Painting in Brooklyn
2023
My parents and I were lucky enough to go visit my sister in Brooklyn, with the catch that we had less than 24 hours in the city, so we didn’t stay in one place for long. There was so much to see and do, with such a small time window, that we kept it movin.
This post is a collection of my time out East which is divided into two. These photos are from December 2023 and I will make it clear when we switch to the more recent trip.
Any time I knew we’d be in the same spot for 10 minutes or more I would pull out my sketchbook and add another layer or two- in the subway station, on the train, from my sister’s couch, in the airport & on the plane- which I wrote a separate post about.
In one of the busiest cities in the world I found moments of quiet & solitude. Inner stillness is where I am able to create from. There is peace within chaos and I can access it just about whenever I choose.
The Manhattan Bridge is an impressive structure that I would be scared shitless to ever cross. I prefer having my feet on the ground.
Besides some of the restaurants, my favorite spot was under the Brooklyn Bridge where we could also see the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, and Manhattan Bridge. They had an ice skating rink down there and a cafe above the skaters where I had my first croissant in 6 years (chocolate). With all the excitement and motion around me the cold had no bearing on me.
One of the subway stations has beautiful stained glass mosaics leading you into the tunnels. My sister & I stopped for a picture.
Each neighborhood we walked or drove through offered a completely different atmosphere from the last and that is what I appreciate most about the city, aside from all its beautiful people.
2024
Eleven months later we returned,
this time for my sisters twenty third birthday.
I did work up the courage to step out onto a big bridge but best believe as soon as that camera went away I was back to gripping the railing. At the foot of the bridge was a woman selling mangos and strawberries. She added tahin onto my fruit and that was my reward for such bravery.
Once again I was able to find solitude amongst the city, shaded by trees, in an underutilized backyard. This is where I sat down to paint until it was time to go, go go.
Mistakes only happen when I rush. Even though this trip felt very short on time, I was able to be in the moment and breathe through every second. Nothing was missed. I was part of it all. No mistakes were made.
Grove snails (Cepaea nemoralis) occupied this space with me. Originally from Western Europe, they have been introduced to North America and can live for up to 7 or 8 years.
Here is another view from the Brooklyn Bridge. It’s one of my favorite shots from the trip because of the bird in flight who owned his moment.
I won’t miss the skyscrapers or smell of garbage but I did start missing my sister again the moment we had to say goodbye.
Dad told me every day is a sunny day when you’re above the clouds.