder and a nice soft lead.
So, how about trying a pencil and wash painting? That would get you away from the problems that you have had with the bleeding ink. (That wasn’t an expletive… it was a descriptive.)
I do that all the time. I use pencil on every painting that doesn’t have an ink line on it. There is always light pencil underneath. I used that bleeding ink again by mistake. I need to take that pen out of my bag!!