Morning in Locke, CA

Returned home last week and have already had a week of painting. Weather here is warm and bright. This is a painting of the main street in the town of Locke, CA on Wed. morning. It was quiet but for a film crew finishing up a 4-day shoot. They were waiting for the right shadows in an alley of this old Chinese town. While setting up camera shots, they were interesting to talk with, since they waited much of the time. I have painted here many times over the years. The town is usually quiet on weekdays but attracts lots of visitors on weekends. I am always surprised the structures are still standing. The porches sag and are supported by long 2x4 poles. The entire block of buildings lean and I wonder if the collapse of one would set off a domino effect.

Main Street, Locke, CA

Last Sunday, I painted with my group in the historic Chinese town of Locke. The narrow main street with all the tall buildings is very appealing to the artist. The porches are supported with rather thin rickety posts and they are not square but leaning. There is so much detail. I tried to to simplify and also stay with a red yellow palette to give it an oriental or Asian feel. This is a painting that will be used in the studio on a rainy day.

Locke Alley

Painted in Locke, CA this Sunday. There is always the want to put everything into a painting done in this old historic Chinese town. There is so much subject matter. This sketch and painting was quick at the end of the day. It was my second. There was still some sun on the alley way but it quickly disappeared and got very cold. You discover that only the main elements get put into the painting when you are rushed and cold. I didn't like the composition or color at first, but now, I look at it and find many things that worked.

The Rickety Porches of Locke, CA

Last weekend, I was painting on a sunny day in Locke, CA. The place has changed from the '80's when I painted these same buildings. The long stilts that hold up porches are repaired for some. But others still have doors opening with nothing but a big drop! In setting up to paint, you are very close since the street is narrow. This is my painting above.
I took it home and wondered what it might look like if I had a bird's eye view of the buildings. I hurried this off and made it more horizontal than before. Next, I did the worm's eye view of the structures and tried to give them more Oriental coloring. I liked this view the best.
Lastly, I wondered what Klee would have seen if painting these porches, so I tried to abstract them in his mode.
My watercolor painting style is expressionist, since the structures are recognizable. I think that abstract art is a further step and envy the abstract artist who can do it. In watercolor painting I try to think several steps ahead but abstraction is thinking an order ahead. Expressionism is creating conflict from reality and requires value, temperature and color changes. When someone asks for me to do a painting of their house, I am not sure that they will recognize it when I'm done. My right brain is getting heard from.

Locke Gathering

It was a hazy morning in Locke and I was painting on the back street. I had plenty of company, many of them the resident artists. As the day moved along I witnessed the usual parade of motorcycles, photographers, etc. Can't wait to return on a nice sunny day to paint the funky places. I always think that they won't be around for long but they defy aging.