Product Description

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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #150862 in Books
• Published on: 2001-04-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 160 pages

Review
"Gessler presents California's attractions in a refreshingly simply hand-written journal of watercolor sketches." -- Publisher's Weekly - New York, NY

From the Inside Flap
The vineyards of Napa Valley. Surfers in Malibu. An Indian village in Yosemite and a ghost town in the Sierra. Artist Diana Gessler captures the color and character of our most visited state in lively watercolors, sketches, and wry observations. From the North Coast to San Diego and beyond, Gessler shares her adventures traveling through California with her husband, Paul (designated driver and food lover.)

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. Crab traps along the bay. Here's a journal filled with colorful people, beaches, flowers, architecture, animals, trails, memorable meals, and movie stars (at least the gates in front of their houses). Amusing facts about everything from artichokes to zoos round out this grand tour of the treasures that make California so very California. A memento for tourists and an enchanting book for those who appreciate or long for the pleasures of the West Coast, Very California is a colorful keepsake and a handy guide. AUTHOR BIO: Diana Gessler's watercolors and paintings are represented by art galleries in Fort Lauderdale and Naples, Florida. She and her husband live in Bonita Springs, Florida. They have been traveling together for twenty-three years.

From the Back Cover
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.

Customer Reviews

The postcard you wish you could send...
Diane Gessler has written (and painted) the perfect travelogue of her trip through California. It won't serve well as a guide book, even with the maps included, but her watercolors and anecdotes capture perfectly the mood and the spirit of the places she and her husband have visited. If you have been to California, this should make a much nicer souvenir than the standard-issue t-shirt with the cable car picture, and if you live here, it's the perfect reminder why one might be willing to endure the rolling black-outs or the excessive housing costs. Aside from that, the watercolor illustrations are very, very nice and made me think of taking out again my own watercolor set. Highly recommended!

Delightful!
A delightful read. Not a serious word in this little book of California - absolutely adorable. The illustrations are whimsical, the text is full of humor. I was right beside her experiencing everything and that which wasn't familiar I long to visit.

What a nice souvenir
Being a native Californian, I was immediately attracted to this book. When I opened it, I fell in love with the wonderful little watercolor illustrations and personal journal format. I agree with a previous reviewer who made the comment that this is a nice little souvenir book. It's definitely a worthy addition to the bookshelf of any Californian or someone who just loves California.