Sketches of LEAF

Oh no! My last post was in August. Sorry! I haven't even kept up with my altered calendar because I have been putting so much energy into creating a studio space and moving into a new house. Life does that sometimes, but I am here to post the sketches I did on my trip to North Carolina last week-- I went down to Asheville by way of Charlotte, met tons of wonderful dancers, many of whom offered beds and futons and rides and food and great conversations and, naturally, dancing. The main event was a music and arts festival called LEAF, which happens twice a year. It was wonderful-- I think I stepped into a magic fairy land for a little while. There was contra dancing every day, slam poetry, delicious festival food, and I sketched anything I could in spare moments.

The view from our southbound plane window. Air plane en en plein air!

Anyone who has been to LEAF probably will recognize this chair. There are hundreds like it in the main dining hall. To the left of the chair, some sketches done while people-watching. 

I spent a great deal of time on this nightscape, and I don't think this image really conveys the drawing very well but I think you get the idea! This is the view from the merch tent where I was volunteering. 

I got to see Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn perform at LEAF as well and at one point, Abigail Washburn introduced a song by asking the crowd, "so who else here likes old-timey murder ballads?" The audience responded with wild cheering, of course. It inspired this drawing:

After LEAF, we spent a day exploring Asheville, which it a lovely town full of cute local craft stores and great cafés, like this one where Neil and I ate breakfast (ok, it was probably about 2 PM, so, more like late lunch of breakfast food).

The next day we piled into a car with a bunch of other contra dancers and headed back to the airport. See ya next time, NC!