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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
-Buddha
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
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