Colorado Street Bridge

On an overcast June day, I set up my easel to paint one of the impressive piers of the iconic Colorado Street Bridge spanning Pasadena’s Arroyo Seco. Built in 1912, the bridge is a masterpiece of architecture and engineering. In the distance the utilitarian overpass of SR-134 - the Ventura Freeway - can be seen, while vegetation claims the foreground spaces. The silver light of a gray day yields dark shadows and lends tonal qualities to all colors. Here curves offset the verticals and horizontals. Together, they give their strength and power to the top portion of the canvas, while below the foliage remains unrestrained by orthogonal strictures.