Embroidery: Rialto Bridge

This piece is from a new series I just completed called Venice Take 2.  The reason it's take 2 is that I originally created the collages in 2005 after my trip to Venice.  But a few years ago when I began adding embroidery to my collages I realized that this set would look even better with a bit of embroidery to help draw your eye to key parts of the piece.  So, I decided to rework them. 

Here's the original photo of the Rialto Bridge. 

And here's the pen and ink drawing of the Jester mask.

Enjoy!

PJ

(c) 2014 PJ Lehrer  

Embroidery: Blonde Daffodil

This is another piece from the Figures series which combines photos of people with flowers and embroidery.  

In this case, I combined a photo of a woman with short blonde hair with photos and embroidery of daffodils because her hair color reminded me of them.  I particularly liked the way one of the daffodils ended up looking like a tattoo.

Ciao

PJ

© 2013 PJ Lehrer

Embroidery: Coral Bouquet

This is another favorite from the Caribbean Fish Collection. 

Here’s the original embroidered piece.

And, I actually used the same orchid drawing as I did in the Tropics collage.

Ciao

PJ
 

© 2012 PJ Lehrer

Columbus Arrives

In honor of Columbus Day I have posted a photo of a rarity – an original acrylic painting.  In fact, this is the first acrylic painting that I have done since I was in high school.

It all started when my nephew Jeff requested an original piece of art.  For the topic he selected a seascape.  I looked at some photos of tall ships, but didn’t find any that inspired me.  Then I saw a photo of a replica of the Santa Maria – one of Columbus’s ships, and I got the idea for this painting.

It depicts Columbus’s ships – from left to right – the Nina, the Santa Maria and the Pinta arriving on North America’s shore at sunrise.  The sunrise is based on a photo I took on one of our trips to Miami when we had a balcony with a view.  It was so spectacular that I ended up getting up every day at sunrise to enjoy it and take photos.

Oh and Jeff loved the painting.

Happy Columbus Day!

PJ
 

© 2012 PJ Lehrer

High Line Part 2

The second part of the High Line which runs from 20^th Street to 30^th Street opened in 2011. 

It has a very different feel than the first part.  I read a funny story in the paper that said that the designers of part one were surprised by the fact that many visitors wanted to sit and stay a while so they added additional seating to part two.  Clearly they were not New Yorkers.  New York apartments are small, so people are always looking for places to hang out outside on nice days.

Because the surrounding area was more built up than it was around the first section, there are several very narrow corridors. 

They took advantage of the opportunity and flanked a narrow walk with tall trees for a forest feel. 

But in other places you can literally look in the cool little balconies of people who live next door. 

Some of the new buildings going up have been deliberately posed close to the park so the owners can enjoy the park view. 

In one area where a bit more space was available they put in a small seating area for concerts. 

And a bit further north they even managed to fit in some lawn, which was immediately occupied by a variety of folks enjoying the day. 

This section also features some interesting art.  This piece, which I loved, was part sculpture, part bird feeder.  Very clever.

And last, but certainly least there are these talking water fountains that thank visitors for staying hydrated.  Very weird.

The final section includes a large open space so plans include a playground.  Photos available in 2014.  Check back then!

Ciao

PJ
 

© 2012 PJ Lehrer

High Line Part 1

This week’s newspapers carried the welcome news that construction on the final section of the High Line has begun.  It will cost $90 million to construct and will open in 2014. 

So this seemed like a good time to share some photos from part one.  Part one runs from Gansevoort Street to 20^th Street.  It opened in 2009 and it was an immediate hit. 

It brought green to an area of the city that previously had none and provides a unique perspective for viewing the surrounding area. 

The park weaves around the old railroad tracks and between various buildings taking advantage of whatever space was available when building started in 2006. 

At various points, buildings, like this hotel, straddle it too. 

It gives the park a very organic feel. 

Part one also has some terrific views of the Statue of Liberty

and The Empire State Building. 

While further south it has lovely river views and tables and chairs for lunch breaks.  There are some vendors nearby but of course the big draw is Chelsea Markets just below on 15^th Street.

These lounge chairs are fan favorites and rarely found empty.

All in all, it’s a great park, well worth a visit. 

Ciao
PJ

© 2012 PJ Lehrer

Embroidery: Nymph

This piece from the Figures series was inspired by the water nymphs in Greek mythology. 

The photo of the reeds was taken at the National Botanical Gardens in Washington D.C.

Ciao

PJ
 

© 2012 PJ Lehrer

Embroidery: Daffodils

I used one of the photos from the last post, along with a drawing based on a different daffodil, to create this embroidered piece.  I shot the flowers with the sun behind them to create the translucent effect.  And, I limited the embroidery on the watercolor daffodil to the edges for a similar look.

Here’s what the watercolor looked like before I began.  I used a very textured paper because I wanted a variety of color tones.

Ciao
PJ

© 2012 PJ Lehrer

Embroidery: Peach Roses

I thought I’d stick with the roses theme to wrap up the month.  This embroidered piece, called Peach Roses, is my sister-in-law Judy’s favorite.

Here are the two watercolors I used in the collage.   The roses are from my roof garden, but they were actually pink, so I used some artistic license.

 

And I ended up editing out the smallest bud.

Ciao
PJ

(c) 2012 PJ Lehrer