Streamside / Blog Birthday

Three years ago, Rob Jones suggested I begin blogging. Because I had an interesting project I wanted to document, I began Painter`s Process temporarily. Acting on his advice has proven to be the best career effort I`ve made. Thanks Rob!

Dusk on the Channel

This is from 2000.
When I told my brother Gary the title of the piece, he snorted "broccoli on the channel".

Rivulet

There was a tiny little stream that trickled down a hill at Whiskeytown that fascinated me. This is my second painting of it but it looks nothing like the real place. Competing ideas caused this to go its own way.

Creek Alcove

This canvas has a history. This is the large painting I struggled with throughout the Spring. It began as an estuary in the morning. That wasn`t working out so next it became a view of Government Island in the Columbia River. From memory, which didn`t prove too reliable. So again it evolved into an estuary, without success. Next up was a creek bank that I couldn`t quite tip over into resolution. Luckily, I then went to New Mexico and then Whiskeytown and I found some new inspiration. This is a calm little corner of Brandy Creek. The study worked and I had some confidence it would be a credible big painting.

Brandy Creek

I had to do some business at the White Bird Gallery, so I thought let`s make it a little holiday. I reserved a place at Oceanfront Cabins in Oceanside. Luck was with me, the weather was calm and bright and we would be there during a minus tide the next morning. If they`re 'deep' enough, you can get to places one rarely can. Usually the significant ones are at two in the morning or some other impossible time. This one would start flowing back in at 8:30 AM. Lost Boy Cave is here and only accessible with a good minus tide. Even so, we still had to climb over mussel encrusted rocks, which my middle aged knees were not confident of doing. But we were in that cave at the lowest ebb and it was so worth it. Getting inside had been something I`ve wanted to do for years.

Brandy Creek Dusk

The night before leaving Whiskeytown, I walked up the creek right before darkness. It is rare for me to be outside at that time, I`m usually painting. Having been a waiter for 30 years, I can`t seem to get out of swing shift mode. Which is too bad, walking in the woods in that diffuse light is so beautiful.

Davis Gulch 2 [Whiskeytown]

By all accounts, the swimming here is spectacular. It gets very hot even in this far northern part of California. I would love to return in summer and swim to one of the islands. The lake has so many coves and inlets, it appears that everyone could have their own private beach!