CORNER OF 52nd & 10th, NYC - AKA: THE VORTEX

This is the apartment I live in at the corner of 52nd Street and 10th Avenue in a little place called Manhattan in a little neighborhood called "Hell's Kitchen".

At 17 years this year, It's the only place I've lived longer than the home that I was raised in. With my studio located in the front corner room, (count up 2 windows from the corner of the building). Over the years, it's become the center of my Universe. I've seen a couple roommates come and go, a couple boyfriends come and go, a couple dogs come, (The Mimz is still here.... and well, one ex is still here), but most importantly, I'm still here watching the world from my little corner.

Below are a few of the steps I go through to finish one of these itty-bitty, little 5" X 5" paintings.

"JOSHUA AT THE DOG PARK"

Being the type of person who doesn't make friends, true friends, all that easily or all that often, I've learned over the years that people like Joshua Paprika Fennell are a rare find in my life. The type of person that I know I was meant to meet and meant to know for the rest of my life.

We met a few years ago at the dog park down the street from where I live and as I discovered not too far from where he lives as well. It just so happens that Joshua has a Jack Russell Terrier, the same breed of dog as my, "Mimzy", and he's also an aspiring self-taught Artist with a passion for life that is evident in everything he does. Joshua is what I refer to as my, "Brother from another Mother", or "Sister from another Mister", depending on the mood and his behavior.

"JOSHUA AT THE DOG PARK" - Acrylic 4.5" X 4.5"

"GEORGE" - The Process

Because I do not have the ability to do one thing at a time, I was taking pics of my progress last night on this portrait of my friend George Berberian and texting them to him as I was working on the piece. 

Part of the conversation that ensued is contained below. It will give you a little insight into what the brain of a Virgo Artist is doing when he's walking along the street, or sitting on the subway, visiting a foreign land or hanging out with one of his favorite people. I have been blessed in so many ways with having the ability to relay what I see visually, but I've also been condemned with the ability to never take things for their surface appearances. In my minds eye, there isn't just a blue sky, a pretty orange flower, or a beautiful set of eyebrows.

TEXT


George: Far be it for me to criticise the artist...
              tho I do think my eyebrows are too thick...
George: You're doing it so quickly, and with paint... impressive
David: Lol. I told you I wasn't done fool!!!.
            Besides, what do you think a Virgo Artist sees first, second, third and fourth when he looks at          you?
George: Uhhh... different shades of color?
               Is that a rhetorical question...
David: And I had already adjusted the eyebrows before you texted.
            I'm challenging myself by using one size brush.
David: Not for me it isn't (in reply to george asking if my question was rhetorical)
            My job in life is to observe.
            And appreciate.

MY REFERENCE MATERIALS