California Mission San Antonio de Padua, landscape oil painting by Karen Winters
Mission San Antonio Morning
(San Antonio de Padua, California Central Coast, northwest of Paso Robles)
9 x 12 inches
Oil on linen plein air panel
In early June 2012, I joined a group of other California Art Club artists to paint at Mission San Antonio de Padua, a California mission that is the most “untouched” of the chain. Although some outbuildings and residential quarters have been added, the setting is very much as it might have been hundreds of years ago. This side of the building, the facade where one enters the church, remains much as it was in the early years. By mid day this was all in shade, so morning is the time to catch it. We were up before dawn getting set up to capture the light. We were warned several times to watch out for rattlesnakes. It’s easy to become so focused on what you’re painting that you might not notice one that’s emerged from a hole while you are painting. I didn’t see one, thankfully, but I was certainly careful where I stepped.
Marian Fortunati
June 16, 2012
I wondered what this outing would be like… Guess you all had a good time. I imagine you’ve got LOTS of wonderful pieces from this paint out. Looking forward to more.
Terry Banderas
June 24, 2012
What a great opportunity for you to paint this mission. I have been there but did not paint. I plan to paint this mission again. All of the missions are beautiful and mysterious to me. I love them.