The Nocturnal

This is oil on Raymar 64c using Chelsea Classical Studio lean and fat medium. The painting is really a self portrait and memory in time when I was going to art school in New York City. After class at 9 PM, I would go down to the West Village on Bleecker Street to the bitter end to hear my friends fans play. I always had my sketchbook with me, and I would draw the figures that performed on the stage. The hat and dress are my clothing and a hat that I’ve worn for years. I always found inspiration, watching music performances, and theater performances, and always had to draw different gestures quickly. The inspiration that I had watching a live performance with beautiful lighting design, and the presence of the musicians gave me an elated feeling and put me in a creative trance. It was then I would always think of a new painting, and a narrative And write it down in my book. This was a night at the bitter end, and the walls are really grungy and cool like that. I was wearing those clothes and it was a moment when my friendly was playing in a performance called East meets West, which was American rock music meeting Indian music. I’ll never forget those times And how inspired I was to paint. It gave me so many ideas. I’m so glad I found this model as she reminds me a lot of me when I was in my 30s.