A series of sketches and watercolor
paintings by Hank Blaustein are currently on view in Chelsea. The exhibition, Drawn to Life: A Sketchbook Diary,
features eloquent and detailed works by Blaustein who has been drawing his
observations of the world around him, from the moment he could hold a pencil.
Blaustein’s subjects are people,
places, and various aspects of life that catch his eye. He re-creates what he
sees exactly how he sees them, and effectively captures the soul and
personality.
One notable watercolor piece, Budapest Chess and Budapest Baths depicts
a group of four men outside, presumably on a hot summer day as they all appear
topless. Two of the men are sitting at one table playing in a game of chess;
one man has a stern expression on his face while the other looks very bored.
One of the other men in the image
is looking over the bored man’s shoulder, and the fourth man is sitting at a
neighboring table where he’s resting his foot and watching the other two men
finish the game. Blaustein excels greatly at capturing the relaxed ambience of
the scene.
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| "Chess Budapest Baths" by Hank Blaustein |
Other notable works in the show
include 7th Avenue Sterling Place where
Blaustein brings to life an elegant complex of apartments on a peaceful street
corner, and Teatro Massimo Palermo
that features a man in the audience of a theater with his arm draped over the
balcony as he listens to and watches the performance.
Blaustein is a native of Brooklyn
and is a frequent traveler to many places across the country and around the
world. He is constantly inspired by the world around him whether it's in his
hometown or on his many adventures. He has
won many awards in group shows such as the Washington Square Outdoor Art
Exhibit, and he’s had solo shows at Gallery at Lincoln Center
and A.M. Adler, in New York, and Morgan State University in Baltimore.
In addition, Blaustein is a popular choice for
editorial and book illustration with his work being featured in major
publications such as Grant’s Interest Rate Observer and Barron’s, as well as the New York Times, the Village Voice, Newsday, the Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine,
and the New Yorker.
At The Blue Mountain Gallery, 530
W. 25th St., through Jul. 26. The gallery is open Tues.—Sat. from 11 a.m.—6
p.m.
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