Ringing in the New Year

On new year's eve, I was the gal dressed to the nines sitting at the end of the bar - sketching furiously. My husband, a jazz musician, had a gig in "Campbell's Apartment" atop Grand Central Station which was the former private office and salon of 1920's tycoon, John W. Campbell. This art-deco jewel of  an apartment has since been and reborn as a chic cocktail lounge that is cited in the national media as one of "the best bars in America". I couldn't agree more. The decor was decadent, the mood festive, champagne flowed and noismakers crowwed.

As I pulled out my sketchbook and assessed my views, I immediately ran into the same old mental trips. On my right was the band, dressed in black tuxedos standing in front of a huge black antique safe.  The lighting was so low I could not distinguish the musicians and their instruments from the backdrop. If I shifted my view to the left, I had one blurred bartender working at the speed of sound, to service an entire room of party-ers. Both views felt too challenging. "...impossible...can't see enough...too much movement"...yada yada. Then the other voice kicked in... "stop your sniveling... make it work...just DO it". So I did, I sketched all night long, right into the new year.  I truly wanted to usher 2013 in, in a meaningful way, one that would set the tone for the rest of the year. This was the perfect, imperfect setting.  Take what I have and make it work. All year long. Yes, that's it! Happy New Year~