Down But Not Out

A sunset I witnessed from a friend's patio in San Clemente.

'Sundown' 5" x 7" Oil on Canvas.

Delightful Painting

A single Stardust Daisy from my garden. 'Sole Delight' 5" x 7" Oil on Canvas.

Changes

After painting in my studio for two years now, I have been able to fully realise some of the shortcomings of the arrangement of furniture in my easel area. As my inability to step back far enough from my work to look at it properly got more annoying I decided it was time for a change.

Here is how it looked before the change.

As you can see, when I stepped back from the easel I hit my drawing table.

I could step back further if I changed the angle of the easel. However, I would have to move the easel back to start painting again (because that angle didn't provide the right light for painting) so it wasn't a good solution. Although my drawing table was in the way, I did not want to take it out of the room. Even though I haven't been using it as a drawing table lately, I still wanted it there.

After discussing the issue with hubby, this is what we came up with.

We changed the position of the drawing table and that of my easel and taboret. I can still put my drawing table up quickly to use it for drawing but most of the time it is placed vertically to give me the room to step back from the easel sufficiently.

I also moved my taller still life stand next to the taboret. It used to be next to a desk, barely seen in the bottom left-hand corner, but it blacked some light to the desk and ended up being a flat surface for papers, books and other stuff. It is still easily accessible in its new place and I now have a greater feeling of space in the studio.

The changes did cause some new problems, so there were compromises, but my highest priorities were met and that is the most important thing.

On a Mission 3

In spring, the central courtyard is full of beautiful and varied colour, and textures.

When I was at the Mission painting one Saturday, there were two bridal parties taking advantage of the lovely backdrop.

Against the flowers, the koi hold their own colour-wise.

There's a beautiful scene in every direction.

The Mission's vegetable garden.

One of the residents enjoying the sunshine.

Out of the central courtyard, walking towards the exit, there is still plenty of colour and visual interest to take in.

I hope you've enjoyed this virtual visit to the Mission and hope you'll get an opportunity to visit it in person one day.

On a Mission 2

This is part two of my visit to the Mission in San Juan Capistrano.

A path runs past the ruins of the old Church and leads to this lovely courtyard.

That courtyard leads to a small cemetery.

Next to the cemetery is a private area closed off by a locked gate.

Off the courtyard this post started with is another courtyard. Peaceful and serene. 

The first time I came across this courtyard it was full of children on a school trip. By moving on and returning later I was able to get this picture and have the space to myself for several minutes.

Inside the Mission Church.

The Church can be entered through a side door from the Mission cemetery. Exiting the church from what is actually the entrance brings you to the central courtyard and the colonnades surrounding it.

Even with as many school groups and other visitors roaming the grounds on the day I was there, it was still possible to be 'alone' on the grounds and get photographs without or with few people in them.

These are among my favourite areas of the Mission.

More next time...

On a Mission

After not visiting the Mission at San Juan Capistrano for over a decade, I have now been there three times in the last few weeks. The latest visit was to paint as part of a plein air class that I was taking.

Mission San Juan Capistrano is the seventh of 21 Missions that were founded in California in the 18th and 19th centuries. Read about the history of the Mission here

Spring is a perfect time to visit with all of the flowers in bloom.

This is a fountain just by the entrance.

There are roses and other flowers everywhere.

A view of the Church that was destroyed in an earthquake.

A model of the Church

Mission bells.

Statue of Father Serra (the Mission's founder) and an Indian boy.

More views of the Church.

There's a reason the soil here was used as a building material, water doesn't easily penetrate!