Road Trip

 

 

2014

Folsom Prison Plein Air

Grass Valley is home to the Hospitality House-and Utah place.  I was privileged to be invited do a rendering of this establishment -the pride of a community with some compassion, which is a place of refuge for homeless people in this part of the gold country district who are continuing the fight to survive and

 to get back on their feet.

Another Nevada City scene rendered by my hand plien-air style, in April of 2014!....

     After Shasta was Chico, California.  A place of great people; in personality, and character -to draw.  I will soon post some of these, soon as possible, at least since I was inspired enough to be there at least four days thee must be some merit in these -I lost count. 
    Then the drive south towards twenty, through country that inspires images of a Steinbeck Novel.  I have to kick myself for not for-seeing, the unforeseeable, and leaving enough time to stop and set up the easel and paint the scenes of the fields and rows of fruit trees glowing in the spring late afternoon Cali sun.  Next time through through here I will allow time, I tell myself.  Also though I decided I could do this scene from memory After all how many trees and row of trees with similar characteristics and resuming the same pose a few miles sown the road, or at least similar -and so on and so..., continued on...  With the late afternoon and then evening sun at my back the ascent up HWY 20 and onwards to Nevada City.  There is the place where I found scenes that were simply made for my brush.  Before arrival I was considering it a two, or -at most -three day stop, but something is calling to me, here.  I could easily be drawn to delve into this place in exploration; geographically, historically, and artistically speaking, I could take my pick.  If not all three....to satisfy my curiosity..., or some need I cannot say what.....

....

Mt Shasta was a great visit.  I Loved the water at the headwaters of the Sacramento.  Upon arrival, I just happened upon a ceremony paying homage to nature for the provision of the pure waters from the alpine springs of Shasta.  Significant also was the reunion with a friend who took leave of my area to embark on his road journey three months, at least, before I was to leave on mine. For all these things to happen to me at one place was amazing. If that wasn't enough I was truck by a street name when entering the town for the first time that was a name that was cited by my friend as being strangely repetitious in its reappearance in various forms of media and spoken word the few days prior to my mentioning it to him as it was the name of a boat I was seeking in the Port Townsend Boat Haven shipyard.  I decided to do the painting of Shasta, with inclusion of the street that bore the name Alma.

Roy Cray, mgr of the Bremerton Bar and Grill proudly received the finished commissioned portrait of the establishment, March 19.  I'm told the image will shortly be displayed on a complimentary thank you card a the Bar & Grill.