Last 2017 Paint-out

What a beautiful day for the final Saturday paint-out in 2107!  We met at Monrovia Library Park.  The library park takes up a whole city block in the center of Monrovia.  I was happy to see so many festive decorations, garlands and wreaths, for the holidays.  There are colorful street scenes around the library block, some beautiful trees, and even a view of the mountains.  I chose a view of a busy intersection that had some colors I always like to use.  While painting it was fun to see all of the classic cars cruising by and families out walking their dogs.  I'm looking forward to more plein air painting next year, and I wish all of you a wonderful 2018.

7" x 5" Watercolor

Bill working on his painting 

Deck The Walls!

I'm so excited and honored to be able to participate in the holiday show at the Laurie Hendricks Gallery in South Pasadena.  The gallery asked artists who had shown there during the past year to share some new works for the holiday season.  I chose two favorite plein air gouache pieces for the show.  What a happy end to the year!

Gold Lanterns and Arcadia Windmill 

Rialto Holidays

Our paint-out today was at the old 1925 Rialto Theater in South Pasadena.  The last time I painted there was about six months ago, Filming.  There was filming that day so I chose another view to paint.  The theater is still being restored and the outside still looks very bad but repairs have started on the interior.  For the holidays, "It's a Wonderful Life" is being shown there this weekend.  And I was happy to see the marquee decorated with garlands and red bows.  I've painted the building several times before, and there weren't many spots to paint from which were in the shade.  When I looked across the street I really liked my view of three artist friends and some tall palm trees in the distance.  I always enjoy including plein air painters in my pieces so it was perfect!

7" x 5" Watercolor

Brenda, Shinji, and Laural

South Pasadena High School marching band on their way to
 play at some local businesses for the holidays

A Busy Park

A few weeks ago our Saturday paint-out group returned to Arcadia Wilderness Park.  My blog post from my first visit was Wilderness Park.  The park is usually very quiet on Saturdays but not on this visit.  Many Boy Scouts were there with adults for a weekend of camping.  They had tents set up and were out hiking on the trails.  It wasn't too hard to stay out of their way since there are many nice views to paint.  The light down a quiet path near the Nature Center I thought looked promising for a painting.  As I painted, the quiet path turned out to be fairly busy.  It was a good thing that my set-up was off to the side of the main walkway.   It's always fun to chat with the kids who are curious about a plein air painter.       

5" x 7" Watercolor

Lummis Cacti

It seems I've been returning to paint-out locations where we were last year at about the same time.  A year ago when we met at the historic stone Lummis House I painted a gouache piece, Lummis Garden.  This year the Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles was there, setting up for Macbeth.  The stone home's facade would double as a Scottish castle for the performance.  That would take place in the evening so no problem with our paint-out.  I've always admired the old and large cacti planted along the east fence.  I tried a small gouache piece of that view, and look forward to our next visit.

7" x 5" Gouache

Scottish castle stand-in

East side gates

North side

 

The Offramp

It's been over three years since I painted at Defender's Parkway in Pasadena.  On that visit I looked to the east and tried a watercolor of a distant glimpse of downtown Pasadena, Defenders Parkway.  Since this small park is located at the main intersection of the Tournament of Roses Parade, bleachers were already set up for the New Years Day parade so a view to paint in that direction was out.  There are miles of bleachers to be set up before January 1st. so they start early.  Checking the west side of the park for a view to paint, there is the Colorado Street Bridge entrance, foothills and hillside homes, and a freeway offramp.  I really liked a view across the freeway offramp to some eucalyptus trees and a distant hillside for my small watercolor.  While we painted, it was fun to see photographers coming by with clients for photos on the famous bridge.

5" x 7" Watercolor

Grandview Point

A few weeks ago the paint-out group had Angel's Point in Elysian Park on the schedule.  Elysian Park covers some hills with wonderful views overlooking much of Los Angeles.  I tried painting there a few years ago but never found Angel's Point what with the maze of windy roads and smaller hills.  Unfortunately on this visit the gate to Angel's Point Rd. was closed.  No problem.  We found Grandview Point which has terrific views of downtown L.A. to the south, and the foothills to the north.  An ariel tramway was proposed to Grandview Point a few years ago.  I decided to paint a watercolor of the vista I could see through the trees and bushes from the hilltop.  Great views!

8" x 10" Watercolor

Los Angeles River with bridges

Metrolink Central Maintenance Facility,
historically Taylor Yard from the 1920's

Gates Closed...

A few weeks ago the paint-out group returned to the Los Angeles River Center and Gardens.  Unfortunately the gates were closed.  Many events, especially weddings, are held there because it's such a beautiful venue.  A wedding was going to be set up so we had to find a view to paint from outside the gates.  My previous completed painting was LA River Center.  On two other paint-outs we were told we had to leave in an hour for wedding preparations so I didn't finish my paintings.  Luckily there are many appealing views outside of the gates at this location.  The bougainvillea plants were bright with magenta flowers.  I decided to try a view of the hillside across the street which had some interesting elements that I like to include.  Hopefully the center will be open on our next visit.

7" x 5" Watercolor

Parking lot tree!

Hollenbeck Ducks

It's hard to believe that it's been four years since I painted at Hollenbeck Park, Hollenbeck Park Return.  The Saturday paint-out group returned on a pretty day a month or so ago.  The park is quiet in the morning and I love the lake with the many park birds...pigeons, ducks, and geese.  As usual it took me a while to choose my view to paint.  The palm trees surrounding the park are so beautiful, and the remaining part of the old boat house is appealing.  I found a nice spot under a tree with a view across the lake, including many birds.  As we were finishing our paintings some people with food for the birds arrived which brought them all.

7" x 5" Gouache

Curious Egyptian Geese

Vintage postcard of the old boat house.

Descanso Rose Garden

In September I returned to Descanso Gardens with one of the paint-out groups.  I can't believe I haven't posted a painting from there for over a year, my last piece, Descanso Train.  Coincidently the Enchanted Railroad train caught my eye again for a few photos.  I decided to try a watercolor of the Rose Pavilion entrance, the center piece in the rose garden.  There is a huge willow tree next to the pavilion that I painted in gouache a few years ago and never posted it on my blog so I'll include it today.  Descanso is on the painting scheduled again...so many views to paint there.

8" x 10" Watercolor

7" x 5" Gouache

Maintenance on the train