The Painting that Almost Wasn't

I'm off work today, and since it is nice out and I haven't been plein airing for a while, I went out.

I ended up at Great Hill, which is on the northern part of Central Park.

The 2/3 trains go right there, and I got off at 110th street.

We have a bad problem in the trains these days with mentally ill people, it's gotten really bad.

I generally just stay away from them and have not had trouble, until today.

A mentally ill man was walking up the platform yelling "Respect Me!" and pushing people.  I tried to walk away to avoid him but he noticed, pursued, and hit me on the side of my head.

I was not hurt, he didn't hit me hard.

However, it is a bit distressing to have a mentally ill person hit you for no reason.

And go for your head.

I left the train and it was bothering me, and I wasn't the only one he was harassing.

So I called 511 and reported a safety issue.

Weirdly, I'm very bothered but not as freaked out as I probably should be.

And I have a persistent feeling of wanting to wash my hair, which I literally just did.

Tonight I'm going to see the musical at LaGuardia with my friend, and I'll wash my hair when I get home tonight. 

I know it's psychological.

And this is a very VERY minor thing, relatively speaking, and it just feels bad.

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I ended up at Great Hill, somewhat unintentionally.  

To be fair, I only decided the general area of the park. I could just as easily ended up at Conservatory Garden, but I was a bit..... distracted... after getting out of the train so I just walked and Great Hill is where I ended up. I have painted there a few times before but its been a while.

An hour into painting it just wasn't working.  At all.

I took the panel off my box and wiped it.

And then almost went home.

It was so close.

I really wanted to get a painting today though.

Did not want to go home empty-handed.

So I stayed, flipped the panel around, and focused on only one tree and got a painting today.

8x10 oil

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