Rome Travel Guide

Florence, Italy: Uffizi Gallery

The Frankenstein of Easels

I’ve been wanting to paint out side for a while now, but I never got around to getting one of those fancy french easels.


My art instructor ( Ray Horner) gave me a great idea a while back , for making a simple hinged easel on a budget.

I scrounged around my basement for the materials needed and in about an hour I assembles the Frankenstein of easels for my yard.

No frills and no cost, with old wood, an old door hinge and a piece of left over plumbing pipe (for a brush holder) I was off and painting in the yard in no time.

I like this easel because I don’t have to worry about it, I can just leave it outside and it’s there when I need it.

Making stretched canvases with left over materials

Now that most of the home repairs are finished, I might as well put some of those handy home repair tools to use for creating art.


With some small pieces of canvas left over from a project and some scraps of wood from all the home repairs, I thought I would recycle them into a few small custom sized stretched canvases.

Van Gogh study oil painting

The purple irises in my yard are in full bloom, so I thought I'd loosen up a little and do a study in the style of Van Gogh.

Art Students League of New York

A glimpse into a class at the Art Students League of New York.

Pink Flowers, Oil Painting

I worked on this painting a little more in class Wednesday, Using Golden’s palette of colors and Liquin as my medium.

I’m trying to paint in a brighter more vibrant fashion.

Frank Frazetta study, still working on it

I got up early this morning and decided to work on the Frank Frazetta I never finished.


Good thing I keep this blog, because I had to go back to see what palette and medium I used. I guess its been a while sicnce I worked on it.

I use Golden's palette of colors and the medium was walnut oil , Demar varnish with terponoid.

The Art Students League of New York

The Art Students League educates students in the language and process of making art in an environment where anyone who wishes to pursue an art education can realize his or her full potential. Classes are based on the atelier system in which a working artist trains students in a studio setting. You can register and start classes at any time. The average cost of a full-time, five day-a-week class (18.75 hours per week) is just $200. Part-time evening classes (two nights a week) are just $100 to $115 a month. The 2010-11 Regular Session of League classes opened September 7.


Summer classes start Monday, June 6 and registration opens May 2. Click the link for more information and to access a schedule.

There Are No Entrance Requirements or Examinations to Begin Classes at the League

Students are not required to have had any previous art experience. Instructors in some advanced classes may require an interview prior to class admissions. Come to the League office at 215 West 57 Street (between Seventh Ave. and Broadway) and see what the League has to offer or call (212) 247-4510. You can start classes today.

Areas of Instruction – Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Printmaking


Students can select from varied classes and workshops in six key areas of concentration. Classes and workshops are taught by working artist–instructors who represent a wide range of artistic philosophies and techniques and are practiced in working with students of all skill levels. Students also learn from their fellow art students. The Art Students League of New York also offers art classes for children. Click on a discipline below for a schedule of League classes in that area.



Painting

A wide array of approaches from realism to abstraction

Drawing

Artistic anatomy, drawing from life, design

Sculpture

Clay, carving in wood and stone, assemblage and casting

Printmaking

Etching, lithography, wood block, silkscreen and photo-etching

Mixed Media

Three-dimensional composition combining various materials



Welding

Oxy-acetylene, MIG and TIG welding, plasma cutting

Bronze Casting*

The lost wax process, investment mold making and finishing techniques

Seminar: The Literature of Art

Exploring some classic books about art and artists

Children's Classes

Children eight years of age and above may register in the children's classes, which are held on weekends and during the week in summer. During the week from September through May, no student under the age of 18 may be registered for morning or afternoon classes at the League unless permission is obtained from the administration.



*In addition to classes that teach bronze casting, The Art Students League of New York offers bronze casting services to currently enrolled sculpture students.



Tuition

Monthly registration and the League’s commitment to low tuition help students receive the best training available without accumulating debt. There are no prerequisites for enrollment.



http://www.theartstudentsleague.org/Classes.aspx

Pink flowers, oil painting in progress

Here I am three session into a still life assignment for class.

Degas at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Degas

Some of my favorite paintings from the Met

The Metropolitan Museum of Art permits photography of there permanent collection, but you will get a stern warning from security if you use a flash. I know better then to use a flash in a museum ,but there’s always a few that don't know the rules.

Hiking to the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Usually on a Sunday morning you can find me running/ hiking the trails in one of Jersey’s State Parks, but yesterday I tried something different.


I hopped on a New Jersey Transit train to Manhattan and hiked from 33rd street up to 82nd street to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and loved every minute of it.


After I parked my car at the New Jersey Transit parking lot ( for only five bucks ) I jumped on the 10:14am train and in 40 minutes I was walking out of Penn Station up 7th Ave.

I walked up 7th Avenue for a few blocks then cut over to 5th Avenue . I like walking up 5th Avenue because its lined with mature trees and it parallels Central Park ( very peaceful ). In about an hour I was at the steps of the Met. It’s that easy.

If walking’s not your thing, you can always take a cab, bus or the subway from Penn Station to the Met. But I enjoy the exercise.

I don’t have too many friends that can keep up with me either, Between the walk back and forth to the museum and the five hours of walking around looking at art. I logged a total 7 hours of non-stop walking. I usually run /hike 2 to 4 hours in the woods so all in all it was a good work out.

Sunday morning has got to be the best time to hit the Met. Neither the train or the museum were crowed. As usual I snapped a bunch of pictures of my little journey. I hope you enjoy them.

If you love art as much as I do, I encourage you take advantage of mass transportation and get out to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. People come from all around the world just to go to the Met. Were very fortunate to have it so close.


Museum Address

1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street

New York, New York 10028-0198

Information: 212-535-7710



Museum Hours

Monday: Closed (Except Holiday Mondays)

Tuesday–Thursday: 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

Friday and Saturday: 9:30 a.m.–9:00 p.m.

Sunday: 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.