Friday, May 6, 2011

Painting at William Shatner's Hidden Garden

I JUST had a fabulous opportunity to paint at the site of William Shatner's riverside retreat here in Three Rivers, as part of an amazing garden tour held on April 16th. The Hiddens Garden Tour of Three Rivers was sponsored by the Three Rivers Union School Foundation, as a fundraiser for the local school. Six foothill gardens were open to the public, along with food catered by local restaurants, music, and art.

THANK YOU, William Shatner, for graciously offering to share your beautiful Belle Reve Ranch for this one day special event.

ARTISTS of the area were invited to be part of this tour, offering an environment where guests could watch us paint on site. I jumped at the chance. I had seen the river space before, but never in this capacity. Two weeks before the event, I took my camera to get photographs for local advertising, and spent an hour soaking up the beauty and serenity of this magical place.

THE PROPERTY is located in a little valley created by Salt Creek Ridge and Dennison Mountain. Most of the flora is native to the Sierras, boasting oaks, sycamores, grasses, ferns, and even a grove of baby giant sequoias. All the paths, which eventually lead you to the river, are donned with life-sized redwood sculptures crafted by R.L. Blair, the artist who created Country Bear Jamboree at Disneyland. He designed his statues of Yokuts men, women and children, just as if they were alive today – weaving baskets, carrying wood, and passing on tribal stories to the young. Prehistoric mortar holes, in granite slabs overlooking the river, further enhance the feeling that you have time-traveled. I was so inspired that I decided to paint these Yokuts – as real as they appeared to me that day.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Basket Maker


Here is the original photo.
I design most paintings in Photoshop. I removed the large tree, which was a distraction, and I already had this picture of my friend Fabi, from another project I worked on several years ago. Same position!
The 22x28 canvas is then painted bright orange, and black lines added.
Colors are filled in. And details added. I had intended on just starting this and finishing it on the day of the event, but it was decided that the artists could sell their work, so if I was to have a booth, I couldn't paint as well. I ended up finishing 3 paintings in advance, and worked on one at my booth. And by working on, I mean talking to guests all day.

This painting SOLD, 5/7/2011, $450.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Yokuts Woman

















Original Photo.


Fabi's sister Marilu poses for this.



















Orange and black....
















Colors filled in....







Finished. This painting is also available at $450.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Yokuts Story

This was painted on a 36 square canvas.



























Josephina Belman and her grandchildren Jamie and Fabilu, along with my grandson, were my models.
Almost done.
Finished. On the day of the event, I had all 3 finished paintings on easels set up at the spot where I painted them. I sold this one at the event, $650.