In the middle of chaos and pressure a person can find peace and calm by entering into their “happy place.” Often times in the middle of all the stress of living in this world, I close my eyes and picture myself sitting on a rock in the forest where the light is streaming down through the leaves and glistening off a smooth section of a creek where there is just a small gurgle of water trickling by.  I picture myself sitting with someone that loves me, and whom I love, and all seems to calm down.  I often say a quick prayer of thanks for my “Daddy” being in control and knowing what is coming and being big enough to handle it and take care of me.  Calmness settles in and I’m happy and peaceful again.  I can do this anywhere –  on a plane, at my kitchen window, or sitting in my studio.   It brings “peace” in the middle of a storm of chaos.  I imagine Frederick Olmsted had this in mind when he and the New York city planners set aside 788 acres of land in the 1850’s for what would become a magical escape from the noise and pace of a growing city.  Among the many paths and trails through the park are more than a dozen different bridges that display architectural perfection on a grand scale, and Gapstow Bridge is one of my favorites.  Nestled in the  South West corner near the Pond in the corner of the park the Plaza hotel rises thru the trees on the right, as well as some of the other grand buildings of the turn of the century.  These were the days when gargoyles and Gothic accents adorned elaborate buildings that were beautiful works of art.  I chose to paint the city in the “day” before the rectangular glass and steel sky scrapers began to change the city to a more “modern” look.  Several grand carriages will give you a ride through the park and we visited the city for my son’s 16th birthday in February right after a 20″ snow storm blanketed the park with even more quietness.  Enjoy the calm in Carriage Park and make it your place of peace in the middle of the chaos.

~ Mark Keathley