Dorland Mountain Artist Colony is a cluster of cottages and studios perched on a mountain overlooking Temecula, California. The area is dry desert, but there are hidden springs on this mountain that nourish oaks and ferns. They nourish artists, writers, and musicians as well, who come for a week or more to finish projects or search out new inspiration. It's very quiet here except for crows and coyotes, the hiss of cars on the highway, and occasional helicopters in training at Camp Pendleton.
I'm 11 days into a two week residency, but in some ways it feels like I'm just getting started. I was exposed to Covid before we arrived here and spent four days quarantining until the medicine kicked in. When I was able to paint, I felt intimidated by all of the wood panels that I had brought and wondered if I'd be able to create anything fresh and new with the time I had left.
Fortunately, there is a magic about this place. The high desert landscape feels remote and pristine, in contrast the the lights of Temecula that spread out below. There's not much to do here except hike and paint and perhaps watch the sunsets with the other residents. As I write this, rabbits and blue jays explore outside my window. I am so grateful for the quiet here, and I have no excuses for procrastination, so I am painting all the time.
I've been thinking about the story in the gospels about how Jesus fed 5000 people with a few loaves and fishes that a child brought to him. I look at my paintings here and feel like they are very meager gifts for our troubled world, and that's okay.
