Friday, July 6, 2012
Afternoon
LA Café
LA Café
Process: Pencil sketch, watercolor wash, wet on wet, dry on
wet,
It is a warm afternoon, very sunny and beautiful. The cafes
along Spring Street are busy. There are a lot of people out walking dogs and
riding bikes. There are some interesting things to paint near LA Café including
the lamp posts benches, trees, cars and people. This is challenging trying to
include so many details and maintain space and perspective.
Saturday, July 7 2012
Evening (just before sunset)
Broadway, near 8th street
View of Eastern and
Tower Buildings from Los Angeles Brewing
Process: Pencil sketch, watercolor wash, wet on wet, dry on
wet, pencil
The Eastern Building in particular is very fascinating. It
represents the prime example of art deco in the theater district. This angle
was difficult and did not capture the composition I was after. The sketch I
made on the back of the watercolor based on the first is a better
representation of the desired composition.
Sunday, July 8 2012
3:30 – 5:00 PM
In front of the Globe Theater, Broadway between 7th
and 8th Street
View of Broadway From
The Globe Theater
Process: Pencil sketch, watercolor wash, wet on wet, dry on
wet, pencil
This one is 100 feet back from yesterday’s sketch at Los
Angeles Brewing Company. It was hot in the direct sun but this angle was much
better and allowed me to develop a stronger composition. Today I looked head on
instead of over my shoulder as well. This made it easier to stay focused on my
perspective. I like the strong pencil lines and I am tempted to ink this one.
Tuesday, July 10 2012
2:00 – 3:00 PM
Angels Knoll
View from Angel’s Knoll
Process: Pencil sketch, watercolor wash, wet on wet, dry on
wet, pen
Today is hot. I checked out a few spots on my walk, but
there isn’t much shade and a few spots that have caught my interest were busy.
I’ve been thinking of drawing from Bunker Hill a few times before so I decided
to check out the park on the hill, Angles Knoll. The shade and cool breeze was
very welcomed on this hot day. It must be close to 95 degrees! It was tough to
get a good vantage point through all the trees. There is a more wide view, but
today after a few tries I decided to just focus my attention toward city hall.
A short walk north led to a better view of City Hall and
actually the view Ed Kosa (1931) used. It is much different now with all the
growth. Where he stood is now a parking garage that would provide a great view,
but lacking in narrative potential. A more wide view from the park would be
better. By extending my composition down, I could show more park and more people.
The trees provide a nice contrast of cool shadows as well.
Tuesday, July 10 2012
3:30 – 6:00 PM
Near 7th and Grand
Diamond Exchange Theater
Process: Pencil sketch, watercolor wash, wet on wet, dry on
wet, pencil
“Take your diamonds and throw ‘em up like ya bulimic…”
I’ve admired this Diamond Exchange Building for months. It
makes me think of Kanye West. It
is very classy looking though. The sun shining down 7th lights it up
with golden highlights. Most of 7th street sits in shadow at this
hour.
The street is really busy with people going to and from work.
Mostly from. Students too. Many people stop to see what I’m doing. I’ve gotten
many compliments and some even stop to talk a bit. It is hard to find the
narrative other than that. People coming and going. Although this is the
jewelry district it is hard to tell if anyone is even looking at jewelry. The
old woman at the small newsstand seems to hold the most potential.
With this scale, I could not fit the whole view. I chopped the
farther end of 7th past hope. I kept what interested me most.
Wednesday, July 11 2012
4:00 – 5:30 PM
7th Street near Grand again
Today was tough. I spent a lot of extra time cutting paper and
going through previous sketches. I used wider paper today in hopes of getting
the scene right this time. I tried twice, but could not fit everything again. I
think tomorrow I need to draw some place with people. Maybe the park. I need to
develop my narrative, and so far I didn’t they are quite showing up. I have
been concentrating on the scenes. Maybe I need to focus more on what people are
doing. So far I feel that the sites help represent a bit of LA culture, but I
need more of the human side.
Thursday, July 12 2012
1:00 – 4:45 PM
Pershing Square
Pershing Square
8x10” 140lb Canson cold pressed paper
Process: Pencil sketch, watercolor wash, wet on wet, dry on
wet, pencil hatching
Today is mostly cloudy which makes for low contrast drab. I
woke up early but was uninspired. I got a late start. I decided to walk to the
park, but on my way I realized my painting form LA Café should be from the
other side of the street or in a way where you can see the café better.
The park is filled with people relaxing and easting lunch.
Occupy LA is here drumming and dancing. The park is pretty lively on this
cloudy day. At least I don’t have to worry about sunburn.
I talked to a lot of people today as they walked through. A
lot just had nice comments, a few even stopped and chatted for a while. One
couple stopped for a while and eventually asked if I felt a spiritual
connection to the scenes I painted. Was there divinity involved? I think they
tried to inject just a little too much into my work. He told me he saw “God at
work in there.” The occupy folks were very talkative and interested. They
stopped by a lot.
So far, out of all my LA paintings, I like this one best. I
think the people finally exist as a dominant subject. I enjoyed the bright
color and split compliments. The paper is much different and absorbs the
pigment quicker and deeper. Not sure how I feel about it yet.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Today is super hot and I am not feeling well. I walked by FIDM
campus today on my home from the store and I realized that Grand Hope Park is
right there. It is the park right in the middle of campus, but it is a city
park not just FIDM property. It was very lively with people playing Frisbee and
such. I will paint here tomorrow.
Saturday, July 14 2012
Grand Hope Park
Grand Hope Park
8x10” 140lb Canson cold pressed paper
Process: Pencil sketch, watercolor wash, wet on wet, dry on
wet, pencil
It is a bit cooler today than its been this week. The park is
dead. Only people napping or reading. A few people sitting and relaxing. It is
a very pretty park. Much more of a park than Pershing Square. It has an
interesting view of the LA skyline from here. Walking around the arts and
fashion districts and drawing this week I’ve come to realize many of the
buildings have Spanish roofs. It is surprising to see on modern city buildings.
I also have been getting more familiar with the order of the streets, from Fig
to Los Angeles. That used to really confuse me.
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