Customs House Backyard Old Monterey Adobe Gate Larkin House
Larkin House Gate Larken House Garden Sherman House Door #1 Sherman House Door #2
Sherman's Quarters Colton Hall Cooper Molera Adobe First Theatre
Fremont House Gordon House O'Donnell Library Gate in Old Monterey
Past, Present & Future Stevenson Gate Stokes Adobe Adobe Arches
Monterey Plaza Van Buren and 6th Vaquez Adobe Plaza Gate
Whalers Station-Old Monterey Lovers Point, Pacific Grove Lovers Point Beach
Adobe Gate House-Old Monterey Jos. Boston & Co.-Old Monterey Fish Out Of Water-Old Monterey
First Brick House-Old Monterey Casa Jesus Soto-Old Monterey
Casa Del Oro-Old Monterey Casa De La Torre-Old Monterey Stevenson House Doorway
Although I grew up on the Monterey Peninsula and was familiar with most of the historic adobes and buildings, I never really spent much time visiting each and every location until I started to search for inspiration for my art.
I spent hours researching and reading about the history of Monterey, followed by spending a great deal of time at each specific landmark, looking at each and every available angle and trying to find a view that will strike an instant and personal chord.
I doubt that I will ever run out of subject matter by living and working on the Monterey Peninsula. Every time I go out on a photo shoot, I find hundreds of interesting images that motivate me to create an etching. It doesn’t have to be an important landmark. It can be as simple as finding shadows hitting a fence line just right. Or a brightly painted front gate.
I used to visit Lovers Point all the time as a child, having fond memories of riding in the glass bottom boats that used to be located there.
Whether it is a well known landmark, a special gate or a forgotten garden, there is always something out there for me to discover. I love to travel off the beaten track, looking to find views that are unique and fresh.
The Sherman Adobe, pictured here, was one of the first etchings I did of Old Monterey and it remains one of my favorites. In fact, I created several different etchings of Shermans Quarters, both from the front and back and especially love the combination of adobe, weathered wood and tile roofing.
In the etching called Monterey, Past, Present and Future, I tried to capture the passing of time by including the past, present and future of Monterey. You can see the old adobe being overwhelmed by the new construction going on next door. For many years, the small adobe was used as a bar and nightclub but now it sits abandoned and closed. I hope that someone will take it over and put it to appropriate use.
Many of my drawings are completed in several hours and the majority are completed within a day or so. Sometimes after printing a first proof, I will add some additional work with drypoint, making certain areas darker or adding details.
There are very few etchings that when printed, I feel need any extensive reworking. I have gotten to the point where I have a good feeling for the materials and chemicals and am confident enough to take a plate from start to finish without making any major mistakes along the way.
On rare occasions I may reground the entire plate and rebite the plate again in acid to improve contrasts, darken specific areas or if I make major revisions and corrections.
But etching is a very unforgiving medium, and many times it is easier just to abandon the plate and start over.
Like my previous set on Fishermans Wharf, My set of Old Monterey etchings continues to grow and expand as I find new views and interesting subject matter.
It remains my largest set, encompassing well over thirty different prints.
MANY MORE OLD MONTEREY ETCHINGS AVAILABLE-Contact the artist for a comple listing
at tanandwater@aol.com
