6:55 train

Sunrise foils to my desire to sleep en route to Davis. Land, water and
cement are washed in warmth. Out the eastern train window I am
entranced by red shimmer of small leaves on scrubby bushes, the soft
peach glow of dry grass, and metal silos edged with dramatic orange
highlights.

Train to Davis

Day 2 on train transit to Davis. Housi g tracts packed shoulder to
shoulder with luxury homes alternate with stretches of Industial
plants, junk yards, and graffiti covered walls. Train tracks afford
the graffiti artist the luxury of time , so the visual offerings are
nicely executed with rich detail and color. We cross the opening to
the delta, a wide crossing edged with soft curving arcs of grasses. A
large ship graveyard forms an abstract cluster at the DAR end. I de
over the bridge we pass through flatland-grasses, distant semi hills
and wandering bodies of water. The lands feels soft wild and open.
School doesn't start till the month end but I want to gain my footing
with my studio setup and practice.

On the Empty Easel

Thanks to Dan at the Empty Easel for his nice write up of my paintings. Nice to hear responses to the highways, since there are more to come. Woohoo!

Collegetown coffee

> En route to peets with thermos in hand-I passed the yellow umbrellas
> outside Mishka cafe. Having a vague recollection of seeing folks
> sitting out front during past visits, I paused out front to google
> their cup quality. Yelpers say "yes"- including a couple macchiato
> fans. They boast status as the only roaster in Davis. Initial glance
> reveals a good sized roaster mid cafe, and a well kept la marizocco
> machine. Emboldened, I order a macchiato.
> The cashier takes my money, calls out the order, then asks her
> coworker "you know how to make those right?"
> My drink shows up in a cappuccino sized cup topped with bubbly
> froth. The espresso is not awful, but it takes ateaspoon of sugar
> and the knowledge of my future p.b. cookie deliciousness to make it
> through the final sips. Aftertaste is harsh and tarlike.
> Had I known, I would have saved that little chocolate covered coffee
> bean on the saucer for last. A mystery how the product can be so bad
> when the ingredients look good.
> Ambiance is nice.
> On future visits I will reserve my cash for a scoop of yummy ice
> cream instead
> Back to the studio!

Back at the easel

Up at Davis today, settling in enough to get a few brushes dirty. Nice
thing about painting is that the mind can wander. I am thinking in
terms of filling walls with a grouping rather than working piece by
piece.
I am finishing up the architectural paintings, and am thinking forward
to a room full of highways.