PAUL EMERSON MARQUART, BROTHER, ARTIST

Yesterday, February 10, marked the six-year anniversary of the disposal of brother Paul's ashes at Big Bear, California. Paul, an artist who lived in Crescent City, California for over 20 years, worked in oils, painting renderings of northern California's coast and surrounding scenery. He often shared photos of his art with me that enhanced the covers of my books of poetry.

 

Artist in the Forest

In his 19 x 21 foot studio in Crescent City, Paul placed a wood-burning stove, a garden bath, and built a small kitchenette that overlooked one of the numerous gardens he tended when he wasn't painting. In his studio, he sometimes spent entire brisk winter days painting while his wife Lori sat nearby reading Christian Science publications and offering counsel.

 

The Garden

Paul rendered most of the paintings that now hang in Lori's Costa Mesa, California apartment. However, I also enjoy Paul's work as Lori photographed some of the paintings and put them in two black notebooks with which she gifted me several years ago.

Boats Docked in Fog

Paul's property was a plant paradise on Lake Street in Crescent City. Vickie Sullivan and I made the coast trip from Los Angeles to Crescent City several times during the last fifteen years of Paul's life and enjoyed his lush gardens and beautiful art collection. We also viewed some of his work on display at the Harbor Art Gallery on Marine Bay in Crescent City. Paul often held exhibits of his work in the front garden on Lake Street and served kettles of Louisiana gumbo according to the recipe of our Cajun Grandmother Leila Vincent Marquart of Lake Arthur, Louisiana.

Sailboats on Monterey Bay

The sky darkens, and a Louisiana root soaker pelts down on my patio; I leaf through Paul's notebooks and decide to share a few of my favorites with readers whose day may be brightened by his colorful work.