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Bridges

footbridge.jpg On last Monday when we got back to the truck, I pulled out my real camera and got a photo of this odd little footbridge. It is simply a thick wooden beam with a handrail over a rather deep ravine that has a shockingly large culvert pipe for such a remote place and small stream. Got me to thinking about bridges as subject matter. An aside: this bridge is a little too weird-looking to draw or paint because it would look like artist error to depict such a narrow walking part; some things make sense strictly because they are photos but don’t translate into art because of the strangeness! Anyway, a drawing student (Hi Bob!) told me awhile back that he wanted to draw a bridge. I realized that there are 3 beautiful bridges in Tulare County, and the rest are merely functional. (Can anyone out there name the three? First person to do so can have one of my reproduction prints of one of them!!)  There are probably numerous footbridges that are quite picturesque, but many of them are on private property or in remote places. Why do we like to look at bridges so much? Any thoughts? I am sure it has to do with all the symbolism of bridging gaps, being bridges over troubled water, and all those cliches, but any other ideas? Do you collect bridge pictures? Do you notice bridges? Why are they so interesting? (or is it just me. . . often that is the case. . . sigh.) 

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