Rochester Postcard Project Day 20

Behind the scene from yesterday is a park named for our first president but memorializes a different one.  Washington Park is small, one block.  But is right at the official entrance to the city off the interstate.  Literally one square of trees framing a monument in the middle.  Well actually two of them.  Both of them for the civil war.  off to one side is a cement podium that at one time held a small cannon(that has been stolen) and in the center of the park is this monument.

A central column with a statue of Lincoln at the top, holding a page (supposedly the Emancipation Proclamation).  Four soldiers surround him and on the bottom are four reliefs depicting Rochester's contribution to the war.  A quite little park that most everybody ignores.  Except during the the occupy movement.

During that time the park became our own "Occupy" headquarters.  Wall to wall tents, all covered in pigeon poop LOL.  Anyway, when I drew this it was hot out.  No one was in the park at the time.  The monument is a great piece of sculpture and represents an important part of our country's history.  But, as most Americas do - it is forgotten. 

Rochester Postcard Project Day 19

It was a comfortable day, the day I drew this. Mid Spring at lunch time.  I found my self wondering around the area and I came across this scene.  Mundane, to say the  least.  Yet, it is the center of the universe for these people.  Me, I was broke so I couldn't partake.  The smell of the food was driving nuts so I did what I could do, draw.

I moved around a bit till I got this composition.  A crowded scene, full of info.  But I wanted to try to use that busyness to draw your attention to the main subject, Lunch.  When it is time for it everything around you evaporates.  All you want to do is eat or take your break from work.  And here was a line of people wanting to do just that.

After a moment I settled for this format.  All the busyness is still there but it all leads you to the food cart.  The buildings above, with their straight vertical lines point right to the cart the "V" of the trees on each side, the same. the Umbrella and the two people on either side of the cart frame it.  Even the two people off to the side keep the interest on the cart. 

Just a moment in time in the city, but still important.

Rochester Postcard Project Day 18

Glitz and Glamour.  That is what this next spot reminds me of.  the Kodak hall at the Eastman school of music.  My wife Juli and I have been here several times now.  My first time inside the first thought to come to my head was "TITANIC".  Every square inch of this building is covered in elaborate details, sculptures and murals.

When George Eastman wanted to make a lasting impression for his legacy he built this.  A state of the art(for turn of the century) concert hall.  And it has left a lasting impression on the world.  Here I wanted to give a taste of the Glitz and Glam of it all.  At night, with all of its' lights ablaze, it almost feels like a gala event in New York or Hollywood. 

Rochester Postcard Project Day 17

As you can see from this drawing, for those of you that know Rochester, this was drawn before the last one.  It was drawn before they started the demo on Midtown.  And it is from the other end of Sibleys as the last drawing.

One morning about 6am I found myself taking a bus somewhere, looking for work.  I had a few minutes before my connecting bus arrived and so I looked around.  It was dawn and the clouds were hanging low, the sun painting them deep orange.  So I whipped out the sketchbook and quickly put this down.  I also had my camera with me and took the same scene with it. 

All day long I worked on this one because I just loved the colors.  Of course I only had my camera screen to refer back to.  a bit smaller then my sketchbook.  and I had to keep going back to menu to bring up the image since it wouldn't stay on the screen but for a few seconds. 

In the end I was able to really get the mood of that sight.  Sleepy and peaceful, ready for a new day.

Rochester Postcard Project Day 16

Rochester is known, unfortunately, for its' missteps.  The latest major one was selling Midtown Plaza to be demolished and have other buildings built on its' site.  Half way through the demo that company that bought the property went under.  The city decided to finish the demo instead of leaving ruined buildings.

One of the sections was bought by an other company and remodeled for their purposes and now the only other section left standing is waiting its' turn to be remodeled too.  During the demo, though, I saw this site and decided to draw it.

Again I was going for documenting and good composition.  This was the last section to come down.  I was downtown on a Saturday and the crew wasn't working at that time.  As I was walking by I noticed how the excavator framed the steeple at Sibleys.  There quite a bit of dust in the air and the crew had left one water fan running to cut down on the dust but, it was still thick. 

The foreground is nothing but ruble but the background is the stately beauty of the citys' architectural past

Rochester Postcard Project Day 15

This image has a two fold meaning for me.  Through out the Downtown area the city has made a point of adding touches here and there of its' past.  Now, from what I have been able to find in the Archives, these lamps are not exactly the same as what it had in the past. But, it is close.

These and the four lamp variety are all up and down Main street here.  Having them in front of the more modern buildings they are just lamps.  But, in front of one of the buildings from the turn of the last century - they become part of the building.  They are, of course, modern but still make the street look right.

The history buff in me likes that but the artist in me also loves the lines and shapes of it.  It is functional but also beautiful.  Since the city repaints them every so often they stay pristine and glow in the sun light.  Even in the day time they make a statement.  The building behind it is theWilder Building on the corner of State st. and Main.

Rochester Postcard Project Day 14

The second drawing from the Public Market was in the open air pavilions.  It was crowded and I couldn't stand long enough to draw this shot so I took out my camera and took a snap shot to get the details down.  Then, as quickly as I could I sketched out the general layout of what had interested me in the first place, this little old lady.

I kind of chuckled in my head when I first saw her there in her leapord coat.  So determined that she never seemed to notice me there.  Her mind was focused on getting her vegetables then getting out of there.  It was that determination that peaked my interest.  She seemed to laser in on just the stuff she wanted and ignored the noise around her.  Me, I kind of got there too drawing her.

Again the angle was hard to do so I worked quickly - but it gave me a good overview of the entire scene.  That included the entire environment but in a way that made it dynamic and pleasing.