This extreme miniature water color is one of the works of which I am most proud. It is the most finely detailed work that I have ever done and at a mere 4"x 6", it is one of those works that every time I look at it I can't believe it was clumsy old me that actually painted it. The reason I am so impressed with the amount of control I exerted was that I had developed seriously crippling cervical spinal problems that were beginning to interfere with the control of my hands arms, and legs. Fortunately surgical intervention saved my limbs and returned my neurological function to my hands, though well after the painting was completed. Petaluma California is famous primarily for being the residence of Charles Schultz the beloved creator of the "Peanuts" comic strip. It is also the hometown of actress Winona Ryder. In 1896 however it was an inland port for all of the agricultural products of Napa Valley. The creek empties into San Francisco Bay and the famous flat bottom "scow schooners" navigated there way deep into the valleys of North-Central California via the waterways that fed the Bay area. These vessels were able to work their way as far east as Stockton and Sacramento. In 2002 Barbara and I were returning from a wedding in Healdsburg and we crossed over the Petaluma Creek at the exact spot one of the pictures I used for this composition was taken, and all of the charm was gone. the interesting dock and riverside structures were replaced by the drab monotonous buildings of a modern industrial park, and the creek itself looked to be little more than a drainage ditch. Even though the charming scene belongs to the ages, at least it can live on in this teeny tiny watercolor.
18 Comments
Anonymous Guest 15 Sep 2016
Can I get in touch with the artist pleaseruth sears 25 Apr 2011
just plain stunning!!!!!Maureen Bloesch 17 Jul 2010
FANTASTIC DETAIL & COLOR!!!!!!!!!!margaret mckeehan 25 Jul 2008
SO WONDERFULBarry Huyett 05 Jun 2008
aH! so beautiful!helen tyralik 05 Jun 2008
love the detailTeresa Dominici 04 Jun 2008
This is a great dock scene painting. Splendid work.Michael Germann 04 Jun 2008
Fabulous workdebbie collier 04 Jun 2008
Amazing work!!!!!pamela jones 04 Jun 2008
Lovely painting Stanton, amazing detail on thisReba McDonald 04 Jun 2008
Beautifully done Stanton.Julie Mayser 04 Jun 2008
Absolutely amazing,Stanton! A delightful watercolor with great color and composition! I am so glad that your physical problems have been curtailed.... We have visited Petaluma many times, as my husband's aunt lived there. However, I didn't even know that there was a creek there- or Charles Schultz,Winona Ryder....we visited outlying areas famous for being Spanish land grant ranches, etc.Emily Reed 04 Jun 2008
A splendid, wonderful painting!joanne boyling 04 Jun 2008
amazing work!Zura Potskhishvili 04 Jun 2008
Interesting composition, great watercolor!Lucia Stewart 04 Jun 2008
Masterful piece Stanton!Sharon Gonzalez 04 Jun 2008
Stanton, This is an amazing painting! Awesome!jamie winter 04 Jun 2008
This is an incredible water color and text. Im in awe