August 2021

 

For many years we have spent some time each year in this cabin near Big Sur. Because of the pandemic, we have missed the last couple of years, and when we found out that it was available again, we were happy to reserve it for a few days. Our son, Aaron, and his family decided to join us there. One afternoon, I felt like painting something, so I picked a view of the cabin as you first approach it. Ten-year-old grandson, Dylan, watched me as I started it, and then I finished it later at home.

One day, the kids discovered that they could get down to the creek that runs below the cabin deck. Three-year-old Marisol played with the sand and water while her mother, Alicia, watched. I usually avoid painting people because it's not easy to get them looking right. This time I felt like there would be nothing to lose but a piece of paper, so I went ahead with it.

A couple of weeks after going to Big Sur, we went horse camping at Jack Brook Horse Camp near La Honda. While we were there, I painted this scene, but it was another one from our Big Sur trip. We hiked out to the beach at Andrew Molera State Park where there was a lot of driftwood and lots of people. An older couple pointed out to us that there was a small rattlesnake nearby under a log. There was another one under the big log in front of all of the people in this scene, but they didn't seem concerned.