Louisville Metro Parks spent $350,000 last year to restore this pavillion at Shawnee Park and enhance nearby restrooms(not pictured here). The balance of the $800,000 total restoration cost was met by the Olmstead Conservancy and Brown-Foreman which gave $100,000. The structure was originally built in 1920. This morning I started a painting of it en plein air at Shawnee Park.
Looking at the canvas at home, I was not satisfied with my focal point and am toying with the idea of adding my great-grandmother strolling with parasol up the path to the pavillion. (See her round parasol sketched in in yellow in the lower right quadrant. She visited this park often by taking the streetcar from the city out to the edge of town. Shawnee Park was developed in part to encourage city people to move further out. Cities were dense and dirty from the coal dust. Funny how times change. Now 100 years later we are trying to get people to move back into the city center.
"Bring it on Grandma" show me what you have really got. I love the way your work is becoming authentic, you add life and restoration to a time, an era that enjoyed pavillions, porches, fountains and more.
ReplyDeleteI love the glow of your rooftop, the shadiness from the trees and that yellow parasol. All very nice!
ReplyDeleteThe next town from me has a few pavillions. My eye always travels to them when I'm sitting in the passenger seat. It's a era gone by here, however, I like them just the same.
Many thanks for your comments! I do appreciate your views!
ReplyDeleteLiz, the Artist is Jack Vettriano. I posted abit more info. on my last post for you.
ReplyDeleteI like the dark paper in the background, it makes such a dramatic picture. The luminous light coming from the pavilion is marvelous. Making the figure larger and in the foreground will give it depth. (Not that you asked me)
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