Mission San Jose

Mission San Jose

I didn’t realize that missions are such an important part of California and its history, but everyone in California seems to know and love these places. There are 21 missions that are part of the mission trail of California that were established by Franciscan priests from 1769-1833. By American standards that seemed old to me. They also seem to be a loved subject for local artists. Naturally I was thrilled when a local East Bay Urban Sketchers group generously invited me to join them at the Mission San Jose to sketch one day.

Mission San Jose
Oil on Linen Panel
9 x 12″
SOLD

Though I did bring my sketchbook and watercolors, I took one look at this facade and immediately brought out my oil paints not wanting to miss another moment of  the striking white facade. The cast shadows singing together with the day’s clouds seemed too good to be true. I was feeling lucky.

I loved every brushstroke of this painting. I think that sometimes (not always) the most successful paintings for me are the ones I can already close my eyes and see right from the start. A painting just waiting to be painted. This was one of those moments and I could have started at the beginning again as soon as I finished for the sheer joy of painting this all over again.

White is so exciting in a painting, it gives an automatic “pop”! White can be exciting and dramatic, the shadows seems to dance over the surface. The tricky part is that white is never just white. It is yellow and red and blue in varying proportions that talk to each other.

This was the only mission that I had the chance to visit during my whirlwind trip to California, but next time I will be sure to stop and visit others.