I pass this Pizza Express restaurant on my walk home from work, and it always looks so inviting, brightly lit and with all those windows. I've never been inside it. One of these days I'll have to go.
I wanted to shoot it on a wet evening when the pavement would reflect the light. We had that kind of weather on Monday and I happened to have my camera, so I thought I'd finally have the opportunity -- and then when I got near the restaurant I realized that some guy had pulled his car onto the sidewalk (!) opposite the restaurant exactly where I needed to stand. I couldn't believe it! So I had to position myself right next to the car and take my pictures over the roof as he sat inside it adjusting his GPS, which was awkward, to say the least.
He said nothing to me, and I said nothing to him. The whole experience was very urban. Everyone just minded their own business.
But anyway, mission accomplished.
A couple of weeks ago at work, during a staff/faculty development day, we attended workshops led by some of our fellow teachers. I went to one on racism and Dave attended one on painting. I was shocked that he chose painting as I've never seen him pick up a brush or show any interest in visual arts, but I guess he wanted to try something different.
He didn't bring home his art -- I suppose it needed to dry -- and when I said later that I wanted to see it he acted like it was terrible. The art teachers sent him a couple of e-mails asking if he wanted it, and I urged him to go pick it up, but he wasn't all that enthusiastic. Finally I went to the art department yesterday and collected it myself.
His suggested subject was New York after a rise in sea levels, and he painted it with a palette knife. I think it's pretty cool!
Two very impressive images.
ReplyDeleteWell done both of you
The restaurant photo does look very good, but at my age I am scared of bright lighting indoors. I too like Dave's artistic effort.
ReplyDeleteYou both did excellent work.
ReplyDeleteThe painting is exceptional! I hope it will be framed. Dave should be really proud of that.
ReplyDeleteI love the restaurant photo and admire your determination. I get so annoyed when cars park in MY photo.
Painting is all about the 'language of marks' not supposedly accurate representation. He did well. Should maybe use also use his fingers to get variety... sorry, used to be a painter... Well worth keeping.
ReplyDeleteWell done Dave! I guessed it was a vision of New York before I read your confirmation. It is of course a unique image and worth hanging on a wall in my humble opinion. I hope that your workshop on racism was enlightening. There's still too much of it around... even in libraries!
ReplyDeleteP.S. I noticed the (!) after "sidewalk".
Your photograph is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteDo you think he would have said something if you had leant on the car to steady the camera? Luckily it's not necessary these days.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed both images in today's post. So very different, but both magnetic.
ReplyDeleteI misunderstood the use of the word "shoot" at first because the context didn't make it clear, and I thought, Wow, Steve was REALLY upset at the light coming from the restaurant!! lol The way our minds work sometimes :)
The photo is so lovely! Yes. Please go inside one of these days!
ReplyDeleteDave's painting is quite dramatic. The POV is what makes it for me.
That painting is really wonderful, as is the photo; you two need a show somewhere.
ReplyDeleteI like both too. and I hope you visit inside that place. I'm curious.
ReplyDeleteI really like the photo, but the painting ... 🤷
ReplyDeleteBoth of those are lovely images! Both of them show a world that is drowning, somewhat (although yours doesn't look scary - it looks inviting!).
ReplyDeleteThat looks like a lovely pizza place. I like how the details on the windows that show up so well in your photo.
ReplyDeleteYou will have to frame Dave's painting but remind him to sign it first!
I just don't have it in me to be able to stand that close to someone while taking a picture. I probably would have just shot a different angle or waited for another day.
ReplyDeleteI really love Dave's painting. I don't know what his intention was but I get the sense of viewing New York City from underneath the water, presumably due to the high sea level.
I love the photograph. It's really beautiful. And... I love Dave's painting. I saw NYC as soon as I took a look, and I could see the rising sea level. Well done!
ReplyDeleteI really really really LOVE Dave's painting! I "got" it right away - for not being a painter he has created the perfect painting, I am so inspired!
ReplyDeleteThe photo makes me yearn, for pizza and light, reflective streets at night.
I like Dave's painting. It's every bit as good as some paintings I've seen in museums or galleries.
ReplyDeleteI also love your photo of the pizza place. It actually brought back one of my London memories. Back in 2013 when I stayed in that Airbnb place in Balham, I had to walk several blocks from the train station to the house and I always passed this little pizza place that looked so inviting with the lights on in the dark and people inside enjoying the pizza. I finally stopped in for a pizza on my last evening there. It was good but huge. I took half of it home for my hosts.
Dave's abstraction is dramatic! And how artfully he's captured the mood of NYC in the mistiness of a storm. Your pizza joint photo is evocative, too. I'd love to see inside.
ReplyDeleteNice shot of the pizza restaurant though it seems rather large for a pizza joint. And not to be a downer but Dave's painting is OK I guess. Don't care for it personally but I don't care for the palette knife painting technique in general. But kudos to Dave for not being intimidated by something he's never done before.
ReplyDeleteI can see what Ed is saying in his comment, about looking up at the skyline from beneath the water. I sometimes struggle with abstract art.
ReplyDeleteI would have found the circumstances taking the photo very awkward and uncomfortable. (from either viewpoint!)
I thought the same as many prior commenters: the city looking up through water. Love your photo and I would have no problem standing next to someone to take a picture. In fact I've done it before many times although I do usually explain what I'm doing if the person looks at me at all.
ReplyDeleteGood colors too.
ReplyDeleteI love the photo with the lights. It's really quite pretty. Enjoy your day, hugs, Edna B.
ReplyDelete