Students have me out and about sketching on location which is probably healthy for me. Otherwise I would be cranking out one horrifying pandemic themed painting after another. My advanced student met me at Casa Feliz and wanted to sketch the front of the building. The lesson consisted of avoiding horizontal lines and focusing first one one major wedge shape for the entire composition.
A very angry squirrel chattered at us the entire time. I guess he was angry were were seated in his usual foraging zone. Pre-pandemic there were weekly house concerts inside the Casa. I am proud of the historic home staff for re-instating these concerts yet.
From our perch in front of the house we could also look over ad watch the golfers who were practicing their putting at the golf club next door. It was a very hot day but that didn’t stop them from lugging around their golf bags. As we sketched a wedding planner walked her future bride client around the property. The wedding planner just loved the doorway. They gesture to the upper balcony and entrance, probably planning every detail of the special day.
This entire building was painstakingly moved from it’s former site to save it from demolition by rich owners who wanted a larger mansion. The former owners signed the building over to the city which then arranged to move the mammoth structure.
Casa Feliz, or “Happy House” in Spanish, is the signature residential work of noted architect James Gamble Rogers II. Initially known as the Barbour Estate, it mimics the look of a Andalusian-style masonry farmhouse. I just jot a very loud emergency alert on my phone. Seems there is going to be a hurricane. See you on the other side.