I help you look your fortune

We already knew what fate had in store for us---- the storm of the century was coming Sunday, so Amanda and Walt and I headed straight for Chinatown the afternoon I got to New York. It was my sole chance at outdoor sketching on this trip.
I first sketched a fortune teller who played an erhu, a two-stringed violin-like instrument, in between fortune-seeking customers.
While Amanda and Walt were sketching a storefront in one direction, I looked down the street to a vista of lanterns and signs and sketched it.

The other two went to Pearl Paints to buy supplies. I sketched a display of peking ducks hanging in a restaurant window. I got some weird looks from patrons and workers alike, but as much as I sketch in public, I'm used to it.

That night, Walt, Amanda and her husband Jimmy and I ate at a Thai restaurant on Bayard Street. I sketched Walt while we waited for Jimmy to arrive. He looks very poetic and ethereal here, but don't you believe it. He's spreading vicious rumors about me on his blog. Winona Ryder, indeed.

I'm having a lovely time, in spite of the weather and Walt's calumny. More sketches to come!

Comments

[sue]

"And to think that it happened on Mulberry St!" These are wonderful! I was homesick for the NY metropolitan area when I saw these. I'd seen a photo of you and knew you'd sketch those lanterns when I saw it on another flickr site. You always have such a luscious palette and your sketches evoked lots of good memories...

[lin]

Everything you do, Laura has such an elegance and vitality to it -- it easily transports the viewer to your remarkable world. GORGEOUS images!!! SO SO GLAD the storm did not affect your plans or fun! MIss you, though!

[sandraleerice]

I have waited for these Chinatown works by you, Almost like being there!! - I was midtown Friday and thought of you sketching Chinatown and fancied myself on a sketch crawl as I hiked up to Central Park Saturday to sketch - then to the Met on 82nd and back down to 45th St - Not easy sketching this way but FUN - I have lots to learn. Sunday going home was quite an adventure too!!

[teric]

Just wonderful sketches. I can see the whole fun you had through your thoughts and sketches. So much fun.

[Dr. Research]

Looks like you all had a great time. Love the use of "calumny." I fear you may have embued Walt with such dignity in this drawing that he will be difficult to get along with.

[Peggy]

Walt's a Whitman, is he not? (Though not a sampler, of course.) And his sketch of you is the antidote to calumny,
"I too walk'd the streets of Manhattan island ...
In the day among crowds of people ...
I too had been struck from the float forever held in solution" --

[Anna]

It is always so interesting to read your posts - much like a book, in fact! Very nice sketches!

[Linda M]

What a fun trip this must be! I love the chinese lanterns (would love to have a room filled with them...) and the sketch of Walt. I'm off to read (and possibly refute) any vile rumors he may be trying to spread about you! :-D

[cootiegarage]

Yes!! These are all great! esp love the lanterns and great portrait of Sparky!

[marta]

what fun! I love China Town in San Fran and reminded me of the magic there as well! What a great portrait too! marta

[Agnes]

The sketches are full of life and zing. Love the ducks. But I want to hear about the Winona Ryder incident.

[Cin]

almost as good as being there :)

I am so happy to see these, I was so thinking of you guys all together, I know it was wonderful, I can see it was!

love the chinese fellow and wow, you've perfectly captured Wally!! really wonderful!

[Casey]

I always love your travel sketches, and these are wonderful. I especially like the portrait - it's one of those that you just look at and think "I wish I'd drawn that..."

[Lori Witzel]

Big grins for your travels -- say "hi" to Lydia for me, and wish I were there -- especially with calumny and Chinese Five-Spice powder in the air!

:-)

[Linda]

I still remember the first time I saw ducks hanging in the window of a place in Chinatown. I think it was in San Francisco. It seemed so "foreign" to me. I've since been to China and Thailand so that was nothing but still a big first impression.

[Cathy (Kate) Johnson]

What wonderful pictures, sweet thing! The one of Walt is indeed ethereal-and beautiful.

And thank you for posting the links to your friends' journals as well, it was fun seeing the weekend--and you--through their eyes too. Looks like a wonderful weekend, I wish I could have been there!

[marly]

Both those blogs were interesting to look at--and Crack Skull Bob is very amusing! Good at captions. I also like the "okra instead of a leg" error.

I like your travel diaries so much that I think you just might get a very fancy tent and stay on the road all the time.

[Amanda]

hey where did everyone go? It's so lonely and quiet here. I miss you guys.

[Gypsy Purple-Chamara]

Keep them coming...I loooove these!!!

[Robyn]

You are a dab hand with those Chinese characters, Laura. I would have commented yesterday but was distracted by the links to your friends blogs of the weekend. He has great face, your friend with the wonderful sense of humour. Excellent work, Wenona - is that a Peking duck in your pocket - or are you .....?

[Felicity]

Wonderful to see your sketches and then see the photo of you standing sketching the lanterns! Sounds like a really fun time!

[Paris Parfait]

Fabulous work, darling! I love Chinatown in NYC and in San Francisco. Sounds like you're having lots of fun! xo

[Laura]

It's so much fun to read your enthusiastic comments! It prolongs the joy of the trip for me--thank you for them!
I'm rushing off to a drawing evening with Ippy, but will come back and respond at greater length tomorrow.

[Jana Bouc]

I'm so envious (of your trip to NYC, your time with Walt, your drawing skills....you name it!)

[Katherine]

That's a great drawing of Walt - ungrateful creature that he is!

I rather liked your 'art school black' meets 'Chinatown lady' attire which Walt captured rather well I thought. Or did he make up the bound feet?

Sounds like you all had a ball - I'd have loved to have been there.