In 1990, I drew the Exeter Woman’s Club. (Yes, that is the correct name—I just work here.) It was part of a set of notecards called Tulare County Landmarks. No one can find the original drawing. All I have is this scan of a notecard with a hole punched in the corner.
The club asked to use the drawing, and had an old scan or some other format, not really up to my standards. But I didn’t mind and gave my permission. (It is rare that people know the copyright law which is that the artist holds the copyright, so I was impressed and thankful that they asked.)
They are celebrating a big anniversary (100 years?) and plan to publish a cookbook. The president of the club and I are longtime friends, and we began discussing the cover of the cookbook. I couldn’t stand the idea of a shoddy reproduction of my old drawing (not that it was great 35 years ago), so my friend went spelunking, unsuccessfully, in all sorts of places trying to locate the drawing.
Because I hit a slow time (feast or famine in the art business), I asked her to send me a photograph so that I could draw it again. She complied, and I dove in immediately on a rainy day.
Before finishing, I scanned it without a background, since that is how I drew it 30 years ago.
Then I drew in a dramatic background and scanned it again.
My friend asked me to make a couple of adjustments, which were easy to do. Here it is in its final form. After growing the new shrubs into a hedge with my pencils, I photoshopped the palm trees because of a strange request to shorten them by 1/4”. (As I said earlier, I just work here.)
I love to draw (But don’t ask me for a freebie, okay?)
P.S. My friend did NOT ask for a freebie—I offered. She did ask for some modifications, and I happily complied.
8 Comments
Oh, how lovely! Your new version is a beautiful upgrade from the beautiful original – and now it’ll be in the quality standards that you prefer. (And without a hole punched in it!) What a gorgeous place. My town also has a Woman’s Club, and they do so many great things for the community. It was good of you to donate your artwork to them. I’m sure the funds they raise with the cookbook will be put to good use.
Michelle, thank you! I’m curious if your women’s club is a “Woman’s Club” too.
Hi Jana! I love the re-do of the Exeter Woman’s Club. It is still a lovely building. You did a great job making it more pleasing to the eye. Love the Palm trees:) Very Old British Caribbean look!!!
Melissa, and you got to see it in person! Thanks for the compliments. I’ve never heard of “Old British Caribbean” as an architectural style; I simply thoght it was art deco. But it is sort of Spanish-ish with the tile roof. All I know for sure is that it is old, simple, and classy.
I love your drawing!!! Thank you for doing this for them. They are a fabulous group of hard working ladies.
Cherri, I agree with you, and you are welcome, you Gallery/Museum Docent Champion! Congratulations!
I still don’t know what woman owns the Exeter Club. Will we ever find out??
Sharon, I think that is so funny! When I asked the current president, she said that it was named that way so that each participant had a sense of being important, perhaps a sense of belonging and ownership. The Lemon Cove Women’s Club used to be the Lemon Cove Woman’s Club; it might be a nationwide organization that started long ago with that moniker.