LA’s east side, as seen by a transplant, and rendered in watercolor

Like most people who move from the east coast to the west, artist

Jenny Ziomek approached LA with a mix of wonder and confusion. She was mesmerized by the open skies and the neighborhoods, and has created a charming body of watercolor, pen, and gouache artworks of East LA storefronts.

Starting tonight, her work will be up on display in one of them, in fact–not at an art gallery but at a dress shop on Sunset Blvd. As an east coast transplant myself, I was curious what inspired her move–and how she’s been inspired by LA:

KCRW: What brought you from NYC to LA?

JENNY ZIOMEK: A whim. And my brother. I was walking down the street in New York, where I’d lived for eight years. I was having one of those moments in life where I felt like I was throwing spaghetti against the wall and hoping some of it will stick. The phone rang and it was my brother, who lives in Los Angeles. He asked what my summer plans were and I didn’t know. He said, “Why don’t you spend the summer in LA?” I said, “Done.” I found a sublet and moved “for the summer.” It’s been a year and a half and I’m still here!

KCRW: How has moving coasts influenced your work?

More specifically to my own paintings, I love the colors and lines here. Having lived in New York for so long, surrounded by tall, grey buildings (which are beautiful in their own way), I was shocked by the stark contrast from NYC when I moved. I love the low buildings here, set against power lines, palm trees and so much sky. LA has amazing old signage and colors everywhere. Aesthetically, it just feels like an alien world compared to New York, and I find I have an almost compulsive desire to document it.

KCRW: Many people who come to LA from New York have a hard time adjusting here. How has it gone for you?

KCRW: What neighborhood in NY does Silverlake remind you of, if any?

KCRW: How much do you drive?

You can see Ziomek’s Silverlake Storefront Series on display at Matrushka, 3822 W. Sunset Blvd. The show opens tonight with a reception from 7-9pm.