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Friday 30 October 2015

Magic under the moonlight

About night life

New York nightlife is something you wouldn’t like to miss. The endless parade of urban fuss doesn’t stop even at night. Teachers at college tell us to use the city as an extended classroom -  roam the streets, observe and get inspired. My friend Missy, who is an art student, shares my love for the night sceneries of NY, so we often wander together down the neon-lit streets. While I admire the fascinating views created by millions of artificial lights, Missy draws her sketches. She says that after the sun hides behind the horizon, the city is instantly transformed into a place of magic. On one of those magic nights, Missy and I were vividly discussing something, when she suddenly stopped and shouted, “Just look here, Al! OMG, the scenery looks just like one of Leonid Afremov’s paintings I saw the other day!”

About Mr. Afremov and a bit about my loneliness

“Leonid who?” - I asked, chuckling. Being weird is so Missy-style. She told me about an amazing artist she got familiar with recently at her modern art class - Leonid Afremov, who is, just like us, captivated and inspired by night urban scenery. Later that night, lying in my bed and googling his abstract canvas art, I found that all of his canvas sets are offered for sale online. Browsing through his paintings, I was impressed by the highly imaginative and emotional manner of this artist. Night cityscapes are a recurring motif in Afremov’s canvas art. Simple magic of street lights and their shimmering reflections, the solitude of empty streets – all this just screams romance to me... and again, just like the day I watched “Autumn in New York”, I felt the need for love. There were three things I figured that day:
  1. I’m becoming too sentimental
  2. I need to buy more ice-cream and oreos
  3. I want to use this painting in my next design project

About my passion

Missy finds it outrageous that I view art as a means of decorating the interior. Well, I can still appreciate the artistic value of contemporary art canvases she is fascinated by. But design is my thing, this is what turns me on. My recent turn-on was Leonid Afremov’s art when I got to thinking how his paintings can enhance my interior. I really think his modern art canvas would make a perfect central piece for a spacious living room decorated in minimalist style. So, if you’re looking to buy a piece of contemporary art to decorate your crib, I’d say that Mr. Afremov’s night cityscapes will be an awesome pick!




Monday 26 October 2015

A symphony in yellow

...The yellow leaves begin to fade
And flutter from the Temple elms,
And at my feet the pale green Thames
Lies like a rod of rippled jade.
Oscar Wilde


Since I came to NY, I’ve noticed that fall season feels different here. In my hometown fall is all about staying at home and sipping ginger cinnamon tea wrapped in the scratchy woolen blanket. It used to be a time for melancholy, a time when I longed to stay in the warmth of summer as it slips away. But not anymore. This New York fall totally got under my skin. It makes me feel so alive.


Fall is also the time to watch old movies! Here is the one I like: “Autumn in New York”  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autumn_in_New_York_%28film%29 - a fifteen-year-old movie that is totally in tune with my present mood. It’s not a masterpiece by any means, just a sweet, tear-jerking romantic story, but filmed with a loving eye for Manhattan fall exteriors. And Richard Gere, oh, boy, he’s hot. Did I mention that I am single? Well, you probably already guessed. The old-fashioned love drama spiced up by the scent of dried leafs covering the ground awoke some long-forgotten craving in me - a craving to be loved. Fall is a wonderful time apart from the fact that you desperately need someone warm by your side. So, in search of my significant other I ventured out to explore the beauties of the autumnal City...


Friday 23 October 2015

The girl and the city

Hey, peeps! Allison Carter here. I come from a small town in the middle of nowhere in Illinois, but I've always flown high with my dreams. So I came to Big Apple to study at the New York School of Interior Design. Even though I’ve spent six month here already, it still seems surreal to me. I know what you are thinking now - just another girl chasing her dreams in the City. I won’t deny it, because that’s who I am. And, just like millions of people who’ve come here before me, I fell in love with New York. I am totally and absolutely mesmerized by the artistic vibe that fills up every corner of this place. Yes, New York became my hobby, my obsession, my inspiration.