Just back today from a few days in Charleston, where I finished sketches for the Old World/New World sketchbook... at last. Charleston is such a beautiful city, and Charlestonians are such lovely people---it's easy to want to be there often, very often. And I do.
A clothing exhibit at the Charleston Museum shows the importance of French and English style to the wealthy early colonists. The fine materials, rich colors, and modishness of the clothes were a great contrast to the somber, practical wardrobe of the Amish I visited so recently. In particular, the red corset with black lace, dating from the same period as the second wave of Swiss immigration to Pennsylvania, shows how marked regional differences were.
Some cities are masculine (London), some are feminine (Paris)---Charleston, with its sinuous architectural motifs and tropical abundance is feminine, most definitely feminine.
Thank you so much, everyone! Charleston is, as you can tell, one of my favorite places on the planet. Wish you could all go for a visit! Jana, gosh---what a nice thing to say, but that's a lot of thinking about me ;D. Hope you can survive it! Happy August to one and all.
Posted by: Laura | August 01, 2007 at 09:42 AM
Beautiful work Laura! Whenever I see statues anywhere now I think of you.
Posted by: Jana Bouc | July 31, 2007 at 03:59 AM
love love love these
If I were doing a movie I would have you do the set and costume design
Posted by: suangalique | July 30, 2007 at 01:39 PM
These are so wonderful. I never cease to be amazed at your skill! Makes me want to go there.
Posted by: teric | July 30, 2007 at 11:58 AM
wonderful sketches Laura, isn't it fun to draw at museums? it's one of my favorite things to do, your drawings are like a free ticket to that exhibition :) . couldn't agree more about your masculine vs. feminine cities, i grew up in barcelona, which is definitely a feminine city, while madrid is a masculine one. as for Seattle, where i live now, i think it's a masculine one, but others may disagree
Posted by: gabi campanario | July 29, 2007 at 10:22 PM
I loved my one trip to Charleston. What a beautiful city. Love the paintings as usual, especially the tree.
Posted by: Linda | July 29, 2007 at 12:57 PM