Despite weather calling for severe thunderstorms, my family and I ‘braved’ the conditions and set out for traffic-free Times Square. Saturday was an incredibly beautiful day, and the free tables and chairs were an added luxury. I’ve always loved drawing Times Sq. It’s a bit crazy, but there are so many points of interest that you can literally sit in one place all day and never make the same drawing twice. So this time out I found myself very interested in all of the type and lettering that overwhelms the square. Here is a drawing from that day. For more of my work, click here Greg Betza’s Portfolio.

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Ah, the days of summer… (how else could I follow Eddie and Dom?)

Like our Central Park here in New York, Jardin des Tuileries is one of those parks where you can grab a chair (or a bench) for free and sit wherever you like, (hence why I loved drawing there so much).

The Jardin des Tuileries is Paris’s most central garden. It connects the Louvre with the Place de la Concorde and forms a part of the large central axis between the Louvre and La Defense.

Although, like all things worth fighting for, all was not always peaceful in these tranquil gardens. Quite the contrary. It was here where Louis the XVI and Marie Antoinette were held prisoner in the palace, after being routed from Versailles during the French Revolution, and it was also here where the siege at the Tuileries by the Parisian mob at the close of the revolution in 1893 left a thousand dead.

The Tuileries Gardens were one of the first urban green spaces in history to open to the public, and have served as a proto-type for public gardens across Europe. (Even at that time, the gardens boasted cafes and kiosks, a place where people of all social classes could meet and relax). On the cusp of America’s celebration of independence this coming fourth of July it seems only appropo to honor it’s philosophy. Really, how cool … a place where all social classes can come together and JUST BE.

Happy Birthday America! – Michele

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Still a week away, but since my next post is not until the 6th and all festivities will have been finished by then, I thought I would wish everyone an early Happy 4th of July. This drawing is from 2006 when I was down in Orlando at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. They have a beautiful flag ceremony in Town Square everyday at sundown. Nothing says the 4th of July to me like waving flags, some fireworks and a barbeque. So on the heels of Eddie’s post from yesterday, bring on the hot dogs.

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Feeling mighty hungry

A hot dog (frankfurter, frank, wiener, weenie) is a moist sausage of soft, even texture and flavor, often made from mechanically recovered meat or meat slurry. I live here in New York City and WISDOM tells me don’t touch those hot dogs but sometimes HUNGER gets the better of me. You would think the term “mechanically recovered meat” would be a good enough deterrent, oh well.  Eddie Peña

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New Orleans is really a romantic city – the jazz music, the voodoo vibe, the paddle boats, the wrought iron architecture and of course, the horse & carriages that are all over the city. The sound of horse hooves clomping down the cobblestone streets (I forgot that in the list!) really adds to the atmosphere. I did some photography of a ‘ghost tour’ while I was there, and the only truly spooky moment in the tour was when we heard the clomping of horse hooves echoing in the distance, and then the horse and carriage appeared out of the fog. But not many ghosts use them for travel around the city – they’re mainly employed by tourists and their guides. I drew this one at the stand, getting ready to leave for it’s antebellum tour of the city. P.S. The magnolia trees are everywhere, and they are very satisfying to draw! More in another week…Veronica

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The Metropolitan Museum of Art has the latest, and largest to date, Roxy Paine steel tree sculpture on its rooftop.  It’s beautiful and I’m going back with bigger paper to make a larger drawing.  This sculpture is incredible!  I overheard two ladies talking about the scupture, “It’s like it keeps growing and growing into this incredible creature!” All said with a very strong New York accent and undulating forward arm motions to describe the ongoing growth of the sculpture.  I couldn’t have said it any better myself!  I really love Roxy’s tree sculptures.  I have drawings that I made of his steel tree sculpture that was set in Madison Square Park on 23rd & Fifth Ave in 2007.  Anyway, will go back soon to make a bigger drawing, though I fear that it will never be large enough for my taste! 

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According to my “earth” calendar, today is Midsummer Party day in Denmark. Many northern European countries celebrate Midsummer by building bonfires and having lots of fun. It’s origins go waaay back.

Recently, I read how Denmark has been deemed the happiest country in the world. I remember being very intrigued by this and wondered how this could even be calculated. I read that because of their type of economy and welfare program, they have a good level of income equality. Could this be the reason they are so happy?

So, today, when I checked my calendar and saw that Denmark will be holding these celebrations, I couldn’t help but picture all the happy people laughing and clapping and hopping around the fire. It was a strange vision for sure! haha!

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As the week begins, millions of people hit the roads and rails heading to work. This is a drawing I did a few years ago standing in front of Grand Central Terminal on 42nd St. amongst commuters in NYC.

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“It is here, it is here where the martyrs are, it is here that the Sacred Heart must reign so that it can beckon all to come”.  -   Joseph-Hippolyte Guibert

                Perched high above the city, along cobbled stoned streets and winding alleyways sits the glorious Basilique du Sacré-Cœur.

Upon approach it was clear this place was special, so grand, immaculate in all it’s white, and such presence. Yet another magical element to this magnificent city, (the glory of its churches). I understand why so many pilgrims would hike these crazy hills to reach such a beautiful place of worship.

The church stands tall in the heart of Montmartre (the butte Montmartre) , once a principal artistic center of Paris. It was there in the mid-1800s artists such as Johan Jongkind and Camille Pissarro called home and by the end of the century, (with its counterpart on the Left Bank, Montparnasse) artist associations such as Les Nabis and the Incoherents were formed, (not to mention being a stones throw from the Moulin Rouge, where  Toulouse-Lautrec designed those incredible posters).  Yes, a religious experience all around, and one I will treasure forever.

So, how does the Basilica stay so stay white? … Sacré-Cœur is built of Travertine stone quarried in Chateau-Landon (Seine-et-Marne), France. This stone constantly exudes calcite, which ensures that the basilica remains white even with weathering and pollution.

And why is it called a Basilica? … The name Basilica is given to certain churches granted special privileges by the Pope. 

Just a little trivia this somewhat sunny Sunday morning, see you next week! - Michele

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