"Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs.
I am haunted by waters."
-Norman Mclean, "A River Runs Through It"
Photo of Umpqua River, circa 1976 by Gary Arabian
Rivers run through our family: I spent the first half of my childhood on the Siuslaw River in Oregon; the granddaughter of a legendary river guide. My husband is an avid fisherman, as is his twin brother, our sons, and nephew. It's in our blood, rivers and fishing.
It makes sense that we would be drawn to vintage paintings of rivers like the one above. It is a lovely European oil of a pastoral scene with cows in the river.
What is it about rivers that inspires artists, writers, poets and the like to create a work of art?
Thornton Wilder said: "It is only in appearance that time is a river. It is rather a vast landscape and it is the eye of the beholder that moves." The above river is the Trinity, a legendary steelhead stream in Northern California.
This little painting is probably by a "Sunday Artist" as there is no signature, but I love the muted colors and the bend in the river.
A beautiful fly fishing stretch on the McCloud River in Northern California.
"What makes a river so restful to people is that it doesn't have any doubt - it is sure to get where it is going, and it doesn't want to go anywhere else." -Hal Boyle
Another European river scene with cows. I love the reflection on the water.
The Mattole River is near Eureka and one of Mr. A's favorite rivers to fish.
He loves it so much, and I was lucky to find this little impressionist painting of the Mattole by California Artist Carl Sammons.
The Trinity River again. Notice the fisherman in the distance and the steelhead on a fly in the foreground. Pure poetry. What artist wouldn't want to paint this scene!
This was our very first painting! It is of the Eel River, and we found it at our favorite antique store in Healdsburg years ago. Circa 1923 by local amateur artist.
Mr. A's beloved handmade wooden river boat. It has been down virtually every major trout and steelhead stream in California and Oregon. It is in it's own way a "work of art."
This little naive painting is another example of an inspired hobbyist painter. I love the deer crossing the stream.
The McCloud River looking quite majestic. This is serious fly water.
I had my friend Diana paint this from a photograph. It's of Mr. A fishing the Yuba River.
Twin brothers, circa 1999 on some river, somewhere.....
This is a print of a lovely bucolic stream with cows. I picked it up at a second hand store!
A chip off the old block!
A European oil we recently added to the collection. I love the castle!
And yet another scenic river photograph.......
........And so "Life imitates art far more than art imitates life." --Oscar Wilde
Are you "haunted by waters" also?
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I'm joining Susan for Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer. Be sure to visit her and see all the other outside photos and inspiration.
I'm also linking up to Watery Wednesday for the first time. Check it out!
I'm linking up to Chari at Happy To Design for Sunday Favorites.
