Sunflowers and Delphiniums and Mission San Juan Bautista by Texas Artist Nancy Medina

Heaven's Door Sunflowers and
Delphiniums by Nancy Medina
12X12
Oil on Deep Gallery Wrap Canvas

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Heaven's Door Sunflowers is a small work created as a study for a large commission under way in the studio this week. It feels like the ebb and flow of life in the studio with the pugs is finally back to normal, after returning from Carmel, California last week. One of the most haunting places we visited was the historic Mission San Juan Bautista, a little inland from Carmel by the Sea. One of the images of the Mission is on my blog today, and I will share more soon.

The cornerstone of the current Mission was set in place in 1803. It was a little sad to see that some parts of the Mission seemed neglected and in disrepair, perhaps the California State budget is having a difficult time keeping these historic landmarks at their best. There were few people visiting that day, even though the weather was beautiful. Walking through the oldest parts of the structure I felt an overwhelming sense of despair and fear, but perhaps that was my imagination. The history of some Missions is built on the bones of the Indians, and the stories of how these areas were settled and the fate of the natives was not always kind. If ever a place might be haunted, surely this one was.