This is a card I created from a scratch board I drew of Coney Island, in Brooklyn, NY. All of my friends will tell you that Coney Island one of my favorite spots. It is a short-ish subway ride from my apartment and it contains the perfect mix of glamour and grit. The hot dogs are fantastic, the cheese flavored topping is suspiciously bright yellow, and there are still huge portraits painted on the sides of the buildings for a freak show. The area is "in transition" right now which in New York means that condos and banks are coming to take the neighborhood away from the Freaks. Coney will always live in the collective conscience through movies like On the Town, Annie Hall, Requiem for a Dream, and The Warriors.

This picture prominently depicts the Parachute Jump, a which is sadly no longer running. This structure serves as the main landmark on the boardwalk. Behind the Parachute Jump you can see several tall apartment buildings, the Wonder Wheel, and the Cyclone. The large sandy beach stretches to the right of the picture and eventually to Brighton Beach, New York's Russian Community. (Another one of my favorite spots!) Since Coney is on the Atlantic Ocean large weather fronts are not unusual to see as they slowly float out to sea and make their way to England. Here I have depicted some of the most magnificent clouds I have ever seen.

If you like this card please check out my Etsy page where it is available for purchase. http://www.etsy.com/shop/danieljosephdurkin . I would like to thank everyone for checking out this posting. Hope you're having an exciting summer! -Dan :)

It is cherry blossom season and I am proud to have finally completed a card for this quasi-holiday. Here in Brooklyn, our local Botanic Garden has a fantastic annual "Sakura Matsuri, Cherry Blossom Festival". This year I went with my friend Shawn and we were amazed at how many New Yorkers will come out in droves to celebrate together... We suspected that many were using Sakura Matsuri as an excuse to dress in a kimono or in the costume of their favorite animated character.

The illustration here is of the Tidal Basin and the Jefferson Memorial in Washington DC. Although I have never been to DC in Spring, I have heard that their Cherry Blossom Festival is wonderful. If you are interested in this card please check out my Etsy page at www.etsy.com/shop/danieljosephdurkin. The question is... what do I draw next? Suggestions? Please post a comment or send me an email!

Hope everyone is well!

Spring is Around the Corner

For the last few days New York has been hit by terrible rain storms. I even heard on NPR that in New York City during the worst of the weather, there were the second highest number of phone calls placed to 911 in the history of the emergency hot line. (The only time more people called was during the black out a few years back!)

I am hoping that March Showers will bring April Flowers. (A little earlier than usual, but I am optimistic!) Tons and tons of water has fallen over the past forty-eight hours so I believe there should be tons and tons of flowers. Even today, I am pleased to report that on a brief trip to the bank, I swear I could smell Spring, getting closer and closer. In honor of the impending pleasant weather I have set up this blog and a new Etsy page. It is my goal to place a series of illustrations I have completed on their web site for everyone to see (and buy?). I also have made a firm decision that this year I will become a member of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. It is the most beautiful spot in all five boroughs when the cherry blossoms begin to bloom. I have always felt inspired to sit and draw at the Botanic Gardens and I am eager and willing to take recommendations from any one else on great locations to sit and watch Spring arrive. (Hopefully someplace I can get to on my MetroCard. Or Bolt Bus.)

Thanks for reading my new blog!