Upper West Side artist Peter Salwen paints what he knows best - the Upper West Side

Twenty paintings by Salwen -- almost all of them West Side scenes -- are on view through the end of January at the New York Public Library, St. Agnes Branch, 444 Amsterdam Avenue between 81st-82nd streets.

Salwen, who calls New York City "my favorite habitat," studied fine art at the High School of Music & Art, Cornell University and the New School. He leads walking tours of the city (most notably "Mark Twain's New York") and is the author of "Upper West Side Story: A History & Guide" (Abbeville Press).