Valley Springs Station-New Work

Forgotten Station
gouache painting on watercolor paper; matted
8" x 10" matted, image size 4" x 6"
$35 + $10 USPS or free local delivery/pickup

This is the second painting I have done of this train station. I may be a little obsessed. I have been reading bits and pieces about the station's history. The train came to town in April of 1885. I learned that the train system would connect residents of our area to the larger world-Stockton-and would provide economic relief from costs associated with having to move supplies in and out of West Calaveras. Like anything else, historical events conspired against long term success of this narrow gauge system. The railroad never reached to Big Trees as planned and seems to have puttered out with the advent of a new standardized gauge system, multiple sales to other railroad lines, and the invention and usage of the automobile. (Roughly-this is just my nutshell of events-there are other factors which contributed to the cessation of this system).


This second rough sketch is from one of my several trips to the station to do a little field "research." Trying out an idea and a composition prior to painting is useful for me. It allows me to problem solve prior to committing something to canvas.

I would like to cite the main source for my information (there have been several) as an article written by Sal Manna for the Valley Springs News. He can be contacted here. I recommend the compilations of articles that he is able to provide. They are entertaining and informative without being ponderous-perfect for us Internet junkies who have had our attention spans severely shortened:)

Thanks for reading. Please contact me with any questions.
Libby
libbyfife@ymail.com