Mission San Juan Capistrano is a place of quiet peace, gorgeous gardens and ghostly whispers of the past.
Echos of long ago struggles can hardly be detected in this place of serene fountains, gracefully curved arches and seasonal flowers, yet the missions stretching along the California coast have a long history that profoundly shaped the culture and founding of California and the history of its ethnic peoples.
I've visited and painted at Capistrano many times and never tire of its beauty. The old church was destroyed by an earthquake at least a hundred years ago and the ruins of that church are a solemn reminder of nature's fury and lack of favoritism.
This painting reflects a bit of both- the light and shadows cascading over the rocks of the ruins, while the lush fragrant gardens beyond beckon us into a season of hope. It's a joy to visit the Mission. Someday I intend to go back again, when this COVID mess is over!
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