Sometimes songs just get stuck in my head. Sometimes they result in new paintings too.
For a long time I've been wanting to do a follow-up to my piece,
Home on the Range, and I think this image will fit the bill nicely. I've always had a weakness for classic VW buses and other ghostwagons, and somehow that fondness got all mixed up in my head with that darn "South of the border" song. That, along with my usual fall/winter yearning for the beach, resulted in the above sketch.
Yes, there really are places down in Mexico where the Sonoran desert comes right down to the Sea of Cortez; where seagulls and scorpions share the view. I've always found those places to be imbued with a certain magic. A magic that is most potent after a long hot drive, a sip of tequila, and a sunset dip in the warm ocean waves. Just watch out for the jellyfish.
The finished watercolor will be about 14x20". I'll keep you posted.
DW
© Dave Wilder 2009