International Women's Day

This is also for my big sister Johanna, whose birthday is today.

Day 1 - 5-day fb art challenge

Ok, April Kelly, I accept your challenge - here you go, this series is dedicated to you!

Best wishes from the Metropolitan Museum :-)

Happy Thanksgiving from New York City!!

Some drawings of the parade from a few Thanksgivings back :-) 

Love this pirate guy.

Fashion Week 2014

It's fall 2014 and it's time again for Fashion Week in New York. My days are pretty hectic but I managed to sneak away for an afternoon with my friend Kati who is pretty busy herself. I could not wait to draw the fashionable streets of the city - granted New York is stylish all year round but this time of year the styling rises to such a level that you can easily spot a fashionista striking a pose whether you are uptown or downtown. 

More from Maui - something for everyone

Front Street,  Maui's historic whaling port, is in Lahaina, the former capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii. If you want a break from paradise, you can stroll through historic store fronts, shop and grab a bite while enjoying a spectacular sunset. 

Maui truly has something for everyone!

The beaches were busy with surfing, para sailing and paddle boarding activity. 

Maui 2014

Watercolor sketches of my recent trip to Maui

It was raining on the day of our arrival. It rained for the next 4 days.  

But I didn't care one bit - I was so happy to be in Hawaii. Everything looked beautiful.

Even the airplane was beautiful. Pink and purple. My niece really loved it!

My first Maui sunset looked like this, driving away from the airport. The island of Lanai is visible on the horizon. The top of the island is hidden by clouds and the base seemed to be glowing. Colors were erupting everywhere. 

As we drove closer to our hotel, the island of Molokai came into view. It was a very new experience to be in an environment where you are surrounded by dormant volcanos. Like some sort of tropical moon. Maui itself is made up of two volcanoes connected by a land bridge.

The sunsets are some of the most beautiful I've seen in a long time, 

and I saw complete rainbows almost everyday. I saw this one from the parking lot of the aquarium.

So although it rained most days, the skies would clear up by afternoon. This was our view while having lunch overlooking the pier. The winds were strong. The valley in between Maui's two volcanoes creates a sort of wind tunnel - if you ever visit, bring a hat with secure straps. 

Driving by sugarcane fields...

Luau 

(you gotta do at least one - how can you not? :-) I liked this one as it was different from shows I've seen in the past. There was one number where a dancer covered in green foliage danced a sort of fast ballet, while singing and responding to a gourd drummer/chanter. It was mesmerizing.  

This scene is from a hike in the Iao valley. These mountains war formed by volcanic activity, like all land formations of Hawaii - they are basically the result of volcanoes shooting up through the ocean.

And the land is very lush - a combination of the fertile volcanic soil and abundant rains.

Summer 2013 - Launch of the Morgan

The Charles Morgan historic whaleship was launched at Mystic Seaport in Connecticut, 

Sunday, July 21, 2013. Attendees and spectators came by sea and land.

The Morgan on the ship lift, at river's edge, as if departing from the shipyard where years of hard work and careful renovations took place.

The morning of the launch began with rain showers and music.

The rain had stopped by the start of the ceremony. Volunteers sat on either side of the ship's hull listening to speeches by special guests, including Sarah Bullard, the great great great granddaughter of Charles Wain Morgan, the original ship's owner. Quentin Snediker, the director of the renovation, stood alongside Sarah while she read her speech, holding a colorfully ribboned bottle filled with water from the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans. 

Sarah christened the ship by smashing the colorful bottle against the Morgan's keel.

The Morgan is slowly lowered into the water as Quentin looks on. Two young volunteers dutifully held on to her line during the whole process.

The ship became afloat and the entire seaport cheered!

Three ladies from the 19th century magically appeared out of nowhere 

(to my delight and astonishment) and joined the festivities.