Thursday, August 27, 2015

Sparkletts

Wow, it was exciting to me to have an opportunity to paint with the group at the landmark Sparkletts Bottling Plant in Eagle Rock.  The exotic building is an eye-catcher, just a block off of the main street.  It was built in 1929 and looks like a middle eastern oasis...with a huge glittering, blue Sparkletts sign.

The morning we were there in June was overcast, our "June Gloom".  I hadn't visited the building before, although earlier in the week Huell Howser's visit was rerun on TV so I felt familiar with it.  The main entrance has a beautiful tile mosaic over the door but it's behind several layers of gates and fences.  I couldn't find a view I liked of the expansive front of the building from across the narrow street.  I went around to the east side which had the ambiance of the location and a palm tree added a nice "desert" touch.  Unfortunately I didn't leave much room on the sidewalk to add the father and son who walked by.  And I missed some tension when a Sparkletts employee came out to tell the group we were not allowed to paint the building.  She said photos were fine but not paintings.  Our leader expertly handled the situation and we finished our paintings.  That was a first!       


5" x 7" Gouache




Loved this yard and squirrel across the street.


10 comments:

  1. Sherry - you always fill your paintings with light and that makes them sparkle. This is really lovely. Hope you have a great week-end.

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  2. That's bizarre not to be allowed to paint a building! A neat building, and who but you would consider painting this back view and making it look so good! Your eye and skill amaze me.

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  3. Must be a change though to get some drama included in your paint out. Weird you would think painting would be OK and photography not!. You always make such interesting work from sometimes mundane looking shots, I would have walked on, show your expertise Sherry

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    1. Thanks Lorraine! Absolutely right about the added drama!

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  4. Nice painting. I've missed painting with you. Sure has been hot.

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    1. Thanks Barbara! It's certainly been awhile. And it's way too hot!

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  5. What a great job you did. That industrial looking backside edgeing up against the faux Middle Eastern domes is an intriguing point of view. I want to go back and do this.

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    1. Thanks Liz! Watch out for those painting police if you go...

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