Art and Solace in Central Park
Created during the height of the pandemic, this painting Bethesda Fountain at Central Park represents a personal turning point and moment of growth.
The relationships we have with the people in our lives shape us. One way or the other, the good ones make us stronger, and the not-so-good ones can hold us back. The hardest part is being able to recognize which is which, and when you no longer wish to be held back.
Sketching in Central Park, while attending a stranger’s wedding.
Sketched on a day when I found myself in Central Park, suddenly free from a situation that had long weighed on me, in ways that I didn’t fully understand until I felt the absence of it. I sat there for hours watching the world go by, on a perfect fall day, I think I attended at least five weddings. I decided to quickly sketch the fountain that seemed to bring the whole world together.
Winsor & Newton Designers Gouache
Turning the sketch into a larger painting, I decided to go with gouache on large 30 x 22-inch watercolor paper. Gouache is one of my favorite mediums for it’s heavy pigment, opaque quality, and creamy texture. You can use them like watercolors with plenty of translucency or solid like acrylic paint.
Referencing the sketch helped me capture the expressive abstraction of the in-the-moment drawing.
I tend to gravitate towards highly chromatic contrasting colors. In this case, a bright warm red angel cuts through the cool green and blue trees and purple shrubbery, standing out like a beacon. For this painting, I referenced the sketch as opposed to the photo of the fountain, to not get caught up in the details and capture the expressive energy of the moment.
This is one of my favorite pieces from the last few years for what it represents to me personally and what that special place in New York City means to those who frequent Central Park.
Original Painting, currently showing in the Hoboken Studio/Gallery, for sale in shop.
Explore the full collection inspired by this pivotal moment, including the original painting, high-quality prints, and limited-time merchandise like mugs, puzzles, and apparel.
