Thanks and goodnight!

I've finally decided it's time to put this baby to bed, this is my last post on this blog! I'm done with hardcore travelling for now, and unfortunately spare time is really scarce for me now that I'm spending my days drawing at the Academy amongst the overwhelming activity of New York!
But I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who commented and emailed me about these drawings, it has been a tremendous support for me throughout my travels.
Please stay in touch, and stay tuned for my next project!
Thanks again everyone, you're, like... the best.
Laura.

It's a hell of a town

I am in New York, New York!  This boundless city is charming the pants off me, of course.  But best of all I have moved into an apartment in Queens, where I'm living for the summer while I'm at art school.  It is such a relief to have unpacked and have a place to call home!  I did this sketch of the view from my bedroom window. I think it is very New York, and a little Rear Window.

My very own window

Oh Canada

Making a liar out of this blog's tag line, I took a cheeky trip across the border and visited Toronto last week.  I was freaked out by how friendly Canadians are! Wow. I'll be spending some time there later in the year, but for now I drew a moose. No logic or inspirational moment this time. Just - I went to Canada, so I drew a moose. I hope you like him...he's not so sure about you. 

The Dapper Moose

Boston Tea Party

Last week I went North and spent a few days in Boston.  I visited Harvard and did the Freedom Trail, where I learnt so much about the beginnings of the USA that has already fallen out of my brain. An image that stuck though, was the pretty gardens at Boston Common, where there are these perfectly rectangle tulip beds that look like table tops. So I got the idea for this Wonderland-ish tea party...the pun occurred to me later. 

Morning tea for Alice

A serious business

I started this ink drawing in Washington DC, where every conversation you overhear is full of phrases like 'economic analysis', 'judicial precedent' and 'Obama'. When I was standing between Capitol Hill and the US Supreme Court, I noticed these little birds flying into tiny holes in the streetlight poles. I could hear the baby birds chirping for food from inside! I thought that was pretty sweet, these little birds are growing up in their own little world, completely oblivious to the fact that they are right in the thick of where some of the most important decisions affecting the free world are made every day. Mmm... symbolic.

Breakfast

Down by the bayou

In New Orleans, I had the amazing good fortune of being in town for their famous Jazz Festival, where I got to see some of my favourite acts like Lupe Fiasco and Arcade Fire (who performed Girls Just Wanna Have Fun with Cindi Lauper - it was bizzarre and amazing).  I also saw awesome local musicians, here's a quick sketch of a crazy-good tambourine player from the fabulously named Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers. 

Kermit's Woman

One for the monkey, two for the show

I've spent the last week down South, y'all.  In Memphis, I was lucky enough to go to a gospel church service led by Rev. Al Green (yes, he's a reverend now!) and of course went to Graceland, which was just as much of a religious experience for me. The King's glorious sense of style just oozes from the walls, long after Elvis has left the building (...sorry). I loved these little monkey statues that are dotted around the place.  Here's a little vector illustration I did of one in the basement, which is decorated in this crazy black, white and yellow cloud theme. 

TCB Monkey

Livin la vida Vegas

Some things I've seen, like the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas, are just too huge and incomprehensible for me to ever hope to capture them on paper.  I found Las Vegas decadent, disgusting and its impossible not to enjoy.  So rather than try to capture the glitz I went with this backstage moment, inspired by watching some showgirls adjust their hair and rest their feet in between posing for photos. I apologise for including a coke bottle, but nothing about Vegas would be complete without some advertising. Where's my money, Coke?

Backstage

I left my heart...

...in San Francisco, I saw so many beautiful Victorian homes (a la Full House and Mrs. Doubtfire).  In the 70s around Haight-Ashbury, hippies painted their houses in crazy colours because..they were hippies, I guess.  Although less psychedelic, lots of homes are still painted in non-traditional colours. These 'Painted Ladies' are really gorgeous, the colours bring out the ornate detail in the architecture. Nice!

Painted Lady

Flying high

Squirrels, eagles, deer, skunks.. I have seen lots of native creatures during my travels so far.  I'm not sure if the skunk counts, it was roadkill.  But it still smelt.  Anyway, my favourite has been playful hummingbirds.  These things are so tiny, so fast and oh so pretty. This is an ink drawing that I tried to make as delicate as they are! 

Hummingbird

From a moving train

I drew this on the 30 hour train trip between San Luis Obispo and Seattle.  I saw lots of incredible views, from deer frolicking on rolling green hills to snow covered pines.  I was also lucky enough to catch this sweet image - a glimpse of a father and his little baby waving at the passing train through a window.  I hope they are every bit as wholesome as I have imagined them!

There goes the train...

Dining in Hollywood

I loved this restaurant my Uncle and Aunt took me to on Hollywood Boulevard.  Musso and Frank Grill was one of the first restaurants in the area and remains almost exactly the same as it was when it opened in 1919. The menu is the same, the decor is the same, and I think some of the staff are the same. It's dark, mahogany-filled and makes you feel like you're in The Godfather. Here's a quick sketch of the bar.

Bartender at work

Family History

I've spent the last couple of days with my Uncle and Aunt in LA.  With them as guides I've been discovering my family history, I've seen the house where my Uncle and my Dad grew up, their schools and the neighborhood.  A highlight was the Alex Theatre in Glendale, a gorgeous Art Deco place which is where my grandparents met in the 1930s! I was inspired to draw this, which is perhaps my grandparents after a date. Is it creepy to imagine your granparents on a date?  Hmm.

Alex Theatre

"I've always loved U...nited Airlines"

Hey, ever tried to sleep on a plane?  Ever noticed that the space for your body is...like, too small? This may explain this sketch I did on the plane on the way from Australia to the USA. Its a long, uncomfortable flight.

Uncomfortable Bunnies

Leaving soon...

Hi there! Thanks for stopping by. 
I leave Melbourne for the USA at the end of March. This is kinda where I'm at right now: