Altadena Hardware was worlds apart from todays big‑box chains. Its early‑20th‑century façade carried a vintage, Midwestern hometown look. Its friendly, knowledgeable staff relieved the anxiety of having to buy parts for a leaky sink or broken cabinet. While holding onto traditions—like a scale for weighing nails—the store also stocked nearly every modern tool or product a homeowner might need for repairs and DIY projects. Whenever I released a calendar of my paintings, Altadena Hardware not only carried them but consistently sold more than any other store in Altadena or Pasadena.
I first painted the hardware store from across the street in 2018. When I returned after the Eaton Fire, I found only a shell of the building and its scorched awnings. The shock of seeing the utter destruction of one of the few places where I genuinely enjoyed shopping influenced my palette; I reached for color combinations I would not ordinarily choose. My initial reaction was to hide it and do another painting. I’m glad I didn’t because over time that painting has grown on me.