Sunny Days, Wine, Art & a Monkey

April has been a spectacular month so far weather-wise! Between projects I try to get out as much as possible :) Last week, I enjoyed a lovely lunch at Frankies saw some fun exhibits and meandered through my favorite bookstore...

On my way to the subway, I watched this mom and daughter walk along in front of me. They looked really cute. I bet that red coat is her favorite :)

The Jewish Museum is currently exhibiting the work of Margret and H.A. Rey, famous for creating Curious George. It was a collaborative endeavor, but for the most part she wrote the stories while he illustrated them. The museum is located at 92nd Street and 5th Avenue.

Both were born in Hamburg, Germany and lived in Brazil before marrying. They moved to Paris after their honeymoon, nice choice ;)

Curious George initially appeared as a peripheral character in Han's first published story, Cecily G and the Nine Monkeys. During the Nazi invasion, the two actually fled on bicycles carrying all the drawings of "George", originally called "Fifi".

A recurring premise in the stories involves narrow escapes, which they themselves experienced. For four months they traveled through France, Spain, Portugal and Brazil, eventually making it here and settling in New York City in 1940. It's fascinating to read some of the correspondence between publishers and editors during this terrible time in history.

On display are 80 original drawings, book dummies, numerous letters and early work like Whiteblack the Penguin. There were a couple of titles I'd never seen before. I particularly enjoyed looking at some of the delightful & clever invitations and New Year's cards they created for friends. They appear to have been a very interesting and charming couple :)

Spotty is one of my favorites given to me by my friend, Stephanie :)

I bought Billy's Picture at the museum shop.

Above, Hans with a sweet furry baby. It turns out they had pet monkeys while living in Brazil.

Between the two exhibition rooms is an area for kids to read and draw. It's a show that both kids and adults can enjoy. I just read that Sunday May 16th is "Family Day" with live music by the Funky Monkeys. Don't know 'em myself, but makes sense ;)

Central Park looks gorgeous this time of year, but I needed to get back and took the bus downtown...

This little orange guy kept his eye on me!

Below, is my favorite bookstore, Rizzoli on 57th Street between 5th and 6th Avenue. There are 3 floors and the atmosphere is conducive to leisurely browsing. I love looking through their over-sized interiors, fashion and art books. You can find almost anything you're interested in here.

I took a few photos to show how beautiful the building is.

I ended up buying Illustrated Children's Books above and some greeting cards. This one from the New Yorker cartoon series reads...
"Your mother wanted you to have this for good luck. It's her foot." ;D

Fiona Rae is an artist I've liked since the early 1990s. I attempted to imitate her style in some of my own early abstract work. Were these successful attempts, I would share ;)

She is currently exhibiting new paintings at Pace Gallery at 32 East 57th Street. Some of the paintings are beautifully constructed with seeming ease and a joyful exuberance, but her work has not changed all that much since the last time I saw it, sometime in 2002 I think.

I'm still drawn to her energetic paint strokes, loose built up layers and combination of painterly gestures. I would buy one if I could!

This is my favorite tree in the world! It's in front of my living room window and I look forward to seeing it blossom each Spring.

After having my taxes done a few weeks ago, I stopped into Macy's Flower Show To my surprise, it was pretty fabulous! Here are some pics...

wonder how long they lasted with all the perfume sprayers in cosmetics??

Below is Frankies, probably my favorite restaurant in Brooklyn and it's only 2 blocks away :) They don't need press, but thought I'd share what my perfect day entails.

Lunch on a sunny day with a glass of Prosecco in Frankies' back yard brings me great joy. There is nothing like their salads (the fennel, my current pick), BLT (only served lunch time) or gnocci.

Of course, dinner is just as delicious and the dimly lit atmosphere and friendly waitstaff make it a super popular restaurant!!

Freelancers (i mean, business owners!) like Kristine and myself sometimes have the benefit of playing "ladies who lunch". If you have enough wine, the check doesn't look so bad either ;)

Have a swell week! Thanks for checking in :)

xo, Allyn

Park Slope Nursery Mural

Last week I had the pleasure of painting a custom nursery mural in Park Slope, Brooklyn. It was a beautiful week here and I love this area of Brooklyn :)

Park Slope is located by magnificent Prospect Park built by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux who also designed Central Park in Manhattan. Not only is it a historic neighborhood filled with wonderful brownstones, but it is within walking distance of my apartment in Carroll Gardens. Well, close enough in Springtime ;)




I bring my kit and paint supplies the 1st day of a project, so it's fortunate that I live across from a car service :) I took the F train to 7th Ave. one day and walked the other two. It's fun to stroll through Brooklyn's industrial areas and then suddenly hit charming tree lined streets like these.





Sweet Melissa is a delicious patisserie! I've only been to the one in my neighborhood and I can highly recommend their homemade ice cream, especially the strawberry :D



Okay, here it is...


The nicest couple, expecting their baby this summer, contacted me a few weeks ago. They had google searched nursery murals Brooklyn and found me!! I'm always excited to be found this way, since the internet is the most efficient (least expensive) way to be noticed, besides word of mouth.

They wanted a non-threatening jungle themed nursery. She spotted a monkey tree I painted a couple years ago on my website, which I duplicated here. Needless to say, non-threatening is my specialty ;)

This monkey swings above the crib looking down over it. He's pretty sweet!

Hoot daydreams staring out of the nursery window.

I begin by diluting the paint and sketching in all of the imagery. Then, I simply begin to work my way around the room. Below, it's a little hard to tell, but this is the top of the tree.





Across from the crib wall is the changing table and they chose to bookend it with a giraffe and lion :) I sometimes paint full scenes, but I like the graphic quality of select animals on these bright & cheery yellow walls...






mousey :)

hello

They had the nice idea to do some loose painterly leaves/vines above the crib as a sort of canopy. Both are monkey fans, so perfect place for another one here :()



Always a little sad to leave... I was particularly happy with the rhino, they just don't get enough attention!

Enjoyed having my lunch on the back patio each day. Went to Snice for take-out, a very good vegan cafe on the corner. They make a fabulous bueno burrito and milkless "milkshakes"!!

The delicate pale pink blossoms on this tree were so beautiful! Think I took a picture every time I walked by it ;)

My walk home was less beauteous, since it becomes fairly industrial at 4th Ave. heading down toward Smith Street. Still, the light made for some lovely photos I thought...





Always liked this old Magic Touch restaurant sign on Hoyt Street and Happy Cleaners could not be any cuter in my opinion!


This construction is at 2nd Place where the subway entrance once was. I have no idea what is being built here. If you know, I'm curious, just not enough so to research it myself right now ;)


This lot on Smith Street is apparently extremely toxic and building begins soon! Not looking forward to the digging, since it's behind my building only a block or so away :(

This is where the F train comes up above ground from the Carroll station to Smith & 9th Street station. Great view of the city at this stop :)


This newly renovated building is next to me on Huntington Street. I often fantasize that the top floor is my studio. Think of all the light!! I'd even take the whole place ;)


Will always be a dreamer like little rhino here ;D

Hope you've enjoyed seeing my latest project and virtually walking me home.
xo, Allyn

ps New York Magazine just named Park Slope The Best Place to Live in NYC. Lovely Carroll Gardens is at #7, in part bc so many properties are family-owned, so rarely on rental market. Interesting article and category breakdown :)