Crossroads of the World

I was looking forward to the paint-out at the Crossroads of the World on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood.  In the 1980s when I was doing free-lance artwork, illustrating a line of greeting cards, one of the companies I worked with had their offices at the Crossroads of the World.  I hadn't been back to the location for quite a few years.  There is a central building made to resemble an ocean liner which is where I used to deliver my finished watercolors.  The stunning complex was built in 1936 and had retail shops in the surrounding cottage style bungalows.  Now those bungalows are private offices for entertainment industry companies.  Of course it's a location that has appeared in several movies. 

What a spectacular place to try a plein air painting!  The street entrance features a striking tower and spinning globe.  Well, it turned out that plein air painters needed advance reservations to paint there.  Okay, that news didn't stop us.  We went across the street and painted from the sidewalk.  It was a better view anyway.  I only had time to paint a small gouache.  I tried to capture the red, white and blue feeling of the landmark complex.  Hollywood is always exciting and our paint-out was no exception.

5x7" gouache

A view of the central ocean liner building from the back.

Some artists in our group painted the other artists!