Study, West 42nd Street

Sometimes, paintings have an embarrassing origin story. I've been traveling to midtown Manhattan to gather inspiration for almost twenty years. It's gotten to the point where tourists now ask me for directions on the streets (pats self on back). 

So it was pretty horrifying when I returned to the city late last fall and tried to check into my "usual" hotel only to discover that I had booked the wrong location online <!!> 

The charitable desk clerk reassured me that "many people" make this same mistake, and after realizing that at least I had a room (elsewhere!) for my visit, I swallowed my mortification and began schlepping my luggage through the rain about 15 blocks down to the correct location, close to Times Square. 

It all worked out. While I normally prefer to stay in the slightly quieter and less touristed part of the city, I did get many looks at the beautiful lights and colors of Times Square, resulting in this joyful composition. 

This study was the "practice run" for a larger work, Mood, West 42nd.