Library’s Urn

New York City, NY

On an exceptionally sunny, bustling, spring morning on Fifth Ave., the bright reflected light and unusual cast shadow on the Public Library’s classic urn were the inspirations for this seminar sketch demo.

The shadow contours were quickly drawn in pencil, since the sun’s course on a short day would noticeably alter the angle, and then were painted later. While applying the initial washes to the urn, three pigeons alighted on the edge, and were stationary long enough to capture each of their iridescent colored forms. The backdrop of the library’s façade, and huge columns shrouded in construction tarp on the far end, provided the shaded contrast for a bright light on the urn.