It has finally stopped being hot in Three Rivers, so I get to work in the studio with the door open. Although our cats are not allowed inside the house, I let them freely wander in and out of the studio. This won’t work if it is raining, but for now it is great fun. […]
Little Odd Job of Wildflowers
A friend-collector (collector-friend? friend/collector? How do I call these wonderful folks??) brought me a hand mirror, requesting that I paint wildflowers on the back. I began with a sketch in colored pencil to see if I was on the same track with her. When she approved, it was time for oil painting in great detail, […]
More Mineral King in the Studio
I’ve been looking forward to painting in the painting studio/workshop for a few weeks. Going to Sandy Eggo, working on the mural, time in Mineral King – all good things, but still things that prevented painting in the studio. Life is a series of choices and consequences.
Painting Mineral King in the Studio
This is a commissioned oil painting of Mineral King. The Friend/Customer wanted a painting to fit a particular space and match some of her other paintings. This magical scene was her decision, and I am happy to comply. Here we go, step by step. Maybe something I learned in the plein air painting sessions is […]
Signs of Fall in Mineral King
A few cold days arrived in early October, so Trail Guy went up the hill to make sure our water system and cabins were faring well. (Yes, “cabins” plural, because he looks after many of our neighbors’ places too.) We went up together the following weekend, and it was still cold. It was colder inside […]
Indoor Mural, Final Day
Put down your brushes and walk away from the mural! That’s what I had to tell myself at the end of Day Three on the mural at St. Anthony’s Retreat in Three Rivers. At the end of Day Two, I took a photo of the mural, studied it, and made a list of things that […]
Indoor Mural, Day Two
I started Day Two on the mural at St. Anthony’s Retreat in Three Rivers with the idea that I could finish it, maybe even in the morning. Fall down laughing. First, I needed to fix the slopes below Comb Rocks. It was mushy in the mural, undefined, hard to read. See? I looked out the […]
Indoor Mural, Day One
It is possible that painting inside a little chapel at St. Anthony’s Retreat is the most pleasant mural painting experience I’ve ever had. It is 1.3 miles from home. The room where I paint is quiet. The lighting and the temperature are steady (it is indoors!) Occasionally someone stops by to see how it is […]
New Indoor Mural
St. Anthony’s Retreat is a conference grounds here in Three Rivers, a gathering place by many people for many reasons, not just a place for Catholic retreats. I like to go there; it’s close to home, has happy memories, and most of the people who work there are my friends (I don’t know all of […]
Country Girl in the City #7
My sister and I crossed 2 bridges on our “Urban Hike” of seven San Diego bridges. There were 5 to go, and it was so fun to navigate through the streets with just some written instructions, sightseeing while on the lookout for bridges. Thus we conclude our saga of my visit to Sandy Eggo, a […]