Winter Art Show 2021
The City by the Bay
Lucas Lam WAS 2021
My Winter Art Show project is a series of postcards of aspects of San Francisco that I feel connected to. As I thought about what to do for my project, I realized inspiration was waiting outside my window, at every corner, and all around the city. I revisited places and moments and memories that meant something to me. I wanted to recapture my fond memories of the city--the happiness, excitement, and nostalgia the city has given me over the course of my life. I tried to capture the hidden beauty all around my environment.
The Port of San Francisco
5.5x7.5 in, Gouache
As someone who lives by the Embarcadero, the Ferry Building is quite a familiar place. Its classic, 19th-century architecture inspired me to do a sepia painting of the building with kind of a vintage feeling.
An early watercolor sketch of the Ferry Building
A View of Downtown
6x4 in, Graphite and Watercolor pencil
This is the view of the city from my apartment. It's a beautiful sight and one that often inspires me. I used pencil for the buildings and diluted watercolor for the sky for slightly desaturated hues.
An old sketchbook drawing
Market Street
7.5x5.5 in, Gouache
Market Street is a street I drive, walk, and bus through often. The busyness of the street fascinates me because it feels so quintessentially San Franciscan. This intersection stood out to me when I was on a walk. I tried to do a loose, slightly abstract painting of the scene that captured that feeling of San Francisco.
More inspiration photos of Market St.
Grace Cathedral
4x6 in, Graphite & Watercolor Graphite
In addition to its majestic exterior and beautifully crafted interior, I feel a strong connection to this building because I spent nine years of my life at school here. From hymn-filled morning chapels three times a week to extravagant events like Lessons and Carols, Grace Cathedral was a consistent source of joy in my life for my earlier years. I wanted to convey the complexity of this gorgeous structure in a graphite drawing.
Giant
6x4 in, Gouache
As a lifelong Giants fan, some of my fondest memories are going to Giants games at AT&T Park or watching or listening to games on TV or on the radio. In this piece, I wanted to capture the excitement that this team has brought me, especially from 2010 to 2014. I'll never forget the energy of the crowd during playoff games or nervously staying up watching the World Series games with my family.
2012 World Series Parade with my mom and brother
