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

I'm pleased to say that my painting, "Quiet Afternoon on Main Street, Locke" has received a Bold Brush FAV15% Award for March 2019. 

This painting began as a plein air study of Main Street late one summer afternoon.  The sun was low in the west and flashing between the old wooden buildings, creating a beautiful light pattern on the street.   The fleeting light and the complexity of the scene required me to finish the painting in the studio.  Happily, "Quiet Afternoon on Main Street, Locke"  is now in a private collection in the home of a long-time Locke resident.   It doesn't get better than that!

Locke is a tiny town in the Sacramento Delta region.  Built in 1915 by Chinese immigrants, it is the last last town in America that was built and inhabited exclusively by Chinese.  Because the Chinese were prohibited from owning land in California (a law that was not found unconstitutional until 1952), the town was constructed on property rented from local farmer George Locke.  It was originally named Lockeport.  In the early days it was a busy and active place with many businesses, not all entirely reputable.  Today it remains largely unrestored, looking much as it did almost 100 years ago, although many of the wooden buildings on Main Street are empty and all are showing their age.   However, there are signs of a returning vitality in the old town, with newer businesses mixing in with the few established businesses and points of interest that have hung in there.  There are lots of visitors on sunny summer days.  No one is ever disappointed.  It is easily one of the most unusual finds in the Sacramento Delta and Northern California. 

For more than 10 years, I have visited Locke regularly to paint its unique streets and dilapidated buildings.  In so doing I have been lucky enough to befriend many of the current residents who include  longtime Delta artists, current shop owners, creative crafts-persons, a fabulous woodworker and a published writer and poet of some 30 books among others.   Yes, Locke is quite a place!   

This is the 7th time one of my paintings has received the Bold Brush FAV15%  Award.  You may already know from my previous posts that this is not one of the major awards in the international Bold Brush monthly art competition.  That remains an illusive goal for now.  Of the 2,500 to 3,000 paintings submitted each month, the Bold Brush Staff picks their favorite paintings that did not win a cash award - thus the title FAV15%.  With such impressive numbers and with many of today's finest artists entering every month, even the lesser recognition is gratifying.   (But I'll keep trying!)