Light and shade

Last Saturday I painted at Maranatha High School, formerly Ambassador College. I found a shady spot on the Del Mar side and looked across the street to this nice front yard. My predictions for the trajectory of the sun were incorrect, and I ran out of shade pretty quickly. But I liked what I was painting, and I painted on.

Ambassador College had a pretty interesting history, of which I'm only peripherally aware. I must confess my favorite years were the years, and there were several, when it stood vacant and unused, yet nevertheless beautifully gardened. Like the most marvelous secret park for the initiated few. I don't know too much about Maranatha High School. It is a private Christian school that used to be somewhere else.

I think this is kind of a cool painting. I think I'm making some progress on getting my colors and values more intense, and appropriately simplifying stone walls. Lines are a bit of a problem area; somebody suggested that lines should be avoided in paintings - not edges, but lines. I can see that, although it couldn't be a hard and fast rule.

The woman from the house said she was flattered I was painting her house, and she asked me to let her know if it turned out well. I wasn't sure what she would think was well, or how she would have me let her know. I do have the address.