Text Box: Paley Park, 2004   I’ve been a fan of Paley Park since it was built in 1967, even though I forget that it’s there for years at a time. It’s a vest pocket park on 53rd Street in Manhattan, on the site of the old Stork Club. There’s a waterfall at the back which masks the sounds of the city.   I had the thought of doing a series of drawings of interesting looking things that were above the first story of buildings in Manhattan. I was going to call the series; New York, Looking Up. I got as far as taking some photographs before I remembered that I really prefer sitting in the actual place where I’m doing the drawing. I was taking photographs because it’s usually impossible to sit in the actual place that the drawing is in. I have a great folding stool but it just doesn’t work to plop it down in the city.   I’ve done drawings in Paris leaning against walls and buildings so I’m sure that my problem with drawing in New York is more than just that. I think that when we’re on vacation there’s a much smaller list of things that need doing and a much simpler schedule. Since we started sending a holiday card with a new drawing each year I’ve felt the need to supply drawings. The wedding invitations have been great reasons to draw. I need to find a convincing reason to draw in Manhattan.   I rediscovered Paley Park one afternoon in June, 2004 after Gerry and I had had lunch together on the East Side. She had gone back to work and I was heading to work. I had some time to spare so I sat down in the park. I finally had a subject and a place to sit without a street full of trucks and a sidewalk full of people.   This is the only drawing in the book. I’ve tried this kind of thing in the past but never continued it for long. I think I first carried around a small sketchbook in Paris in the early 80’s. I have no idea where that one is. I hope it shows up like this one did.   I haven’t used a point this thick in a long time. I went back to a thinner point after this.

 Close Ups
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All material copyright 2016 Neil Borrell

www.borrellcompany.com

Summer 1994