After Paris and Stockholm, Charleston is the loveliest city I've ever been to. I have a long history with this place, but it isn't until now, this visit, that I see Charleston with my clearest eyes. Painting and drawing are revelatory acts.
It's raining today, so I couldn't finish two of the three sketches from yesterday, but here's one, the pineapple fountain at Waterfront Park.
I have a predilection for fountains, it seems!
Not able to sketch outside this morning, I went to the Charleston Museum to see an exhibit of seaweed specimens, both historical and contemporary. I was smitten with the shapes and sweep and colors of these exotic (to me) plants. The three pictured here were found in Charleston harbor, in the nineteenth century.
Technical note: the paper I'm working on is very long, 20 inches, when unfolded as below. I've had to crop the photograph of it in two, so it would fit Typepad width limitations.
Tomorrow, it's going to be sunny and warm, so I'll go to Magnolia Plantation. I'm staying in the elegant apartment of friends of mine, who've lent it to me for the week. I hope to make some sketches of its beautiful Charleston/French interior. So much yet to do!
hi Laura! Every once in a while I treat myself to a look at your wonderful paintings...they make me drool with envy, but are inspiring too. Love your 2010 gallery - didn't go through it all, have to save some for another day... -leslie
Posted by: leslie berinskyl | October 31, 2010 at 03:36 PM
Laura - love the fountain. Have you got a 'stitch' facility for the 'panoramic' mode sketches? Maybe you could stitch and post a web-sized version for the wide sketches and then link to something like Flickr for a larger version?
Posted by: Katherine | February 26, 2007 at 08:37 AM
Hi all and thank you! I'm having a hard time posting here because I'm on dialup connection. It took me almost two hours to post the four drawings above!!
Cin, you should come here, absolutely. It is an enchanting city. Robyn, funny you should ask---that is really toned paper, designed for printmaking so therefore a bit soft. The tone didn't show through at all in the photographs---the seaweed drawings look very different (and better) in person. Kate, it would be great to rendezvous here! Lin, the tea olives aren't in bloom. Ours bloom in the fall---are the Charleston varieties different?
Posted by: Laura | February 23, 2007 at 12:48 PM
Oh yes, I think you definitely need to come for a visit: http://www.experiencekc.com/fountains.html
Kansas City is known as the City of Fountains!
My sweet Joseph often has to go to Charleston on business--he was there a couple of weeks ago. Maybe I should meet him there next time, your work is luscious, as always!
Posted by: Kate (Cathy) Johnson | February 22, 2007 at 09:07 AM
though I may never visit Europe, Charleston is a possibility, you make me want to go! looking forward to more sights of the city :)
Posted by: Cin | February 22, 2007 at 08:43 AM
You're so lucky to be surrounded by such beauty and to capture that beauty so eloquently with your art! The fountain is gorgeous, as are the plant specimens. And it sounds like the apartment is quite the treat as well! So glad you're having a good visit. xo
Posted by: Paris Parfait | February 22, 2007 at 07:15 AM