Earth day celebration

February 24- May 11, The show at the Diablo Valley Library was themed Earth Day, in honor of the month of May and all of its earthly glory.

I chose to include this painting of Mount Diablo which I painted while gazing at the mountain one early Spring day.

What I love about Mount Diablo is that is stands solid so near us in Contra Costa, like a big guardian that keeps the area grounded and safe. Funny that it was named Diablo (Devil). Sure it gets HOT around here, and that would muster images of hell and whatnot during the Summer, but in Spring, Fall and Winter, when the air is crisp and cool,  that mountain is more on the Angelic side.

When I painted this, it was from my favorite little perch up on Acalanes Ridge where there are trails that cross sideways along the steep golden hills. In fact, it mirrors the terrain of Diablo in the distance. And from this spot, I can see not just the infamous mountain ahead, but also the whole of Contra Costa, from Richmond, Crockett, Benicia, Pleasant Hill, on through Walnut Creek, Lafayette and on down the 680 corridor to Danville, San Ramon and on.

I just love this area! The trails, the open space, the sub-urbanity of it all! How fitting was that painting for a show at DVC that services the student body of this area. But even better was when the painting sold, it was to a neighbor who walks these very hills daily. He is a dog walker, and he could spot the view the instant he saw the painting. It was familiar and it reminded him of the glory he gets to experience everyday.

Its moments like those that make my day!

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