Hand Drawn Maps Pillows
Description: I explored Laurel Canyon for "California Fool's Gold" back in 2009. However, I was unsure of how to represent a neighborhood the borders of which are formed by mountains rather than streets; therefore, several years passed before I got around to painting this oil painting map.
Description: Watts is a neighborhood in South Los Angeles's Eastside. It's still best known for the Watts Towers (built 1921-1954 ) and the Watts Riots (1965). Lots has changed in the intervening half century, needless to say, and I explored and mapped in 2014 for my series, "California Fool's Gold" https://ericbrightwell.com/2014/02/14/more-than-just-riots-and-towers/
Description: The Eastside is a region of Los Angeles County. It includes the communities of Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles, El Sereno, Lincoln Heights -- as well as numerous smaller communities like Belvedere, Brooklyn Heights, City Terrace, Eastmont, Happy Valley, Hillside Village, Maravilla, Rose Hill, and University Hills. I wrote a primer, for my series, "California Fool's Gold," in 2011. https://ericbrightwell.com/2011/03/30/california-fools-gold-an-eastside-primer/
Description: This was the first watercolor map that I did -- and the first bird's eye view map. I was inspired by some 19th-century bird's eye view maps that I'd been looking at, some East Asian landscape art, and the fact that Happy Valley's neighborhood borders are formed more by hills than streets.
Description: Definitions of what constitutes the Inland Empire vary; the smallest include just the cities of western Riverside County and southwestern San Bernardino County. Others extend the term to include the Coachella Valley, including Palm Springs. The broadest definitions include all of San Bernardino and Riverside counties. The latter, it's hopefully clear, is the definition depicted with this map.
Description: Scotland is a country that covers the northern third of the island of Great Britain and includes more than 790 smaller islands. It shares a border with England to the southeast as well as a maritime border with Eire. I painted this map shortly before the independence referendum of 2014 and included it in a piece I wrote on my website: https://ericbrightwell.com/2014/09/17/the-50-best-scottish-bands-of-all-time/
Description: Compton is a city in the South Los Angeles region. It is the 7th oldest (by incorporation) and 16th most-populous in Los Angeles County. Future presidents George H.W. and George W. lived there in 1949 and '50. It is famous for the Compton Cowboys of Richland Farms and the Compton Cricket Club, among other things. I explored it and made this map in 2011 for my series, "California Fool's Gold." https://ericbrightwell.com/2011/02/23/california-fools-gold-exploring-compton-los-angeles-countys-hub-city/
Description: The first map that I drew after moving to Los Angeles was of Elysian Park. I'm not sure what happened to that original one but this is a later one that I made. Initially, I used ink for the green section (as I did silver with the Dodger Stadium parking lot) but it looked muddy so I later went back and painted it with oil pain. https://ericbrightwell.com/2018/10/01/southland-parks-visiting-elysian-park/
Description: Irvine is a master-planned community in South Orange City. It is famous for being one of the safest cities in the country. It's less boring than one might expect, however, due to the presence of the University of California, Irvine. I explored in a borrowed car (there's zero emphasis on walkability) in 2013. https://ericbrightwell.com/2013/01/13/california-fools-gold-exploring-irvine-orange-countys-city-of-innovation/
Description: Pioneertown began life as a livable Western film set in 1946. When Westerns fell from fashion, Pioneertown fell on hard times. However, after the old Cantina reopened as a roadhouse (now Pappy & Harriets), things began to turn around and today Pioneertown is home to the Pioneertown Hotel, Red Dog Saloon, and other businesses -- and about 420 residents. https://ericbrightwell.com/2022/06/08/california-fools-gold-exploring-pioneertown/
Description: I undertook a ramble along and around a section of Hoover and Virgil streets in Los Angeles that I've always had a fondness for. The map, along with the piece, appeared in my series, "Urban Rambles." https://ericbrightwell.com/2014/11/13/urban-rambles-exploring-the-area-along-hoover-and-virgil/
Description: Pasadena is today only the ninth-most populous cities in Los Angeles County. However, it is easily one of the most historically and culturally important. I explored it for my series, "California Fool's Gold," in 2012. https://ericbrightwell.com/2012/01/04/california-fools-gold-exploring-pasadena-the-crown-city-of-roses/
Description: Little Central America is a nickname given to the neighborhoods of Westlake and Pico-Union, which are home to large numbers of residents from Salvadoran, Guatemalan, and other Central American backgrounds. It's also home to a large number of restaurants and businesses owned by and catering to people of various Central American backgrounds.
Description: Highland Park is a neighborhood in Northeast Los Angeles. It was, along with Sycamore Grove, one of the first two communities to be annexed by Los Angeles, in 1895. In 1927, part of Annandale, Garvanza, Hermon, and York Valley (formerly New York Valley) joined together in an alliance as "Greater Highland Park." I explored the neighborhood over the course of two days for my series, "California Fool's Gold," in 2010. https://ericbrightwell.com/2010/10/03/california-fools-gold-exploring-highland-park/
Description: Orange County is often divided into just two regions, North and South County. South County is typified by gated, master-planned communities. North Orange County, on the other hand, is a collection of vibrant, highly diverse, post-World War II communities. I made this map and a primer of the region for my series, "California Fool's Gold." https://ericbrightwell.com/2012/12/05/california-fools-gold-a-north-orange-county-primer/
Description: I wrote a primer and mapped the San Fernando Valley, or simply, "The Valley," for "California Fool's Gold" in 2012. This watercolor map, however, dates to 2013 or so (when I experimenting with watercolors). It is primarily a region of the city of Los Angeles but also includes the municipalities of San Fernando and Burbank, as well as the unincorporated community of Universal City. https://ericbrightwell.com/2012/11/05/california-fools-gold-a-san-fernando-valley-primer/
Description: Los Angeles is home to the fifth busiest port facility in the world (and the busiest outside of Asia). The communities, situated around the San Pedro Bay, make up the Habor District or Harbor Region. I made this map of Los Angeles's Harbor Region and wrote a primer for my series, "California Fool's Gold," in 2011. https://ericbrightwell.com/2011/03/23/california-fools-gold-a-harbor-primer/
Description: The theme song to the West Covina-set television series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend described West Covina is "the pride of the Inland Empire." It coule be said that that show put West Covina "on the map." Unfortunately, that map is not at all accurate. West Covina is in an altogether different county, Los Angeles, to be precise -- not the Inland Empire (i.e. Riverside and San Bernardino counties). I put it on the map in the correct place -- in the San Gabriel Valley.
Description: Alhambra is a suburb of Los Angeles County's San Gabriel Valley. It was one of the first neighborhoods that I explored for my series, "California Fool's Gold," back in 2007. In fact, I didn't even have a name for the series yet -- and I drew the map (rather quickly) a couple of years later. https://ericbrightwell.com/2007/11/05/alhambra-the-gateway-to-the-san-gabriel-valley/
Description: I explored Mar Vista, a neighborhood on Los Angeles's Westside, back in 2010 for my series, "California Fool's Gold." Of special interest was a tract of beautiful homes designed by noted Modernist architect, Gregory Ain. In the process of the exploration -- and as an aid -- I made this map. https://ericbrightwell.com/2010/12/04/california-fools-gold-exploring-mar-vista/
Description: The Northeast Los Angeles region is one of Los Angeles's oldest, dating back to the annexation of Garvanza, Highland Park, and Sycamore Grove in the late 19th century. I wrote a primer about the region for my series, "California Fool's Gold," in 2011 and made this map a bit later. https://ericbrightwell.com/2011/06/09/california-fools-gold-a-northeast-los-angeles-primer/
Description: Monterey Park is a suburban city in the San Gabriel Valley. It is notable for it's Chinese American majority, although it has undergone changes over the years, from a predominantly Taiwanese Chinese population to a mainland Chinese and Hong Konger population. I explored it for my series, "California Fool's Gold," in 2010. https://ericbrightwell.com/2010/09/23/california-fools-gold-exploring-monterey-park-%e8%92%99%e7%89%b9%e5%88%a9%e5%85%ac%e5%9b%ad/
Description: Los Feliz is a neighborhood in Mideast Los Angeles (MELA). It's named after the Feliz (also spelled Felix and Felis) family who ranched there decades ago. I explored it for my series, "California Fool's Gold," in 2010. https://ericbrightwell.com/2010/11/16/california-fools-gold-exploring-los-feliz-the-mideast-sides-pill-hill/
Description: Painting: Oil, Ink on Paper. In 2013, I explored the community of Culver City for my series, "California Fool's Gold." Culver City is a municipality in the Westside region of Los Angeles. You can read the piece, which includes this map, here: https://ericbrightwell.com/2013/09/18/all-roads-lead-to-culver-city-exploring-the-heart-of-screenland/
Description: Fullerton is a suburb of North Orange County widely recognized as the birthplace of several major punk bands, including Social Distortion, Agent Orange, and the Adolescents. I explored for my series, "California Fool's Gold," in 2010. https://ericbrightwell.com/2010/10/25/california-fools-gold-exploring-fullerton-the-education-community/
Description: Boyle Heights is a neighborhood on Los Angeles's Eastside. Once it was thought of as the "Ellis Island of the West," on account of its diverse population of Jews, Japanese, Russians, Mexicans, and others. I explored for my series, "California Fool's Gold," in 2010. https://ericbrightwell.com/2010/01/28/california-fools-gold-exploring-boyle-heights/
Description: I explored a bit of Montebello's history for "California Fool's Gold" in 2007. In fact, it's one of the rare cases where I drew the map afterward -- after I began getting a bit of positive public and media attention. https://ericbrightwell.com/2007/11/03/montebello-montesmello-if-youre-nasty/
