Under the Overpass

'Do Not Enter - Wrong Way'.........oil on canvas panel........6x8 inches
Walking along Riverside Drive which runs adjacent to the '5' freeway, I discovered this delightful cityscape of concrete canyons draped in lush, green vinery. I set up to paint directly across a freeway exit while Jose settled for a more panoramic view of the overpass. Being engulfed by a swirling mass of exhaust fumes from cars exiting the freeway was exhilarating, and I hoped that some small grit from the freeway would imbed itself on my canvas like a gnat might for my country bumpkin counterparts. Two homeless men of good cheer emerged from the shadows, one carrying a sporty homemade spear created from an old broom stick, a sharp piece of rusted metal, all wrapped together by a coat hanger.  He claimed to use it for his fishing expeditions in the L.A. river. His compatriot was dressed in an old military jacket doused in vodka, and was incapable of human speech, making only gurgling and clicking sounds which attracted several squirrels to him. With large toothy grins they invited me and my painting buddy Jose to join them in a jaunty walk by the LA River in search of fairies and magic, talking catfish.  I declined, silently feeling inside my backpack for my pepper spray. Good times......;-)