Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Brand Library


A few weeks ago I returned to paint at the Brand Library in Glendale.  It was two years ago when I painted a watercolor and posted it in Plein Air in Glendale.  At that time the library had just closed for a big renovation.  Two years and $10 million later the library is reopened and stunning.  The 1904 former private residence, called El Miradero, has always been an unusual building in Glendale with its exotic Eastern architecture, and now it's so exciting to revisit and appreciate all the improvements.  One of the painters in our group was on the architectural team specializing in authentic, historic, styles.  It was great to walk through with him for his knowledge of the renovation.  I painted a gouache because with it I can go back and forth with areas a little, which I thought I might need to do considering the fancy, notched arches. 
5 x 7" Gouache


The driveway entrance looking west from the library.


          

6 comments:

  1. Wow Sherry, a beautiful building but even more stunning painted by you.
    I was just about to write a blog post when this popped up and immediately I loved it

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  2. The details have been rendered beautifully, Sherry, and yet still loose! I really really like the blue you selected for the shadows on the grass, and under the arches. It works perfectly.

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    1. Thanks Terry, it's really hard to get these gouache paintings to look online as they do in person. The actual paintings are usually way more subtle color-wise.

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  3. You've packed a lot into this little painting, Sherry! You feel like you're getting all that architectural detail and yet it's the observer's eye that is filling in all the details. Well done!

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    1. Thanks Joani! So much detail in this building.

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