Take a Seat

Take a Seat
9" x 12" acrylic on 3/4" wrapped canvas
$75 + $10 USPS

In our area, we are lucky to be surrounded by living history. I say "living" because as long as people continue to ask, to want to learn, the history of the place will go on. This painting was done a month or so ago and I just now learned about the provenance of the building through simply asking the owner. She informed me that it used to be the business office for the local lumber mill. I am that much happier for knowing this and for choosing to paint this particular building. You just never know.
Libby

This past Friday I was out and about in Angels Camp and Murphys. Trying to find great ideas for painting isn't difficult, especially at this time of year. The weather is gorgeous. 


Angels Camp is home to the Calaveras County Fair and every year, the town strings old fashioned clothing onto a line right down the middle of main street. The hanging of the laundry lets everyone know that the fair is coming. 


I was also in Murphys that day. I had remembered the below coffee shop and knew that the building was of interest to me. It looks like an old gas station or maybe a drive through of some sort. I didn't get a chance to go in though to inquire about its history. Next trip!


I also visited the small store of Moon Alley Candles. The candles are beautiful and reflect a Craftsman's style aesthetic. I love everything from the Arts and Crafts Movement (think William Morris) and these candles really captured some of those designs.  


Lastly, I visited Sustenance Books, an independent book store. I wish we had more shops like this one. They do have a Facebook page which is what the above link is for but really, a visit is the ticket!


In my mind, there are so many things to see here that I don't know why people aren't cramming the highway to visit. Hopefully some of the photos I took will turn into ideas and then eventually paintings. These little "out and about" trips as I call them are really sources of inspiration.


Libby 

Coming Home
11" x 14" Acrylic on wrapped canvas
$85 + $15 USPS and CA Tax

Learning to get around in our county, as "small" as it is, has been a challenge for me. For starters, Highway 12 turns into Highway 49 outside of San Andreas. It is still the same highway mind you but it gets a different designation. The next question is, am I going East or West, North or South? When I go to Murphys, am I coming down from Valley Springs or up from Valley Springs? And wait, I live in a subdivision of Valley Springs??? How can a town so small have a subdivision? 


In any case, learning each little part of each town and where everything is has been fun. You can't beat the scenery and two years later, it is only starting to seem familiar to me. It sure doesn't get old. One of the first landmarks that I began to notice on my way home from Jackson or any point to the East, was this water tower at the intersection of Highways 12 and 26. Now, once I see the tower, I know that I am almost home. I have waited some time to make this particular painting, believing that there really wasn't a good view or story about this tower. But there is a good story; and I think I am not the only one who must know it. Surely other people on their way home must see this tower and know that they are close to their goal. It really is a "rural beacon" for those of us coming home.


Libby

Blunder Inn
9" x 12" Acrylic on wrapped canvas
available: $75 + $10 USPS
email: libbyfife@ymail.com

Call me sentimental, but I really have a soft spot for these old bars and motels. The Blunder Inn, (someone has a super sense of humor), is situated in Mountain Ranch. I was told that it has been many things at one point or another and there was a time when it was a rough kind of place. Now, it looks smoke free and rather congenial. Drinking and pool playing are the activities now and I would imagine that a good bit of socializing goes on as well. Mountain Ranch is a small town and unless you are headed there specifically, people don't just pass through. They have a great market called Senders which not only offers good looking produce and meat but a wonderfully stocked ACE Hardware. To me, it doesn't get much better. There are even sheep there! (Not at the market obviously but in the surrounding greenbelts.) The whole town is rather untouched and charming, (the Inn included), if you don't count the cable and internet connections:)


Libby

Famous Jumping Frog Motel
9" x 12" acrylic on wrapped canvas
available: $75 + $10 USPS
PayPal
email: libbyfife@ymail.com

Our county has a number of these little motor lodges or motels as they came to be called after World War II. In the first part of the 20th century, our highway systems in the United States began to be developed, connecting towns and cities across the country. More people acquired cars and traveling by car from town to town became popular. These small groups of rooms with a central court for parking (typically) sprang up across the country next to these new roadways. People could pull over, rest, eat, and enjoy whatever sights were available. Eventually, the interstate highway system was developed, bypassing the old highways and the old motels. Newer chain hotels sprung up in response to this changing landscape and consumer demand. My belief is that The Jumping Frog Motel in Angels Camp, pictured above, was probably one such motor lodge. It is indeed situated right off of highway 49, one of the main roads running through our county. I am guessing that during the summer, when the fair is going, it probably gets a lot of custom. There are other places to stay now as well so I don't really know how the motel is doing. In my mind though, it has an historic past and is a bit of a relic from a time gone by; a piece of living history.


Libby

First Light
8" x 10" acrylic on wrapped canvas
available: $65 + $10 USPS or free local delivery
PayPal
email: libbyfife@ymail.com

One of the advantages of being an early riser is being able to see the sunrises. It is always an amazement to me that there isn't a giant traffic jam on the roadways with people trying to get a look at the first light of day. Maybe this is more of a solitary activity; who knows? This piece was inspired by what I saw at the side of the road, pulled over just outside of town (Valley Springs). So beautiful and absolutely free.


Libby

"Round The Corner
11" x 14" Acrylic on wrapped canvas

Every year the Calaveras Arts Council sponsors a studio tour. Artists in Calaveras County open up their studios so that the public can view artwork for sale and to see artists at work. During last year's event, we ended up in Mountain Ranch. On our way to Murphys, we stopped in the small town of Sheep Ranch. I have written a little bit about Sheep Ranch before. It is another little gold rush town that was once a bustling area but is now just a quiet couple of streets. Many of the older buildings are still standing though some are not inhabited or in use. This particular home looks to me like it is being lived in. It is across (kitty-corners) from what I was told is a former general store. I suppose I have a romantic vision of these things. It was a warm summer's day in late fall and I tried to capture that along with what I believe to be a somewhat solitary and isolated existence, living in a small rural town.


Libby

Take a Walk

Take a Walk

8" x 10" acrylic on 3/4" profile canvas

available: email libbyfife@ymail.com

One of my favorite things to do here when the weather is not too hot or too cold is to take a walk. I didn't give much credit to Lake Hogan at first, thinking it was just for boaters. It seems incredible to me now that there is all of this beautiful open space and there aren't more people here during the entire year. To each his own I guess.

Libby

First Poppies-Lake Hogan

Last year we took a little tour of the Lake Hogan area to look at wildflowers and other native/non native plants. This photo taken just a couple of days ago is of the first group of poppies that I have seen so far in our area. They are probably popping up in other spots but this particular route, on the way to the lake, is one that I take most often. I am looking forward to the purple lupine and other little flowers that come up every Spring. We have some on our hillsides too that should be sprouting soon, especially now that we have had some rain.

Springtime is so lovely here-just green, green, green! And don't forget Daffodil Hill. Though it isn't in our county, it supposedly is not to be missed. I will settle though for the beautiful daffodils and other flowers at Ironstone Vineyards in our very own county:)

Libby

Hogan Lake

We moved from a very suburban area in Ca to a very rural area. I was used to green parks and tailored landscaping, uniform housing tracts and city planning. In particular, I had "my park" in a downtown area of a large city. Going to walk there on well manicured paths and strolling among a volunteer tended rose garden next to a picturesque lake was a really special experience. Views of Mt. Diablo are visible from nearly every corner and there is a lovely little stream which winds its way towards a dog park and beyond. Very picturesque.

When we moved here, I was a little sad to leave what I was used to but was excited to begin enjoying the wide open spaces of the foothills. There didn't seem to be anyplace to walk, however. Hogan Lake looked like a good alternative but I didn't quite "get it" at first. Wasn't it just for boaters and campers? The temperature swings can be serious too; broiling hot in the summer and pretty cold in the winter. This past Fall though, I finally began to see what was what with Hogan. After Labor Day, the lake is very quiet. The weather is still pretty mild-not too hot. I began walking there and at first I was just getting used to the path and figuring out where the trails were. After several months, I began to notice smaller details. And as an artist, I am on the lookout for these small and subtle colors and shapes that are all around me as I take my walk. There is a lot of history with this land-you can't help but think of the evolution of these natural elements as you look around. To this end, I included some up close shots of some things that can be easily overlooked as being just part of the overall landscape. Look closely though for the color, shape, and regularity of the objects and you begin to see a larger beauty that isn't always immediately evident.

Although this rock is taken out of context, (it sits along the side of the path on a larger piece of land) it is typical of smaller rocks in the area. It looks like some type of quartz with iron oxide shot through it. Whatever it is, those colors are very prevalent in the landscape.

These flattened rocks are also typical and are found on some of the hillsides along the walking path. Without benefit of a geologist's background, I would guess that the rocks look like slate or shale.

It is true that these are weeds but how lovely they are! They kind of creep along the side of the path and when the sun hits them they are a brilliant color of red.

This rock is just lying along the side of the path. Quartz I would guess, again with some type of iron mineral shot through it. (I am not a geologist obviously-just guessing!)

This last photo shows what I think is lichen on the branches of some brush. Most of the trees and bushes have some type of lichen growing on them. Again, you just have to be looking.

Libby

Parrott's Ferry Bridge

Parrott's Ferry Bridge

9" x 12" acrylic on 3/4" profile canvas

available: $65 + $10USPS

email libbyfife@ymail.com

I have crossed this bridge on many occasions now. It connects the small towns of Columbia and Vallecitos (plus points beyond). It spans the New Melones Reservoir which I learned this weekend supplies power to our public agencies in the two counties, Calaveras and Tuolumne. I found an interesting link here regarding some of the history about people crossing the lake (prior to the reservoir being created) on a ferry operated by none other than Thomas Parrott! This was in the mid to late 1800s and at that time getting across any body of water, no matter how small or large, was a challenge. It is amazing to me the ways in which people managed to harness the available resources in order to live in a place that must have been hostile and foreboding. The temperature swings and rocky topography alone would have been discouraging. In any case, I admire this bridge greatly for its clean lines and simple architectural structure. It is a marvel of modern bridge engineering to be sure; it is one of the longest "pre-stressed concrete beam" bridges ever built in the United States. (link here) I think this bridge, though located in our county, has a broader appeal. Any structure that connects people with one another is important to keeping towns and groups of citizens going both with commerce and socialization. The bridge is a beauty and without it our citizens would be doing a lot more driving to get between the counties.

artist's note: I stood on the Columbia side of the bridge to take my reference photo. It was about midday so the sun would have been a little overhead or closer to the west. The shadow on the side of the bridge was beautiful and served to really demarcate the structure in a way that I found appealing. And though the opposite hillsides have many trees, I chose to highlight what I think is just as beautiful, namely the rich red and orange soil which is so typical of our area.

Out and About: St. Andrews Catholic Church-San Andreas

Getting acquainted with a new area can be very exciting. Actively searching for new experiences and sites is a part of this process. There is a degree of patience required, however, which causes you to slow down and simply accept new places, events, and people as they come to you; things cannot always be "scheduled." My discovery of St. Andrews Catholic church is a serendipitous example of what I mean.

The above shot was taken as I walked around the grounds of the church which is located in a neighborhood on Church St., San Andreas. I went there because a couple months back, I painted another work of the St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Mokelumne Hill. That church is the sister church to St. Andrews. This particular view is one of two outdoor sanctuaries that the church offers. I don't know though which saint that is a statue of as it isn't marked.

This second shot (above) is the other outdoor sanctuary. I would guess that the statue is of Mary. As I looked at both areas, but in particular the second area, I wondered if such a location could provide relief from whatever it was that you were praying for? Could there be comfort and hope derived from sitting down to pray in such a lovely area? I also wondered if the two views, the one of the church itself and the one of the graveyard beyond, were intentional? I would imagine that both places would provide solace to those who believed.

These last two views are of the cemetery. It might seem odd to visit a place where your relatives were not buried and I admit that I went there for "artistic" reasons to begin with. From the road, the sides of the graves are visible so all that you see are these gleaming white shapes against the green hillside. I thought it was an interesting arrangement of light, shadow, shape, and color. I decided to take a look at the top of the cemetery to see what else was there.

To begin with, the cemetery is perched on a hill. San Andreas is rather a hilly place (this is the foothills after all) and so it is no surprise that this site is up high. All of the graves are pointed in one direction and I wondered if that was intentional. I was surprised to see many graves that were established in the 1800's and early 1900's. I later learned that the first church in town was established in 1852. It occurred to me that a sanctified graveyard would be extremely important for a town of religious people; just as important as a general store, a post office, or even a saloon or gathering hall. As I walked around, I noticed some familiar names that I am starting to learn. They are the names of old San Andreas families, a reminder that people have come here and put down roots; they have established themselves in a way that I think doesn't happen that often today. The road up the hill to the cemetery winds around the grave sites and soon you are back where you started. The view is lovely, looking out over the town and the mountains. It is quiet and peaceful. If you have to be somewhere forever, this doesn't look like such a bad spot.

As I walked back down the hill I thought about all the people that came here willingly (and some not willingly) to start new lives with family and friends. I was told when I first moved here that people were very proud of the fact that their families had been here for generations, some maybe never even having left the county. I tried to put this in perspective with what I believe are the benefits of forming a larger frame of reference through travel and other life experiences. I think I missed the significance though (and made a false assumption) of forming a connection and identity by remaining in one place. It is just important I think to do this as it is to see the world in a larger context. There is no reason why both things cannot occur at once, to the same person.

As always, if there are comments or bits of historical significance that I missed, let me know.

Libby

At The Park: Murphys Park

At The Park

9" x 12: acrylic on canvas

available: email libbyfife@ymail.com

$65 + $10 USPS or free local delivery

Though we have rain now, two weeks ago the weather was absolutely gorgeous as I sat in Murphys Park in Murphys. The park is beautiful. It is everything you might want right in the middle of a small rural town: bandstand, playground, picnic benches, a creek, and pathways on which to walk. During the summer the trees provide shade and much needed refuge from the temperatures which can get pretty high. The sign at the entrance to the park says that the park was established in 1948. The town itself was established in 1848 by the Murphy brothers who were some of the first to successfully pull their wagons over the Sierras. They set up a trading post and gold mining operation and got to work! The gold mining eventually died out and was replaced by other types of "industry" including grape growing and wine production. Today the town is still up and running and is a popular tourist destination for people seeking a great combination of "old west" and the "wine country" experience. If you would like to read more about the history of Murphys, follow this link here. Also, long time resident Judith Marvin has written an Images of America book about the history of Murphys. It is available locally or through Amazon.

Artist's note:

As enthralled as I was with such a beautiful park, there was quite a lot going on there composition-wise. I settled on this longish view of the tables, bridge, and gazebo and edited out some things to hopefully make a less cluttered painting. I wanted the viewer to feel as if they could sit right down and enjoy an unseasonably warm winter day.

Libby

(Photo included for reference)

Swingin' By Swingles

Swingin' By Swingles

9" x 12" acrylic on canvas

available: $65 + $10 USPS or free local pickup

email: libbyfife@ymail.com

It sometimes happens that I am just attracted to the idea of something. In this case for this piece, I was attracted to that cow sign. Or, I guess it may be a steer. How did they ever get it up there? Come to find out, fiberglass animals are a big advertising idea. Who knew?

This business is located in Amador County which is the next county over. Even though this project is centered on all things Calaveras, there is a tie in here to Amador. One of the charms of our county is that we have consciously chosen a policy of low growth. This means that we are not overpopulated with big box stores, traffic, and congestion. Amador county is a little different in that they have allowed in larger businesses. Despite this, the county remains peacefully open and not overrun with much of anything. And in comparison to the Bay Area where I am from, both counties are blissfully bucolic and tranquil.

I originally chose this business because of the sign and building but as I considered things, a small home grown business such as this is so necessary regardless of what county it is in. Supporting the efforts of small businesses so that they continue to operate is what gives a small rural county like this its character. Sure, we have a few larger stores to go to but having smaller businesses where you may know the owners is really priceless. It feels good to purchase from them. And that is why I think even though this store is specific to my area, the idea of it can be generalized to other parts of the country.

Libby

link to: Swingles

From The Rooftops: San Andreas View

From The Rooftops

8" x 10" acrylic on canvas

$65 + $10 USPS or free local delivery

While in San Andreas one morning looking for something to paint, I got a little frustrated. No doubt there is much to paint there, (historic buildings, etc.) , but I wasn't having any luck. On the way in to town I had seen these rooftops from across the street while driving. I parked my car and took some photos but was still looking for the "perfect" composition. When I got home to review my photos, I saw that this simple arrangement of shapes and values was exactly what I was looking for. This view is of the side and tops of a group of buildings whose entrances are located on main street and whose sides are on St. Charles!

As always, comments are welcome.

Libby

Pickle Patch Deli, San Andreas CA

Pickle Patch Deli

9" x 12" Acrylic on canvas

sold

When we first moved here, my sister-in-law took me to the Pickle Patch for lunch. Feeling a little out of place and nervous about moving to a rural community, I looked around the restaurant and noticed that everyone looked just like me! Nothing to worry about here I thought. And it is true. Going to the deli for lunch is always a great experience and is the closest thing to places that I used to go to when I lived in the Bay Area except everyone is very polite and knows each other!

I did learn through a quick search online that the building was built in 1939. It is a war time bungalow style home that has been turned into the restaurant. I also learned, through their web site here, that the grounds can be rented for events and that the restaurant also does catering. The gardens are lovely and I have sat outside on the deck in winter and summer and been comfortable every time.

Lastly, as pure coincidence, the picture that I took of the deli and upon which my painting is based, is nearly the same shot that is on the deli's web site. I was hoping for an angle that included a view to the back of the property as well as the contrast of light and shadow. The sign was important to include also. Guess whoever took the shot for the site thought the same things!

As always, if you have any information about the building that the deli is housed in please let me know.

Libby

libbyfife@ymail.com

Images: Valley Springs and Hogan Lake

One of the great benefits of living in this area is the sheer amount of space that a single person is afforded. You just don't get this sense of unrestricted freedom in an urban area. Your eye can literally wander as far as it can see, out to a field, and beyond to the Sierras. Just amazing. The above shot is just outside of Valley Springs, early in the morning, maybe around 7AM. At this time of year there seems to be a lot of particulate matter in the air which I guess isn't super for the environment but it sure makes for some dramatic sunrises. In addition to the natural beauty of this view, I love the simplicity created by the crisscrossing hills leading out to the mountains.

The other benefit to living here is the proximity to Hogan Lake. In deciding to move here, one of the things that attracted us to the area was the rolling foothills and oak trees. And although I admired the environment, I didn't come to fully appreciate things until about a year later. I missed my old park with its established walking trails and well tended rose garden. I also missed the more moderate temperatures which allowed me really to be outside year round. Although Hogan is just up the road from where I live, it took me some time to go there on a regular basis for a walk. It is hot during the summer, busy with boaters, and can be noisy on the weekends. During the winter, it can be gray and bone chillingly cold. Now for the good news: we are having splendidly mild pre-winter weather and now is the perfect time to get outside. After a couple of outings on the footpath, I have begun to notice more fully the beauty of this landscape. True, most everything you see is a weed of some sort but honestly, who cares when the colors are so vibrant and varied? The above shot is of one of the walking trails. Look at the color of those oaks.

The above shot is looking out to the lake and far mountains. Gorgeous.

The final shot is of my return trip back to the car. If you look closely you can see that someone left their footprints in the gravel. And that is just it: you have to look closely around here for the things that are beautiful and available for everyone to see.

Libby

Church On The Corner

Church On The Corner

11" x 14" Acrylic

3/4" profile canvas

$75 + $15 shipping USPS or free local pickup

People who live in this area might recognize this church, St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, located in Moke Hill. Of all of the towns in our county, I think Moke Hill is the most interesting to me. It is built on a hilly area, as the name might imply, and the town is small. So small that you can't NOT get along with your neighbor! The social dynamics there must be interesting. This particular church is located right in the middle of a residential street. There is no other place it could be located except on a residential street!

There is such a small town feel to this church and this area. I love the idea of being able to walk to church, of just stopping by to pray, or of just living next to an important historical structure. I deliberately kept the title of this painting generalized. This church could be located anywhere in rural America and even so, its history is uniquely Calaveras. For a short read on the history of Mokelumne Hill, check out this link to the website of The Mokelumne Hill Community Historical Trust. The city was at one time the county seat of Calaveras and a burgeoning, cosmopolitan mixing pot of different people and cultures. Things are bound to change though and the cessation of the sources of gold brought an end to the gold mining boom in the 1860's.

As always, if anyone reading has more information just send me an email. The link above has been added to the resources page.

Libby Fife

Train Trestle

Train Trestle

9" x 12" acrylic on 3/4" profile canvas

sold

This train trestle is on highway 49 (I believe) outside of San Andreas. I am running errands today so I will verify that! In any case, the cement support was built by the Calaveras Cement Co in 1936. The Calaveras Cement Co was instrumental in supplying the cement for such projects as the Pardee Dam Reservoir here in Valley Springs. They are now the Lehigh Southwest Cement Co and do projects all over the state of CA. The railroad came to San Andreas at one point so that cement could be delivered to various spots in the county and elsewhere. Lehigh has a short timeline of history on their page here. It was interesting to see how the company has evolved over the years. I also wrote about the cement co in my previous post so check that out also.

I was attracted to this overpass because I could see that it was erected in 1936. I do like old structures and in particular, this one is sort of nestled in among the trees and foliage. I have seen it now during the entire year and I admit that the Fall is my favorite time so far. You can't beat the colors around here but you really have to look. For this particular piece, I did work from my field notes for similar paintings and I also used a photo taken earlier in the Fall. While we do have a lot of trees that change color in an overt way, it is the oak trees that really catch my attention. You have to really be looking to see that they change form a blue/gray/green to a more brown/red/gold color. There is a high point for it also which I think peaked in about September, fairly early on. Good thing too that I did this painting now because the wind swooped in and blew away much of the existing foliage.

As always, let me know if you have a comment.

Thanks,

Libby

Calaveras Cement

Signage of all sorts is appealing to me but especially if it is from the early part of the 20th century. If I am not mistaken, this particular structure went up in 1935 and not knowing much about it, I would guess that it is a railroad trestle of some sort. The photo that I used for this sketch was taken as my husband and I were driving back towards San Andreas, having come from Columbia.

I went online to learn a little bit more about the Calaveras Cement Company. I knew that they were instrumental in the Pardee Dam project and I wrote earlier about the effects of the railroad boom/bust on the cement co. I didn't realize though that the company was involved in so many Bay Area projects and since I am a Bay Area native, this is of interest to me. The link for the company is here and it is also included in the resources section of the pages at the top of the blog.

Libby