Walter Taylor

Some watercolor paintings 2003.

My unending quest to discover what water is like. All paintings done plein-air, with occasional studio touch-up.

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Portugal, June

We stayed a week in Sintra (30 mi west of Lisbon). The pink house was one of many picturesque places, but one of the few where I could find a comfy spot to paint. We spent six or seven hours one day in the "fishing village" of Azenhas do Mar (now probably only the rich fish there). We had a wonderful Portuguese lunch at a place near the top of the depicted hill. A modest (but not cheap) place with little more than charcoal grills and lots of good fish. Then painted until the last bus back to Sintra.

Rio Chama, New Mexico, July

This is near Chris's house, but across the river, at the tiny place called Plaza Blanca. The nearest town on any map is Tierra Amarilla. From here the Chama flows through some wild areas, then past Christ in the Desert Monastery, then though the reservoir at Abiquiu, before joining the Rio Grande at Espanola.

I am sitting on a low sandbar that extends into the river. I omitted the adult tricycles (ATV's).

San Francisco Bay, August

The first shot is a photo from the train of the Colorado River, somewhere near Radium, CO, in the almost roadless area. Wouldn't that be fun to paint? Next is my triumphant arrival at the Bay (well, OK, at Emeryville). The first painting of Mount Tamalpais is from the Berkeley Marina; the second is from Pt Pinole Nature Reserve (near Richmond).

Added 2013: The two shots of Mt Tam are now on the wall at Ta Krai Hom restaurant in Berkeley -- Dwight and Sacramento -- positioned more less in the direction where one could view Mount Tam from there.

Colorado, August-September

Red Rocks Lake, around 10,000 feet, an hour's drive from my house. This is a lovely lake that is somewhat unfrequented because the trails all begin just a bit higher up. Hence plenty of chance to sit and enjoy the lake undisturbed. I omitted the ducklings of (perhaps) green-winged teal. I used plenty of Ultrathon because of the West Nile virus. Just before doing these paintings I saw Sargent's Venice watercolors -- possibly they influenced me.

Wisconsin and Minnesota, September

Kind of a quick trip, with much to see (e.g., Lock and Dam at Alma, WI, hawk migration at Hawk Ridge near Duluth) and friends to visit. But here is some photographic material from which I might try to paint in the dead of winter. The Kettle River, Lake Margaret, and the Father of Waters from near St Thomas University in St Paul.

Colorado, September-October

Thge first two are near Boulder, as the trees are turning. Third is in Cuchara, Colorado, near the Spanish Peaks, maybe 30 miles north of NM. That's the West Spanish Peak peeking over the ridge. The fourth is a photo of a scene I'd love to paint some day -- the hills covered with scrub oaks in autumn colors.

Hawaii, October-November

Kailua Beach was hot and windless my first week. Here I am experimenting with a pigment called cobalt turquoise. It's a bit timid for my taste, but seemed well suited to the sultry weather.

Finally the wind picked up at Kailua Beach. I omitted the kite surfers.

I went one day to Waimanalo Beach. Rain threatened (but did not come), and the wind was fierce. Here the visible land extends from Turtle Island on the left to Makapu'u Point on the right. The island in the left panel is actually the two Mokulua Islands (Mokes) seen together. One of the Mokes is seen from the opposite side, above.