A long time ago, before Cannon Beach was mobbed 12 months out of the year by tourists, it was a perfect place for a boy to be. The beach was always inviting. There were rocks to climb, tide pools to play in, and sand to run in. No matter the weather, a boy could find something fun to do on the beach. Every day something new might turn up, a bottle with a letter in it, Japanese floats, or maybe just an amazing cloud formation. An energetic boy could run over the rocks like a mountain goat and get stronger and more agile.
I grew up within the confines of a city, so I cannot imagine how powerful and wonderful it would be to grow up with the ocean as your playground. My husband did just that.
This 11″ x 15″ handpainted watercolor painting is for sale $150
It was a year ago and a life ago that Donald and I rode to Mazama and back on a tandem. Donald had done that ride several times and every year he said he wanted me to do it too. Finally last year, after training by riding up some really steep hills, I agreed to do the ride. It was a perfect day for the ride and there is not a more spectacular view in the USA.
I have tried to paint this mountain formation several times; but I wanted to celebrate the ride that took place again this weekend by sharing this painting with you.
It is for sale, $150.00
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It is my good fortune to possess the negatives that once belonged to my husband’s grandfather Tom Boothby. Tom and his wife Winnie drove all over the northwest in their free time,camping and cataloging their travels with their camera. Most of the pictures are of themselves, but they also took pictures of relatives. The people in this painting are snatched right out of one of their negatives, one of the many treasures I found there. I believe they are the great grandparents of a semi famous physician and musician, a friend of mine who lives in Georgia.
Sophyra is not used to people visiting, so she is shyly looking down as the photo was snapped. Clarence on the other hand, is not as shy, but mistrusts Tom as he is taking the picture. And the chickens continue to scratch and cluck because they’re hungry.
This painting is SOLD
One of my favorite songs as a child was an aria from a sad opera called Pagliacci. The aria is still one of the most empassioned laments I have ever heard, but the gist of it was, “you’re a clown. Laugh, people want to hear you laugh. Your heart is broken? use that heartbreak to make a funny face.”
The clown is a symbol of humanity. He is a teacher and a comic. He shows us how to laugh at ourselves. This particular clown is unflappable, he can take anything life throws at him. My husband designed this clown face 35 years ago. He drew this face in pencil on a piece of cardboard back in the day that he was a clown himself. He preserved it in his “toybox.” When I discovered it recently, I decided to paint it. Of course since the clown really was my husband, it meant even more to me to be able to show his own proud spirit and the amazing sense of humor that has taken him through some of the roughest patches that life could ever throw at a person. This painting is dedicated to Donald Boothby, my husband of 34 years. It is not for sale.
