I started a new moly today and here is the first painting in it. I hope this qualifies for “Sanctuary” because it really is. The man who designed this garden has been doing so for over 30 years, and it is open to the public four days a week. He is now in his 80s and is still hosting the restaurant that is there. You can get an idea of the place if you google “Big Springs Garden, Sierra City, CA”. Last year I spent a lot of time there as a weed puller and planter with a volunteer group, but I admit, I spent more time looking at the scenery that I spent working. It was modeled after Monet’s Garden with his own touches in a different setting. I tried to find a happy medium here between some lines and just watercolor, but am not too thrilled with the heavy line under the bridge reflection. Oh well! Try again! 
By the way, this Moly does not have the perforations as my last ones did, and I miss them. I guess if there’s anything I want to frame I will have to use a box cutter.
trebor61 9:34 am on June 14, 2009 | #
I like the scenery here. Congratualations on another lovely painting. 80 years young, eh! Goes to show that if you look after a garden it will look after you.
roseindigo 1:35 pm on June 14, 2009 | #
Yes, the scenery is breathtaking, and I agree that a garden will look after you if you look after it. He and his boys used to camp here long before the garden was ever built, and shortly after his boys left home he moved to this spot permanently and began working on the garden. A couple of years ago there was a heavy snow melt and as the water came rushing off those Buttes it destroyed a lot of what he had built, but he is persistent and rebuilt it.
What I notice about this painting when looking at it on the screen, however, is some glaring mistakes, such as not getting enough reflections into the water. It sometimes helps to see something I paint in a different context to see where I goofed. I think I will work on it some more—–and watch, I’ll probably spoil it. I never have learned to leave well enough alone. LOL
Also, when I’m en plein air I use a waterbrush only so I don’t have to tote water around with me. While it is a handy little tool, you can’t do larger washes with it because the brush is some sort of nylon or other fiber and doesn’t hold much color, so my painting style is very different with the waterbrush than it is with a good sable. I love them anyway for outdoor use, but they are a challenge.
Nick Powell 2:22 pm on June 14, 2009 | #
brilliant! Before I read your blurb I was already thinking about Monets garden, it was the bridge I think.
Tell him its a success from around the world.
Does it qualify for Sanctuary? definitely!
Sophie Brown 4:39 pm on June 14, 2009 | #
It looks like a secret garden in the middle of a forest.