Thursday, October 18, 2012

Space!

On one of my early plein air paint-outs with the group we met at Griffith Observatory (opened in 1935) in Griffith Park, Los Angeles, CA.  We meet early in the day and the Observatory doesn't open until noon so I thought we would be about the only people there.  Wrong!  Besides lots of hikers, dog walkers, deliveries, and the school busses of kids, there were several television news crews doing live reports.  It turned out to be the height of the March solar storms.  Since they can disrupt technology on Earth, the news crews were there to report on possible power and GPS outages, and airline flight rerouting.

I stayed out of the reporters' way and set up where there was a nice view to try for my watercolor.  I'm posting my painting (9"x12" with a narrow border), and a photo of my view.  I also got a nice shot of a fellow painter just finishing up her oil of the hillside and rooftops.  And I'm thrilled about the last photo treat which you'll have to read about below!




I'm so happy Aaron Kiely gave me permission to post his photo here!  It is by far my favorite of the hundreds of shots I saw of the space shuttle Endeavour's final flight over Los Angeles landmarks on September 21, 2012.  What a gorgeous and dramatic photo of the planes!  The sharp Observatory in the foreground with the crowds, and hazy downtown Los Angeles in the distance...Love it.
Thank you Aaron!

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8 comments:

  1. UnknownOctober 19, 2012 at 12:05 PM

    The spot where I took the photo is probably my favorite view in Los Angeles. I've gone to this same spot in Griffith Park many mornings before dawn hoping to photograph a good sunrise (usually without much luck). Even when it's still dark, as I sit there hoping for the sky to become colorful, a surprising number of people, many of them elderly, pass below my perch on their morning walk/hike/jog. So I can confirm that the area can be pretty active even early in the day.

    I'm so glad I got to see your painting of the observatory, I love it. I'm a fan of architectural and landscape images, and you have a real talent for it.

    Thanks,
    Aaron Kiely

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    1. Sherry SchmidtOctober 19, 2012 at 3:53 PM

      Aaron, thank you again, and also for more of the story! I'm happy you like my paintings too!

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  2. UnknownOctober 19, 2012 at 2:57 PM

    I was just at the Observatory last year for the very first time, and I think your painting really captures the atmosphere and light.

    Wow, what an amazing photo of the shuttle and LA!!!!

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    1. Sherry SchmidtOctober 19, 2012 at 3:55 PM

      Thanks Terry! I was pretty new at my recent plein air painting in March. The group will be back there and I'll try another. An amazing photo!

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  3. KonstantinaPOctober 20, 2012 at 5:47 AM

    What an impressive post dear Sherry! Very interesting, I really enjoyed it. The last photo is, as you said, strikingly dramatic.
    Your painting is also very beautiful and, once again, you impress me with the fact that you can paint with all these people around you!
    Warm regards.

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    1. Sherry SchmidtOctober 20, 2012 at 2:00 PM

      Hi Konstantina! Such a terrific photo! People don't seem to bother me while I'm painting. I hand-hold a watercolor block so maybe that's too "closed". Friends who use an easel have people talking to them more often. Take care~

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  4. AnonymousOctober 21, 2012 at 4:55 PM

    Great post, wonderful plein air sketch of the observatory and amazing photo of the shuttle.

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    1. Sherry SchmidtOctober 21, 2012 at 4:59 PM

      Thank you Carol! Amazing photo! Wish I was there too.

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