Hometown Watercolors, Alameda, California
by Larry Hausen

I have always been drawn to the immediacy and spontaneity of watercolor painting—the way pigments flow and mingle, the delightful unpredictability of the medium, the happy mistakes that somehow make each piece more alive. There is a magic in the softness of a wash, the way colors bleed into one another, and the way light and shadow can emerge effortlessly from a single brushstroke. Watercolor allows me to capture not just a scene, but a feeling, a fleeting moment, a memory suspended in time.

Living in Alameda, California, I have been surrounded by an extraordinary mix of architectural beauty and everyday charm. The city’s Victorian Painted Ladies, with their ornate details, rich colors, and timeless elegance, have long fascinated me, while the simple, utilitarian storefronts tell a quieter, equally compelling story of daily life and community. Each building has a personality, a history, a sense of place that speaks quietly but insistently to anyone willing to look closely. Through my watercolors, I aim to honor that character and preserve the fleeting moments before they inevitably change. Some streets, facades, and details no longer exist as they once did, but in my paintings, they live on—a snapshot of a time that cannot be reclaimed.

My work is not merely about architecture; it is about memory, light, and the subtle rhythms of life. I seek to reveal the soul of a place—the way sunlight hits a porch in the late afternoon, the shadows stretching across asphalt, the whispers of a neighborhood that has lived through decades. Each brushstroke is an act of discovery, a way to connect with the city I call home, and a chance to invite others to see Alameda through my eyes.

Through watercolor, I capture both what is seen and what is felt—the beauty, the impermanence, the quiet poetry of everyday life. These paintings are my way of pausing time, celebrating the small details that might otherwise go unnoticed, and sharing the enduring charm of Alameda, one delicate stroke at a time.