Rainy Day in Manhattan

sketch by Steven Salerno  -visit stevensalerno.com

It was a rainy day in Manhattan today... good for staying inside and working. Walking to the studio this morning, I observed the drizzle, rain and gray backdrop of concrete being punctuated brilliantly by little kids wearing rain gear of intense gloom-busting bright pinks, yellows, lavenders, blues, and greens... under equally color-saturated umbrellas, some so large that all I could see were a pair of rubber boots sticking out from under the umbrella bobbing up and down the sidewalk, moving forward (with an occasional directional adjustment given by mom's guiding hand) through the morning rush-hour throng scurrying off to work and school. Once in my studio, I did this quick sketch, posted here, from memory of one these brave inclement weather tots. My favorite though, was one fashion forward 4 year old wearing green boots in the shape of frogs, a raincoat with a monkey pattern (and the monkeys were wearing raincoats and rain hats!) and an umbrella in the shape of a giant duck. A future zoologist, no doubt.

After completing this little rainy-day sketch and contemplating it a bit, it reminded be of an Ernest H. Shepard illustration from Winnie the Pooh, written by A.A. Milne. I have also posted a scan of this particular drawing from my 1949 edition of the book. You can see the similarities... I guess an artist being amused at the sight of a little child wearing big boots and wielding an umbrella is an ageless charming vision.

Visit stevensalerno.com and click on the kids' books section to view my many children's picture books.