Sky and mountains are the farthest away, and I think they are finished. Next closest is the orange grove. Oy vey, those leaves!
Very very cold day. The garbage truck went up and down the street about 8 times. There were roosters crowing. The little pickup with the giant stereo pulled in across the street and this time he shut off the “music”. I saw the normal 2 or 3 cats, and the handful of little dogs that trot around with purpose. The county supervisor stopped by and I also talked to a group of women who were meeting in the library, a man named Ruben, and a neighbor, who reassured me that the recent murder was a family dispute and took place on the bad side of town, not where we are.
Good to know.
Today I might paint oranges on the trees. Or dirt on the ground. The ground on the painting, not the muddy ground I stand on to paint.
Intern returned, so we studied the wall together and discussed the next step. He put a base coat on Twin Buttes, and I worked on the mountains south of Alta Peak, since I got a few semi-helpful photos on Friday.
Together we mixed the color of the background of the packing label. Intern was SHOCKED that I painted the two oranges on the label before the background. Together we peeled back the masking tape, and he did a great job while I kept figuring out the mountains and a facsimile of Venice Hill. This is an odd group of hills just east of Ivanhoe, not exactly visible from town but definitely a landmark. I just made it up, because it looks different from every vantage point.
When I was satisfied with the distant mountains and fake Venice Hill, I began tinkering with the last inset, the auditorium of the Ivanhoe School back in the last century when I attended school there.
Intern was so cold that his teeth were chattering, so I told him that he had done enough for the day and sent him home. He was very helpful in many ways, and I also was able to teach him some helpful things about perspective and portraiture. Although he is a college student taking art classes, the instruction is insufficient. That’s how it was when I was in college too, and it is why I love helping people learn to draw.
The orange leaves have been troubling me. I know they will be delineated in the closer branches and trees, and be less clear when farther away. I can paint orange trees in oil and draw them in pencil, but using acrylic paint on a wall is just confounding me, handcuffing me so that I cannot figure out how to paint orange leaves. So I got a little help with them from a fellow muralist in the form of some texted photos and tried again. This time I just started with the farthest trees, hoping that I’ll figure out how to detail the closer ones.
After painting awhile, I stood back to see if the 2 halves of the mural make sense together. This caused me to jump over to the right side and rearrange the rows a bit, then begin texturing the distant trees.
After 6 hours of standing in the cold and the mud, I was ready to quit. So, I tried the combination on the trailer locks and was able to figure out how to open the thing. I carried my crates and stepladder to the opposite side of the library from the mural and put them in the ridiculously oversized trailer. Can you say “overkill”?
I have been asking for months to be given a key to the library so I can stash 2 ladders (now down to needing only one) and 3 crates of paint (now down to only 2), and to have access to water and to a facility. Instead of doing this apparently easy thing, they hauled in this giant trailer, parked it far from the mural, and I have no access to either water or a bathroom.
They’re from the government and they are here to help me.
I am able to make process in spite of this “help”.
Intern had other obligations, so I was on my own again. First things first: what is that little doghouse on a post, secured in a tire? I sent a photo to the previous librarian for the answer.
She replied thus: “It was a community event that we kept seeds and but of course it didn’t last by a week”. I concluded 2 things: 1. Even librarians don’t proofread their texts and 2. It was a failed experiment for sharing seeds (the current librarian said someone tore the door off immediate. . . sigh.) I guess that people who garden already have a network for seed sharing. I wonder how it can be used.
I unloaded the car next. After lugging the 3 crates of paints for 2 painting days, I realized that the gallon buckets aren’t necessary. I can refill the jars at home when necessary. Still have to haul water, because there is no faucet available. I do not have access to the library on the days it is closed, and the storage closet is more trouble than the trunk of my car or the back of the pickup. The county hauled a trailer to the site, supposedly for me, and my stuff will only occupy about 1/100th of the space!
It was cold, and I couldn’t figure out where to start. (What the temperature has to do with indecision is an unsolved mystery.) When I don’t know what to do, I pick something easy. Time to mix orange paint (because I work from the primaries, I mix my own colors. )
I must have taken these photos while standing around, trying to figure out where to begin.
Finally, I decided to just focus on the far left edge. Get some oranges in place, build a few leaves around them.
I walked to the edge of the library yard and picked a leaf from the neighbor’s citrus tree. This reassured me that my greens are mostly okay while slapping me with the reality that my leaves are coming up insufficient. The orange paint is transparent and will take multiple coats.
Still bumbling around, fumbling along, so I tried the smudgepots.
Never mind. Entirely the wrong size, completely unacceptable. Maybe I’ll just tackle the orange label. I know! I’ll fill in the triangle between the insets and fill in the areas of dirt that were previously taped off.
Is that sunshine?? It is!!
Maybe instead of trying to do perfect leaves on the far left which are supposed to look close, I’ll just work on the distant more vague trees.
That label was calling my name, and I didn’t want to waste the bright orange paint on the palette paint bucket lid.
Ooh, that is looking fine. Fine! Finally, something is working. (See all that mud? It ends up in the feet of the ladder and the shoes of the artist.)
The hills behind are supposed to bring to mind Venice Hill, a geographical oddity in the vicinity, and also start delineating the trees in the row on the right.
A few interesting things on Friday: I met Cuco from the public utilities/waterworks, who told me of a tank they might want a mural on; met Melé from across the street who used to draw and whose son is interested in art; someone in the neighborhood has a stereo with bass that almost shook my two fillings loose (I’ll be taking earplugs next time); a group of women crocheted together in the library in the morning; the library will soon activate a computerized machine where reserved books can be retrieved by scanning one’s library card; still no key provided for access to storage and facilities but by George, there is a locked trailed on the opposite side of the liberry, just waiting for my use (IF anyone provides the combination to the locks.
Brrr, BRRR, and BRRR! In driving the 35 miles down to the mural yesterday, I learned that the defroster in Momscar* is INSTANTLY effective, and I actually used the seat warmer, which seems like an ultra luxurious feature. Now I just need to figure out which button makes heat land on my feet.
Step by Step on Day Two
I took MomsCar so instead of just working off the tailgate of the good pick-em-up truck, I unloaded everything on the curb. (This is the curb of the driveway, not the actual road.)
Next, I had to satisfy my curiosity about that box on a pole.
No idea.
It is overwhelming to look at all that needs to be done, so I just eased into it. First, I removed the tape on the outside of the left inset.
Then I retaped it on the inside of the inset.
Because I paint from back to front and the sky is mostly finished (might add wispy clouds later), I mixed some “purple mountains majesty” color.
Starting on the left side, working my way south.
I had to keep standing back to see if it was believable. My goal was to make the mountains accurate, but I can’t seem to get a photo of how the range looks from Ivanhoe because of the overcast. My one good photo only goes from Alta Peak north. So, I just painted a first coat on the second half, getting Sawtooth in place. I will finish the mountains after I get some better photos.
Next, the upper edge of leaves. That was confusing because I am interpreting multiple photos, trying to make it believable. I alternated among 3 greens and used a tiny hint of orange. I’m not sure what the best approach is yet, but I have plenty of real estate in which to solve this problem.
I also placed a few of the closer oranges by circling the placement.
I moved to the upper right leaves, and then I was just too cold to continue. Here is the final shot of the day.
Then I filled in the channel left unpainted by the masking tape around the left inset.
The leaves didn’t look right to me, so on the way home I took a few photos.
*Mom gave me her car, and after a few months of adjusting to the fanciness of a 4-door, 6 cylinder, automatic, I still think of it as her car. Thus, the current name of Momscar.
I have some other obligations and work responsibilities so won’t be back on the wall until Friday.
Calendar available here, $25 includes postage (and I’ll eat the sales tax if you are in California.)
I got to the library at 8:45 to survey the lay of the land. Muddy. Significant log. Big roots to NOT trip over. What’s that weird little box on a pole? Could it be a Little Free Library, right here at the library?
After I unloaded the ladders, I realized that the wall was full of spiderwebs and dust.
When I was almost finished wiping it down, the representative from the Arts Consortium showed up, along with my intern. There was a little bit of paperwork; I gave Intern some jazz about not being able to sign his name in cursive, and Rep had to tell him that his last name initial was needed. (“Kids these days. . . sigh”, thought the old artist.)
Intern was helpful. I was able to teach him a little about starting a mural, using various tools, deciding the order to proceed. He learned about measuring and translating the scale of 1/2” = 1’, along with using a plumb line and a square.
We started with measuring the wall, to be certain that the measurements and proportions matched the approved design. Next, we taped off the insets.
Intern wasn’t dressed for painting, but he was really careful, and we painted the skies.
Intern was a hungry cold boy, so he left for lunch and I began the green base coat.
When he returned after his lunch, we finished the green and I painted some dirt base coat.
What will I do today? I will be on my own, because Intern has end-of-term projects to complete. The library will be open some of the hours that I am working, so I will be able to store my equipment and supplies until Friday. But they don’t open until 10, so I will be starting later on Friday.
The logistics of this job are rather intricate and challenging. I’m not surprised, because it took 3 years from when the county supervisor asked me to paint this mural until I am actually on the job.
Three years ago, the county allowed elected supervisors to have a bit of free rein on things like murals in their districts. My supervisor asked me to paint a mural on the Ivanhoe library, the beloved library of my youth. You can read about it here, here, here, and here.
If you don’t want to go back and read those posts from 2 years ago, here is the short version. The county reined in the Wild West approach, a committee was formed, and a call to artists went out to submit designs and compete for MY MURAL!
Eventually I got chosen, but they forgot to find the money first. Another 2 years passed, until this summer I was given permission to begin. First I needed to wait for the heat to abate and then for my unbloggable situation to resolve.
Meanwhile, the committee gathered money, and decided to only have one mural on the West wall, probably because they didn’t have enough money to pay for two murals because the original payment offered wasn’t high enough to entice many muralists (only guessing this from a few conversations I had with some muralist colleagues).
They requested that I make a change on the orange packing label from “Venice Cove” to “Venice Hill”. I was willing to do this, but only with permission from Klink, the packing house. What a surprise—it has merged with 2 or 3 other packing houses and is now called California Citrus or something similar. Not “Klink” anymore?? This hurts my little Ivanhoe heart, but I’ll soldier on.
Today I thought I would be working on the mural. However, there is now red tape and bureaucracy to navigate, with many opinions, an anonymous committee, and a college student who wants to intern with me. My hope is to be given access to the building on days when the library is closed. Otherwise, I will only be painting on Fridays, and this could take a very long time to complete.
I am REALLY REALLY REALLY looking forward to finally painting this mural!
Meanwhile, I continue to work on a couple of commissions, one of which I have been showing to you and one which is still in the design and decision phase.
(And I’ve actually begun working on the 2027 calendar. The 2026 is available here or anywhere you run into me if I remembered to put some in Mom’s Car* or whichever pick-‘em-up I happen to be driving.)
*It is a really nice car, and I really miss Fernando. Really. Sigh.
Trail Guy nailed some boards together for me several years ago, and I painted redwood trees on them. We got on a roll, and he pounded a few more of these panels together, but sales slowed and I moved on. We were cleaning out an area in the workshop and 2 of these appeared. I delivered one to Stem & Stone, where it adds attention-getting eye-appeal to the store front.
Screenshot stolen from Stem & Stone’s Instagram
The other needed some reworking. It was made from fence pickets. I painted a single tree in the middle, and it looked as if someone with a vee-shaped mouth took a bite from the top. Alas, I took no photos of the previous awkwardness.
Feel like watching paint dry? Here you go:
Greatly improved.
P.S. It’s not a mural, but I did use mural paints instead of oils.
In case you were wondering if all I do is yammer on about the beach or Mineral King, let me remind you that I am a working artist. Sure, maybe I’m only working part time these days, but I AM working. Here’s a list of upcoming projects (remembering that until money exchanges hands, it is only conversation):
I bid a mural which I did not get.
I won a competition for a mural that was initially promised to me, turned into a competition in which my design was chosen, delayed, and now, three years later, it might actually happen.
Some folks want a pencil drawing of the view from their parents’ front porch in Texas. This will be a very challenging commission. Maybe they’ll send me to Texas. . . probably not.
The same folks want another pencil drawing of the view from their other parents’ home with a vineyard and the Sierra in the distance.
Someone I’ve never met in person but am getting acquainted with on The Frugal Girl blog wants an oil painting of his house, somewhere on the east coast.
A friend and I are discussing a painting of the 2 sequoia trees in Redwood Canyon (on the Mineral King Road), which she calls “Two Sisters” and I learned as “Aunt Tillie and Uncle Pete”.
My show continues in Tulare, so here is a reminder of the dates, days and hours.
The list format doesn’t allow for photos to be inserted, so here are a few to keep you from thinking TLDR, which means Too Long, Didn’t Read.
#1 —I didn’t waste time doing sketches when the potential customer hadn’t come up with a budget. I’ve learned that lesson the hard way.
#2 This is the mural that I designed, submitted to the competition, was chosen, then put on hold. I sure do hope I get to paint it!
#3 Texas porch view photo to be turned into a 14×17” pencil drawing
#4 Front porch view (but change the trees to a vineyard)
#5 This is just a photo of his amazing Japanese maple. This will be a very challenging painting but I’m up for it!!
#6 After photographing them countless times, I could only find one shot, which is horizontal rather than the desired vertical format. For now it is just conversation, so there is time to get new photos.
Finally, here are the specifics about the show AROUND HERE in Tulare.
AROUND HERE will be at the Heritage Gallery in the Tulare Historical Museum through August 30. Days/hours are Thursday, Friday, and Saturdays, 10-4. (444 W. Tulare Ave.)
Some weekends in Mineral King are just action packed, all about the people. Who has time to hike? Or just sit quietly while contemplating matters of consequence? Go home if you want solitude, you delusional creature!
It was the annual cabin owners meeting, which is traditionally the weekend when we see the most cabin folks. (Yes, I know, duh.) This year’s meeting was the most energetic, enthusiastic, and optimistic that I remember. The president of the board for the last umpteen years has stepped down, and a dynamic rock-‘em-sock-‘em git-‘er-dun woman is stepping into the role.
I walked down to the meeting, but accepted a ride for the final stretch because I was late. I left on time, but so many people stopped me to ask a question about this or that or something else that time got away.
Here’s only a few of the folks present. I chose this photo because it shows almost no faces, and I am a respecter of privacy.
Sarah read a beautiful tribute to the retiring president that made many of our eyes leak.John has served us well. He wanted a plaque. (Please, NEVER give me a plaque for anything, please!!)
This is Eddie, our county supervisor. Three years ago, he told me that I could paint a mural on the Ivanhoe library. Then the bureaucracy kicked in, and after jumping through all the hoops, meeting all the deadlines, returning all the emails, and counting my chickens before they hatch, I gave up. After the meeting, without my prompting, he told me that it is almost time for the mural to happen. It began with a conversation about one, ballooned to a competition to paint two (which I was told that I won), and apparently is now back down to one. Until there is a signed contract or money exchanges hands, it is simply conversation. (Links to the posts about the library are below.)
This is a friend whom I have admired for many years. It was because of this hat that I went searching until I found my own version. I would like to draw this photo.
And this is me (wearing the straw hat based on my friend’s hat above) with my good friend Sharon, my most faithful blog commenter!!
Two different people approached me separately to say how much they enjoy my blog. That was my highlight of the day. (Hi Eliza, one of my tens of readers! Thank you, Glenn, you faithful reader!)
Here is some token scenery from an after-dinner walk to the bridge. I don’t think Bearskin will make it through the summer. (That’s the snow patch in the shade on the right side of the right-hand peak.)
“Black Friday” kind of disgusts me. (I recognize the irony given the previous paragraph/ad). It overshadows Thanksgiving in the media, and it summarizes and epitomizes the commercialism and greed that taint Christmas. I have participated in Black Friday in the past by joining a group of artists for a boutique here in Three Rivers. It was fun for the visitors, most of whom were part-timers in town, staying at their second homes. I reached a point where the scuzzy state of the building where we held the boutique was no longer acceptable. (WHAT DO YOU MEAN THERE IS NO WATER??) We borrowed some other locations for a few years, and when they were no longer available, it was a relief to let that boutique fade away.
This year I spent half a day refreshing the mural on the water treatment plant in my neighborhood, an imminently more satisfying venture than heading down the hill into the fog and the crowds to spend time and money looking for things that no one in my life needs or wants. (Not judging you—just stating the facts of my simple life.)
Yellow is the quickest fading color, so many of the greens have turned blue in the past 5 years. Some of those greens may have been mixed using a yellow that lost its high-lightfast rating (which I learned about when I tried to reorder that yellow.)
My before and after photos were terrible. It is almost impossible for me to take comparison photos when in sunlight because the camera screen is too invisible to be able to see and take the same angles. And even this last photo of the finished mural isn’t a good comparison because the light has changed.
You’ll have to trust me that it has improved.
Have a look at Alta Peak. When I went out into the road to view the mural from a distance, this is what I saw behind me.
In spite of my lack of helpful before and after photos, this picture of Alta Peak lets you know that the mountain in the mural is accurate.
It was a much more satisfying way to spend the day after Thanksgiving.
WAIT! I WENT BACK THE NEXT DAY AT THE SAME TIME AND TOOK THIS PHOTO FOR YOU!
Now, let’s look at before and after, side-by-side (11/29/24 on the left, 11/30/24 on the right). The differences are subtle, but I like it better now.
SIMPLY HOME
*The show hangs until December 29 at CACHE in Exeter. Their hours are Friday 1:30-4, Saturday 10-4, Sunday noon-4. It includes about 50 paintings, 3 original pencil drawings, calendars, cards, coloring books, The Cabins of Wilsonia books, and a few pencil reproduction prints.
