Two Idyllwild Plein Airs Going to New Homes
I live in Idyllwild, California. It is a small alpine village 5,000 ft above Palm Springs, my place is about 1,000 ft above it, my cabin is the guest house on the old Hugh Hefner estate. The horizontal landscape with the partial pink sky is a view a few hundred feet from where Idyllwildians leave our refuse. Locals proudly call it "the dump" knowing that ironically it has some of the greatest views, from an area of thousands of magnificent views.
Two years ago Chan Luu came up to paint with me, and the "pink" one is what I painting along side her. Three days later this area was burnt to a crisp by an arson. Fortunately the town of Idyllwild was saved by incredible crews of firefighters.
This is the view from my studio windows now. So peaceful and beautiful living here. I am blessed that I can afford to live in rural area, paint around the clock and write about art -- truly an idyllic life.
Michael Newberry, Idyllwild, 8/22/2020