Susan Jean Diehl
Rounding the Bend
Oil on Linen Canvas
24" x 30"

There was no way to Paint this from life. I saw the view peek-a-booed through a woods that were right against the edge of the road that sloping straight down into a woods. It was like an old movie, I would see the view, then blink, a tree trunk, see the view and then blink, a tree trunk. I almost couldn't believe my eyes! Was it really that GOOD??? I made my friend, who grew up there and was saying, you cant get a photo of it, there is no way to stop! There is no pull off! Well, never say never, she parked at the first possible place she could and I jumped out of the car scrambling along the edge of the trees looking at oncoming traffic! When I could see the view again, I headed down the steep hill like a mountain goat, the athleticism of it all being not my style ! Needless to say, the place I shot the photo reference for this was not really safe, for me anyway! But I just had to paint it -I had no choice but to risk it . The painting reminds me of the worth of stretching limits to follow your dreams! Well, it was worth it (but don't tell my kids, who would think the hill wasn't that steep and the danger not that big!