Tag Archives: California Artists

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A Return to Lassen County

Smoke veils the late afternoon view of Reading Peak and Mount Lassen on September 2, 2020.

The invitation to spend eight days at a dear friend’s cabin near Lassen Volcanic National Park could not have come at a better time for me and my dog, Stella. Daily bouts of anxiety, depression, and disappointment were beginning to adversely affect my well being, my relationships, and my ability to joyfully create meaningful art for myself, and my patrons.

Daku stands guard while Stella excavates for lizards.

Since I would be spending the first four days at the cabin alone, Sandy agreed to let me take her dog, Daku, with me. Having his big dog energy was reassuring to both Stella and I, and we genuinely love him.

Hiking the trail to Devil’s Kitchen in Lassen Volcanic National Park.

Rarely do I leave the property once I have arrived but a Saturday morning hike to Devil’s Kitchen with my husband would afford my friend a day of solitude at the cabin. I applauded his willingness to give the 4.2 mile hike a go despite the discomfort that would likely result from him walking the distance in mismatched boots! Impressive, on a couple of levels.

George on the boardwalk, discomfort from his mismatched boots not yet impairing his gait.
We yield the path to a Drakesbad Guest Ranch trail guide as we make our ascent.

Drakesbad Guest Ranch, located within the park, offers trail rides to a number of geothermal sites. The guide said “Looking out across the broad meadow, you can almost imagine the Cartwright brothers from the TV show Bonanza to ride into view.” Different mountain range, I thought to myself as I snapped the cowboy’s picture.

One of the many fumeroles viewable from the Devil’s Kitchen loop trail.
Volcanic gas escapes into the atmosphere below a Pine and Incense Cedar tree lined ridge.

Steam vents, boiling springs, and bubbling mudpots are indicators that the volcanic center still smolders. And such has been the rhythm of my creative flow. It smolders. Slowly. Steadily. Although there is no way to predict when the next eruption will occur, we know that it will.

Be well, stay safe.

T.

© 2020, Theresa Mae Funk. All rights reserved.

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Passing Shot

Fleeting Summer March 18 2015

“Fleeting Summer” 3 x 6″ Pastel and Watercolor on paper. © 2015 TheresaMaeFunk. All rights reserved.

I typically take passing shots with my mobile device from the passenger seat of a car, trying to catch a fleeting glimpse of the day’s destination.  Today, I am sharing the view of yesterday’s artwork from a stationary chair in my make-shift studio.

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Passing Shot: King Fire Still Burns in El Dorado County, California

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© 2014, Theresa Mae Funk, all rights reserved.

We first noticed the hell fire cloud on Sunday, September 14th during our final round of the Gold Pan Open Disc Golf Tournament at Pioneer Park in Somerset, located approximately 15 miles to the south of Pollock Pines, California.   The Sierra Nevada foothills are a tinder box of heavy timber and steep terrain, something that the jack-ass arsonist who deliberately set this fire knew would make containment nearly impossible.  The latest update indicates that the 73, 184 acre fire is 10% contained.

king fire 1

As we made the 57 mile drive home to Sacramento County, I kept looking back at the huge plume of smoke, silently praying for a miracle deluge of rain that still, has not arrived.

King's Fire

Twenty minutes and 30 miles later, the hell fire cloud ominously looms over the landscape that inspires much of my original works on paper,

King's Fire 2

and I take one last passing shot of this day’s fiery grief.

© 2014, Theresa Mae Funk, all rights reserved.

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Something To Write Home About: A New Series of Original Works of Art on Paper

Something To Write Home About: A New Series of Original Works of Art on Paper

The American River is the subject for my ten piece Something To Write Home About art card series. Each card is its own certificate of authenticity, and has been painted with California rain water that I’ve collected this year.
Six of the ten cards already have designated addresses, and the other four will be sent to unsuspecting recipients as a Thank You note for their inspiration and continued support of my artistic endeavors.

© Theresa Funk, all rights reserved.

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Poetry for Guitar: Picture Postcard Lullabys

I went travelling down a long paved road

listening to the radio playing

I heard a song about a white winged dove singing.

There were shore lined miles of open sky

A picture postcard lullaby

the mocking bird just could not sing

so I was trying.

I watched the golden hills roll by me

A speed limit sign read forty-five

But I felt

like I was flying.

© 2011 Theresa Funk, all rights reserved.

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Passing Shots: Lower American River Watershed

Passing Shots: Lower American River Watershed

American River water is generally characterized as high quality surface water that is low in alkalinity, mineral content, and organic contamination. It is also a source of artistic inspiration for many Sacramento area artists. This moment was captured on my mobile device during a post-rain storm walk along the river, and continues to be reinterpreted as part of my Conservation Art series works on paper.

© 2014, Theresa Funk, all rights reserved.