Akiko’s dead blog - 1618-v1

sketched while waiting for Thai food take out. It felt like you were in the 40’s - somewhere in Saigon or something - not that I’ve ever been there..

Took a really short family reunion trip to NJ over the weekend. Took advantage of JetBlue departing from Burbank Airport.

airport sketches:

I only had 1 day to roam the city - focused on lower Manhattan

which is stronger by all means - those weeds or the steel pipe?

Did a solo sketchcrawl - walked from my apartment to the Metro station, and rode the Gold line, checked out Union station, walked downtown, stopped by the motion picture costume exhibit at FIDM, and headed home. I was only out for 6 hours, so I guess that’s a half day crawl for me.

Here are some of the better sketches from that day.

I walk by these 3 all the time. What makes them want to grow sideways??

Among the development in this area, these houses remain rooted. I hope it stays that way. Although it could use some fixing.

Got off the red line at Persing Square. I know that camera was looking at me, but kept sketching.

Inside of Pacific center building. I was suprised to see such gorgeous interior.

Some more sketches to come. I did get frustrated sketching outside, when you see something, but can’t get it down like you want it. I made a lot of chicken scratch sketches and took reference photos. Hopefully I will work on it soon!

alley’s are fun, but stinky to be at..

Sam Hyde Harris is one of my favorite plein air painter, and I am very excited to go see his show at the Pasadena Museum of History. One room is dedicated to his commercial work, and the other, his plein air paintings. I didn’t know he had done so much commercial work till this exhibit. I really like all his work and went there twice already to do studies.

What I like about his paintings are that he is really good at subtle colors with temperature differences seen on foggy days or cloudy days. I find it really hard to paint light gray colors without being chalky. He paints really beautiful muddy colors - if you know what I mean.

we walked out of the museum to a hazy day, and I saw all his colors out there.

info at: Who Was Sam? The Art of Sam Hyde Harris (1889-1977)

scanning never comes out like the original colors..

quick color with acrylic from a sketch I did a week ago -

Seeley’s furniture building in Glendale