New York Sketch Book: Highline walk, Rapha Cycling Club and the Standard Grill!

One of our final days in New York…exhausted by then and ready to go home! Sai rented a bike from the NY Rapha club so we went in a few times, and actually got to watch a stage of the Tour de France at last!!! We weren't able to catch up at all during the holiday so this was a great hour, sitting down (!!) sipping cool beer and watching Nibali win Stage 19. Bliss.

We took a walk on the Highline which was such an interesting way of seeing New York, from a now defunct section of the overland train that goes through the city, the West Side Line. Architecturally it was a treat, we were able to view buildings from heights you normally can't and everywhere there were sleek benches and viewing platforms, positioned at selected vantage points above river views, graffitti art covered walls and over the Chelsea art gallery district. 

We finished at 'The Standard Grill' around the corner from Rapha and just below the Highline, where steaks were the attraction. I had an amazing ginger and lime drink in a copper mug, filled with ice…I wish I could remember the ingredients…The front of house waitress was a statuesque lady wearing the most elegant clothes…the manager sported a grey pin striped suit and the largest amount of dreds I had seen in a while, strange combination but very classy!

Rapha Cycling club, NY! 

'Penny Drop' ginger cocktail @ the Standard Grill
in a brass cup

Front of House staff member
Olive green and black lace

New York Sketch Book: Central Park, Peace Industry

Coming across this astounding group of singers (many from the same talented family), who perform daily in a massive arched passage way near the Bethesda Fountain, was such a blessing! Their voices were phenomenal and I sat for at least an hour just listening. It seemed at first as though there were only one or two, with random passers by joining, but later I realised that they were such a big group and sung all day long so they took breaks, sat down and then got up and joined in whenever it was their cue. They were so relaxed, strolling around and then out would come the most beautiful voices...The girl in the hat with the huge hair had such a great voice. I've found loads of Youtube clips of them, I'll put them on Facebook. The small guy in the sketch between the two other men had had a voice range which was stunning, reaching heights I'm not sure he should…..

Apparently these guys perform with quartets and other instrumentalists, in the subway, wherever they can. What a gift!

Rapid sketching of amazing group
of singers as they strolled around

NEw YOrk Sketch Book: Shenandoah National Park, Blue Ridge Mountains

We spent 5 days in the Blue Ridge Mountains (of Virginia…cue Laurel & Hardy renditions…), staying at Skyland Lodge in the Shenandoah National Park. What a gorgeous place and so much cooler than sea level!! The mountains were indeed Blue and stacked into the distance, misty and beautiful…

Hiking in the 'back country' (sign posted as such in case you weren't sure), spotting dear, chipmunks and 5 bears!! Unfortunately no racoons….I remembered them from my childhood trips to Sequoia National Park on the west coast…

This cub was spotted with its mother and two others on 20 July, and coming down from Old Rag Mountain on our final day we spotted another female bear and her cub. The cubs do climb trees and frolic about, when they're not chomping on the vegetation. We kept well back as instructed….Apparently if you are camping in the Park, you have to bag up your dirty clothes (and toothpaste) along with food and drink, and hang everything from the trees about 10 feet above your head, to discourage bears from approaching humans. Even the rubbish bins weigh a ton in order to be totally bear proof. I remember bears in Sequoia just rummaging through the bins and picnic tables not to mention hapless campers sleeping on the tables! 

Bear Cub!!!

Pencil sketch from a rocking chair in the viewing lounge, Skyland Lodge

New York Sketch Book: Washington DC, Abe Lincoln Memorial

I have to admit it, this is my absolut favourite drawing of all! I took my time, using some photos I made during the day in Washington.

The 3 days in Washington were amazing, it's such beautiful city (has to be!). With the humidity so high the flora was astounding…the plantings around the streets near Capitol Hill, the National Mall and the Smithsonian  were lush and created very welcome shade! 

We saw the White House through the railings, not very interesting in terms of photos and not much to draw either!

Abe Lincoln Memorial

New York Sketch Book: Philadelphia

We spent a few hours in Philadelphia, doing the historic trail, all in a few hours. We did see the Liberty bell (copy of!) but I chose not to draw that….I found the plaster details on the charming clock towers of Independence Hall far more interesting. The Terrace, or 'row' house was equally charming, built 18th Century and very well loved and maintained!

Round the corner was a wonderful organic veggie cafe, wish I could remember the name!

The plaster details on the clock tower, Independence Hall

A 'row' house in Philadelphia

New York Sketch Book: Family Portraits

A few really quick sketches I made one evening, while we were chilling at a family's house, after a hard day's slogging on the NY pavements!

Aidan @ Joe's Cafe

Illais, family time

Aidan, family time

Sai, family time

Urban Sketchers: Green Back Yard

Sculptural Brussle Sprouts!
ink and Aquarel pencil wash

Another great 'Urban Sketchers' drawing session at the Peterborough Green Back Yard on Sunday 22 October 2015. There were only a few of us but the Great Eastern Run was on so as the day progressed we were joined by half marathon runners, including one dressed as a giant vegetable….

It's getting chilly now, so thermals next time….

Peterborough Urban Sketchers: Green Back Yard

I spent a few hours in the company of some lovely artists, in the equally lovely Peterborough Green Back Yard, last Sunday afternoon. The GBY is a community allotment which is not only a sight for sore eyes in the middle of the city, but full of friendly people, passionate about being green and creative in the middle of urban sprawl. Lynne Collins has organised the Peterborough branch of the Urban Sketchers, and the group of artists is very welcoming and friendly. Not to mention the cake! Volunteers at the GBY are happy to chat, explain and generally make you feel welcome. Thanks to Richard, who lives on my road, and Jasmine, of remaking it such an enjoyable experience!

Turkey
This splendid chap was none too happy if I got too close to him, very territorial!
Beautiful jet black plumage and amazing dinosaur feet…
5B pencil and aquarel pencil

This gorgeous rabbit just ate and snoozed, ate and snoozed…
ink pen and aquarel pencil wash

Some shoes on a pile, donated for the Syrian refugees
Ink pen and aquarel pencil

Some very quick 5B pencil sketches.
There was a 'Silky' chicken, a lovely brown/black colouring , a small
grey rabbit, and a Giant breed of rabbit, larger than a dog, who was amazing!
My favourite sketch is the coy looking rabbit at the bottom left of the page

Some very dried Artichoke hearts
ink and aquarel pencil

New York Sketch Book: Upper west side

Upper West side Brownstone
on a walk from Central Park based Hotel, a street with beautifully maintained
brownstones

My first decent cuppa, also discovered a 'whoopie'
which is a sweet biscuit with a buttercream style filling. Now why don't we have these in the UK?

New York Sketch Book: Chelsea Gallery Day

I spent a day, partly on my own , and dodging rain storms, in the Chelsea area of New York. I went into so many galleries I lost count - an amazing experience and what an opportunity to view some of the most outstanding work I've ever see! A few are noted below

Yohan Capote's work comprised drawings and installations, one of which was a 12foot (ish) high
sculpture constructed from rusty door hinges and steel.

The Danese Corey Gallery exhibition 'Land & Sea' was outstanding in terms of technical virtuosity and  the immense size of some works, look for yourself:
http://www.danesecorey.com/exhibitions/land-and-sea#1

Swoon: my favourite artist of all, a street artist (Caledonia Dance Curry) who pastes larger than life size woodcut prints  on empty warehouses throughout NY. I came across some of her work in a gallery alongside Damien Hirst and other notaries, she blew them away!!
http://caledoniacurry.com

'Air B & B' Upper Manhattan, Kimonos

We stayed in a lovely apartment in upper Manhattan, near the 'Cloisters', it was a really different experience and a great base to explore the many parks at the top end of Manhattan. 'Into the woods' as our yellow cab taxi driver said...

Two lovely Kimonos hanging up in our fab 'Air B &B'
a great apartment let for our first week in New York

Single Blue Kimono

Paper umbrella

USA Travel Journal Sketches

I decided to take a small Moleskin journal with me on our trip to New York, Washington and Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. I'll be posting a few sketches each day from the notebook. It was a once in a lifetime trip and I find I have more truly 'captured' my memories of a time and a place if I have drawn or painted it. I'm also bit bored of all the iconic photos and paintings of famous places so decided to just record what gave me pleasure or made me pause and stand and watch throughout the trip rather than just the 'sights'. I did have to include Abe Lincoln though, once we got to Washington…..

Indian Road Restaurant in upper Manhattan
My first brunch of many on this USA trip. Fabulous food and
a real threat to the waistline…..
The restaurant was really creatively decorated (as always)  and had scores
of tin cans from very large
to quite small, strung together from the ceiling. 

'Backstop'
This was a lightning quick sketch with a ball point pen as I'd forgotten my pencil case..
I had a good go at trying to draw his mitt, he was forever jumping up and down!
Inwood Park in upper Manhattan

'Batter'
This was the same team batting instead. I would have liked
more time to draw all the 'benchers' but had to move on…

More tomorrow...

PAOS

The Peterborough Artists Open Studios is upon us again! It's the usual mad dash to frame work and finish last minute paintings! 

I will be exhibiting in my home this year along with Veronica Leontyeva, plus a guest on our Private View event. 

We are open Saturday and Sunday 27/28 June and 4/5 July, 10am to 4pm.  

Check the PAOS website for venue details. 

Cornish Landscapes

Over the autumn, I have been working on some seascapes, taken from sketches and photographs while on holiday in Cornwall. These two are the second and third 'seascape' fragments I have created, the first being a commission several years ago. I have used my hand made paper, shaped to configure with the cloud and rock formations, and have used oil. oil pastels and resin as my usual final finish.  I have framed these simply in shallow box white frames, to retain that crisp, sunny feeling of summers by the sea.... These two 'scapes' will be exhibited at Peterborough's Art in the Heart Gallery in the near future, along with the season's newest work from local and international artists.

Have a look at some of the Gallery's recent news:  http://www.artintheheart.co.uk/blog.html. I spend an enjoyable few hours on a regular basis styling the Gallery's front window.....

"Tintagel Bay"
Framed Fragment
£320

'Tintagel Shore'
Framed Fragment
£320

Red Peacock Scroll

A new work, currently in the Art in the Heart Gallery on Bridge Street, Peterborough. This is my second large 'scroll' piece, having taken many months to complete. I have used my own handmade paper, oil paint, pastel and enamel paint, finishing with a coat or resin on both sides. The piece is then strengthened with a section of wood attached to the back and strung, ready to hang as a long , thin sculptural piece. 

REd Peacock Scroll
Approx length 2m

Detail of bottom section

Creative Workshops

It's been quite a while since I updated this blog, mainly lots of other things going on in life, non of them associated with painting, unfortunately! However, a new development to report has been some very enjoyable workshops which I have held during the summer and autumn, where participants created their own 'fragments' or 'sari panels' using hand made paper and water based mediums. Below are a few photos of the lovely ladies who took part over the course of several workshops. This is going to be an ongoing part of my painting schedule, so contact me on faye.panchal@googlemail.com if you are interested in taking part! Group numbers are small and home made cake is served along with  friendly and relaxed tuition! 

Sarah, a regular blogger, who runs her own quilting business, Bee Crafty, had this to say  about the sessions:  : I found the work of Faye Gagel-Panchal which is unique!....I loved her work so much that I signed up for a workshop in her kitchen....I am delighted with the results, and now I need to find somewhere to hang it. It was a really freeing experience making this piece. Much of the work I do now has to be precise by its very nature, so being a bit looser was fun. Faye is a great teacher with a huge amount of talent and an ability to draw work out of you without you even noticing, and you even get cake! Now that's what I call a bargain :)

Read the full blog for yourself: 

http://sarahlpayne.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/play-time-workshop-with-faye-gagel.html

Sarah at work

Another Sarah's creation!

Fi's very original piece

A gorgeous peacock fragment in progress

Two fab works of art, created within 4 hours!

Jacky's emerging 'fragment'