My favorite bridge is the Oak Grove Bridge, 6.5 miles up the Mineral King Road. It is also my favorite subject to draw and paint. There are three reasons for this (maybe even more, but we’ll go with 3 for now):
- A bridge is the perfect blend of architecture with landscape.
- This bridge is a fantastic surprise on a winding mountain road, one that is so rustic that it doesn’t even bother with a center line or fog lines.
- This bridge is a bright spot of architectural dignity in a county sorely lacking in such landmarks.
I used to only draw in pencil. This is the first time I drew the bridge, from a view upstream of the bridge. I didn’t draw very well back then, but people were polite and encouraging.
I drew it at least once more, but was very casual about keeping records of my work.
After learning to oil paint using only the primary colors, I decided to see if it was possible to do a full-color pencil drawing using a box of only 12 colors. It sold. (I think I could do a better job now.)
The most recent pencil drawing of the bridge also sold. This one is a popular design on notecard packages that I continue to reprint.
I would draw it again, but pencil drawings don’t sell very fast. People prefer oil paintings, or color, or both.
Come back tomorrow and you can see some of my paintings of this beautiful bridge in Tulare County.
2 Comments
FWIW, I think the 1990 drawing is beautiful! As are the other two portraits of this special, historic bridge.
Thank you, Sharon! I am surprised that the earliest drawing isn’t as embarrassing as some of my other earlier attempts at art.
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