Exploring Los Angeles Neighborhoods

...continuing west on Sunset Blvd. through the Los Angeles neighborhood of Silver Lake...small cafes and shops, and lots of interesting people!


At an intersection on Sunset,
there's a tiny, green polka-dotted plaza
called "L.A.'s first pedestrian plaza conversion".
Local residents shoot a few hoops
while others enjoy the summer afternoon...

...at a small, weekday farmer's
market, the bluesman sets the mood
with some casual riffs...

...a block south of Sunset on Vendome, a narrow side street, is an important Los Angeles cultural site...the original location for Laurel and Hardy's 1932 film, "The Music Box"...what a treasure!  It's used by neighborhood people walking their dogs, and film fans regularly visit.  You can't help but wonder how they ever got a piano up those steps!

Exploring Los Angeles Neighborhoods

...heading west on Sunset Blvd. next takes you through Silver Lake.  I spent the first 7 years of my life in this neighborhood...perhaps it wasn't as hip then, but it's always been the home of artists, film makers and other creative people...

The hilly neighborhood just north
of Sunset as you leave Echo Park
heading towards Silver Lake...

When you're out drawing on location, you never know what you'll see!  I was sitting at the corner of Sunset and Silver Lake Blvd., almost finished with my sketch of this green jewel of a hamburger restaurant...

...when around the corner came a group of bicyclists whooping and hooting...as you'll notice, minus the usual bicycle gear!  I later discovered that I just happened to witness the "Los Angeles World Naked Bike Ride"!  This was going on in cities around the world that day...






A few blocks west, I found a corner with interesting views in all directions...El 7 Mares, old and new houses across the street, and street-side "antiques" for sale on Sunset Blvd...

Exploring Los Angeles Neighborhoods

...my favorite subject is the city where I was born, Los Angeles.  It is sprawling, ever-changing, so there's always opportunity to discover new neighborhoods or re-discover old ones...I have been drawing Los Angeles by neighborhoods...here are some sketches of Echo Park...

I remember when the lake had lotuses...which seemed to suddenly and mysteriously disappear.  Last year it was still a favorite spot for families to gather.  It has now been drained, and is undergoing reconstruction. Hope to see the paddle boats and the lotuses return some day!








Echo Park is an interesting neighborhood of vintage clothing, antiques, music, botanicas, many ethnic cafes--some views along Sunset Blvd...

More downtown views...

...at some favorite places to visit and draw in downtown Los Angeles...

I always love returning to the Grand Central Market to shop (and sketch, of course!)...

 

Valeria's is the greatest place to buy chiles...and other interesting things...

...and another sketch at Olvera Street, the oldest street in Los Angeles, and the center of El Pueblo De Los Angeles...these last two made during a Worldwide Sketchcrawl with the Los Angeles group...

...across the street at Union Station...