Author: cabinart

Another Big Tree

But wait! There’s more. . .

Big Tree IV, 6×18″, oil on wrapped canvas, $125

This should have a BUY NOW button, but my shopping cart isn’t working and I don’t know if the shopping cart on the website is the same as the shopping cart on the blog and after trying over and over to get it to work with those calendars, I would rather make a paragraph of excuses than try to put a Buy Now button here.

SO! you can use the “Contact the Artist” button if you would like to buy this painting and we can do a little business.

oil paintings Sequoia painting

Big Trees

When you grow up in the same county as the Sequoia Gigantea, you tend to call these guys “big trees”.

That is sort of a Duh thing, but maybe we are a little duh-ish in Tulare County.

As a graduate of Redwood High School, you’d think I’d call them “Redwoods”. But Noooo, I still call them “Big Trees”. (Grow up, already, California Artist.)

Big Tree III, 6×18″, commissioned oil painting

Sometimes I think I am a fake California artist because I am not painting the beach or palm trees, or eucalyptus trees like those California plein air guys from the early (or was it mid?) 1900s.

Then I think – WAIT A DOGGONE MINUTE! Why am I treating Central California as if it is fly-over country, a place unworthy of mention?

Tulare County has the highest point in the contiguous United States, the largest trees by volume in the world, the oldest oaks in the world (I think that is right), and we feed the world!

Take that, you beach bums. I am a California artist, so there. (Hmmm, a small amount of insecurity, perhaps?)

The S Word

Stop it. I mean SIXTY. Trail Guy turns SIXTY today. I am not making this up. It defies any category on this blog. It boggles the mind. SIXTY used to be old. It isn’t any more.

Trail Guy snooping around peeking in a keyhole — Is this how sixty-year-olds are supposed to behave?

Trail Guy at the beach — A 59-year-old contemplates matters of consequence, including the upcoming S-word birthday.

Trail Guy in his rig on his favorite road — Trail Guy is not stuck. You or I would be stuck in this situation, but Trail Guy knows how to back up and turn around a trailer in any situation. He’s more than capable, especially at the not so old age of SIXTY.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Trail Guy!

If You Are Going To Paint One, Paint Two

I know, I know. I’m not painting this year, EXCEPT when I have a commission to do. I think it is funny that on the very first working day of 2013 when I am supposed to have a laser-like focus on The Cabins of Wilsonia, there I am, at the easel!

Some people saw my painting “Big Tree II” at a gallery. They wanted it. They waited. It sold to someone else. They called and asked if I had another like it. I said no, but I could paint them another. They said yes.

So if they want one, I might as well paint two. That way, when one of my galleries calls to say a Sequoia tree painting has sold, I can immediately deliver another. “My galleries” sounds so pretentious, but you know what I mean, right?

It is the same theory as doubling a batch of cookies – IF you can restrain yourself from eating them all, you can put half in the freezer for the next cookie emergency.

I’m sure you all understand “Cookie Emergency”, right?

So, I have two photos of entire Sequoia Trees, and the two previous paintings for reference. If Big Tree II sold, it stands to reason that there was a Big Tree I, right?

Wow, paintings look scruffy at the beginning. But can you see the promise? Can you feel the forward motion? Is the excitement building?

I’ll let you know which one the people choose, and which one goes “in the freezer”. Or, perhaps I’ll offer it for sale on Daily Paintworks.

Now I’m going to draw awhile.

I ended three sentences with “right?” What manner of weird speech pattern is creeping in here?

commission oil painting oil paintings Sequoia painting

An Afternoon and Evening at The Lake

Growing up in Tulare County we simply referred to Lake Kaweah, created by Terminus Dam, as “The Lake”.

(and there is still a stupid dark spot on the lens.)

Now that I’ve lived in Lemon Cove (at the base of the dam) and Three Rivers (on the rivers that flow to The Lake), I’ve learned that it is The Lake. Not “Kaweah Lake”, (pronounced “Kuh-WEE-uh”, not the River Kwai!) but The Lake.

At this time of year, there is a lot of real estate at The Lake bottom for camping, walking, biking, and horseback riding.

Our very dear friends, whom I shall call “Cowboy Bert and The Captain”, have horses. They brought them to The Lake and camped and rode for several days. I’d show you a photo but the only one I have shows The Captain bending over to inspect Blue Doc’s feet, and I don’t show photos of friends bending over. Makes you want to be friends with me, hunh?

We joined them for dinner on 2 evenings – we really know how to whoop it up on New Year’s Eve! Ummmm, not.

Going places, even in my own town of Three Rivers, provides inspiration. IF I were painting these days, which I am not unless it is a commissioned piece, I’d probably paint one of the top 2 scenes (minus the weird spot on the lens).

Which is your favorite photo? (and please disregard the weird spot)

Kaweah Lake Three Rivers

Fridays are for Mineral King

. . . except the snow was too deep and we didn’t get there!

Trackster on the Mineral King Road — This little vehicle is called a Trackster, made by Cushman in the 1970s. It is sort of like driving a lawn mower.

We unloaded the Trackster around mile 12, about 2 miles below Trauger’s. I think that is where we were. It looks so very different under snow!

The Trackster leaves tracks in the snow.

Wow, there was so much snow! (There was also a weird spot on the lens of my camera.)

See?

Sawtooth and the stoopid weird spot on the lens.

This is the historic Alles cabin at Atwell Mill.

It was very pretty and very cold. Remember, I am a California artist, and I live in the sunny foothills where it snows about once every 2 years. This was a wonderful opportunity to wear many of my knitted pieces. No photos of that, sorry to disappoint you.

Our enthusiastic passenger was thrilled to build a snowman. She was amazingly skilled at it for someone who grew up in the sunny foothills where it snows a little bit maybe every two years.

This is quite the unique guy. Since we all recently saw The Hobbit, we decided the dude needed ears. Actually I suggested ears like a bear, but these ears seem to be a bit like Gollum, the gross little dude who sort of talks like Donald Duck.

Any questions? ask in the comments or email me via the contact the artist button on the menu bar.

California Artist Mineral King Mineral King photography

New Plan for a New Year

2013 brings a new focus to my professional life as a California artist, a “regionalist from Quaintsville”.

This is a commissioned pencil drawing of a Wilsonia cabin.

I’ve told you about the book I am drawing, writing and publishing – The Cabins of Wilsonia.

You’ve seen drawings as they are completed and read my groanings as I wonder how I will ever finish the project.

Now, I have a plan.

I will spend 2013 focusing solely on the book. No painting, no shows, no painting for future shows.

(Okay, that’s not entirely true. I will paint for the 2 places that sell my work and I will paint commissions.)

I will also accept pencil commissions and teach drawing lessons. (This artist has no intention of starving!)

What does this mean for you, oh Gentle and Faithful Blog Reader?

It means that I will post to this blog 2-3 times a week instead of 5 days.

And, I will post to my new blog 2-3 times a week!

Yeppers, you can follow the progress on my book at dubya-dubya-dubya-dot-the-cabins-of-wilsonia-dot-com.

I’ve separated out this project from my regular blog for several business reasons, most of which you might find boring. And I NEVER want my blog to be b o r i n g.

So, here we go – a complete year of drawing! Can’t wait. Have I ever mentioned that I LOVE to draw? 😎

California Artist commission oil painting commission pencil work drawing lessons Wilsonia

A Break From Blogging

It hurts my heart to do this. I LOVE to blog. Showing you photos, drawings, paintings, life as an artist, Mineral King, the good stuff of Tulare County and California, and yackety-yacking at you about it all, then getting your emails and comments just floats my boat.

Oak Grove Bridge oil painting by Jana Botkin — The Oak Grove Bridge is my favorite subject to paint and blogging is my favorite thing to do on the computer.

I know that people have other things to do this time of year than to read the mental ramblings and verbal recitations of a California Artist. So, in spite of the withdrawals that I’m sure to experience, I will refrain from posting to my blog until January 2, 2013.

(Unless Jesus returns before then, or the world ends, or whatever is supposed to happen today.)

Meanwhile, please enjoy any of my past 1167 blog entries (REALLY!!), have a nice Christmas, and eat your vegetables.

If we are still here on January 2, 2013, you can read an announcement about a new plan on this weblog. Hope to “see” you back here!

Told You Yesterday That I Was Inspired

Yesterday I ended my post about inspirational beach photos by saying I felt so inspired I would go draw a cabin. You thought I was making that up?

This is a commissioned pencil drawing of a Wilsonia cabin. The cabin owners emailed me several photos with some specific instructions, and this is the result.

I love to draw.

commission pencil work drawing Wilsonia

A California Artist Visits a Santa Barbara Beach

Yesterday I began talking about California beaches and ended up showing a little bit of the Santa Barbara Mission, one of 21 missions in California.

Today I will show you a few photos I took at a Santa Barbara beach. Wow, it was beautiful! (Thank you, Captain Obvious) I took a pile of photos that I really really want to paint! But, I will only show you 3 photos, because you are probably skimming this quickly when you are supposed to be doing something else. (Isn’t everyone supposed to be very busy this time of year? I’m not that busy, but I’m a bit of an odd duck. Thanks for being polite about that.)

Is this not just stunning? Holy cow, this California artist who lives near and in the mountains is sort of experiencing a bit of beach envy.

We walked about 1 mile, probably less. HEY! Where do those stairs go?? Ummm, that would be up? Gotta see!

We climbed to the top of this very long staircase and read the sign “One Thousand Steps”. Really? I counted them on the way back down. Anyone want to guess?

Oh yeah, this is a source of inspiration for me. I feel so inspired that I might just go draw another cabin.