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