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I began planning this painting in my head. Do you ever do
that? It's just that sometimes at night when I think I'm asleep, I'm
really thinking about a special painting. I'm trying to figure out how
to convey to those who might see it just what it is about the spot that
I think is so wonderful.
In this case, I had walked this path
many times. The "place" of this painting is Caballero Canyon, just a
stone's throw from my front door. I often hike down and into the
canyon to be in beautiful surroundings and to be alone with my thoughts
and to paint. Each time I've gone, the experience has been a little
bit different. But every time I go, I enjoy marveling at these worn
river rocks in the middle of the canyon alongside the sycamores and
their dappled light on the path. Always a bit different and yet the
same.
Caballero Canyon is well-traveled. There are many dog
walkers, hikers, nature lovers, mountain bikers, and neighborhood
friends who hike the canyon. But walk just a few steps off the path and
you feel like you're in your own special place.
I first decided
to paint this in the spring when I was in the canyon. The bright
yellowish green of the mustard was gorgeous and the subtle colors really
sparked my imagination. I sat down and painted a field study... one
of MANY MANY paintings I painted of the canyon. But all the while I was
thinking about and planning this big studio piece. Here are just a few
of my field studies:
Caballero Canyon Sycamore Caballero Colors Canyon Spring Canyon Sycamores Canyon Trail
There are many others that are not on my website any longer. I've
also done several studio paintings of the canyon. In fact this post
has made me realize even more just how often I've painted there.
There is a wonderful painting by
Hanson Puthuff,
an early California Art Club member, that inspired me... but then
almost ALL of his paintings inspire me... Take a look. Aren't they
wonderful??
When I was just about finished... or so I thought... I
asked my 12-year old his opinion. He went in to the studio to look
and basically told me it "sucked". (He was a bit kinder.) I was
deflated. I had thought it was pretty good. So I worked and worked on
it some more. Then a day or so later I was working on it and asked him
if it was better. He looked at me strangely and said he liked it. It
turns out that the one he DIDN'T like was a totally different painting
that I had sitting up along my "viewing wall". Whew!!! Thank
goodness SOMEONE besides me likes it!! (LOL)
Lately, I've been
spending some time in museum shows enjoying the fabulous talents of well
established artists of the past and present. They fuel my desire to
paint and become more than I am.
No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.
-Buddha
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson