NOLA, will you be my muse?

On my trip to New Orleans I took my small red sketchbook, a larger drawing pad full of black paper and a box full of Prismacolor colored pencils. I didn't want to miss out on any inspiration that might hit me. I'm never without a sketchbook and pen. That would be ABSURD.  I'm still a little shy when I sketch in public because in my case it automatically attracts people to see what I'm drawing. I was even asked out on a date once outside my workplace in Brooklyn because they saw me sketching and drinking iced coffee.  It could also be because I'm the most adorable person you'll ever meet. hahaha
So I was able to fill up my sketchbook with a good amount of sketches. I was proud of myself! I gotta keep my artistic mojo  going at all times.
During our trip we would have some down time at the apartment in between adventures. So I took to my drawing pad and colored pencils and drew what inspired me that day. It was anything that I saw on our outings, from a New Orleans sticker to my friend's legs.
Here are the drawings I was able to finish in our cozy studio apartment filled with 4 other people and all the entertainment a girl could ask for.

There was a sticker of the New Orleans Fleur de Lis on the refrigerator and it reminded me of something a native king from decades ago would wear on his face. I started with the fleur de lis and expanded from there. There is so much history in New Orleans, it's amazing all the transitions they have gone through.

There was drinking involved in the trip and it proved to be very amusing. I don't drink much back home, so I did it up for my vacation. The city has so many options to partake of some local music and you can't listen to jazz without a beer or two. We found two local bars (thanks to our hostess) that we fell in love with. One was St. Joe's bar and the other Snake and Jake's. Each one of us had our own experience with the locals and other tourists. It was a great time and I get saucy when I've had 2 or 5 gin n' tonics. lol I saw Shawshank Redemption for the first time with a drink in my hand. I became the entertainment for the rest of my friends the next 2 hours of the film. :) 

And you can't have a hot Louisiana summer with out MOSQUITOS!! They were everywhere and despite using bug repellent, they freaking loved me. I was their daily buffet and I have the bug bites to prove it. This inspired me to draw our little friend and add some festive beads and a hat. They were getting wasted off our blood. I look like I have chicken pox all over my legs. haha

My friend Andrew has the longest legs I've seen on a person. I want them so I can reach the top shelves of my kitchen. I think of him as a superhero because of his height. He can reach anything and do anything! In the drawing  above I started drawing his legs and just added an octopus as a weird contrast. I am reminded of a Simpsons episode where Mr. Burns is a robot and Smithers is his robotic dog at the end of the world. I loved reliving an old Simpsons episode after awhile of not watching it. 

aah! *sigh* New Orleans gave me the perfect shot of inspiration. I love it. Thanks NOLA. You are the perfect muse.