Synopses & Reviews
A fisherman on the Santa Monica Pier. The vineyards of Napa Valley. Surfers in Malibu. An Indian village in Yosemite and the Golden Gate Bridge at sunset. Artist Diana Gessler captures the color and character of our third largest and most populous state. In lively watercolors, sketches, and stories, Gessler shares her adventures on the road, driving from north to south--Sonoma to San Diego and beyond. She and her husband, Paul (designated driver and food lover), stop when curiosity or hunger seizes them.
With pen and brush, Gessler works on the spot, bringing to life the cities, towns, and countrysides as well as the details that make them special. A great horned owl. A local farm stand. A woman making tortillas on a sidewalk cart. A bunkhouse in the redwoods. Crab traps along the bay. Her intimate journal is filled with colorful people, beaches, flowers, architecture, animals, trails, memorable meals, and movie stars (at least the gates in front of their houses).
Very California is organized by region, and each chapter opens with a map and driving route of the area. Peppered throughout are amusing tidbits about all the things that make California so very California. Diana Gessler has created a memento for tourists and an enchanting book for those who appreciate the pleasures of the West Coast.
Synopsis
TRAVELING ARTFULLY
There's much to see in California. A harbor seal lounging on the beach. An old stone winery in Napa. Colorful "painted ladies" marching down the street. Joshua Tree in the spring and a movie mogul catching some rays. Artist Diana Gessler takes you through the abundant sights and glories of California - from top to bottom, north to south, on and off the beaten path.
About the Author
Diana Hollingsworth Gessler is the author and illustrator of Very New Orleans, Very Charleston, and Very California. Her watercolors and oil paintings are represented by Shaw Gallery in Naples and Bonita Springs, Florida. She and her husband live in Melbourne, Florida, when they're not traveling.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1 North Coast (1)
CHAPTER 2 Sonoma County (15)
CHAPTER 3 Napa Valley (29)
CHAPTER 4 High Sierra (43)
CHAPTER 5 San Francisco (57)
CHAPTER 6 Central Coast (69)
CHAPTER 7 Central Valley (85)
CHAPTER 8 Los Angeles and Beyond (99)
CHAPTER 9 Desert Places (115)
CHAPTER 10 San Diego and Beyond (129)