Plein Air Painting at Box Springs Mountain

I believe Plein Air Painting is a great way to discover the sides. Here I went to the Moreno Valley side of Box Springs Mountain in California.

Box Springs Mountain is said to have gotten its name during the 1880s. Teamsters with horse-drawn wagons would stop at a natural spring in an arroyo of the range to water their horses. A teamster surrounded it with a box to maintain water access, later giving the spring and range their names.

The letter "C" is embedded on the Riverside-facing side. The "Big C" was built in 1957, mostly by UC Riverside students. E.L. Yeager donated the materials for it. The "C" is approximately 1,500 feet above the UCR campus, and was the world's largest poured-concrete block letter, 132 feet high by 70 feet wide.

The letter "M" was embedded on the Moreno Valley side of the mountain in 1966 as a symbol of Moreno Valley High School which was then in the town of Sunnymead. The City of Moreno Valley was officially incorporated as a municipality on December 3, 1984 comprising Sunnymead, Edgemont and the little town of Moreno. The mountain with "M" were included on the new city logo.

Box Springs Mountain has large populations of snakes, lizards, coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions, bears, deer and burros, some of which wander into the populace below. There are several large eucalyptus trees that were planted at its base that originally marked sources of water.

More art from Davitaia please see on:  www.mirza-art.com

Plein Air Painting in California

The terms California Impressionism and California Plein-Air Painting describes the large movement. of 20th century California artists who worked out of doors (en plein air), directly from nature in California, United States. Their work became popular in the San Francisco Bay Area and Southern California in the first three decades after the turn of the 20th century. 

Considered to be a regional variation on American Impressionism, the painters of the California Plein-Air School are also described as California Impressionists; the terms are used interchangeably. And this is my version of it. 

 

More on Davitaia's art please visit: www.mirza-art.com

Prince of India (aka: The Knight in the Panther's Skin)

Let me tell you a little bit about my latest graphic novel which I wrote and currently I am working on its artwork. 

The story is based on medieval poem written by Georgian poet Rustaveli. Because of its importance UNESCO announced year 2016 as the year of its memory. Throughout the centuries this poem has been translated into more than 40 languages, but this will be the first time the world will experience this wonderful story as a 300 page graphic novel.

The story offers a very unique perspective on the medieval oriental world. Values such as, gender equality, freedom of personal choice, religious tolerance and the role of the secular state are presented as an organic part of oriental society.

Taking place in the fictional settings of exotic India and Arabia, the poem is an epic, chivalric romance it explores about the friendship of two heroes, Avtandil and prince Tariel, and their quest to find the object of prince Tariel’s love, princess Nestan-Darejan. These idealized heroes and devoted friends are united by courtly love, generosity, sincerity, dedication, and proclaim equality between men and women, which is a recurring theme through the novel. 

By glorifying courtly love, the author strongly condemns forced marriages. The poem also expresses an admiration for women and demands for gender equality. This cult of woman celebrates her honor and freedom to choose her own husband. Princess Nestan is seen as the model of a noble woman who puts reason above passion. In equal rights, women can develop a sincere friendship with the opposite sex without love and desire and Asmat’s character is dedicated to prince Tariel. Consistent with its expressions of equality, tolerance and respect for individual rights, the poem also condemns slavery.

At its essence, the poem is an expression of joyful life. The success of the three heroes in the liberation of princess Nestan from captivity shows that justice can exist on the earth, and with enough courage and perseverance one can find happiness.  

Ten days ago I launched a Indiegogo campaign to get some support for this project, where backers can learn more about the story and among other rewards get my oil paintings for backing the project.
https://igg.me/at/princeofindia/x/14234658