Monday, January 27, 2014

Ports 'O Call

Last week one of the plein air groups met in San Pedro where the Port of Los Angeles is located.  There is a busy touristy area called Ports 'O Call Village which features waterfront shops and restaurants beside a busy channel with cruise ships, cargo ships, and an occasional fire boat.  Just across the parking lot is another channel where there are working boats, fishing net maintenance, etc. which is a neat place for plein air artists to paint.  I painted there in 2012 and posted my watercolor in San Pedro.     

It was another beautiful morning at the harbor.  Shade was hard to find again.  I ended up painting close to a row boat and pile of nets which had some shade for awhile.  There are so many exciting views to choose from.  I was happy to be satisfied to try what I could see from my bit of shade.  I will bring my umbrella next time.  

Speaking of next time, a fellow painter mentioned a plaza area at the end of the channel which I hadn't checked out before and there were wonderful views.  That's where I'll paint from on my next paint-out there.  At this spot was a fascinating public sculpture, a 40-foot-tall bluefin tuna suspended by its tail from a steel frame, titled Ghost Fish 107 by Carl Cheng.  It commemorates the once thriving tuna fishing and canning industry which was at the site until it began shutting down a generation ago.  (I remember an elementary school field trip to the Starkist cannery there.)  The open frame fish is full of nets, buoys, tools, ropes, license plates, gauges, and other detritus resting at its head.  The fish's eye was especially playful and appealing.
   

8 x 10 watercolor


Ghost Fish 107 by Carl Cheng

14 comments:

  1. The door and red buoy create a perfect visual 'sweet spot' against all the darker angles. Nice framing and composition!

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    1. Hi Mary, thank you so much for visiting and commenting!

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  2. Luv the way you are looking through the rigging

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  3. Wow, lots of wonderful diagonals, Sherry and consequently lots of energy and action! Love this!

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  4. Another wonderful plein air, Sherry. Love the values and contrasts, with just the right amount of detail to tell the story. Your colorful highlights finish it off so nicely.

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    1. Thank you Terry! I really appreciate your comments.

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  5. I like to visit and see fishing ships on ports so this watercolor was nice to see. I like the way you painted the sun lighted doors and rigging of the vessel . Thanks also for the nice description of the place :-)

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    1. Hi Phanis! Thank you so much for visiting and your nice comment!

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  6. Dear Sherry - such an intriguing subject and you caught it so well. I have never been around ships much so it is nice to see this scene. Thanks for sharing. Have fun painting this week-end.

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    1. Thank you Debbie! I don't get to the beach area as often as I'd like to. Fun to try.

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  7. Fascinating shapes and detail! Gorgeous!

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    1. Thanks Leslie! It was so nice to paint by the water that morning.

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