I am finding that when I’m walking around a city, searching for something to draw, I have no interest in drawing monumental landmarks or the quintessential tourist attraction. There’s something generic about drawing the most obvious subject when you arrive in a city that I don’t like.
Instead, I really enjoy drawing scenes that I discover that are on a much smaller scale, like this local vendor who was selling bags of peppers, garlic, and spices. I’m attracted to the vast array of diverse shapes and textures, seeing the bulbous pieces of garlic through the pink plastic bad they sat within. Those bags, with the sheen of the plastic juice bottles on top were a terrific contrast against each other. I loved the sheets of crinkled newspaper that were hanging out of the green bins of oranges. As an artist, you can’t ask for more than that.
I don’t have much time to devote to drawing on this trip, the school (PS One Portfolio School) is keeping me busy with lectures and drawing workshops in 3 cities: Beijing, Chengdu, and Shanghai. I presented to a large audience yesterday in Chengdu for prospective parents and students at their open house event.
Clara Lieu 