Papel Picado

A recent plein air paint out was at the Pasadena Playhouse, a 1925 Spanish style theater with a lovely courtyard and fountain.  When I arrived, the Friends of the Playhouse ladies were setting up in the courtyard for their fund raising bazaar.  I didn't see a spot to paint where I would be out of their way so I walked up the street a ways.  There was a pretty, neat walkway next to the Zona Rosa coffee house.  It had benches, plants, and decorations as well as a city bench across the sidewalk for a nice view so I decided to try it.

I especially liked the Mexican cut-paper decorations, papel picado, which were hung like tissue paper banners, zig-zagging overhead the length of the walkway.  This walkway space is the location of a fun Dia de Los Muertos, Day of the Dead, event with fabulous paper mache skeletons and flowers at the entrance.  The day I was there the papel picado decorations were red, white, and green for Mexican Independence Day, September 16.

Since it was morning, the light and shadow in the walkway between the buildings was dramatic.  I tried to capture it.  I would like to try this view again to see if I can get the light and shadow better.  The papel picados perk it up nicely.  I'll try painting at the Pasadena Playhouse another day!