A view from Barkley Terrace
All things revolve around the weather here in Victoria and any indication of spring sends us all into elevated giddiness and we head out the doors to spot crocus, daffodils and blossoming trees. In my case, I love to climb rocks and look for viewpoints.
Below is a painting I did in 1995 titled A View from the Terrace. There are always so many areas of Victoria I want to paint. I think that is why I have been painting my Neighbourhood Series for over 25 years. My process for creating one painting is generally the same. Finding the right location with all the elements that will really ignite my inspiration can take a few visits to one location or area. In the case of A View from the Terrace, I went up to the Gonzales Hill area a few times before I found a perfect spot from Barkley Terrace.
Do I look suspicious?
One spring day, late in April, I set out to get new ideas for my next painting. I had many ideas up my sleeve but I was drawn once again to the Gonzales Hill area. As I walked along Denison and up down the hill and back and forth by the observatory, I decided that possibly a view from Barkley Terrace might be at comfortable elevation for my painting view.
Most days when I am wandering through neighbourhoods to gather reference, residents who spot me must think I am casing the area for a future break in. I refrain from wearing any hooden garment unless a downpour is expected, I am sure I look very suspicious with my casual clothes, sketchbook and bag of all sorts. This day was no exception as I searched along the road way for a comfortable place to sketch from.
One homeowner who was in her driveway, saw me wandering around the street peeking between the houses to the view below. She approached me and once I introduced myself, the kind women who seemed relieved, graciously offered me a place to sketch from - an unobscurred view from her living room. Her home was perched perfectly on the cliff of Barkley Terrace. Gonzales Bay and the panorama view was spread before me with homes neatly lining the streets of Hollywood Cresent and Cresent Road. I was thrilled to be a guest in her home for two occasions of sketching and snapshots of the bay and the Gonzales neighbourhood.
A View from the Terrace
Acrylic painting by Barbara Weaver-Bosson copyright 1995.
The painting measures 24 1/4 inches x 32 1/2 inches and took many months to complete.
It was published in 1995 as signed and numbered limited edition prints. The prints have all sold out but the artcards are readily available.
ART CARDS
A View from the Terrace and several other Neighbourhood Series art cards are still available for purchase through my print galleries.
Please visit this link for my print gallery locations
http://weaver-bosson.blogspot.ca/2012_11_01_archive.html
A Typical Day in the Neighbourhood
Watercolour painting by Barbara Weaver-Bosson
23 x 36.5 inches
sample image from my original painting catalogue
I love this painting. I imagine all sorts of rum runners and suspicious characters heading out on a moonless night for a cross-border run; picturesque and scenic by day, but a different world at night. Have I been watching too many old movies?
ReplyDeleteDear Cousin J,
DeleteThank you CJ for your kind comment. You are very perceptive. I have heard rumours and stories that hint that during the prohibition time rum running to the USA from Gonzales Bay was frequent. Another interesting aspect to the history of this neighbourhood is specifically the orange and brown house on the bay has many stories to tell. :-)
correction to my comment-- should have read-- the orange, brown and yellow house.
Delete