Often the main challenge in painting a location is finding an angle that condenses the story of being there into one frame. I’d surfed here years before with a friend, rappelling
down the steep cliff on a wet, gray day. I’ve been fond of the place ever since. That personal connection can make a painting even more difficult since I’m also trying to pack all those memories onto the canvas as well.
After scouring around, I settled on this view. I knew it was a little dicey parking on this narrow road, but I needed the elevation provided by the van to see down the bluff to the beach below. If I’d pulled up just another 50 feet or so, I’d have been in a wider section designated for tourists to park and take photos of the view (or themselves). But this particular spot was just right. This could get awkward.
It was a quiet week day and any ordinary car could still easily drive around my van so I figured I’d be fine.
At one point a truck rolled up with a trailer full of gravel, and after a minute he got out and approached my van. I’d already started putting loose items away and stabilizing anything that looked precarious for the impending move, so I was ready for him and offered to move before he asked. He was real nice about it and said it was his last trip
for the day. I pulled forward, let him pass, then backed up again to complete the painting.
Another lady wasn’t so nice about it, but her little car had no problem getting around. No harm, no foul.
-Entry on July 11, 2017