People who follow me know that I am passionate about the LA River, which flows through my neighborhood. Some are puzzled that I would spend so much time painting what is basically a concrete drainage system, when there are so many naturally beautiful rivers in the world. Once, when I posted an LA River piece on Facebook, a friend offered to send me his photos of European rivers to paint. I guess he assumed I’ve stuck with the LA River because I didn’t know better. My answer was that the LA River needs me.
However, I couldn’t resist painting what I consider to be the most beautiful river I’ve seen, the Dordogne River in southwestern France, (from my own European vacation photos).
Dordogne River, oil on linen, 54” x 36”, 2005. $7,000
The Dordogne is 300 miles of pure rural beauty. It flows through the Perigord region, known for its earthy wines, fine walnuts, rich foie gras and elusive black truffles. Humans have lived here since the earliest times, with several prehistoric cave sites nearby. Medieval castles, once occupied by Richard the Lionheart, top every hill—some converted to charming resort towns and others still in ruins. Today, recreational kayaks travel the waters that in previous centuries were vital for transporting goods from the center of France to Bordeaux.
I feel a sense of awe at the timelessness of the Dordogne every time I visit. I hope this piece captures some of that.