Watercolor #24 in 33 Years: Pasadena Power Plant
by Pasadena Adjacent
April 18 2015
I mentioned earlier in my blog about a run of successes being followed by a few duds. This is the final dud in that series. Waterlogue wins. Although I remain on the fence as to the Garfield Park painting.
En pleine air #24 took place at that little industrial section bordering Raymond Hill in South Pasadena. It sits between railroad tracks and the Pasadena Freeway and south of Glenarm. After exploring my compositional options and discovering that most were without shade, I chose to lean up against a wall on a cardboard box I dug out of the garbage of the nearby Raymond Restaurant. And things went south from there. Which is too bad because I really like this area and had high hopes.
[WARNING SHOP TALK] This composition required a keen sense of perspective — which I wasn’t up to. It’s called a one point perspective. Happening in the basic set up, the foreground wall and R.R. tracks leading to one point — but all the other lines within the elements (building and industrial) aren’t really corresponding to that single point. I completely mishandled the sky and mountains compressing east to west and expanding north to south. The color – bleh. The industrial towers? I just couldn’t figure out how to edit them and have them make sense. I like the treatment for the fountain grass on the left, the deep green reflection on the building and the purple shadow cast by the right hand wall. I don’t hate it. It just fell short of my ambitions. And I learn from those experiences too.
The good news is that I’m back on a winning streak. #25 turns out to be my favorite of all – and #26 is a close contender. I’m excited to show you. Stay tuned.
Pasadena Adjacent 
Our Editor Responds: if you respond
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I think you added a lot to a desolate place. I don’t know how to get inspired by such a place. Though, this painting is inspiring and I am always looking forward to your next.
Our Editor Responds: Thank you. I met a homeless guy. Or maybe just an old guy collecting cans. One of the perks.
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Love it! I think it’s beautiful, definitely not a “dud.” I also think that you are much too hard on yourself!
Our Editor Responds: This is the first time I’ve been the one in charge of critiquing my work. It’s always been instructors or committees. And now I discover I’m a bitch. LOL
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I don’t understand perspective terminology; also, don’t understand perspective. Very ambitious to take on this area, though I also find the area interesting to look at.
You’re right about the elongated north-south and the squished e-w. Still, the painting is beautiful.
Our Editor Responds: I keep looking at the photo. I got kind of lost as to what happens when you hit ‘the point.’ You really have to enlarge the photo to figure out how it all converged. Something you really can’t do on site.
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Wonderful Liz! I just love this type of subject for some reason. :-)
Our Editor Responds: I know you do. Your concrete is a ‘wonder’
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The whole landscape looks kind of like an art installation, which I think is good. Love what you did with the flowers.
Our Editor Responds: Wait till you see the Matjila poppies. Look like fried eggs.
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I disagree with you on the industrial towers, the round greenish ones are really defined with detail and shadows. Looks like the spot you painted from is a little closer in than the photo (which explain, how that mongrel Elwood only shows up in the photo) and if I didn’t know better the white clouds could almost pass for distant snow covered mountains…which we all know didn’t quite happen over the winter.
(WARNING: SHOP TALK …from a non-artist) I thought the perspective point is often not very obvious in a drawing and the eye sorta finds it without realizing. Does that even make sense to anyone?
Our Editor Responds: The towers are ok except for that green blob of paint that went outside the line. I think it has something to do with the paper. As beautiful as it is, it really buckles up when you apply a wash. Why the clouds look so wonky.
Your right about that perspective. I had a really hard time seeing what was happening at the end of the point: which might explain the asphalt road. With perspective, you have a sort of mid distance point that lines move towards, In this case it’s off to the right. The hard part is making all the horizontal lines move towards that midway point. And the verticals have another kind of logic. The farther away, the closer they appear to one another. The closer to the picture frame (your vantage point) the farther they are between lines. Has Elwood had enough yet?
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I actually really like the area. I find it compelling, as is your painting.
All it needs to make it perfect is the pooper! Everything can be improved by a dog, if you ask me.
Our Editor Responds: I’m with you, I like the area. As far as poopers, if you look at the left hand corner of the wee vid, you’ll see one. Elwood from Peoria often comes to me in my dreams.
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I know every nook and cranny of the power plant. If I were still employed by the City of Pasadena, I could get you inside for a real thrill!
Our Editor Responds: And a thrill it would be! I’m sure you have a favor owed. Lets trade it in for one of my ‘mystery history’ wins.
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I saw Elwood in your wee video. Maybe he didn’t want to sit still for the painting. Dogs are known to move about.
A tour of that power plant…Ann, you’ve got my wheels turning! That sounds so cool. Does the city still own it?
Our Editor Responds: Well, he did make his way from Peoria. (whisper) lets work on Ann
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I like the colour palette, PA ~ it sets the tone for the subject really nicely !
Our Editor Responds: Thanks Shell
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