A Sunday Plein Air

Today I have been doing a whole bunch of nothing, but especially since I didn't paint yesterday, I thought  really should get out today.

I couldn't decide where to go, but I didn't want to go far.

I thought maybe I should go to Long Island City and paint the waterfront; I have been wanting to do t hat fra while.

But I didn't feel up to the train trip.

Than I thought I should walk over to Flushing Meadows and paint some trees or something nature-ey.

That was the plan, except I got on the train and went to Forest Hills and painted the church instead.

So much for plans.

This painting took about 3 1/2 hours.

It was so hot and muggy, I was so ready to be done with this painting.

I forgot the yellow streetlight!!

Sometimes I forget things I mean to put in.

Oh well. It happens.  

I'm not adding it in, this painting is DONE.

A lady from the Queens Chronicle actually stopped her car and got out to come say hi!

She posted this on Instagram:

Someone on Instagram sent me a DM asking about the composition- if I left the right-side cross out on purpose or was it a mistake?

My answer: on purpose. Very intentional.

I originally had it in the drawing but then everything got too small and there was a street sign in an unfortunate position that I wanted to avoid. Besides, this painting is not about 2 crosses.  It is about the restaurant and the flags and the church.

I didn't mind explaining this, and in truth I spent a lot of time on the composition.  I walked to several spots for the stretch of one block, and I even used my viewfinder!

Could this painting have been about 2 crosses? Sure, yes, but it would change the whole composition and it was my decision what to put in there.  I really liked the flags.  It would be a better painting with the yellow streetlight but oh well!!!!

Everything can't be important and this is a lot to put in an 8x10.