Moonlit Echoes

Plein air nocturne artwork of old schoolhouse at Becher's Bay on Santa Rosa Island off the coast of California

5th painting completed today… well sorta today. Technically I only did four during the daylight hours but then snuck this one in the late hours of night beneath a bright full moon.

The moonlight falling on the crushed gravel paths makes walking these trails at night a beautiful experience. The reflective white surface of the path glowed in comparison to the grass on either side. The old buildings here are relics from the previous era of sheep and cattle ranching- of which the cumulative effects on the islands native species and coastal topographies are still being studied today.

In the daytime it gets apparent pretty quickly that these old buildings are no longer used, but in the quiet of night it’s somehow easier to imagine them resting from the noisy activity of a long day’s work, only to rise at first light and go about it all over again. Each clanking chain blown in the wind creates another echo from a not so distant past.

In reality though, the sun has set for good on these operations. These moonlit echoes are a reminder that each day has its own dawn and its own dusk, but the moon comes and goes as it pleases.


Artwork Information:


Artwork Title: "Moonlit Echoes"
Original Size: 12" x 12"
Medium: Acrylic on Birch Panel
Year Painted: 2018

Additional Artwork Information:


Method: Plein Air
Date Painted: 09/23/2018
Region: The California Coast > The Channel Islands > Santa Barbara > Southern California
Road Trip: A Bit Farther Out (Mostly) 2018

Artwork Logistics:


Miles Hiked: Less than 1 Mile
Vehicular Logistics: Extra Vehicular Assistance Needed
Extra-Vehicular Requirements: Boat Required for Access
Geological Hazards: Painted in the Dark
Anthropological Hazards: Roaming Scientists
Temperature: Uncomfortably Cool


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