Sequoia trees are one of my biggest subjects to paint. Well, duh, they are the biggest trees in the world. But that’s not what I mean – I paint Sequoias over and over and over.

A few weeks ago a girl whom I will call SS called to say she found a Sequoia oil painting by me at an antique store. (Here in Tulare County, “antique store” can sometimes be a euphemism for “junk store”, or if you are a bit more refined, a “thrift shop”; only the truly hip think of “repurposing outlet”, and probably no one in Tulare County.) SS just wanted to know if it truly was mine, if it had been altered in any way, and what I thought.

She read me the inventory # on the back, and I found it in my extensive files of oil painting photos.

First thought: ‘How embarrassing!” Second thought: “I paint better now, so may I borrow it back and improve it?”

I spent too much time trying to find the photo I used to paint this, but it has vanished. Why?? Where?? Who knows?

As I was composing this blog post, I discovered that in my extensive photo records, I have the wrong title on the photo. The painting is this one:

Or is it??

This is what SS brought to me:

It’s not the same either! When did I paint this? Where is the photo? Did I decide that after using it 3 times, it was time to retire the photo? Did I lend it to someone? What happened to the photo of the painting?

The inventory # on the back does not match the inventory # in the files of photos! And, it was a paint-over from another oil painting that did not meet my standards. The edges were not painted because I framed it. I never frame them any more and haven’t for years.

“Years”, she says, as if she’s been painting for decades instead of since March 8, 2006.

The saga continues. . .