Lario Park

A recent paint-out was at Lario Park in Azusa, CA.  I hadn't been there before so I was looking forward to it.  Fellow painters said there would be a nice view of the mountains.  Those would be the San Gabriel Mountains, with the highest elevation at 10,000 feet.  On the south side of the range, the largest runoff flows into the San Gabriel River, which flows out of the mountains near Azusa and into the urban San Gabriel Valley, and eventually into the Pacific Ocean.

Lario Park turned out to be just a parking lot, small picnic area, and restrooms beside the San Gabriel River which is now a flood control channel.  It was a beautiful clear day and not too hot for plein air painting.  There were many hikers, dog walkers, and cyclists out on the bike path, San Gabriel River Trail, that edges the river.  Our group had a big turnout of artists anxious to paint!

The view I chose to try includes the Punta Larga Railroad Bridge in the distance.  It was built in 1907 before the river was made into a flood control channel, and is open to pedestrians, cyclists, and equestrians.  The area has native shrubs and grasses which survive on rainfall, plus many birds and lizards.  A fun place for painting!  I'll include a photo of my view and also a shot of some of my painting friends at work.