As I write this post, the Paradise Fire (part of the KNP Complex fire) has been obscuring all views at home and giving me a passive smoker’s cough. It is threatening our cabin in Mineral King (mandatory evacuation) and possibly our home in Three Rivers (voluntary evacuation). 
How is a Central California artist to cope?
By painting her favorite type of scenery.*
This was how it looked when I last showed you.
See how the colors look now? This is before I began painting, and it has a funny tint due to the smoky orange light outside.
To help me focus, I flipped it upside down, flipped the photo upside down on the laptop screen, enlarged it tremendously, and proceeded to draw with my paintbrush. The goal was to be as accurate as possible, working back to front in the scenery, and matching the mountains to the best of my ability while squishing the scene onto a canvas of different proportions than the photos. (Trickinology, remember?)
When this is dry, I will add the windmachines, oranges, signature, and edges.
Then maybe I’ll go househunting in Lemon Cove where they don’t have wildfires.
Nope. I am NEVER moving again.
Yeah, I know, “never say never”. Been here almost 23 years and I truly do not want to lose this place or to move.
*along with answering texts, phone calls, and emails from many concerned friends, listening to Mike Rowe’s podcasts, continuing to pray in less than coherent phrases throughout the day, and hanging out with cats.
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How do I deal with stress? Pet my cats, stay connected with my church family, and crochet my charity afghans (shameless plug: https://projectlinus.org). And provide up-to-the-minute information to a group of very worried members of the Mineral King community!
Sharon, your Mineral King community greatly appreciates your service!
My privilege! (I would normally say “My pleasure” but not for this KNP Complex Fire!)
And even though I’ve only been at my place for 10 years, I have no plans to leave, even though it’s California. Why? My beloved church family, mostly. And this great 55+ community of friendly people. They’re gonna have to carry me out “toes up!”
I am so sorry you are impacted by the fire…I had no idea. Praying for safety for your cabin as well as your home. Last year we were on the list to be ready to evacuate and it was daunting to think about what you would take, and what you would have to leave behind. Ultimately we didn’t have to leave. You were smart to start painting!!!!! Keep us posted. By the way- I got my notecards! So glad you found the citrus ones. Love them!!!!!
Good to hear from you, Anne! Thinking quickly about what to take and what to leave makes us understand what matters and what doesn’t.
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