
Uncle Paul's Christmas Present
Saturday has been a good day to spend in the Man Cave. I have jokingly referred to my garage as my “man cave” though I have no power tools or table saws in place–just my drafting table, easel and watercolor supplies. The winter light is really terrific now in Texas, and the temperatures today have hovered about the mid-fifties. The sun is bright and the lighting is quite cool and clean.
I am hoping to finish this painting by Monday so I can get it to the framer. It is for my Uncle Paul, an amazing man now in his 90’s and in failing health. Paul lived in San Mateo, California since the 1950’s and did well out there. He lived a quite life, working for Greyhound all those years, mostly night shift. That was so he could support his habit as a writer. The night shifts were quiet for a supervisor, and Paul loved to write and publish.
Paul was always a terrific humorist and story teller. I had my own Garrison Keillor in the family while growing up, and never quite appreciated what a treasure he was. In his final years, he re-lives the memories of rural Jackson, Missouri, where he lives now, and loves looking upon the monuments of his growing-up years. This picture is one of them–the cabin where his father resided for the final decades of his life, about 20 paces from the main house on the farm.
I am trying to cool the colors as much as possible, because Paul always appreciated the blues and lavenders visible in the shadows of the snowdrifts that piled up on the family farm. I am going to regret seeing this painting come to an end. I’ve been chipping away at it slowly and methodically, enjoying every nuance of the decaying timbers of the cabin and every branch of the naked trees hovering overhead. One day I hope to approach the “Andrew Wyeth” standard of dry brush as I continually explore rural winter landscapes. The world indeed takes on a beautiful aura during those months of quiet. I am so glad school ended yesterday. The Christmas holidays are a splendid time to relax, enjoy the quiet, and attempt a few watercolor experiments.
Thanks for reading.