Welcome to Saratoga Springs

Posted on by Thor

KC Cali and went for a sketch outing in Saratoga Springs. On the walk through town, KC struck up a conversation with an artist who was selling his work. He suggested we go to Congress Park and sketch the equestrian statue. It is a subject he has been considering doing himself.

We walked to an equestrian statue in Congress Park on the corner of Union and Circular Street. KC decided to sketch inside the park while I used her art stool and sketched this welcome sign.

We had a fun discussion about how I might find her once I finished my sketch. We decided that if I was facing the statue straight on then Twelve o-clock would be straight back from it. Nine o-clock would be straight out from the direction the horse was facing.

I found her at about 11 o-clock as she was sketching  the beautiful Saratoga Springs History Museum. I lay down in the grass as she continued to sketch. It was a perfect day and the soft grass felt so nice. A dad was behind us bouncing his baby on his knee as he sat on the park bench.

Just this one outing convinced me that Upstate New York would be a wonderful place to set up a studio. I just have to adjust to the idea of paying up to $7000 in sate taxes after I buy a place. I want to return to Saratoga Springs at some point when it is racing season. At that time this affluent little hamlet becomes incredibly crowded. The race track has to be an exciting sketch opportunity.

When I was married, I once wanted to go to Belmont Park  with my former wife. We stood in a long line to get train tickets from NYC to the race track in Long Island, and when we got to the front of the line we found out that there was another line for the race trace. My former wife was furious and started arguing. I got caught up in the fury and took out a wax pencil and wrote Belmont Park in bold letters on the bullet proof glass. I wanted to leave my my then former insisted we stay and get the darn tickets. As we waited, a police officer pulled me out of line and took me back to an interrogation room. I of course took it as a sketch opportunity. My then wife was furious but I quietly sketched the officer asking the questions.  They found out that my Belmont Park sign was easily erased and I was let go. We didn’t go to the races that day.

The Saratoga Springs Studio

Posted on by Thor

KC and Bob moved to Saratoga Springs two months ago. KCs sister scouted out the rental property before hand by walking through and shooting a detailed video. The place is beautiful with old wooden floors and four huge skylights in the upstairs studio area.

KC is an oil painter and she set up her large easel across from the skylights and she illuminates the ceiling with bright LED lights set up in movie style lights with shutters.

While I was doing this sketch she was taking care of all the tasks that come after a move to let businesses know the new address. Frankie their adorable English Terrier rested on the floor. I can only dream about finding a studio as gorgeous as this.

After a crazy week of looking at New York homes, I now realize that I will have to find a rental like this as a home base and keep looking for the perfect studio. to buy

One of the doors at the back of the studio leads to an outdoor patio, which was a great spot for dinner and watching the sunset. From the patio, Frankie, the terrier has a view overlooking the next door lot. She tensed up and locks on anytime she sees a rabbit. One time, she broke free from her leash and she darted down the wooden steps to chase the rabbit. By the time she got to the ground the rabbit was gone. The next door neighbor however is the wicked witch of the west and she complains any time someone steps foot on her property including the puppy. She should really live way off in the woods, where the next neighbor is a mile away. She is a yoga instructor, but evil.

Except for rain the day I arrived, and rain the day I left, the weather in Saratoga Springs was beautiful. The grass was soft to the touch and there was always a cool breeze. The homes were beautiful and the people I met while sketching were friendly. The only reason I would not consider living there is that it is north of Albany and therefor much too far from New York City. KC gave me a book to keep track of all the properties I would be seeing during the week. She was shocked that I was just carrying around a few scraps of paper with notes. She wrote on the back page the things I should consider as I looked at properties

  1. In budget.
  2. Within an hour if possible from NYC.
  3. Reasonable size. About 1,000 to 2,000 square feet.
  4. Place should be in reasonable/good condition.
  5. Decent neighborhood.

Several met all the criteria, but one had asbestos and the other sold before I could look at it. That last property was built for sculptor Dudley Pratt and I honestly think I would have made an offer has I seen it in person. Realtors simply didn’t show up and were quite frankly rude and unhelpful. My hope is that I can find one honest buyers realtor who truly has my interests at heart. That I understand now, is a rare breed in the New York metro area. Sigh.