Backyard Study

Autumn's Last Light
original gouache painting on heavy textured watercolor paper
image size 4" x 6"; matted size 8" x 10"; sold matted
$35 + $10 USPS or free local delivery/pickup

As we head towards Autumn, I definitely have noticed a change in the landscape. The colors seem less saturated and the shadows have gotten bluer and longer. Evening is coming more quickly now and as the sun sets behind my hillside, I have taken note of the beautiful and changing view. In an effort to capture a little of that feeling, I did a small study. As I look out at the trees I wonder how long my oaks have been there and how many might have been cleared to make way for my home site. We lost part of one tree earlier this year during one of the last storms. Our tree man said that some of the oaks were sick but that that was typical of our area. A sick tree is weakened and this one partially fell down. One more reason to document what I can of my home while I can still do that. The trees will likely still be here long after I am gone.

Libby

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

Burson Road Morning-New Work

Burson Road Morning
4.5" x 6.5"
original gouache (opaque watercolor) painting on textured, heavy watercolor paper
available: libbyfife@ymail.com
$35 + $10 USPS or free local delivery/pickup

As part of my efforts to learn about the county in which I live, I spend time out and about driving around. Sometimes I have a destination in mind but sometimes I just head up one of the highways. For this painting, I went west on 26 and right up Olive Orchard Rd. That Olive Orchard Rd. development area is interesting enough but then I turned on to Burson Rd accidentally. The town of Burson is just up the road from me so I assume that this road I was on is part of that-I believe it pops back out on highway 12. What a beautiful area though. The morning light was just perfect as I took some photos. I couldn't wait to get back home and work on this painting.

I did a little research this morning and came across an account of the history of the town of Burson written for the SPWCH by Sal Manna. Take a minute to visit the site and read the account. It was interesting to me just how much impact the railroad system had on the development of small towns such as Burson. I also did an earlier post on the Milton Masonic Hall located in Milton. The town of Milton seems to have been affected by the railroad as well.

Libby

On The Way To Copper'

On The Way To Copper'...
Gouache on watercolor paper
Image size 3" x 5"
Matted in a cream colored 8" x10" mat
Must be framed under glass
$35 + $10 shipping USPS
libbyfife@ymail.com

I periodically do small studies of subjects in order to work out ideas about color or composition or sometimes just to get the idea out of my head! This one is done from a photo taken on the side of Highway 4, heading East, just outside of Copperopolis. Locals will probably know the vista point that I am referencing, on the right hand side of the road. I was told informally that this side of the road burns quite frequently. I guess people stop to have a look and a smoke and then don't dispose of their cigarettes properly. Such a shame.

The area of Copperopolis is rich in history (literally). I learned that during the Civil War, the copper mines of the town supplied a great deal of material for munitions. Ore was shipped to the Port of Stockton, loaded onto ships headed for San Francisco, and then those ships sailed around Cape Horn to the East Coast. The copper industry eventually dried up when the war ended and the town population dwindled. Black Bart is reputed to have called Copper his home and today, the town is trying to thrive with the addition of a golf course and newish housing development.

Thanks,
Libby