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

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

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

Wrinkle Cove-Hogan Lake

Wrinkle Cove

Image size 4" x 6"; mat size 8" x 10"

gouache on watercolor paper

available: libbyfife@ymail.com

$35 + $10 shipping or free local delivery/pickup

As is often the case, there isn't any specific history that I could find associated with Wrinkle Cove at Hogan Lake. People can swim or fish here of course and I have parked and hopped onto the nearby walking trail. Those rocks in front are there to prevent people from driving onto a particular area though I did see a car parked out on that point in the middle distance. Earlier this year when we received so much rainfall, Wrinkle Cove was closed. There was just too much water and it wasn't safe I suppose for parking or swimming or fishing. What attracts me to this area though is the sunrise. The sun comes up right over the hillside and splashes across the water to the banks on the other side. It is beautiful; overlooked I think too during the off season. I imagine that when the park is at peak season, people enjoy that sunrise every morning. I hope!

If you know anything about Wrinkle Cove, send me an email.

Libby

Sunday Morning: Outside San Andreas

Sunday Drive
8" x 10" acrylic on 3/4" profile canvas
$65 + $10 shipping or free loacl delivery/pickup

This painting depicts part of the road outside of San Andreas, CA. In trying to learn a little bit about highways 12 and 49 I ran across this site: cahighways.org. Highway 49 has a long history!

Thanks,

Libby

Freemason Hall, Milton, CA

Freemason Hall, Milton, CA
5" x 7" acrylic on hardboard
available for sale $35 + $10 shipping or free local pickup/delivery
libbyfife@ymail.com

This one was painted as a color study. Please see the previous post and the resources page at the top of the blog for information of the Freemason Hall.

Thanks,
Libby