The Book of Travels (sketchbook 18) was a full moleskine but was generally drawn over double pages so the documentation here seems much shorter and the book is already nearing its end. It records a bittersweet period in my life because it goes from the blissful week in San Francisco with mum through to this adventure in New York but, in the interim, (and on another adventure to Wales, actually recorded in the previous book) I came home early because we had had the news that mum was ill. We were still reeling from just loosing her wonderful sister May when we lost her too. I was trying to process this and a while later, for Cal’s 40th, we went to visit our wonderful Andy and Kate in New York. The adventure was great but I think I also experienced a recurrence of grief. I had felt really travel sick on the flight and had to spend some time catching my breath when I arrived but somehow the skyscrapers and the smell of the dollars triggered rich memory and made me think we should have been in San Francisco. I was suddenly acutely aware of mum not being around. I had always wanted to see both cities and New York was fascinating and our hosts were amazing. Had I not been carrying my sadness with me I may have travelled lighter this time. The first of these here was the Manhattan skyline from Andy’s side of the river when I had gone out drawing. I often love to be in a new place on my own and just see it by drawing it. It’s a meditation. The second was actually the view from his balcony. I couldn’t believe we could actually see the Statue of Liberty from his flat. The third contained the first doodle ideas for the paintings I then made for them, after sitting one morning with bagel and coffee discussing the idea with Kate as something to link Liverpool, New York and her home in Indianapolis by the water flowing through them. After this are more found stickers, the Flat Iron building and me at the top of the Rock with the Empire State over my shoulder. #traveljournal #sketchbook #newyork #newjersey #manhattan #rockerfellercenter #drawing #urbansketchers #bigapple #megacityone #memories #mum #liverpoolartist #statueofliberty #missingsomeone #wishyouwerehere (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cjp5FJFqRAc/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

𝑳𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝑺𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒓 𝑩𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒆 & 𝑮𝒓𝒐𝒐𝒎 #nycphotography #weddingphotography #summerphotography #bride #groom #married #committed #love #wedding #rockerfellercenter #streetphotography #blue #white #weddingdress #flowers #kiss #happiness #nycphotographer #rawartist #klmphotographic2022 (at Rockefeller Center) https://www.instagram.com/p/CioJRTDuehN/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

día de los muertos. selena. 💜

Dear future, just hold my hand, and I promise I'll do all that I can... I could be your greatest support. Because true love, thats the dream. 🥰 #nyc #rockerfellercenter #topoftherock #summit #viewsthatmakeyoufallinlove #loveislove #traveltheworld #passion #passport #happiness #nature #heals #culture #traumahealing #survivor #depressionbattle #anxietyrecovery https://www.instagram.com/p/Cee-5DJAAVh/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

My casual walk around the city!

False lights 🎄True light moon 🌔

Manhattan sunset

Top of the Rock Rockerfeller Center, New York 2018 https://instagram.com/charmainecrobertson

I fell in love with her smile🥺

#reminiscing #rockerfellercenter #newyorkcity #bahumbug #stillprettythough #holidays #alltheprettythings #myjourney #junkiejournals (at The Rockerfeller Centre) https://www.instagram.com/p/B815WOYg1YS/?igshid=10sqbd7y0jom9

World

Famous views of the world playing cards. 54 colour pictures No. 606

Rockerfeller Center, New York, U.S.A.

New York City, New York.

#behindthewalls #jaumeplensa #friezesculpture #art #sculpture #artist #nyc #rockerfellercenter https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw-8v9GFSVx/?igshid=maqvq5iv2kw4

Its a onsie type of day. At work not wanting to change