Coming back to art late in life....and LOVING IT!

I just returned from a short painting trip to Ft. Bragg with art friends Ruth A., Vickie C., Andy N. and Cindy N.  What a wonderful trip it was.  Not only did we have luxurious accommodations, but the weather could not have been better if we had ordered it special!  Fabulous.  

Well, almost.  There were challenges along the way for me.  Believe me when I tell you that plein air painting builds character.  And you know what it means when someone tells you that an experience is going to "build character".  You're in for some pain.  I set out the very first morning to paint the Pt. Cabrillo Light House.  I've never been there and I was looking forward to it.  The morning was simply gorgeous.  As I unpacked my gear to get ready for painting, I discovered that I had brought my studio palette and not my EasyL plein air palette!    In other words, the palette I had would not attach to my tripod!  Disaster.

I didn't know what to do, but I was determined that I would not let this affect the entire trip.  For my time at Pt. Cabrillo, I taped a small panel to the back of my RayMar panel carrier and held it in my lap while seated.  What a mess.  You should see my shirt and jeans from that day! Well actually, you can't see them.  During one of the thousand times that I was bending over to sit down on the incredibly uncomfortable camp stool, my jeans split right up the crotch!  My character was building by leaps and bounds!!

But I made it through...trying to calm myself and focus on painting one way or the other.  This is Point Cabrillo Lighthouse  9 x 12. 

During the time I was painting, I decided that I would have to acquire an easel for the rest of the trip.  There is one small but very nice art shop in Ft. Bragg and a quick call to them confirmed that they had one french easel in stock.  I already have a french easel in my studio, but it has seen years of use and abuse and I could rationalize buying a new one - barely.  But the circumstances demanded it, so I bit the bullet and drove to Ft. Bragg to make the purchase, painful though it was.

With time already lost for a part of the afternoon, I decided to stay in Ft. Bragg and not join the others a little farther away.  I went to the Skunk Train Station, a spot I had painted before.  Knowing the site and having quick and easy access made it a good choice for my first use of a new piece of equipment.   I painted the Skunk Train Engine #45 in the engine house.  Sadly I learned two pieces of bad news from some nearby workmen.  Steam engine #45...the popular workhorse of the Skunk Train RR...had been in for "routine maintenance" since the winter and the railroad was now relying on a diesel locomotive.  Perhaps time and available resources had run out for this magnificent old steamer.  And to make matters even worse for the world-famous tourist railroad a tunnel only three miles down the line had caved-in and the cost of repairs would be prohibitive.  The days of making the 45 mile run to Willits and back seem to have ended, replaced by a short 3 mile ride to the tunnel and back.  Not good news for the future prospects of the company. 

Meanwhile my French easel collapsed twice.  I caught it both times, but the honeymoon with my new easel - now about two hours old - was ending rapidly.   

End of the Line  9x12

On the morning of the second and last day, we went to Russian Gulch.  The weather was again beautiful and the scene breathtaking.  I used a larger 12 x 16 panel for this one.  Given the time available and no chance of returning a second day to finish in the same light, I should have used a 9 x 12.  But this big scene demanded the space...or so I thought...and I painted Morning light at Russian Gulch  12 x 16.  Really, I guess I should say, I blocked it in rather than painted it.  But here is the morning's effort. Perhaps I'll complete in the studio...

And finally in the afternoon I returned to a favorite spot, Dolphin Cove.  It's a little farther up the Noyo River than the well-known Noyo Harbor, where I have painted many times.  The small docks there are home to an eclectic collection of small to medium-sized boats.  A charming spot to paint.  My challenges returned when my new french easel suddenly collapsed spilling everything into the weeds!  (Never buy a French Easel!)  How I longed for my EasyL!  

Although the painting is too small to display the boat names, this is "Breezy Bill and Penny Mist In Dolphin Cove"   9x12

Finally it was time to return home....here's our intrepid band of painters on the last evening in Ft. Bragg....from l to r:  Andrew N., Cindy N., Vickie C., Ruth A., and me.  A great group and a great trip!!  Can't wait until next time. 

The little town of Locke, California is located in the Sacramento Delta just south of Sacramento.  I've been painting 'en plein air' in Locke for almost 10 years.  It's still a favorite spot.

It's difficult to describe Locke to someone who hasn't been there.  There are a number of small quaint towns that dot the roads and waterways of the Delta, but Locke stands out.  Built by Chinese immigrants on land that they were prohibited by law from owning, it remains almost untouched.  As you walk the narrow Main Street, the weathered, dilapidated buildings seem to take you back in time.  It's an artist's paradise. There is a paintable scene every where you look, but painters soon learn that capturing the character of Locke is a major challenge.  I've been humbled by it more times than I can count.

This painting is of the Star Theatre building that fronts on River Road.  It was built circa 1915 - 20.  The painting is an oil on linen panel, 12" x 16".   It will be on display at the River Road Gallery on Main Street, right behind the Theatre Building.  Currently I have other paintings of Locke also available at the Gallery.  If you haven't been to Locke, consider going.  It's quite an experience.  Stop in at Al the Wop's across the street from the Gallery and enjoy a terrific hamburger, a very cold beer and a "brace-yourself" experience.  And of course, stop in at River Road Gallery and say hello to Karrell Hickman, owner.