So Why Am I Inspired By Central Park? ..

For the most obvious reasons really, there are so many visually stimulating things to see.

Recently @derangedvisions ..

Posted a new photography contest, Deranged Photography Contest - From a Distance Theme and Last Weeks Winners!.

The Contest Aside ..

I was already digging through pictures from past trips, so I dug a little more, and began remembering the way I felt when we were there. I also was reminded that I have gathered a ton of inspiration from Central Park over those years of visits. Photos upon photos. This wouldn't be the first time I felt moved by being in the park or by flicking through the photography. I was inspired in the past as well. Inspired enough to get creative with those thoughts. I created a few oil paintings and watercolor paintings, solely based upon the stored emotions and fond memories of this man made space within the city. It felt good to tap into that inspiration, and to be able to put some of those memories and emotions down on paper and hardboard. So given this resurgence in recalling the good times, I wanted to share a few of those creations with you today.

A Vintage Map I Thought Was Pretty Cool.. I don't want to get into the history of Central Park, because I would be typing for quite a while. This post is about my inspiration, so for some more history, check out the source link.

Source

Inspiration To Creation ..

Inspiration is just that.. Inspiration. Most of the time I look not not recreate a scene, I already have that in my photo, but rather translate some part of that vision into a creation that is my own. That is what I did with these examples below. As you look at them sitting side by side, you will notice some similarities and hopefully where the inspiration was derived from.

More often than not, ..

When you are standing in the park, you can look around and see another area calling you to go explore it. This is how one can spend an entire day just walking and exploring every nook and cranny of the park. Everywhere you look you see people enjoying themselves. We never feel crowded but just the opposite. It's a nice feeling watching people having a good time no matter what season it is. Here, it is winter and the ice skaters are on one of many man made ice rinks set up for seasonal fun. In the background, the city is just visible, reminding us that she is there and watching over the fun too.

A Bench, A light Post and Path ..

What more do you need in order to feel inspired to paint?! Okay, so maybe your not an artist, but that doesn't mean you can't be inspired to sit for a while to take in the beautiful scene. I could have painted a thousand scenes from this single place alone. The water was still and silent, with just a few people braving the chill to walk across that bridge. We didn't linger long either, but have sat for a while in the summer to soak up some sun, watch row boats and listen to the birds.

I Can Not Ignore The City ..

Even thought the buildings lurk close by, the sounds of cars, beeps and sirens are filtered out by the surrounding vegetation. After a while, you forget that your in the middle of one of the largest cities on the east coast. As you approach the edges of the park, the buildings stand proud and abundant. They come in all shapes, sizes and colors. They dare not tread on the grassy green fields or carefully laid pathways, yet they are always guaranteed to throw shadows out into the fringes of the park, on the sunniest of days. This painting below sort of depicts the randomness of size and speaks the they way that they crowd the edge of the street bordering all edges of the park.

We've Been In The Park After A Snowfall ..

And I remember the slushy mess of a walk it was. Cold feet and damp toes still could not take away the beauty of the scene. Even though there is no snow in this inspiration picture, I remember it fondly. I remember the beauty of it but also remember how nice it was to warm up after being out in it. I will sometimes combine memories of one thing with another in order to 'Paint' my complete vision. It was amazing to me how fast the beautifully laid snow was trampled and smashed by the feet of pedestrians, into a slushy mess.

Before I Wrap It Up ..

I'll share with you a few more shots from within Central Park. I'll try not to get carried away either. There is so much to do, see, and thus share, but I will save some for another day :-) For now, Enjoy these! If you have any questions about any of the photography, please let me know. I will be happy to clarify.

The Mall and Literary Walk (first two)

These next few were taken at Bethesda Fountain and Terrace. The fountain and the terrace area stand between the Lake and the Mall.

Musicians set up here near the fountain and under a small bridged area. They hope the on lookers and tourists are feeling generous and provided tips for the lovely tunes. The acoustics in this area are pretty good.

Beautifully created step way area leading out of the fountain and terrace areas.

You can just see the edge of the beautiful Loeb Boathouse.

What a spectacularly beautiful setting. The trees and skyscrapers surrounding Wollman Rink are impressive. When you walk up to the edge of the hill and see the white of the rink and hear the laughter, it transports you to another world. The rink is located near the Central Park Zoo. I believe that you can rent skates right there or bring your own. Either way there is a fee for skating.

Folks looking down the hill at Wollman Rink skaters as carriage rides pass along the roads weaving in and out of the park.

“Curving gracefully over the narrow neck of the Pond at 59th Street, Gapstow Bridge is one of the iconic bridges of Central Park,” states the Central Park Conservatory website. “Design aficionados might notice a striking resemblance to the Ponte di San Francesco in San Remo, Italy. Originally designed by Jacob Wrey Mould in 1874, the then-wooden bridge with cast-iron railings suffered great wear over 20 years. It was replaced with the current stone structure in 1896, designed by Howard & Caudwell.”

As you can tell, others had the same idea as us.. to sit and soak up the beautiful scene of Gapstow Bridge gracefully passing over the edge of The Pond. If I remember correctly, the temperatures weren't all that bad for mid December.

I Tried Not To, But Couldn't Resist ..

I had to end this with a shot of Times Square! ;-) Always festive and lively.

Thanks Again For Reading My Ramblings..

I ALWAYS Appreciate Your Support :-) I hope you enjoyed a little of the inspiration that helps me create. There's no doubt that the city has a lot to offer travelers and natives alike. For me it always gives me the gift of inspiration.. for that I am grateful.

Thank you for swinging by my blog and checking out the post. Have a great day!

All words, pictures and art pieces are the sole property of B D Miller Gallery, unless otherwise noted and credited, and are not to be reproduced or copied without the prior written consent of B D Miller Gallery.

About Me ~ The Artist

My art work incorporates a wide variety of subject matter, including landscape, seascape, cityscape, and still life images. My works are the product of a continuing process of exploration through which I seek to portray personal and visionary interpretations of my surroundings. My paintings are impressions of places and events from everyday life, an interpretation of my imagination, and personal responses to what I see and feel on a daily basis. More recently I have invested generous amounts of time into my landscape painting. I am surrounded by natural and man made beauty, which inherently presents itself in the tri-state area, and almost demands that I paint it.

Not everything is art. Art is not everything, but it comes close. Art is everywhere and all the time. Art makes you experience the beauty of the world, the people in it, and the places we call home. Art itself is so influential that it can tell stories, show feelings, and express passion or fury. Art exists in addition to language; expression of sensations and thoughts, revealing a way of thinking too subtle and delicate for words.

For me art requires love, honesty and perseverance. In return, it reveals some personal, non-analyzable, and creative untamed passion. For the public, art with its magnificent beauty, improves mood and health and builds better human beings and communities. It engages the intellect, softens the heart, strengthens the soul and frees the spirit.

If Your Interested In Purchasing Any Of My Work:

They can be found for sale in

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OR

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If you don't see the piece in either shop, It may still be drying. Let me know and I can upload it as soon as possible to be available. Or you can always make me an offer (in SBD or STEEM) in the comments section of this post. If we agree on a price, I will then ship the painting to you. (shipping costs will be determined by your location).

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