The San Francisco call., 1903-09-27
CALF ORNIA A
PARADISE
FOR ARTISTS.
By Ernest Peixotto.

II the finding OF subjects TO paint were
the only consideration there would be no
reason why a painter should ever leave
here. The reason for his going away some
times IS another matter altogether. He
must come in touch with other minds.
must seek the criticism OF bigger men
than he is II he Is to grow. The art CEN
ters are In Europe. But nowhere in
Europe will he find better themes for his
canvas than here IN our own State and
the wanderer returns to try California
scenes again from a newly acquired point
OF view He ought 70 be able to do more
justice to the wealth Of material here aft
er every Jog that he makes into the buster
world OF competition. He ought to be able
to bring back something new IN return
for that which he took away. He has
some experience to offer IN payment for
the poetry which the great States noun
tains and brown slopes and blue waters
planted In him. London and Paris may
open his eyes to phases Of art which he
never dreamed OF before, but he will
search all Europe over for any or Natures .
pictures that surpass those OF our West
ern State. They are not to be found We
have right here at home. at least within
the boundary Of the State. all that the
landscape artist could want for lie
time Of work The man who waits to
paint until he can have more worthy
themes will never paint at all
Our artists seem to have appreciated
their privileges. They are loyal to Cali
fornia and they have done some wonder
full work In reproducing her many moods.
Look at what Keith has done IN our very
near neighborhood where the oaks grow.
Look at the old Spanish life that has
taken hold Of Charlie Peters imagination
with such beautiful results. McCOmas IS
interpreting the strange and mystical
trees of Monterey IN way all his own
and full of inspiration In fact, the whole
Monterey colony OF artists have proved,
by settling there, that they appreciate
the treasures near at hand.
Well they may, for out OF all the
treasure stores OF the State, I doubt X
there is any locality to vie with Monterey.
In the first place there is the beach and
water to be reveled In by any one who
has the least touch Of poetry In his make
up. 1t Is a good deal like Italy. The Call
fornia water Is not so blue as that Of the
Mediterranean. it has not the peculiar
composition TO give II Just that color, but
IT has wonderful beauty The reddish
rocks are similar to those In Europe.
Turn in another direction and you md
the fascinating trees, gnarled and twisted
and fantastic 1t takes a very slight
stretch Of the Imagination to see weird
spirits abiding in and possessing them.
Turn again. and you find the relics OF
the old Spanish life, fun OF color and
brilliancy and romance by tradition The
least glimpse Of one of these relies, a
crumbling adobe cottage even, will call
up a train Of pictures Of fandangos. and
guitars, and beautiful women and daring
cabeueros. These Spanish traditions are
the only ones that our young State pos
sesses as yet, except those scant ones be-
longing to the Indian tribes, and perhaps
they mean the more to US for that very
reason. We should cling to the vesttges
left Of that life, not letting them disap-
pear as they are beginning to do. Restor-
alton in a moderate way is what they
need There is such a thing as restor-
ing too much. 1t takes some age and the
signs thereof to soften building into its
most picturesque beauty.
OF course, we have not any such amount
of the human element in our landscapes
as Europe has. Italy has been building
for a thousand years-California for fifty.
The only traces Of people here before the
middle of the last century lie in the
adobes, and these have to be hunted for.
The painter usually wants touch OF the
human In a picture. He finds this IN the
countries that are old, where ruined
buildings are scattered everywhere; but,
although we have so little. what there Is
cannot be excelled for romantic assOcia-
ton, and in time we shall have more
Leaving out the human element, the
purely pastoral Is unexcelled IN any way
The brown stretches OF our summers have
a tonality that one misses everywhere
else. The green Of the East Is hard and
merciless. The brown slopes and the oc-
casionaI relief Of the rich green Of a tree
are perfect.
If one goes back into the mountains he
will hnd the changing autumn colors. too,
that are ono OF the artists greatest de-
lights. Not the first and most brilliant
colors, but the russets OF the later Pc
riod are the most beautiful.
Near at hand there Is a wealth OF ma
terial In the vicinity Of Tamalpais- The
Marin County pictures are a delight.
There Is always the mountain for a
glimpse in the background.
Near, too. are the marshes. The tules
hold fascination for the brush.
For grandeur nothing can compare In
the world, believe, with the immense
scenery IN the State; but do not believe
that this has any place on canvas. II
cannot even be suggested in any way 70
do justice to it's grandeur. A canvas Is
too small. So the artist will do well 70
stay nearer the coast For that matter
he need not leave San Francisco for In
spiration. Any day he will. find Italy at
our own Fishermen's wharf, And Italy
is what he has been signing for.