Auction Winner!

I donated a house portrait commission for my kids' school fundraiser, and this was the highest bidder! I think they liked it.

Syracuse

More drawings from when I was in Syracuse last month. The city has lots of cool architecture, from when Syracuse's heyday when the Erie Canal passed directly through the downtown. That prosperity has long passed, but the architecture remains.

Crouse College, aka Crouse Memorial College, at Syracuse University. Located high on a hill, overlooking the campus and the city, it was the tallest structure in Syracuse at the time it was built. Built in 1889, it was funded by John Crouse, "undoubtably the richest man in Syracuse," who'd made his fortune from grocery stores and banking. It was originally called the John Crouse Memorial College for Women, in honor of his wife, Catherine , who had died in1885. Supposedly in honor of her, though not named after her. It was designed by Archimedes Russell, a prominent architect in Central New York, whose firm, King + King Architects, continues as the third oldest architectural firm in the country. It now houses the visual and performing arts departments of Syracuse University.

100 Clinton Square, aka the Community Chest Building and The Third National Bank, It was also designed by Archimedes Russell, in 1885. Third National was the first commercial bank to erect its own building. The bank closed during Great Depression. Between 1956 and1973, the building housed the Community Chest, later known as The United Way of Central NY, and then a casket company for a decade. In 1980s, it was combined with a neighboring structure into one building and converted to offices.

Maybe the most striking building I saw, the Niagara Mowhak Building. Built in 1932. this Art Deco skyscraper was the headquarters for the Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation, the largest electric utility of the time. It was designed by Melvin L. King. The facade incorporates color-changing light fixtures, and near the top is a 28' (8.5 m) tall statue called "The Spirit of Light."

Syracuse Houses

Last month, I was in Syracuse, NY for a theater job. I was able to sneak in a little bit of drawing. I was surprised to discover how much Victorian architecture there was in city, particularly of the Queen Anne style. Remnants of the city's heyday as a hub of the Erie Canal.

The Louis Will House was built in 1885. Louis Will was a candle manufacturer and mayor of Syracuse from 1914-1916. It features stained glass windows which are thought to be early works of the Tiffany Studios. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.

Nearby is the Truesdell-Schoeneck House. It was constructed in 1892 from an elaborate kit purchased from a mail-order catalogue. Its original owner was John Truesdell, and later it was owned by Edward Schoeneck, who also served as mayor and was later a New York lieutenant governor.

This house was near the apartment where I was staying. There's no special history to it that I could find; it's just a house.

Our Lady of Pompeii, 2011 vs 2014

 I don't often revisit a subject, but when I drew this church in the West Village, I remembered that I'd drawn it before. I didn't realize it had been 13 years! Interesting to see the comparison. I think I've improved a little bit?

Carlos

 More recent life drawing.

Jenna

 Back to life drawing last week.

Aurora

It's been a long while since I've done any live figure drawing. I'm in Durham for a short visit; I found a drawing session last night.