10" X 8", oil on panel. Sold, private collection.
Along the Bayside Trail at Cabrillo Monument, there is this interesting large metal enclosure built deep into the hillside. It's the Searchlight Shelter; more about that further down.
To show a step in the process, here's how I started this painting on site, quickly noting some color and value relationships and placing landmarks in a composition that I was happy with. Then, using a photo reference at home, I corrected drawing errors and fleshed out the color. Now you're probably wondering, what the heck is this thing?
Click on the image to see a readable enlargement. The searchlight was on rails, of which there are remnants visible coming out the front of the enclosure. The rest of the track is gone, the cement retaining wall has eroded away/been buried by sandstone erosion, but the shelter remains and its former path is an integral part of the Bayside Trail. In addition, the area has become a case study in the effects of habitat disruption, to help us learn more about the importance of preservation.
