At the W12, Shepherd’s Bush, London
Swiping our Oyster cards like locals, we took the Tube across London, eventually arriving at Station Where the Heck are We? Our new location was quite lively (in a sketchy sort of way) and all our senses were assaulted by new city smells, sounds, and sights. Now THIS is the real London, I told myself. No stuffy museums or royals around here…just a bunch of thrift shops, ethnic restaurants, and convenience stores. Never mind the homeless people or trash on the sidewalk. We bravely hauled our luggage block after block in search of the hotel.
The W12 was charming, once you got off the street and our room felt positively spacious compared to the last one. You can see Rita taking a well deserved nap in my sketch. We were both exhausted.
But fun was had! The Globe Theater. High Tea in SOHO. The Tate Modern. All despite a Tube strike the day after we moved in. Oh yes, the traveling gods can be such tricksters.
On our last day, I decided to rid myself of my biggest suitcase and the purge began. I abandoned it in our room with a note taped to the front: “please take this and what’s inside or donate to thrift shop.”
And with much gratitude and a little sadness, Rita and I said our goodbyes, heading in opposite directions, she across the pond and me towards Portugal.
Next stop: Lisbon
The Blog here.
Project Description:
For more than three months I traveled-Thailand, the US, England, Portugal, and Spain. Drawing and painting is a powerful way to capture a specific place and time. Here are 20 works documenting the epic journey. They are not pictures of the most beautiful sights, or historical treasures, but rather a documentation of where I slept along the way. They represent a jumping off point for remembrance.
In the Mirror series here. Drawings and paintings done on location whenever I am away from home. An artist/traveler’s visual diary.
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