Study of Upper West Side Buildings (large)

I painted this study at the gym, from the 4th floor looking through the window facing north, at buildings on West 68th Street and beyond. While working out, in between sets I'll often go to the window and look out. On street level, I'm usually looking UP at these buildings but it's fascinating to be looking down at rooftops from this perspective. These rooftops are peppered with the cooling and heating systems for the buildings, both old and new, and I love the juxtaposition of the brick chimneys beside steel fans and vents. I have been marveling at how my daily view from these windows change based on the weather and time of day. Compelled by the afternoon light and shadow cast on the rooftop of the building right across the street, I painted this study on a small piece of paper before returning again to paint it larger, with more detail. This is the second, and larger, study I did of this view. Painting from life forces me to look at so many things with a critical eye, and the most simple things reveal their beauty during this process; I loved the pairing of the warm red brick against beside the teal color of the glass windows in the two tall buildings beyond the flat rooftop. 

Size: 9" x 12"

2025-06-F