Freshly Squeezed Color

It's hard to settle on which pic is the juiciest.  I just returned from a site visit to the Town of Buckeye Park and Ride.  Jeffrey had mentioned that the canopy paint colors were a little explosive.  For the last couple of nights I had dreams of possible solutions.  If it was a watercolor I could just go over with a layer of shadow.  Once I got out there I was feeling harmony over the color.  Ok, beyond harmony. Shizaaaaaam! Totally HOT don't you agree!

The headgate is in place.  I would have liked it to look more beat to hell rusted and such but I guess over time it will happen.  Once the baby grasses take root they will wave their grasses in the sun and be the analogy for the ever flowing water in the Buckeye canal systems.

I love how the concrete is glistening in the crisp morning air. I wanted to run right through it and make a body impression. I totally should have.  I would be banned from the ribbon cutting ceremony so I didn't do it.  Are you bummed over that now?

Check out the day glo bag on the concrete foundation. Really works with his orange vest. He is working it.

This is what I mean by juicy. Freshly squeezed concrete.

I am so happy we went with cool grey on the parking shade canopies. It is so right it makes me crazy right now.  Like the 500 piece lego set I bought. I specified all the pieces to be gray.  Kind of dismal for children.

The Grande Canal the Buckeye way.

This is juicy too. No not the crew.  Check out the colors.  Look up.

Um. Juicy.  At first they wanted to take out the sprinkler pipes but now that it is done,  it looks perfectly "Buckeye".  

Thanksgiving Day with Herman

Thanksgiving Day.  It is quiet.  Not one phone call *except for Erik my brother wondering what time we need to drive to Phoenix it be with the Townies for Thanksgiving*.  I took this photo of myself laying on top of this rocky mountain about a 5 minute hike from the Serbin Studio home office. 

I am thankful that Serbin Studio is.

...it had been the choice fate of Pierre to have been born and bred in the country.  For to a noble American youth this indeed-more than in any other land-this indeed is a most rare and choice lot.  For it is to be observed, that while in other countries, the finest families boast of the country as their home; the more prominent among us, proudly cite the city as their seat.  Too often the American that himself makes his fortune, builds him a great metropolitan house, in the most metropolitan street of the most metropolitan town.  Whereas a European of the same sort would thereupon migrate into the country.  That herein the European hath the better of it, no poet, no philosopher, and no aristocrat will deny.  For the country is not only the most poetical and philosophical, but it is the most aristrocratic part of this earth, for it is the most venerable, and numerous bards have ennobled it by many fine titles.

*um...bard is a poet, just so you know, and plebeian is one who is or appears to be of the middle or lower order*

Whereas the town is the more plebeian portion: which, besides many other things, is plainly evinced by the dirty unwashed face perpetually worn by the town; but the country, like any Queen, is ever attended by scrupulous lady's maids in the quise of the seasons, and the town hath a brave dress for every week in the year; sometimes she changes her dress twenty-four times in the twenty-four hours; and the country weareth her sun by day as a diamond on a Queen's brow; and the stars by night as necklaces of gold beads; whereas the town's sun is smoky paste, and no diamond, and the town's stars are pinchbeck and not gold.

Herman Melville, Pierre; or, The Ambiguities, published in 1852.

Benbow Veterans Memorial Dedication

November 11th Veterans Day marked the dedication for Benbow Veterans Memorial on Mainstreet Buckeye, Arizona.

When I joined the Mainstreet Coalition last winter, Ron Noble, President of the Buckeye Mainstreet Coalition handed me a concept sketch of what he envisioned for the Benbow Veterans Memorial. When I first looked at the drawing I thought, "How lucky am I to give some input on this local project!" 

Watercolor, Lara Serbin,2011

The presentation watercolor and many other drawings were presented to the Buckeye community to gain approval and momentum. To learn more about  Benbow Veterans Memorial check out this article featuring Ron Noble, the President of the Buckeye Mainstreet Coalition.

Ron Noble, President of the Buckeye Mainstreet Coalition

It is quite wonderful to see the reflections as one stands in front of the black granite memorial wall.  What you see here is the first phase of construction. As more funds are raised, further phases will be constructed.  Do you have a loved one who served in the military?  Bricks pavers are being sold now for $50.00 each to raise money needed to finish the project. Serbin Studio has order forms if you are interested in purchasing a brick.  Please contact Lara Serbin if you are interested.

The Silo

The Town of Buckeye Park and Ride construction site.  A project design by Serbin Studio Architects.

I got the chills as I looked at these photos this morning. OK, I wasn't there when Hunter Construction was craning this silo into place.  I am chained to this desk reviewing shop drawings for another beauty about to be built.

This is my baby silo. Do you remember when this silo was just an idea on watercolor paper?  I have to admit Jeffrey and I were hoping it would fit the day this was happening.  Do we really want to be on site when they are lowering this thing into place?!

I have to get down there to check it out for myself.  This is a very proud moment.

Special thanks to Rob McGee from W.C. Scoutten of Goodyear Arizona who sent these great photos.  Loving what the clouds were doing too! 

Construction Progress at Buckeye Park and Ride

Howard Blomker with Hunter Contracting drove me in his truck full of contractor things *one of those doors that felt like trying to shut a bank vault* all over Town of Buckeye Park and Ride construction site last week.  This project is the idea and inspiration from the good people of the Town of Buckeye.  The open house is already on the calendar and by the looks of things this place will be ready to pick up bus riders soon.

Howard dropped me off here so he could answer the millions of questions that the many crews on site had waiting for him.  I watched this concrete mix truck mix and dump concrete to make the street that future busses will drive over soon.  Jon McMahon with Overton Builders took over as tour guide at this point. 

The security building is the built structure on the site so far. 

The security building is on the right hand side partially covered by the bus in the forground. The metal roof pitch is cranked much higher than the sketch.  It will be easier to locate from Jackrabbit Road.  Yes, that is all there was out here before this Park and Ride, just busy rabbits fighting with quail over seeds.  

Jon was showing off the hardware for the turn buckle at the metal roof cables.  Mega watt cool.

I know I showed this already but didn't you want to see them smoothing out the concrete?  This was happening so fast!

Security building.  Nobody wanted to be in the picture.

These columns will support a future shade canopy for your parked car.  Well even in the shade those crayons will melt pretty good.

Hand Drawn Sketches

I volunteered my time to help out the Town of Buckeye Arizona with some hand drawn sketches for their Downtown Signage Overlay.  Thankfully, I had inspiration from photos that I took while I was visiting well established downtowns like Port Townsend,Washington State, Wickenberg, Arizona, and Beacon Hill, Massachusetts.  Notice the heavy line on the awning edge, that is what you call profiling.  That is used to make the object pop out.  Tells you that something is beyond.  Don't try it at home.  

The Leader is a Port Townsend newspaper with a publication since 1889.  It is a fortress of a building covered in thick green ivy.  When I stuck my head in to talk to Fred Obee, the general manager he told me that the buidling had seen many different uses in it's lifetime.  Some story about a great Native American chief having a wake in the building.  I liked this signage because the signage had plenty of white space around the edges.  When a sign is too crammed with text and information there is no where for the eye to rest.

Window display is signage.  A creative window display needs to change with the seasons and surprise you.  This window display in Port Townsend did lure me inside to buy a few things. It worked.

 

The Old Livery was taken from the Town of Wickenberg.  The oversized letters really pop off the board and batten storefront.  The wooden letter colors are red and yellow.  The only problem is the paint is peeling.  All signage needs to be metal when used in the desert.  If you ever need a rubber saguaro with sunglasses on to stick on your car antenna or a dead scorpion that is frozen inside a lollipop, look no further. You will find all the Arizona souvenirs ever invented at this place. 

These sketches will be used in the Signage Overlay for Buckeye.  There is something undeniably human and comforting about hand sketches.  I usually make sure I have a pot of really strong tea before I put pen to buff paper to get a good squiggle on my line work. 

Historic Roasterie of Vashon

It's an early blog and I feel like going to The Vashon Island Coffee Roasterie.  It is not going to happen today because I am back home in Goodyear, Arizona.  Oh well... I did take some photos when I was in Washington a couple of weeks ago and let me tell you, I can make it last longer.

I wish Buckeye or Goodyear had a place like this that roasted their own coffee, sold tea of course and organic vegetables.  I mean this place even sold Chia seeds in bulk.  I bought some of course for my granola that I religiously make and eat.  

It is nice that I have this photo to just stare at instead of standing in their store and just standing there like a doof ball.  I love places like this.  I haven't read the history yet on their website but this place is old enough for me to love, peeled paint and all.  The blue siding on the back wall I am just noticing now that I am back home. I think the products look really appetizing against it.  The ancient wood floors are wonderful to walk on.  In some places the floor is so wavy I could do an olly off of them with my skateboard.  Too bad I suck at skateboarding.

Look how they posted cardboard graphics from produce boxes on the wood doors. Genius.  The owners of this place took great care to bring in natural wood display cabinets.  I really appreciate it how they didn't muck it up over time by putting fake walnut siding all over the place like some historical establishments that I know here in Arizona.  There is it. 

The main colors in the Roasterie seem to be naturals like the wood floor below, red (obviously taken from the original roaster which is coming up) and subtle accents of turquoise which thrills me to no end. This color combination sends me over the edge.

The owner, Peter, is a 4th generation coffee roaster.  Peter is a local to Vashon Island and spends time traveling to Quatemala to check on his coffee beans. I mean I am assuming.  My mom, Jeffrey and I visited this place about 4 times while staying on Vashon Island.  Each time I visited, I felt at home. 

This roaster below is still in use today.  They roast the beans by hand as opposed to a machine.  When beans are roasted by machine there are places along the track that can get mucked up.   It is like anything else you know what I am saying? 

This is where roasted sampling of the beans occurs. The red roaster is down to the left of that wood railing.   The roaster is like the heart to mainstreet Vashon.  The tomato red color of the roaster is repeated over and over along the streets of Vashon.  That could be another blog.

I don't know what this machine does but I love it.

Jeffrey is buying his cup of Guatemalen Heirloom Coffee.  Can you see the group sitting in the background? Those guys are the locals that have been hanging out at TVICR for the last 30 years.  Look further and you can see their personal coffee mugs hanging on the wall. Each mug is white and has chrome letters that spell out a name.  When Walt is done with his coffee he gives it a rinse and hangs it back on the wall for when he comes back in a couple hours.

No chia seeds were harmed in this post.