pencil 5 hand inside

 (I am still writing 2014 on some of my sketches even though it's 2015!)

pencil 1933 auburn v12 boattail speedspter

pencil sketch 5, back of hand 2/18/15

Here's some interesting info about art journal groups from Marcia's Art Stuff Blog. http://marciasartstuff.blogspot.com/2015/02/i-recently-found-couple-of-art-journal.html

I really like her bright colors.

St John Bayou and waiting for parade, NOLA 2/14/15

On the day of the parade we took the #32 bus over to the Parkway Bakery & Tavern. The bus driver was very nice. He showed us the exact street we needed to get off on and pointed us in the direction we needed to walk. It was about 2 blocks off the #32 bus route. The bus runs hourly. NOLA lost population after Katrina so less people were riding the buses. The buses are nice and clean. You can plug in your starting point and destination on NOLA transit site and it tells you how to go. You can also text when you're waiting at a bus stop to find out when the next bus is due to come. Anyway this Parkway Bakery was pretty crowded. We stood in line about 20 minutes, then ordered our food which came almost immediately. Afterwards we walked towards the parade route. On the way we stopped at the Bayou and I did a little sketch while my cousin walked around. A standing up kayaker went past then laid down to go under the bridge crossing the road that was very dark underneath. We were wondering if the bayou had alligators in it. However someone did let their dog go swimming in it. So maybe not?

Here's a little sketch from when we were waiting for the parade to start. We went up to Winn Dixie about 4-5 blocks or so away to buy water. Folding cloth chairs were on sale; buy one get one free, so we bought 2. Good thing. It helps to have a chair behind you to keep people from pushing so hard against you from behind. They put the kids up on the ladders so the kids can see and perhaps to keep them from getting crushed in the crowd. It was like a tailgate party here with food and coolers. Music. Quite loud just from the noise of all the people talking.

2/13/15 pen drawings, On the bus and in the French Quarter near French Market

We decided to scope out the Endymion parade route as my cousin's daughter was marching in it. The main reason we came to NOLA was to see the Muskego High School Marching Band marching in the parade. First we took the bus using our Jazzy Pass down to St. Charles and Canal street. Then later on caught the 48 tram that was really a bus because people were already setting up for the parades in the "neutral zone" (median) where the tram runs. A lot more people on the streets. More crowded than the previous day. At about 5pm we met Mike and Julie from Canal Street Church. They were such sweethearts. They offered to save us a spot for the Endymion parade in the family section of town near Carrollton and Orleans. We really appreciated that.



We ate at Brewery Bistro and visited French Market again. My cousin was looking for a specific Nola Mardi-Gras T-shirt with 2015 on it. She's a good shopper. So I went and did a little drawing of a building near the french market. There was benches to sit on. Seating was pretty good all over the French Quarter. It's quite small and very easy to walk. (I also liked the tourist area and welcome center in Biloxi MS)

Nola Park, 3.5x5.5 pen 2/12/15

This was in the French Quarter. I believe we were sitting in Jackson Square. Very nice.
I like to wear cargo pants which holds my small sketchbook and a pen so I can take sketching opportunities when they come.

We walked through the French Market, I bought a large owl purse that would fit my 9x12 sketch book and a pan of watercolor paints. Then we sat in this park. My cousin needed to rest. She had a bad headache that turned into a full blown migraine by the time we walked back to our cottage that was just outside the french quarter. I am so grateful that I don't get migraines. They are awful.

5.5x8.5 pencil, Gulfport MS cottage & chairs

Gulfport MS 2/11/15
Went out and sketched while my cousin did her morning stuff.