We've now safely  made it through the first month of 2018.  Life on the coast has never been better, and I'm delighted to share a very special blog with you this month.  

Fort Bragg, California, is such a lovely place to live.  This town was founded before the American Civil War and is a tourist destination due to its picturesque coastal views.  Places like Glass Beach are well known, and the walks along the jagged bluffs above the sea really draw in the crowds.  Kayaking, hiking, fishing, surfing, whale watching and abalone diving are just some of the attractions to our quaint village by the sea.

Perhaps less well known are the shopping opportunities here along the coast.  Nestled in the architecturally intriguing, old-world shops are darling boutiques, galleries, antique shops and shops of all types of curiosities.  I have come to love walking along and enjoying the new visual delights and wares of these shops.  I also have come to enjoy painting what I see.

This month I wanted to share with you a painting I did of Astoria.  Astoria is one of these darling shops.  They are self-described as unique and whimsical and feature home goods, gifts and baby items.  This store is owned and run by Annie Ritchey and Derek Lockyer.  They opened the shop in 2015 and together have created an eclectic, every-changing visual treat for the customer.

I think this quote pretty much sums up the message I have for you this month.  I hope that you learn from my artistic journey that it is all about personal passion and realization.  I hope to inspire you to follow your unique dream.  We are all here on this earth for a limited amount of time.  I encourage you to spend your time following your dreams.

Annie Ritchey, one of the owners of Astoria, and I were just discussing that this morning.  She moved from the world of teaching to moving to Fort Bragg and creating this amazing shop.  You can tell from everything that she does that her heart is here.  When I asked her what the shop's about, she said, "It's a 'me' store."  She goes to great lengths to find brands that reflect her own personal vision.  Every corner of the shop shows her gift for creativity, display and the passion she has for beauty and life.

For any of you who have followed my art, you know that windows and doors feature huge in my watercolor vocabulary.  I love architectural detail and the beauty of a well-built window.  I never tire of light streaming through a French divided-light window or the way the sun distorts a frame through a gossamer curtain.  At the time I painted the store front of Astoria, all of these elements were visible, and the lace-curtained shop front begged to be painted.

As you can tell, I had a blast painting Astoria.  I let my passion flow through my brush, and I'll never forget the fun I had as I stepped back from the easel and splattered paint over the paper.  The splatters represent the joie de vivre I felt while painting and also the joy that Astoria brings to me each time I get to visit this charming store.

I want to encourage you to come visit us here in Fort Bragg.  Slow it all down, inhale the cool sea breezes and take the time to peruse the delights of our shops, as you listen to the bells tolling the time and the laughter of folks getting away from it all.

Thanks, once again, for taking the time to read my blog.  I encourage you to visit The Front Porch, another charming store here in Fort Bragg where my art is on display, and to leave a comment, if you've enjoyed reading the blog.  Feel free to encourage your friends to subscribe to this site.  All are welcome.