Nice Lines: Artistic images add to owners' appreciation of their homes

 My recent feature in the Albany Times Union:http://www.timesunion.com/living/article/Nice-lines-3920020.php#photo-3546072

Recently Featured at Built Art Show

My Red Winged Angel photograph (stained glass window detail from Saint Peter's Church, 18 x 24) and Steamer No. 1 painting (acrylic on wooden panel, 21 x 22) were recented featured at Historic Albany Foundation's Built Show (Albany's Architecture Through Artists' Eyes on Saturday, Nov. 5 at the Cathedral of All Saints).

MY RECENT FEATURE IN ALL OVER ALBANY

Through a glass, brightly
posted May 17, 2011
Here's something delightful: David Hinchen's photos of stained glass windows from churches in the Capital Region.
The Albany artist's Etsy shop includes a bunch of photos from local churches such as St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Troy, the Church of the Blessed Sacrament in Albany, and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany. The window in the photo to the right, depicting Joan of Arc, is from St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Albany.
Hinchen has captured beautiful illumination of the windows. And it's interesting to be able to look so closely at the details in the scenes.
In addition to photography, Hinchen also does illustrations of buildings and architectural landscapes. Here's a portrait of the Miss Albany Diner that's available through his Etsy shop. A here's a portrait of The Palace. Some of his cityscapes are currently on display at The Stockade Inn in Schenectady (until June 30).

CITYSCAPES - ART OPENING AT THE STOCKADE INN

CITYSCAPES

BY
DAVID HINCHEN

March 13th – June 30th, 2011

Opening Reception: Sunday,
March 13th, 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.

The Stockade Inn

One North Church Street
Schenectady, New York

WINTER WHITE ROSES

These wonderful paintings of white roses were done in the 1960s by my gradmother, Helen von Borstel. Both are available as limited edition prints in my shop

And The Winner Is.............

Alison Truslow of Alison's Designs

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1704397983#!/AlisonDesigns is the grand winner of my New Year's Blog Giveaway. She will receive two limited edition prints: Grand Canal, Venice and Before Night Falls.

A big thank you to everyone who entered the contest.

Congratulations Alison!

New Year Blog Giveaway

Enter between Friday, December 31st and Friday, January 7th to win an 11 x 17 limited
edition Giclee print. You have a choice of one of these three prints:


Empire State Building












Grand Canal, Venice

Cape Porch

Here's what you need to do to enter:

1.) Visit my etsy shop and find your favorite print.

2.) Return to this post, tell me what your favorite image is in the comments. Also, please leave your email address or a way for me to contact you. One entry per person.

3.) That's it! I'll draw a winner by random number at 8 p.m. on Friday, January 7th and post their name on Monday, January 10th. The print will be shipped as soon as the winner makes their selection from the three choices.

4.) Here is a little twist: If the winner is a follower of this blog AND "likes" my Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/David-Hinchens-Houses/176679582363834, they can then choose a SECOND 11 x 17 print from any image in my etsy shop.

Good Luck!

My mom and I

Participating artist David Hinchen with his mother, Gail Hinchen, in front of his Best of Show painting during "Built: Albany's Architecture Through Artists' Eyes," an art exhibit and silent auction to benefit the Historic Albany Foundation. Gail Hinchen won Best of Show at last year's "Built" show: http://www.timesunion.com/living/article/Social-Scene-Built-Albany-s-Architecture-809846.php#photo-4

Photo by Joseph Putrock, special to the Times Union

ALBANY SKYLINE

My new painting of downtown Albany was recently featured and awarded best in show at BUILT: Albany's Architecture Through Artists' Eyes at the New York State Museum. The annual art show benefits the Historic Albany Foundation and it's ongoing efforts to preserve, protect and promote Albany’s built environment. It it available as a limited edition giclee print here.

NEW HOUSE PORTRAITS, CHATHAM, CAPE COD

DAKOTA APARTMENTS

I just finished this 23 x 30 pen and ink drawing of New York City's

most legendary apartment building, the Dakota.

With an impressive, arched entrance on 72nd Street with sentry box flanked by large planters, the buff-colored building is surrounded by a dramatic low cast-iron fence in front of a "dry moat." The four corners of the courtyard, which has a fountain, lead to separate lobbies and passenger elevators.

When it was built in 1884, it towered over the Upper West Side and was an immediate success with all its apartments rented on opening day. Its developer, Edward Severin Clark, an heir to a sewing machine fortune, died two years before it opened. The building's name allegedly reflected the fact that the building was so far removed from the city's established luxury residential areas that it might as well be in the Dakota territory. Its 72nd Street façade, indeed, has an image of a Native American carved on its façade.

Designed by Henry J. Hardenbergh, who would later design the Plaza Hotel, this fortress-like building had tennis courts and a croquet field on the adjoining 175-foot-long lot on West 72nd Street that was later developed after World War II as a separate apartment building.

The 93-unit building's Victorian and Gothic architectural details and ambiance were featured in the popular spooky movie, "Rosemary's Baby," but it is famed more now for its spectacular apartments and famous residents. There is a subway stop at the corner.

Shea Stadium - Home of the New York Mets (1964-2008)

The place where Seaver and Ryan once threw, Piazza once squatted and the Stork, George Theodore, once roamed.

This recent painting was based on my photos taken just before Shea Stadium was demolished and replaced with the new Citi Stadium in 2009.



The Mets moved to the new state of the art Shea Stadium in Flushing Queens in 1964, where for the first two seasons the Mets would be a side attraction to the World's Fair which was going on across the street from the new ballpark. In 1969, the Mets completed the biggest upset in World Series history. Donn Clendenon who hit three key Home Runs in the series was named World Series MVP, as the city embraced its Amazin' Mets. In a strange side note, Mayor John Lindsay, was reelected largely thanks to the good feelings around the surprise World Champions.


In the 1986 World Series against the Boston Red Sox, the Mets faced elimination leading into Game 6. The Red Sox scored two runs in the tenth inning and twice came within one strike of winning their first World Series since 1918. However, the Mets rallied and would come back in typical Amazin' Mets fashion, as the game became one of the most famous games in baseball history as the Curse of the Bambino appeared to be alive and well. In fact, it was in this series that talk of the curse began.

The Mets remain the only team to come within one strike of losing a World Series before recovering to become World Champions.


Limited edition prints of Shea Stadium are available in my Etsy Shop.

BUILT: Albany's Architecture Through Artist's Eyes

BUILT: Albany's Architecture Through Artists' Eyes art exhibit and silent auction took place on Saturday, November 7, 2009, at the Cathedral of All Saints. A portion of the proceeds from the reception and art sales benefit the Historic Albany Foundation's Vacant Building Initiative and Inventory.

Two of my new paintings, Delaware Hook and Ladder and Broadway Icons were featured in the show. Both are available as limited edition prints in my online gallery.





















My mom, Gail Hinchen won Best In Show for her mixed media collage of the Empire State Plaza's Egg.

LAMPLIGHT

Ornate steps at the New York State Capital in Albany. The full moon and green copper lanterns light the nightscape.

Prints of Lamplight are available here.

Blog Giveaway Winner

As the winner of my first blog giveaway, Susan Schneider will receive an 11 x 17 print of The Empire State Building. Susan enjoys creating with vintage materials and has an Esty shop called Shandell's. Shandell's is also a working lampshade and vintage lighting studio in Millerton, New York. A big thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway.

Mountain Scenery

Another spectacular September day in Upstate New York. I'm heading for a hike on Sleeping Beauty Mountain in The Adirondacks. The top provides a stunning view of Lake George. These masterful watercolors were done by Elden Rowland and highlight some lovely scenery along the way:

Click on either image to see limited edition prints of these watercolors in my Esty shop.

MY FIRST BLOG GIVEAWAY

Enter between Tuesday, August 18th and Monday, September 7th (Labor Day) to win an 11 x 17 limited edition Giclee print. You have a choice of one of these three prints:





Cape Porch











Gondolas On The Grand Canal, Venice













Empire State Building






















Here's what you need to do to enter:

1.) Visit my esty shop and find your favorite print.

2.) Return to this post, tell me what your favorite image is in the comments. Also, please leave your email address or a way for me to contact you. One entry per person.

3.) That's it! I'll draw a winner by random number at 8 p.m. on Labor Day and post their name on Tuesday, September 8th. The print will be shipped as soon as the winner makes their selection from the three choices.

4.) Here is a little twist: If the winner is a follower of this blog, they can pick from not only these three prints, but can choose to receive the favorite mentioned in their comment.

Good Luck!



I'm also having a SUPER BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE SALE (AUGUST 18th - SEPTEMBER 7th): Purchase any 11 x 17 print in my esty shop and receive a second 11 x 17 print of your choice. Hurry, this sale ONLY lasts until Labor Day!

Painting Albany's Diners

People ask me why I paint diners and other remnants of roadside America. It's a question I've never had to ask myself. I want to preserve diners and the best way to express my passion is to paint them.



My hometown of Albany, New York is lucky to have two vintage diners which are still in operation.

A chrome clad beauty, Jack's Diner was built by the Comac Company in 1949. Located in Albany, New York, it's a favorite breakfast haunt and landmark within walking distance of my house.

Built by the Silk City Company in 1941, the well-preserved Miss Albany was featured in the movie "Ironweed" with Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson.



The paintings of Miss Albany and Jack's are available as limited edition prints in my Esty Shop.

Cape Cod House Portraits

When you visit Cape Cod, there is no doubt that you are witnessing a unique style of architecture rooted in colonial times when simplicity and functionality where at their best. There are many characteristics of the Cape Cod architecture style that permeate still in today's modern versions including cedar shake shingles, steep pitched roofs, central chimneys, dormers and shutters.

Chatham is the perfect place the see both traditional 18th Century examples and well-designed modern interpretations. Located on the "elbow" of the Cape, it's also the perfect place to catch a wonderful view of Nantucket Sound, the Atlantic Ocean and the famous Chatham Light. Don't miss the classic Main Street with great shops and evening band concerts.


Here are a few of my Chatham house portraits:

House Portraits In The Adirondacks

Finally, we have a beautiful summer day in Upstate New York. Should be a perfect afternoon to visit a lake in The Adirondacks. To get you in the mood, here is a house portrait that I recently completed of a great camp on Lake Placid. The boathouse painting depicts Harbor Hill, a vintage cottage colony in Saranac Lake.






You can find an extensive gallery of house portraits and information on arranging a commission at DavidHinchensHouses.com