Plein Air @ Chinatown San Francisco CA
There were twenty Chinese artists painting San Francisco Chinatown today, though it was Sunday just after Thanksgiving.
Felt excited to accept the invitation. Drove about hundred miles back forth to Chinatown wasn't a big deal for me. But it was extremely challenging to find a parking spot. I knew there were a couple of garages for parking, but it can be difficult for me to find my car afterwards. Chinatown is not big, but I caught every single traffic light before each turn, had to wait super patiently for the crowds to cross the streets on this Sunday morning.
Finally, I parked my car on one street nearby a Chinese grocery store. The sign confused me as to whether I could park there or not. I guessed that was why no one was parked there. There was an older Chinese guy parking his car behind me. He looked like a local person and answered my question "It is Sunday, you can park here!"
Our organizer told us to start painting about 10:30 AM. It was almost 11 AM. I dragged my stuff walking on Clay St, passing by a couple of artists who were started a long way ahead of me. Found a street scene that inspired me, I thought I was well protected from the sun and passing by tourist because I set up my workstation halfway in an alcove of a front door to a small apartment building, about 10 mailboxes only. Who knew later during my three hours of painting, there were about at least ten people in and out. This was Chinatown I reminded myself...