drawing

Self portrait in charcoal and a collage based on the drawing. An excercise for my Portfolio Prep participants to do tonight.

Empire Diner

Mixed media - charcoal over watercolor wash. It seems to suit the night mood I was looking for.

The empire diner was manufactured by the Fodero Dining Car Company and brought too the corner of 10th avenue and West 22nd Street in 1929. Franklin D. Roosevelt, Charles E. Lindbergh, Babe Ruth, Albert Einstein, Barbra Streisand and Madonna have all been patrons. The Fodero Dining Car Company (1933-1981) was a diner manufacturer located in Newark and later Bloomfield, NJ.

building detail - wall street

I'm studying to become a licensed tour guide in New York. I was doing a walking tour last week among the buildings around wall street. Some of the details are really fantastic. I thought this entry way had a nice balance to it of intricate details and flat planes. I'm not sure what building it was on, I guess I need to study more.

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Pedestal 2 for donation

To be donated for the Miracle House Art Auction on Fire Island, June 14th.

Miracle House provides temporary housing and support services for caregivers and patients coming to New York City for critical medical treatment.

Pines Party
Saturday, June 14, 2008
5-8 PM
548 Beachcomber Walk,Fire Island Pines
Cocktail & Dance Party
Open Bar
Silent Auction
Beach Snacks

Pines Party Tickets and Details

Complex Charcoal Drawing

WittPenn Bridge
Charcoal on toned paper

I've struggled over the years trying to capture the rhythm and form of the early lift bridges around northern New Jersey. I've used watercolor and, pencil, but wasn't able to capture the level of detail and abstraction that I was trying to achieve.

I decided to abstract the bridge by focusing in on a complex area that doesn't give an immediate association with "Bridge". To emphasize the form, over the steel I put into silhouette. I chose a section of the bridge that would balance the negative and positive space - the tension between the two leads the eye around the piece. I didn't want an all over composition that would create a pattern so I pushed the weight of the piece into the lower right hand corner. The lower right is primarily black, the upper left primarily white.

The longer you look at the piece the more the forms become somehwat recognizable -cross bracing, cables, stairs, railings, walkways start to hint at the scale, but at the same time it creates an unusual abstract image like an ink blot.

My only regret is that I kept the piece relatively small - 16 x 12. It seems like it would have more impact if it was larger.

Something to do on a sick day - still stuck at home with a cold. Although working with all this charcoal dust is probably not that good for me : )

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See where the bridge is!


View Larger Map

The WittPenn steel lift bridge carrying Route 7 across the Hackensack River between Jersey City and Kearney was onstructed between 1927 and 1930. The bridge was designed by Sigvald Johannesson, designer of the nearby Pulaski Skyway. Named after H. Otto WittPenn - a politiical rival of Woodrow Wilson and mayor of Jersey City when the Lincoln Highway was mapped through the town.

I started working with some new materials for my charcoal drawings. I'm using Rives BFK pastel paper and a different kind of compressed charcoal without any wax. I can really work the charcoal into the paper and get even modeling, but still be able to lift out the highlights. The subtlety of values allows me to work primarily in the shadows as in Kiss 2 below or in the lights as in the figure in Blindfolded.

My work will be on exhibit and for sale at LeatherFest 2007 this Saturday, 11/17 at the Gay & Lesbian Center, 208 West 13th Street between 7th and 8th Avenue. 3 pm - 9 pm . $10 admission. LeatherFest 2007 Info

Blindfolded Purchase Info

Kiss Purchase Info

Unfurled

Latest charcoal drawing - I like the activity of the negative spaces on either side of the figure. I may deepen some of the values. Hopefully I'll be doing a few more of these in preparation for a sale on 11/17 at the Lesbian Gay Center in NYC.

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Pumping Station

I've tried over the years to capture my interest in this building in Asbury Park. It was a heating plant that pumped hot water for heating in pipes under the boardwalk up to a saltwater pool and the convention hall for heating. Because its not a particularly colorful building I haven't really produced what I consider a satisfying painting of it, although I've tried.

I find the geometry of the building interesting- the slanting, sloping forms with perforated arches and a variety of levels and planes.

I realized that my interest in the geometry of the building lent itself to a more monochromatic approach that would emphasize the forms and eliminate some of the details. I decided to render it in charcoal. Its much closer to my intent - I may try one more time using just a monchomatic wash in watercolor or some pastels.

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Stretched

I had completed a straight charcoal drawing and when I photographed it I ended up with a really unusal Moiré pattern. So I went I attempted to reproduce it in the drawing using masking tape to pull up the charcoal. Purchase Information

Superman

Pedestal

11x14 Charcoal on linen weave paper

Click here for purchase

Girl with Hat

I had this charcoal sketch that I absolutely love, its a one minute drawing from the model. Unfortunately it's on newsprint, which makes it unstable and likely to yellow and crumble away with time. Beauty is fleeting. I decided to use it as a basis for a quick watercolor. I was hoping to capture some of the freedom of the original, but different medium, different feeling I guess. http://www.pjcarlino.com/pjc0212.html

Recent Work

Added a figure to one of the drawings from last week...

And some new drawings on colored backgrounds

Marbled Paper

I've been experimenting with colored backgrounds. I made these marbled papers in my bathtub using Luma concentrated watercolors. I wanted to make sure the ability of the paper to take charcoal or watercolor wouldn't be affected by an oil based dye. It also allows me to lay watercolors on top. I have to work a little more aggressively to make the image work with the busy background, but the effect can be striking when it works.

Charcoal 6-21-07

Charcoal drawings from last night's drawing session. I'm really enjoying working on the colored backgrounds and working more with the light

Room 413 complete

Room 413

Arched

Pants down