Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Vintage Thingies Thusday ~ Painting The Town

In my last post I shared my love for the town of Port Costa, CA. It's small on size, but big on community and charming houses, one built in the late 1800's. Most of the business buildings were owned by one man who recently past away. He had warehouses full of odd and wonderful things he had collected over the years, many of which were sold off. This dirty painting is one of the things I found at one of the sales.



The subject is St. Patrick's Catholic church in Port Costa, painted from an angle high on a hill, with my brother's house depicted on the very top of the left hill! It is not dated, and I can't read the name or word scratched into the paint on the lower right corner (church? Clark? Click?), but the frame looks old to me. I think it's done with acrylics or gouche. If anyone knows about paintings--PLEASE let me know what you think! Here's the back of the stretcher frame:


I thought it would be fun to walk up on that hill to see if I could figure out where it was painted. I walked up the hill where the quiet was deafening. No noise other than the wind whistling in one ear and out the other, and the birds singing their hearts out. I think I must have gotten been pretty close:

For more vintage thingies every Thursday -- go to Colorado Lady's blog
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25 comments:

  1. UnknownApril 29, 2009 at 7:01 PM

    What fun to have both the painting and the real thing!

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  2. ColoradoladyApril 29, 2009 at 7:07 PM

    How wonderful that you were able to get the picture just like the painting. I can hardly tell any difference at all, other than the growth of a few trees. That is really neat to have! I would be sure to keep that picture and date it with the painting.

    Now to answer your question, I don't know anything about paintings, other than I do like this one!

    Have a great week!

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  3. JeanneApril 29, 2009 at 7:09 PM

    WOW, that is unusual to find one of each. LUCKY YOU.

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  4. SarahApril 29, 2009 at 7:19 PM

    What a sensation you must have felt to stand exactly where the artist sat when he captured a moment in time! Awesome!!

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  5. Marjorie (Molly) SmithApril 29, 2009 at 9:27 PM

    what a find, and for your brother's house to be in the picture is wonderful, a little history along with great art.
    Molly

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  6. BeaApril 29, 2009 at 9:36 PM

    How cool! Maybe you could take the painting to the local historical society. they may be able to tell you who painted it.

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  7. RoslynApril 29, 2009 at 10:39 PM

    Yup you got close alright, what fun!

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  8. fitty's pinky rose cottageApril 29, 2009 at 10:40 PM

    aaahhhhh.. you found the picture and the real place! wonderful! and even awesome when the real thing is still there! happy VTT

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  9. Marie ReedApril 29, 2009 at 10:47 PM

    Wow! You really pinned down the spot! I'm flabbergated! It gives the painting that much more charm to see the seen 'live'!

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  10. SusanApril 30, 2009 at 5:59 AM

    I do think you found the spot where the painting was taken-- Beautiful scenery.

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  11. BecaApril 30, 2009 at 6:15 AM

    Oh that's neat. Your picture looks exactly like the painting. I think you got real close. Thanks for sharing.

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  12. UnknownApril 30, 2009 at 6:25 AM

    How cool to have the painting and then take the photo. I don't know much about art, but I do know that htis style is called "plein air" which means painted outside, and that CA plein air paintings are highly collectible these days. You could google it and find out more.

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  13. ClassyChassyApril 30, 2009 at 6:35 AM

    Thanks for the view! It was most interesting the photo you could capture, looking so like the painting!

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  14. MiriApril 30, 2009 at 7:02 AM

    Great idea...love the photo and the painting!

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  15. bjApril 30, 2009 at 7:11 AM

    OOOO, yes ma'am...I think you were dead on ! Amazing...and I love your new treasure...

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  16. LVApril 30, 2009 at 8:33 AM

    Very interesting and lovely post.

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  17. CCApril 30, 2009 at 8:48 AM

    What fun to go to the place of the painting and see what the artist saw..and it's great to know the history of the town you love so much.

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  18. DonnaApril 30, 2009 at 9:25 AM

    This is great....take it somewhere and get it cleaned up ....you have a jewel

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  19. UnknownApril 30, 2009 at 10:51 AM

    Great! Loved it. The picture to match the painting is cool. hope you find out when it was done and by whom! Do tell us if you do!

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  20. AnonymousApril 30, 2009 at 11:18 AM

    What an incredible journey. What an incredible journey...
    Yes, I think you landed right where you were meant to land. :)

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  21. farmladyApril 30, 2009 at 4:30 PM

    I love this Jan. You have the painting and the photo. How many times do you get to do this?
    There were Clarks in Pleasant Hill. We use to rent a summer cabin from them near Capitola every summer.They lived out beyond the Safeway store on Alhambra Blvd (I think). before you got to the trestle in Martinez.
    The reason I mention this is because she was an artist. I will have to ask Mom for her first name. Your Mom might remember them because I think they were members of Hillcrest.

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  22. A Wild ThingMay 1, 2009 at 6:05 PM

    I too live in a pink house in Iowa...EVERYONE knows where it's at, but I too am a picker and a dealer and have been painting furniture for 15 years now...don't think I'll ever tire of it...btw...I'm not going to paint the chest, just yet anyway, but many of the frames will be painted white.

    Thanks for stopping by...us pink house dwellers gotta stick together!!! Ha!

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  23. UnknownMay 2, 2009 at 12:29 PM

    this is awesome! love the painting, the picture, and the view!
    port costa is still a scary place to go to at night.

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  24. sexyMay 4, 2009 at 1:12 AM

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  25. TerryMay 15, 2009 at 10:06 PM

    Wow
    This was my first visit to your site and I feel so blessed to be a part of your journey to get the photos and painting matched up.
    What an inspired idea to have the two together.
    I do not know anything about your painting other than I love it !
    It is really enchanting .
    thank you for making my first visit so special.
    Have a fantastic weeekend.

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