Chinatown!

Our Saturday plein air group returned to paint at L.A.'s Chinatown recently.  This is my previous post on Chinatown LA!  There is a smaller plaza across Hill Street where we met this time.  The buildings aren't as ornate but it still has a neat Chinatown feel.  Chung King Road is the main pedestrian street featuring specialty shops, art importers, and art galleries.  Art galleries moved in when storefronts were sitting unused several years ago.  It was very quiet on Saturday morning with only a small grocery store open. 

One of our painters, Pete Morris, suggested this area of Chinatown since he had spotted a narrow alley with stairs on both sides which he wanted to paint.  We all thought the alley was terrific and would be fun to try.  But there was no shade at the south end where Pete was painting.  He had a spot in a parking lot on blacktop which was already heating up.  I had to find another view to paint.  Looking down the alley from the north end, which had shade, was interesting but it was pretty smelly in the morning.  We saw several alley cats too.  I finally chose a view looking north along Chung King Road with the festive red lanterns I love to add.  The shops were just starting to open when we finished painting about noon.  I'm looking forward to our next paint-out there!

There is Pete painting at the other end!