Manhattan, acrylic on canvas, painting in progress, 2010This painting in progress is the farthest along of my New York series of aerial landscapes. I recently returned from a long weekend in NYC, so this is a good time to paint my impression of the city. Manhattan is the focus in this piece but you can see parts of Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, Staten Island, and New Jersey.
I'm trying to keep this piece looser and more abstract with a thicker application of paint -- adding more detail and texture as I build up the layers. There is now green space around 3/4 of Manhattan along with Central Park and the other parks in Lower Manhattan. As cities increase their populations, it's becoming more and more important to preserve the parks and outdoor space. If you've ever laid on the grass in Central Park on a Sunday afternoon, you know how relaxing it can be.
I'm also working to highlight the importance of the waterways in this large metro area. You can also see elements of industry in the outlying boroughs which is still an important aspect of New York's infrastructure. One of my next steps will be to add the bridges...