Weird little streets in Wilsonia from the viewpoint of a book draw-er (no, I am not drawer in a cabinet, nor is my business cabinet, it is “cabinART”, in case you were confused. . .) are the ones that have one or two cabins, or aren’t really a street.
Here are a few I’ve encountered so far. This is not a complete list.
Is this cabin on Cedar? Or is it on Meadow? The map says Cedar, so that is the chapter where it will appear in the book.
Kaweah: One cabin
Leconte: One cabin, the street feels like a driveway.
Lupine: One cabin
Meadow: One cabin, looks as if there are 2, but the Tripp cabin is officially on Cedar, not Meadow.
Palisades: One cabin, no visible street but there is a street sign. I think it shows on the map. . .
Am I the only one who thinks about stuff like this?
My studio is a tiny building on the property where my house is. It used to belong to Mr. Clayton Sheesley (the father of Wilsonia cabin owners Gene and Bob), who built clocks. He planed his wood where I draw – in the large front door and out the large back door, which I had removed when the building was remodeled for my studio.
I have this idea that if I paint murals on the outbuildings, people won’t notice their shabby condition. Besides, I think it is fun to be hit with a surprise when the door is opened!
But I digress. I work in solitude, but not usually in silence. For several weeks, I was unable to get the internet in the studio, so it has been silent.
But, I am not alone.
Perkins, my sweet kitty, has survived 14 years while witnessing the demise of 14 other cats. It’s rough on cats in my neighborhood. I’m no math whiz, but even I can see that we have averaged the loss of one cat per year. Last summer we lost Zeke and Kaweah. I’m starting to get a little weird about Perkins. (“Starting??”, I can hear my husband ask!)
That is drawing #133 in the foreground. I’m moving forward on The Cabins of Wilsonia. (I have to put the title of the book in the post so that Mr.Google can find it. Normally I wouldn’t be so repetitive. Blogging isn’t quite the same as regular writing because if one wants to be found by Mr. Google, one must follow his rules.)
You know that cliche’ “You learn something new every day”?
I’d like to learn more about this chair on Fern Street.
I recently learned that Wilsonia is in Tulare County!
Who cares? Me, the folks at Tulare County Treasures and of course, the county tax collectors.
I care because my art career and business focus on the beauty of Tulare County. It felt sort of wrong, outside of my area, losing my focus, infringing on other artists’ territory to draw a book on the cabins of Wilsonia. Yes, I am cabinart, but there are many gifted artists in Fresno County, where I thought Wilsonia is. (was? what is the right way to say this??)
What is Tulare County Treasures? You can read about them on the link above, but since you are here, I’ll tell you. This is a group of volunteers who know and love the good things of Tulare County. They are authors, historians, artists, and leaders. (I attended their first meeting but realized it would be stupid for me to add any more to my life. Just wanted you to know I rubbed shoulders briefly with local big shots. Please be impressed.)
They are gathering information and photographs, building a website, making maps and a brochure to the places in TC that are special and open to the public. They asked for permission to use some of my artwork of Mineral King and Wilsonia. Silly me, I said yes before thinking “WAIT! Wilsonia is in Fresno County!”
Then I asked Gus and Neal, my go-to-guys for all things Wilsonia, and both of them confirmed that Wilsonia is indeed in Tulare County!
Who knew? (The tax collector, but who cares about that stuff?)
So, I am thrilled, just thrilled I say. One of my little obstacles to the legitimacy of this book has been shattered, obliterated, vaporized, G O N E, and now this Tulare County/California artist is ready to DRAW!!!
