Welcome back.
This week we’ll be starting an entirely new project. For this cycle, we’ll be taking something of a diversion. From our Phoenix, Arizona used car lot, we’ll be travelling to New York City, about 40 miles or so south of my own home.
Skyscrapers now sprout around the globe, with increasingly tall structures taking shape in a number of Asian countries. But once upon a time, New York City was the undisputed king of such buildings. Yes, Chicago, San Francisco and other American cities have their own notable buildings. But none are like the NYC skyscrapers of the twentieth century, especially the first half. That earlier era gave rise to many notable buildings, most prominently (to my mind), the Chrysler Building, an art deco masterpiece. (Forget about the competing Empire State Building, which pales by comparison. Sorry, ESB fans.)
New Yorks’s latest building of note is the first in the city by noted architect, Frank Gehry. While the building has received something less than universal acclaim, it is an attractive and interesting addition to the city’s skyline. And it will be the next subject of this diary series.
The photo that I will be using is from my original copy of the New York Times, seen directly below.
I’m sketching the initial lines in pencil because of the very small size of the canvas being used this time around, 5×7 inches. Those very first lines are seen in the photo directly below.
Next week, we’ll start with some paint.
That’s about it for now, see you next week.
