The California Art Club and the South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce presented yesterday’s fabulous Rialto Visions Plein Air Paint-Out. Artists set up easels along Fair Oaks Avenue to render versions of the beloved South Pas landmark in oil, watercolor, pastel, pencil and charcoal. A select group of works will be juried into an upcoming exhibition at SoPas Gallery.After everyone washed their brushes and packed away their paints, The Rialto opened for one night only to present a sneak preview of Local Color. I couldn’t make the evening show, but I thoroughly enjoyed strolling through the creative morning scene.
Here is Alex Schaefer wielding a paintbrush like a magic wand. I was particularly moved by the vibrant whimsy of this painting. For me, it really captures not just the grace, but the twinkly fun of our wonderful old theater. Alex told me that if the light was right in late afternoon, he might end up painting two canvases. (You guys all know how I feel about the light at The Rialto!) I don’t know if he made his goal, but I’m glad I could be a bystander to observe the process of his work – and that of all the other artists.
25 comments:
I'm always amazed how these painters can't help but get their paints all over their clothes.
Kinda like little kids with food who can't seem to help but get it all over themselves.
There must be both little & bigger kids.
It's wunderful 2 c this haunted place get such colorful treatment.
L, this is 1 of my fav pics from your collection. It's just so...I don't know. I can't come up with the right word. I guess it's just so wordless!
Laurie, you know that this is right up my alley. I wish I could be there and had the ambition to get out my paints again. de cafe, artists get paint all over their clothes because painting is a messy endeavor. I always wore one of my husband's old shirts and it didn't matter. More power to these sidewalk artists. Keep the Rialto alive!
Oh, for a minute, I could have sworn I was in Montmartre! Love this artist in action photo L. You're text always just draws me in and every day I vow that I am going to keep my mouth shut on my blog till I can learn to write like you!
I love this, with the painting and the real deal in the back ground. I wish I could paint like this! Awesome painting, did you buy it? ;)
Great photo Laurie and what a fun community activity. I love the way you framed this so we could see the artists version of the real thing in the background.
Please tell Alex that I love the vibrant hues in his painting!
I love watching artists at work, in any medium! It's just so wonderful and magical, their gifts of creating. That must have been so fun!
already chilly out there?
I like to see artists working out in the world and public art out in the open. It seems to me that when I was growing up in the middle of the last century artists had isolated themselves into an elite and art was something that only existed in galleries for the cognoscenti and I'm glad to see this changing. And I like this photo the way you've got the Rialto sign echoed in the painting on a diagonal that intersects with the parallels between the two painters and their easels. The shadow that cuts across from top right to lower left is also very nice.
Hi Laurie- Great picture! I'm going to link to this on my blog. Yesterday was so much fun! Thanks to you and everyone for the compliments on my painting.
yes ken mac---chilly out in California now.
Well---actually, not cold, but it IS chilly for LA standards! ;-) We've had a lot of wind, so the temps dipping from our 90's or 80's into the 60's with wind chill makes it a bit nippy for some folks in the relatively early morning (as this pic was obviously taken).
L---great shot of a grand old lady and the artists bringing her back to life! The Rialto, up the street to the Fair Oaks Pharmacy and the action of the cars on the street, but all the while, the theatre being the focus, in print and paint!
I almost feel like I am standing there--the warmth of the October morning sun, the chill of the winds...aaah!
If I were an artist, I would be be a plein air-ist.
On my bookshelf I have Popcorn Palaces, a collection of paintings by David Cone. Fans of Art Deco movie theatres might enjoy the paintings.
I don't know how to insert links in to comments but here is the best website I've been able to find.
http://www.forumgallery.com/adetail.php?id=76&imagenum=3
Nice job Laurie and Alex
Laurie: the California Art Club link may be broken. Have you ever seen the plein air paintings of the arroyo? You can find a video/dvd on the subject at the SP library. It's worth a look. Nice work Alex Schaefer. Lovely choice to use pale yellow.
Hello Laurie !
Great post !
I love this, with the painting and the real deal in the back ground.
Great photo, too.
See You later.
I couldn't help thinking of the street artists in Florence. They lined the street outside our hotel selling their paintings and etchings of the historic buildings and cathedrals - especially the historic duomo. I didn't really see the beautiful yellow light all around the piazza before seeing it captured by the artists. Laurie, your photos do that too. Art (and that includes photography) lets us see through the eyes of another.
Benjamin's thoughts were interesting. I live in a world, were the artist is still seen as elitist and elusive, we are invited to clandestine opening and it is still a veiled (not our choice) world. For Gary, my partner the artist and I, we would both prefer our art to be slap bang in the middle of all, but the barriers are self imposed by the island public.
This is a lovely image of the artist at work. Like the photographer, the artist is afterall just doing a job to pay the bills, and hopefully bring a smile to play upon the lips. If only we could do this here.
Each time I pass the Rialto, i want to get out and shoot off a few frames. i miss that place. On another note, I appreciate your writing and photos. Good job.
" Alex told me that if the light was right in late afternoon, he might end up painting two canvases."
...and photographers think they have it rough!
Great shot, that looks like a lot of fun.
i would love to partake in something like this - i've only ever painted once in my life (outside of my school days) and that was in a damp basement in my old residence. i'm such a perfectionist though i'm not sure if i could finish it all in one day - though with static things such as architecture i guess it doesn't matter... i love the reference to the painter's subject in your subject with the real rialto in the background. witty :)
Burd.
Hi all,
Welcome jt! I see Petrea already follows your fabulous Los Angeles Daily Photo blog. Now everyone else run over and check it out. And you're in Pasadena, to boot!
And Welcome Alex, subject of today's photo! Glad to see you over here -- and thanks for providing such an interesting subject!
Virginia, thank you so much. We seem to have a mutual admiration society going on, my good woman...
Wayne, you continue to recommend the most interesting things. Thanks for a great link!
PA, I have not seen the Arroyo plein air paintings. Thanks for the tip. (I never need an excuse to go to a library.)
Thanks, everyone, for such wonderful comments and kind words. I would love to see more art on the street days here in South Pas. I can't paint to save my life -- but I really admire those who can, and I like to be around their work! I don't know if you all remember that Robin Williams movie called What Dreams May Come, but there were scenes in it where he was actually walking around in paintings. I'd love to be able to do that!
Until next time, my friends.
Oh how wonderful. Like a hint of Paris on the west coast. I can hear "La Vie en Rose" playing in the background.
I'm happy to be in your blog! I made a link to your post on my blog. I'm going to be painting someplace in South Pasadena tomorrow in the morning/afternoon. Not sure where or whene, but call me if you'd like to take pictures! Trying to blast out a few more paintings for the "Rialto Visions" show coming up. I like to work fast! ^_^
Howdy Alex! Happy to have you here! I put a link to your blog on my blogroll -- we have to keep up with your latest work.
Sorry I missed your Busters paint-out today. Now everyone run over to Alex's site to check out his version of my favorite ice cream and coffee shop.
Hi Laurie,
I'm another one of the plein air painters who participated. Thanks for covering the topic on your blog (which is a really fun read, and bookmarked.)
I just posted one of my paintings on my blog, link below - more to come as I keep painting in beautiful So Pas!
Karen Winters' Rialto painting
Great Blog, I'm having an exhibit on Feb 25th 2009 at Cartoon Network Studios and one of my pieces is a portrait of the Rialto.
anyhow let's connect on blogger.
Valerio
v2finearts.blogspot.com
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