In the last month or so, I have not really focused on painting as much as living – I decided to give up my studio space, for the time being, at Brooklyn Artists Gym, but am keeping my work there – and I plan to revisit that arangement later this fall.

But I’ve still been sketching, as usual, and going to openings, when they attract my attention.

Here’s some recent sketches – I’ll put up a few now and the rest in a few days:

This is a sketch of a new friend of mine, Nancy H.   One of the things that’s interesting about Nancy – she’s lived in many places in the Middle East and Central America – I find her story interesting – though her circumstances now, are difficult.  In fact, another friend of mine, Liz C. is having a pretty difficult time and almost died this week – but is recovering.   My life has touched many people, lately, in all kinds of circumstances – and I’ve tried to help, where I can, and yet, not be swallowed up by it.  Sometimes, I feel depleated – exhausted from it all, and my work on the Board of Directors of the WAA, plus my Monster WorldWide work.

I guess, that’s why I decided to take a break from painting – it felt like another “job”.

I drew this picture of the interior of a restaurant that is mostly French – I indulged in Steak Tatar and some wine, the wine glass broke (a waitress knocked it over) and I thought it time to leave.  Meanwhile, I read in a magazine about France nearby where I sit about “Mr. Big” character of Sex in the City – turns out he often visited and lived in Aix, and visited Cezanne’s studio, just like I did last year.  Who would have known?  Life is full of interesting tidbits.

But I have to admit – I don’t feel as committed to these sketches or to the dimensions of this sketchbook – which it more for landscape painting – I don’t care for the aspect ratio – but am committed to finish the sketchbook before going on to another.

In fact, this drawing was an experiment in summerizing my feelings about the sketchbook – and I felt, in some ways, it was more real than some of the other drawings I’ve done lately.

Also, this drawing, above, was done one weekend, while sitting in a cafe down in the financial district of lower Manhattan – it was pouring hard outside and I tried to capture the feelings of the day – a day I had gone to Governer’s Island.

By the way, I’m looking forward to Amy Crehore’s opening here in New York City – and also meeting her – probably in the next day or two – Amy Crehore’s Opening at Ad-Hoc-Art on July 25th.

Ok, I’ll put up the rest of the drawings I just scanned later on this weekend – need to get some sleep and dream.

A picture says 1000 words, so they say, and a video – much more than that.  Here’s an inside view of Paul Cezanne’s studio that I took yesterday.  I also was able to touch the jacket and painting clothes left in the studio at the time of his death in 1906.

Also did a study in the garden adjacent to Cezanne’s studio – which is more of a holy shrine, almost, to many of the visitors who come to Aix.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GnlvGV1R7Y Part 3 – Walking into the entrance of Paul Cezanne’s last studio, in Aix.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ0ByPYZZFs  Part 4 – Walking around the grounds of Paul Cezanne’s studio looking for subject matter to do a painting of.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zbDPYexwOY  Part 4B – Settled on this spot (in the video) to paint my first picture in Aix from – I spent a little more than an hour and then I heard the gates closing so I packed up quickly before being locked in!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FbGdUE6d1I  Part 5 – On my way down the hill from where Paul Cezanne’s studio is located.  I’ll try to go back this Tuesday – tomorrow.

It was very emotional for me to be standing in Cezanne’s studio – seeing and touching these past relics of his work.  Cezanne painted what he saw – and I can see, how much he has affected Aix – being just about it’s most famous citizen – many streets are named after him.