There be dragons

Chinatown is full of dragons and many of them are outdoors in the shape of statuary and images on signs. Since we were experiencing Noah's flood, Part 2 in New York last Sunday and Monday, I had to look indoors for those imposing creatures. I found several. Here is one:

Amanda and I sought shelter at the Rubin Museum of Art. There was a display of papier mache masks that reminded me very much of the Mexican masks I'd sketched last month at the San Antonio Museum of Art.

I have more Chinatown sketches but will post those later. In the meantime, I made a very quick sketch of my beautiful daughter K (who won't sit for me as often as my daughter C---I had to take advantage of the few minutes she spent on our computer last night to do this quick drawing of her.)

I also just now substituted later versions of the Peking duck and signs and lanterns sketches below for the ones I originally posted. I wasn't happy with the quality of the first images. I'm a Capricorn, can you tell?

Comments

[Cathy (Kate) Johnson]

OOooh, what a lovely drawing of Kate! And her earrings are great. The dragon is wonderful, I am STILL kicking myself for not sketching in Chinatown when we were in San Francisco a couple of years ago. What was I THINKING??

Really like the little horned guy, too...are they all from Mongolia? When I open the graphic, it cuts off at about his nose...

[Amanda]

fabu-tastic. I love the colors L.

[Dr. Research]

Love that dragon!

[teric]

I want that dragon!!! It is just gorgeously colored. WOWEE!! Love the other sketches too but that dragon just slays me (sorry for the pun, my 6 year old inside me made me say it :)

[sue]

These masks you're doing are just captivating--I'm beginning to recognize the things that appeal to you as an artist, and I'm enjoying the masks myself immensely. Your daughter is lovely, and I like the reworked lanterns, etc, but I thought the first were pretty fabulous, too! Your dragon just oozes charisma!

[lin]

GORGEOUS!!! Those dragon colors, Laura -- so rich .. and faces .. continued charm!!!

[Robyn]

Wonderful dragon, beautiful daughter (I love the little turned up nose), and the teapot reminds me that I really miss green tea - not to mention Chinese food! The sight of Peaking Duck makes me drool - and that's not a pretty sight!

[Jana Bouc]

It sounds like you're having a wonderful time in NY despite the torrents. The dragon is spectacular and your drawing of your daughter and the masks are great. It's an interesting collage this time...such variety

[Agnes]

Beautiful drawing of your daughter. It captures her youth, that sense of being at the beginning of something, and being more than ready for it. The dragon and masks are glorious. They all have such personality.

[Maggie]

The dragon and masks are so rich and vivid in color. Loving your sketches and especially the one of Elizabeth, just lovely!

[Linda M]

Laura -- the dragon just ROCKS! He is so vibrant on the page! I think it's fascinating how you are able to capture the essence of a place -- you got the essential bits of Chinatown as effortlessly (or at least it seems so) as San Antonio and Paris. It's interesting that you keep finding these collections of masks, and I'm sure if it had not been raining, you would have found the one and only hidden fountain in Chinatown ...
;-) And your daughter IS beautiful.

[annie]

fleeting chances seen
encounter present and past
save quick for future

[Paris Parfait]

The dragon and all your sketches are fantastic! It amazes me how much you get to travel and that wherever you go, you create amazing, beautiful art! xo

[Katherine]

Laura - it's really interesting looking at all three blogs and seeing the different takes on the same places.

I also have to tell you that I was gardening and getting a suntan in up country last weekend! It was really warm and dry! ;)

[Laura]

Thank you, great commenters, one and all! Isn't it fun to see the different palettes each place evokes? Chinatown colors are saturated, primary or fluorescent, so different from Charleston or Paris, closer to San Antonio. I do find it odd that I seem to respond to certain things no matter where I go, how disparate the locations---but maybe that's not really odd when you think about it. And thank you, too, for what you say of my daughter. I'm a lucky person to have such a family!