The Artful Journals at The Big Sur Inn

Recently I published some photographs of my wonderful stay at the Big Sur Inn on the Pacific coast of California.  One of the highlights of my stays there (I try to go several times a year) are the artful entries in the journals/guestbooks at the inn.  

Walking through the door at Big Sur Inn is a bit like traveling back in time and viewing the world and life as it was nearly a hundred years ago.  There are no telephones, televisions, computers or internet connections.  Instead, there is the very rich, lively and creative entertainment of the writings, drawings, poetry, maps, lists, notations, recipes, fantasies, stories and paintings guests have left behind in the journals of each room or cabin.

In response to the ensuing interest and requests from friends on Gather, I have put together a more comprehensive peek at these wonderful hardbound works of art.  I dedicate this article to Marianne R., who made the original suggestion that I share more about these creative treasures.  I give my thanks to each of you who have encouraged me.

So, come in and have a seat.  Would you like a cup of tea or coffee?

If you were to sit down in this rocking chair and turn it a little more to the right, you could appreciate a view of the room that is very much like the artwork left in the journal by a woman named Amanda:

Amanda is also capturing what is a typical scene; her sweetheart  relaxing, reading and enjoying the journals.  Amanda provided the excellent drawing of their entry, her sweetheart provided the writing (I love that so many men are interested in writing and creating in these journals):

Here's another wonderful entry; this time the husband is drawing his wife reading one of the journals:

This woman left a drawing and a recipe:

This person created a fanciful story:

To which people later respond:

Some of the entries are amusing:

Some of them are tender:

some are delightfully sloppy (I just love this one):

Some are sad.  This one is beautifully written, literally and figuratively.  This woman had just lost her husband and is working through her grief by writing in this journal.  I love the enormous outpouring of sensitivity and compassion expressed about her loss in the entries that follow.  She may not know it, but our prayers are with her:

This photo was taken about six years ago of me working on one of my journal entries.  This particular room has a fireplace and a very picturesque window seat looking out over a canyon of redwoods -- the subject of my painting.

On our visit last week, I was able to photograph a journal entry I made in the Spring of 2005 while staying in this same cabin.  I didn't have time to paint on this particular visit; I just made a quick entry and some assymetrical scribbings instead.  I love looking back at this entry and remembering what we did.  Watching the whale migration that year was spectacular!

Here's a glimpse at this year's entry -- a work in progress:

I found it hard to narrow down the many creative journal entries, but this will give you a flavor of some of the beauty that exists behind the portals of Big Sur Inn.   I leave you with one of my favorite drawings of the Inn itself.

I hope this gives you a small glimpse of the magic and artistry that exists within these walls.