What could be more bucolic, more artsy, more Seurat than coming across a painter in the Arroyo Seco, practically in the shadow of the Colorado Street Bridge?John and I were walking with Boz when we saw Eric Merrell's umbrella. I just had to go find out what he was painting. But we'd caught him between paintings, and he was peering at a blank canvas. Thinking. Looking around. Checking out the light.
He was nice enough to let me take photos, but an artist has a process and I didn't want to bother him for long. We exchanged urls, as gentlefolk do in polite society.
Here's Eric's outstanding website. Here's Eric's thoughtful blog.
On the website, you'll see he's currently part of a show at the Cape Cod Museum of Art, and he opens at the Addison Art Gallery in Orleans, MA on Valentine's Day (break a leg, Eric!). Right here in Pasadena we can get a look at his works from April 26th to May 17th at the California Art Club's 98th Annual Gold Medal Juried Exhibition at the Pasadena Museum of California Art.
I think I'll just go to that.
Below, the painter contemplates his next masterwork.
20 comments:
Serendipity. I wonder how many Impressionists were stumbled upon in Argenteuil and around Paris.
Quelle chance!
Boz in the picture looks like he is into art as well.
Absolutely my favorite Petrea photo ever. This is so wonderful. What a prolific and thoughtful artist, too. Thanks for the links!
Petrea: thank you for the link to the Australian Red Cross and for your kind words which I have read here'n'there. Very much appreciated: anything to keep me down-to-earth at this time.
Julie
I think I have to agree with Laurie. This has got to be one of my favorites. The background, the umbrella, Boz. It's a beauty.
Just wonderful. I have to link it to hometown-pasadena.com. I'm off for my every-Wednesday Arroyo dog walk, and you've inspired me!
I love his paintings, his sense of colour and design is very good. He even went to paint in France... how dare he?! :) and, you never sneaked behind me to take a photo of me while I'm sketching Petrea...I'm soooooooooo jealous! ;)
Hi Petrea, great to meet you the other week in the Arroyo, I know many folks enjoy that area. It was the birthplace of landscape painting in Pasadena over 100 years ago too. Thanks for the kind words and links - we artists need good writers!
Hope to see you at an exhibition soon -
I love the way Boz places himself in the action. Now I'll go check out the site.
Bibi, it must have been quite a time. Then again, one often stumbles upon painters in Paris!
Bonjour, Dina! Boz often inspects artworks, for the wrong reasons.
Glad you like it, Laurie, thanks!
You're welcome, Julie. Julie's 2/10 post moved Altadenahiker, which moved me, to post links to the Australian Red Cross. Check out Sydney Eye.
Thanks, Margaret. Boz wasn't supposed to be there and I took some shots without him, but this was the best--the one with the paintbrush.
Ooh, link me to Hometown Pasadena! Thanks, Colleen, I'm honored.
Okay. Stef. I didn't sneak. I will gladly take your picture. Tell me where to find you sketching and I'll be there!
Hello Eric, thanks for checking out the post. I hadn't known the Arroyo was the birthplace of landscape painting in our area, but it doesn't surprise me. One thing I like about your blog is your knowledge of other artists, news and history. It's a comprehensive look at more than just paintings. Very nice.
Karin, I don't always love it, but there you have it. I indulge his love of the arts.
ginab: lovely, lovely. one of the best.
I looked at his website and am happy to see that he's an Art Center grad!
What a delicious way to start a Wednesday! All sorts of pictures to explore today; thank you for your links!
re: your photo, I'm with margaret and bibi- the serendipitous trinity of dog, umbrella, and paintbrush in your photo is too perfect. It's such a nice scene, but I keep giggling at it too.
And the light and shadows in his paintings are really something, aren't they? They just draw me in. I can smell the grass, dust, eucalyptus and ocean in them.
I sneaked behind Petrea one night at work both in front & behind the camera simultaneously. It's on my blog.
This is one of your better shots.
when i first looked at it i honestly thought it was a painting....well done Madame Burchard.
How very cool. I was in Roast & Toast this afternoon and overheard plans for a "plein air" painting time at their cafe sometime in the future. It sounds fascinating. Very cool to see someone while walking!
How beautiful. Absolutely Seurat.Truly lovely photograph.
I like this artist's work very much - beautiful use of colour. The sort of painting I look at and know it would be very at home on one of my walls!
Love the photo -- and how Boz is so intently studying the artist at work.
Thanks for the link to his site; he does beautiful work!
Gina, I thought you'd like this one.
Yup, he's good. Imagine my relief, after photographing him and telling him I'm going to post about him on my blog. I'm so glad he's not a hack.
C.O., I looked: you posted it 12/28/08. Yes, he snuck up on me.
I think Mr. Merrell has some new fans. I marked my calendar for the exhibit at PMoCA. Hope they'll let me take photos.
I agree with Maria, it looks like a painting itself. An artistic photo of an artist.
Good boy Boz!
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