Recent Sketchbook Observations...

Here are sketchbook drawings from a recent trip to Buffalo. I traveled there to take care of my dad while he was having a surgical procedure (which went very well). Snowstorms were so frequent in February,  I decided it was safer to make the seven hour trip via train.  These are observations of fellow passengers, as well as patients and their families in the hospital.  I generally feel that sketches look empty without people inhabiting them, so I tried to capture at least one soul in each of these images.

A observation on Amtrak train 284, traveling across NY State

Surgery waiting room, Millard Filmore Suburban Hospital, Buffalo, NY

My father, waking up from his surgery. Fortunately, he recovered quickly.

A family waits for the father to be called into surgery.

A few observations from my seat on Amtrak Train 284, crossing NY State.

Thanks for visiting. You can view more sketchbook observations here.

Commuters

A few months back, my friend Adam shared a photo he'd taken while waiting for a train into Penn Station. The panoramic image, which was shot on the Rhinecliff Station platform, captured such an amazing portrait of commuters. I attempted to capture the same spirit in a drawing. To add some authenticity to this portrait, I used an Amtrak Empire Service - Eastbound Timetable as my canvas. It was a lot of fun.

detail of left...

...detail of middle...

...detail of right

I used various mixed media in executing this drawing.

The photo that inspired my drawing, by Adam Aronson

Thanks to Adam Aronson for providing me 

with such inspiring and universal subject-matter .

Beautiful prints of this piece are now available here!

Wherever you're headed on life's tracks,

safe travels!

Night Train to Rhinecliff...

A cold wind whips off the mighty Hudson. Fingers freeze, waiting for the night train to emerge out of darkness...

You can see more sketchbook excerpts here. 

Update: You can see new drawing inspired by this train station here.