Los Angeles Plein Air Festival

I enjoyed painting some scenes at Los Angeles Plein Air Festival this past weekend. Unlike last year, when I roamed all around Downtown LA from the City Hall to The Broad, I concentrated on 3-block area around 5th-7th Streets and Broadway to Main. There were still a wealth of things to draw, and the weather was a tad cooler than last year, too, so that helped.

The first stop was Spring Street Arcade. Its filtered skylight reminds me of buildings I saw Manchester this summer (as it turns out, it was modeled after Burlington Arcade in London). I ate at Crepes Sans Frontieres inside the Arcade, and I ordered a honey lavender crepe to complete the French feel. This is a rare sketch of mine that includes food since I'm usually eager to eat first!

As the afternoon wore on, the light started to shift. I went to sketch in front of the Regent Theatre and Prufrock Pizzeria next door. Their pizza was tasty.

I came back the next day to watch my fellow urban sketcher Virginia's demo at Historic Downtown Farmer's Market. I was able to get this view because the street was closed off to car traffic and I could sit in the middle of the road.

I also spotted a Halloween decoration of giant spider and its web covering the pediment of Crocker Club, which is somehow appropriate for ornate façade. I would say it's very "goth" though I know the building isn't in a true Gothic style.

Afterwards, a group of sketchers and I went to Clifton's Cafeteria for lunch. It was my first time visiting this venerable L.A. institution filled with visual feast of kitschy elements. More autumn decorations are set up here: pumpkins are everywhere. 

I sketched a lot and ate well among my fellow artists - a great weekend, indeed!