The Baldwin Park Sidewalk art festivals were canceled, but organizer Brad Biggs immediately followed up with a similar event each First Friday of each month in the Lake Ivanhoe antiques district (Orange Avenue between New Hampshire and Princeton). I had to go to the first of these sidewalk art shows. There was an assortment of artists set up in front of all the businesses in the neighborhood. Terry and I walked the whole show to see everything. Karen Cali, had a table set up with prints of many of her figurative drawings. She sat in a lawn chair and was busy blocking in a sketch documenting the First Friday event. Brad had offered me a spot where I could display my work but I only had the sketchbook that I was planning to use. I might decide to display my work her on some first Friday.
My wandering eye finally settled on this band that had just started to set up. I set out my camping chair and leaned back against a telephone pole. The group’s name is Chopper Stepe and I was happy to have this front row seat. Terry set up her lawn chair beside me and played with her iPhone. The group played an assorted mix of cover songs and original material. They had a seasoned feel and they relaxed right into the music.
I dashed off the sketch fairly quickly and just as I was finishing up adding watercolor washed, the group took a break. Terry and I walked the rounds one more time and said goodbye to Karen across the street before we hiked back to my truck.
Tomorrow Thor will sketch the Taco Truck Tast Test at Del Rio 9785 South Orange Blossom Trail between 9PM and 10PM.