The Big Easy

We recently spent a week in New Orleans.
In the midst of the ups and downs of my emotional life
I managed to get the pencil and brush moving on the page a few times.

It always feels like jumping off the high dive.
But then when I'm down there swimming around
the creative waters are fresh and enlivening.

We went on a swamp tour one day.
The guide was engaging, the creatures made appearances -
alligators, turtles, wild hogs and raccoons -
all (except the turtles) attracted by quantities of marshmallows
tossed in the water.

But the boat never stopped chugging along
so I had to draw on the fly . . . a practice in itself.

The next day I was drawn to a huge tree in City Park.
It was an overwhelming form.
I tried the relaxed approach, the only option to get me going -
letting go of the outcome - the big easy . . .
In the end I felt sad, disappointed, resigned and surprisingly okay
with the page - and my life !

 (click on the image to enlarge)

On the last day I wandered around the Bywater district
and collected the lively colors of the houses -

Everywhere we went there were colored beads -
hanging from the trees, draped over the balconies,
lining the railings, adorning the fire hydrants.

NOLA 
A City of Beads . . .