1. Forgotten
I paint, a lot, many things catch my eye : mountains, sunsets, apples, flowers, wagons, tractors, vistas, trees... and... I have painted for many, many years.
And I have a lot of paintings... a LOT of paintings... stored... everywhere!
Thanks to my kind friends who have storage in their homes and unheated barns.
Over the years I have lost track of some paintings and have forgotten others.
Recently I woke up with the inkling of an aging squirrel's mind and had a vague memory of a group of pieces (to a squirrel 'lost nuts') painted at Lair o' the Bear park that I had set aside: thought they worked well and could show nicely together.
I truly love this scenic stretch of Bear Creek; have hiked, painted, and been nourished by this area in all seasons through many years.
After some searching, dusting, digging... the group was located: one by one I examined and rediscovered each work that hadn't been seen or thought of in decades: never named, cataloged, or signed.
Lair o' the Bear Collection 5 24x30 (plein air in the rain)
Immediately recalled the changing weather when they were painted and enduring a quick-onset mountain storm.
The buried treasure of found memories!
Lair o' the Bear Collection 3 20x24 (plein air in the rain)
This special group of 5 paintings is being exihibited in the
Library on the 3rd floor of my online gallery.
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2. Found
I received an email from a truly sweet lady, Peggy, who found a painting kinda hidden in a store. She purchased it, googled the signature and contacted me. She loved the painting, sent pictures and asked if I knew anything about it.
The back of the painting is the clue that unlocks the history of this piece :
This painting was a commission: the clients chose the objects and the colors; recalled this being an anniversary gift. The beginning and current history is known, but the middle part of the story is up for speculation.
Now the 'antique roadshow' part of the story:
Gallery price for a 30x40 is quite a bit more than the $240 Peggy paid.
Made both our days : congratulations Peggy!
'Peonies and Plums' in Peggy's dining room.
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3. Mystery
I saw an ad for an antique store in Santa Monica, CA. In it was an image that jumped out of the ad: I knew right away it was by Sergei Bongart (my teacher).
I had to know more...
Sergei had told me about character sketches he had done of some of the colorful Cossacks in the 1891 Ilya Repin masterpiece
Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks to Sultan Mehmed IV of the Ottoman Empire
So I looked up the image on the interweb. It didn't take long to find the subject of Bongart's 1962 sketch : the man pointing backwards in the upper center!
Repin Detail:
I mentioned the sketch to a friend and client who also collects Bongart's work and connected him to the antique store in Santa Monica. He acquired the piece and after receiving the painting he shared images of the acquisition.
Now for the next part in this mystery... on the verso of the Bongart sketch was a pen and ink drawing which the owner described as 'a scribble' . Scribble? This didn't seem consistent with the Bongart I knew. Requested and received a photo of the scribble :
After looking for a bit I realized that the 'scribble' sketch was upside-down! Flipping the image revealed a beach scene with a boardwalk and a sign casting a shadow :
Right side up - mystery solved!
Note: the white stain is water damage. The surface is heavy cardboard.
I imagine the squiggle at the bottom is an editing mark by Bongart saying,
"Nyet, no good, use other side for a sketch..."
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The Escape
An invitation to escape for a painting workshop and experience the sights, flavors, colors and peace of Chacala Mexico in January/February, 2021.
Home base for the workshops is Villa Carolyna: a tranquil executive villa dramatically situated on a cliff overlooking the village, lighthouse and bay of Chacala below.
Learn more about the workshops.
Learn more about Villa Carolyna.
A limited number of luxury accommodations at Villa Carolyna are available.
Happy-hour sunset paint-out on the Villa Carolyna patio
Please call if you are considering this artistic escape opportunity.
303.588.2226
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The Don Sahli Online Gallery
has 4 floors to explore at your own pace.
Take your time, and enjoy the view.
Long ago, before fire was given to us,
a beautiful star appeared in the clear night sky!
A star to follow and provide hope.
Quiet night and warm heart : the star still shines!
Sahlipaint Studio LLC.
sahlipaint@gmail.com
303.588.2226 : Please leave a message.
www.donsahli.com
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