A few weeks ago, the Saturday plein air group met at the Richardson House in Sierra Madre. I painted a watercolor there about six months before and posted about that visit in Richardson House. This time our paint-out was on the verge of being rained out. The weather was threatening but since I was there I tried to find a view to paint.
The 1890's Richardson House stands at the foot of the Mount Wilson Trail. Now a museum, it's been restored and is maintained by the city. In 1913, a structure was moved next door which became Lizzie's Trail Inn. Lizzie's served fried chicken and ravioli to the hikers and packers of the popular trail until the Inn closed in 1948. It's preserved and is also a museum today. We were lucky since it was Saturday it was open to the public. What a treat to see inside! Quite a time warp.
The weather was very damp which makes watercolor painting difficult. There were a couple porches to paint under but I didn't see an appealing view. I walked around the back and found the run-down buildings very interesting. But there was no sun to make great shadows, and it drizzled on and off. I chose a tree to paint under and went with what I saw from there. I tried a quick gouache piece of the hillside before it really started sprinkling and the tree wasn't good shelter any longer.
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| 5 x 7" Gouache |
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| The east side of Lizzie's. |
You do make the most of a view with your lovely paintings
ReplyDeleteHi Polly, Thanks!
DeleteWas about to say the same as Polly,you certainly have a handle on the gouache Sherry and you little en plein air pieces depict the scenes so much more interesting than the photo
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Lorraine!
Delete...and this is why I thought you had left. Considering the time restraints you were under, this came out great. But yes, shadows do help when your painting structures. btw -- like that you kept the bottle.
ReplyDeleteThanks Liz! Had to keep the bottle...
DeleteI enjoyed your story. And think that you have eyes like a true artist, it shows in the way you transformed a rather dull view into a lovely piece of art :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Catharina! Exactly what I thought about the view but I do like the gouache piece.
DeleteDEAR SHERRY - LOOKS TO ME LIKE YOU DIDN'T LET THAT DRIZZLE KEEP YOU FROM CREATING SOMETHING SO LOVELY.
ReplyDeleteThank you Debbie!
DeleteYou really caught the feel of the rainy day, Sherry!
ReplyDeleteThanks, it certainly was rainier than I had hoped. :-)
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