he High Line Series explores the architectural landscapes of the last remaining industrial region along the far west side of Manhattan. This area of abandoned factories and decaying city infrastructure is currently in a period of a renaissance. I want to capture the beauty of the old before it is all ‘improved’ out of existence.

The High Line, the old abandoned elevated railroad that runs between 10th and 11th Avenues in far West Chelsea, NY, is in the process of being converted into an elevated walking park from 31st Street to Little West 12th Street (the old Meat Packing District). It should be completed in 2009.

I find tremendous beauty, texture and energy in the grit and rust of these abandoned post-industrial areas of New York City, but I also find that these industrial monuments are quickly disappearing. As I experience these passing urban landscapes I try to capture these emotional and meditative sensations in paint, while also capturing the silence when the city noise stops for a moment.

Trained as a theatre lighting and set designer I’m extremely sensitive to the emotive power of light and shadow, especially the distinct bold light of fall and winter, playing across the factories, warehouses, and bridges.

I paint large figurative cityscape watercolors with a thick use of paint, playing with the tension between the illusions of depth, carefully drawn linear perspective, and an obvious play on the surface of the paper through watermarks, paint runs and spatters.

It’s a weathering of the paper surface like the patina of this old steel and concrete.