New York Art Inspiration
New York Inspires My Art…
“The streets are alive. With a rushing river that never dies.”
From Iggy Pop “Girls Of NY”
New York is a place I find myself going back to. Always familiar but always slightly uneasy, edgy and always full of a pulsating energy, “New York Art Inspiration”.
Over the years, my artwork has been inspired by New York.
I keep going back to The Big Apple
I’ve been three times and I would like to go again. I’ve never lived there, only visited. Somehow, It feels like it’s a place I know well and I don’t think it is by just seeing it on the movies.
Sure, living in New York must have its downsides as many of you may know who live or have lived there and I try not to romanticise the place.
As a kid, New York appeared regularly in the movies on British terrestrial television and at the local cinema. Those familiar brownstone walls, Ghostbusters, breakdance movies, documentaries about graffiti on trains, drug addicts, yellow cabs, those bad places just off Times Square although that’s long gone now with “Disneyfication” of the Times Square area.
As years went by, I began learning about the 20th Century New York artists, Pollock, De Kooning, Warhol, Lichenstein, Haring, Basquiat and not to forget Rothko.
Then I came across the music, Philip Glass, Reich, Jazz etc that to me evokes New York City, the cellular repetitions, the movements and general atmosphere. The piece, “Short Ride In A Fast Machine” by John Adams evokes the feeling I get from moving through this city.
It was always in my mind calling me to check it out and then…
The First Time I Visited New York…
The first time I visited, January 2001, was before the two towers fell. A young man, I spent five days there with good intentions of drawing and making big corporate ‘deals’ in reality it turned into a 5 days party and buying too much food from the delis.
Well done that foolish young man! However, if you are going to party then it is best to do it in New York!
New York Tradigital Artwork, James Abell 2012
I walked through the late January streets, bitter winds slicing into me. The smells of the Subway system, the harshness and the money, the dry frosted dollars crispy in my hand unlike those of the UK.
I distinctly remember the blue skies strong and vivid light and shades.
In cities, I never really do the tourist thing. I wonder around. I walk from place to place, buying a coffee, urban sketching just walking. I always end up at all the places that I want to visit. I managed to take some snaps of the city using a disposable camera. The resulting grainy photos looked effective. Years later, I took these photos and built up a scene using 3dsMax and combined traditional drawing to make an art piece of Times Square (see above) that would convey the movement and energy of this place.
The Second time I Visited New York…
NYC
In 2014 during an extended stay in Montreal,one day was warm the other cold. I got a night bus from Montreal, where I was staying at the time. I took a trip to The Rockerfeller Center, the sky was pure blue, ice crystals too. I still miss these two cities.
This time, it was not just a short trip over the Atlantic and back. I was staying in Montreal and had become accustomed to the North American feeling. However, New York was in a league of its own.
I went to the top of the RockerFeller Center, and regretted not going up again during the night, the views were stunning. I collected photos, this time with a D60 digital SLR Nikon camera and sketches drawn on the spot.
Again I created a scene from Times Square using my “tradigital” method. I remember completing this artwork in the nice warm small Montreal apartment where I was staying at the time.
Returning back to Montreal, although a lovely city, it felt quiet and laid back and European compared to the high octane of New York.
The Third Time I Visited New York…
New York Subway
Then in 2015 during another extended time in Montreal. Cold and freezing, and strong sun. I got a train, it was raining in Albany before New York. Although this city looked interesting, the dull grey pouring rain, it felt like a station in the UK.
Then onwards, the bleak yet to blossom sides of the Hudson river almost looked post-apocalyptic in its browns and greys.
Small lights of houses. lighthouses and industrial structures added to the dark nature. The late winter exactly reflected the beautiful bleakness of the track being played on my Android tablet by Hammock–
We could die chasing this feeling
Then, wham! The train arrived in New York. All that desolation and greatness of nature was only to be seen in the big skies. Back in the collective hive again after the wilderness.
NYC cab art
I could still sense the wilderness out there. But for now, I was in New York, the most famous city in the world. To explore and wander again.
Due to circumstances, I stayed less time in Montreal and for the last time.
Back in Edinburgh, I found it really hard adjusting to the small pace of life of Edinburgh. Creating a comic about my walk through New York helped me to get back to the metropolis, it was a kind of medicine. To connect back to things and places that made me energise.
I need to go to New York again, soon. Something always draws me back there, an addiction or a destiny? At the moment, I do not know what, why or even who I might find there on my next visit.
Sinister Faces Like De Kooning’s Woman Paintings
New York has inspired me in many ways, including my drive at the moment to make Imaginary Cities. It has such a concentration of tall buildings over a small area. It really has a science fiction feel to it. Especially when you view it from a tall building such as The Empire State building of The Rockerfeller Building.
Times Square
Why do some of us have restless souls and why do some places appeal more to some when they do not appeal to others? For me, the USA and Canada always feels like I belong or prefer it there. Even though I have only lived a short time in Canada and had numerous visits to North America.
New York like a long lost friend, a great friend but also one that does bad things, I know I will see you again someday soon…
You can buy my comic about New York on Amazon.
You can also check out my online shop with a collection of artwork inspired by New York.
New York is also a city that inspires people to create Cities Of The Imagination, check out my Kindle book about this.
New York Times Square
Feel free to comment on what I experienced or I am always really interested in your views and creative expressions. What is your New York Art Inspiration?
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